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 Thank you to our 2009 Fall Conference Sponsors
Platinum
Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Gold
C&S Engineers
McFarland-Johnson
Silver
Buffalo Niagara International Airport
CHA
DY Consultants
Greater Rochester International Airport
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Port Authority of NY & NJ
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BelAir Electric
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National Business Aviation Association R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, Inc.
SheltAir Aviation Services
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of CNY
 The Board of Directors would like to extend an invitation to all NYAMA members to attend a future board meeting. Please contact NYAMA Headquarters at (518) 432-9973 or info@nyama.com to see how you can get involved in leadership in the only organization in New York State dedicated solely to the needs of the aviation industry.
Please let us know if you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors.
New York Aviation
Management Association
119 Washington Avenue
Suite 300
Albany, NY 12210
518 432-9973 ph
518 432-1712 fx
info@nyama.com
www.nyama.com
Recently, NYAMA launched its own fan page and already has over 100 fans!
Our intent is to use the tool to network members and others interested in furthering aviation interests in New York. We will announce NYAMA events and request support for legislative efforts from time to time.
Resources to further discussion are also being posted. However, we hope that everyone will feel free to chat about any aviation topic of interest.
Feel free to send any comments or contributions for posting online to us at info@nyama.com. |
Big Election Year for New York Politics
The stakes have never been higher for New York politics. For the first time since 1938, all statewide elected offices will be on the ballot in November. This includes two U.S. senators, a governor, all 29 U.S. House seats and all 212 state legislative seats.
The winners will be charged with providing leadership out of what is now being called “The Great Recession” and re-drawing district lines in 2012 will likely be to the advantage of the party in power. This will truly be an election that will define the next decade!
Voters, of course, have many concerns about ineffective leadership, public scandals, and high taxes. In the wake of the leadership coup in the state Senate last summer, the most recent elections showed an anti-incumbent sentiment in local elections across the state.
Already the tremors of a major shift are being felt. Notable politicians from Speaker Silver to President Obama have expressed support for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to run for Governor over Gov. David Patterson. While Cuomo has said little publicly about his plans, he is certainly well prepared with cash and support to run for the office.
Paterson vows he will seek re-election. However, low poll numbers and dwindling support from within his own party makes for a tough climb. His supporters, though, say that he should not be counted out just yet as he is making the tough choices needed to restore the state’s fiscal health.
Republicans hold only two of the 29 House seats in New York—the fewest in state history.
Republicans control no statewide offices, and Democrats own the majority in the state Legislature. Democrats have only a slim 32-30 seat majority in the state Senate. “We worked very hard to gain the majority, and I think we’re going to have to work just as hard to keep it,” said Sen. Jeff Klein, D-Bronx. “And I think we do that by putting forth a legislative package that puts more money back in people’s pockets, even during tough fiscal times.”
To date, no Republicans have announced their candidacy to run against either of the Democratic Senators: Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Normally, the six-year terms are staggered. However, Gillibrand has to run in a special election to retain the seat after being appointed recently. This has created an unusual situation where both U.S. Senate seats are on the same ballot.
Liz Feld, the mayor of Larchmont, Westchester County, and Bruce Blakeman, a former Nassau County legislator who ran for state comptroller in 1998, are considering a run against Gillibrand. Rep. Peter King, R-Nassau County, is being urged to run by Republicans.
Republicans have been criticized for not having a stronger set of candidates, but some GOP leaders view 2010 as a great opportunity to win in a strongly Democratic state. The former Long Island congressman Republican Rick Lazio, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2000, has expressed interest in running for governor. Erie County Executive Chris Collins is expected to announce his intentions to run as well. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he won’t run against Gillibrand; and former Gov. George Pataki is not expected to either.
“I think this gives us an opportunity to see what might be out there that’s not your typical political candidate,” said Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, who is spearheading the GOP’s campaign committee in the state Senate. Some Republican leaders said the voter backlash at the polls last November bodes well for them in 2010.
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