RyeCity REVIEW THE
February 18, 2022 | Vol. 10, Number 7 | www.ryecityreview.com
State sends letter to Con Ed over cost surge
Taking
flight!
Rye’s Carter Barford makes an acrobatic play during the Garnets’ game against Scarsdale on Feb. 9, 2022. Rye topped the Raiders 6-1 and has won four straight games as the playoffs approach. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
County Board of Legislators backs state ‘Clean Slate’ proposal The Westchester County Board of Legislators has thrown its support behind New York state’s proposed “Clean Slate” legislation. The proposal pending in Albany would automatically seal criminal records from civil review in certain cases for people who have completed their sentences and probation, and have maintained a clean record for some years thereafter. It is intended to help people get back on their feet after serving their time, and to reduce recidivism. Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Utah, Michigan, and Delaware already have similar laws on the books. By a vote of 15-2, the board adopted a resolution supporting the
state proposal at its Feb. 7 meeting. “We say in America that we believe in rehabilitative justice, and this proposal helps put that into practice,” Board Chairwoman Catherine Borgia. “It doesn’t expunge criminal records—if someone is arrested again, these records will still be available to police and prosecutors, and courts. This legislation gives people who have served their time and maintained a clean record a better chance to find work, to find quality housing, and to put their lives on track. We know that creating these opportunities reduces crime and increases social stability in the long run,
not just for individuals but for families and generations. This is a community safety measure. It is an economic measure. It is a social justice measure.” Under the current proposal pending in Albany, criminal records would automatically be sealed for most civil purposes when a person has completed their sentence and probation and kept a clean record for three years in the case of misdemeanors and seven years in the case of felonies. Several exemptions exist in the current proposal including for sex offenses and in cases where entities are required under other laws to conduct fingerprint background
checks and with respect to the licensing of firearms. “When someone, particularly a young person, is convicted of a crime, serves their sentence, and is released from prison back into society to start over, what do they do?” asked Board Vice Chair Nancy Barr. “If they can’t go to school or find a job or get an apartment because of their past criminal record, they are more likely to return to crime as a means to support themselves. So, even if you don’t believe people deserve a second chance, if you are concerned about public safety this is a law that makes sense.” (Submitted)
Gov. Kathy Hochul urged Con Edison to review their billing practices and better communicate with New Yorkers after the recent surge in energy costs in New York state left many already struggling New Yorkers surprised, through a letter from the Public Service Commission, and also announced increased relief efforts to reach low-income New Yorkers about millions of dollars in aid available. “The extreme utility bill increases we are seeing across the state come at a time when New Yorkers are already struggling financially following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hochul said. «Even though the spike we are seeing in electricity, natural gas and fuel prices were predicted and are due to severe winter weather, I am calling on Con Ed to review their billing practices because we must take unified action to provide relief for New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable residents.” This winter the cost of natural gas, which is used to heat homes and generate electricity, has risen sharply resulting in a significant increase—sometimes more than doubling—of the supply component of customer electric and/or natural gas bills as compared to prior months. These bill increases are being driven by a global increase in natural gas commodity prices due to higher domestic usage because of colder-than-normal weather, increased economic activity, and increased international demand for natural gas. Heating Utility Assistance At its Oct. 7, 2021 session, the Public Service Commission discussed the projected supply price increases and steps the utilities were taking to inform customers. To address the increase in supply prices,
Hochul launched a statewide effort to raise awareness of the various state programs available to help struggling New Yorkers pay heating and utility expenses to avoid potential service interruptions during the cold weather months ahead. These programs include: More than $373 million in home heating aid is available through the Home Energy Assistance Program, HEAP, for low- and middle-income New Yorkers who need assistance keeping their homes warm during the winter season. So far, 1.4 million regular HEAP benefits have been received by eligible households, totaling $208 million. Additional federal funding is available to help low-income households pay heating utility arrears. So far, 104,000 Regular Arrears Supplement benefits have been issued, and $166 million in arrears have been paid off for eligible households. $90 million in federal funding through Emergency HEAP was made available to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers avoid having their home heating disconnected or exhausting their heating source amid fuel price increases. So far this winter, nearly 20,000 emergency HEAP benefits have been received by eligible households totaling $17.8 million. An increase in the budget for the statewide Energy Affordability Policy)program by the PSC in 2021 from $237.6 million to $366.7 million and expanded eligibility, resulting in about 95,000 more low-income customers that will be able to receive benefits. Since September 2021, approximately $153 million in bill discounts were issued by utilities to eligible customers.
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