Rockland’s power company is gearing up for potential storm damage and electric service outages as remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole head our way today. O&R company and contractor overhead line crews and tree removal experts, customer service operations and the other O&R emergency response teams are ready to go. Rain is expected to hit our area later this afternoon.
Breaking News
Three Close Election Day Races Settled
Three close races here in New York, two of them centered right here in the Hudson Valley, came to an end yesterday after each of the losing candidates conceded their races. Assemblyman Mike Lawler won his race for Congress, and in a victory speech yesterday at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City, said he was honored to be elected. He also thanked his opponent for his years of service representing the Hudson Valley. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney said he doesn’t like to lose, but even though the race was close, conceding the campaign was the right way to go…
The loss marked the first time in 40 years that the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lost a re-election bid. The race for state senate was also close, but the lead was too much for Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to overcome. In a post on Twitter, Reichlin-Melnick promised he isn’t going anywhere, and though he didn’t indicate that he would run for office again, he said he plans to continue finding ways to make Rockland a better place to live. State senator-elect Bill Weber told WRCR his win was a great victory…
In her victory speech late Tuesday night, Governor Kathy Hochul, the first woman ever elected governor in New York, said she wasn’t there to make history, she was there to make a difference…
Congressman Lee Zeldin released a statement congratulating Hochul, and said the close race in the bluest of blue states proves there are other voices that need to be heard and addressed.
Rockland Voices Heard, Apparently Sending Local Assemblyman to Congress and Stopping Development Project in Stony Point
Looks like a Rockland Assemblyman is heading to Congress. And buckle up, the New York Governor’s race between Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin may not be over.
The 17th Congressional District is still up for grabs, but Rockland Asssemblyman Mike Lawler is currently leading by a two percent margin over Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney.
In the governor’s race, Governor Hochul declared victory last night but Congressman Zeldin didn’t concede yet, hoping Long Island absebtee ballots could put him over the top. If the numbers hold, with Hochul leading by about five percentage points, Hochul could become New York’s first female elected governor.
The 38th Senate District is leaning toward Republican challenger Bill Weber, in a repeat contest from two years ago, over Democrat incumbent Elijah Reichlin-Melnick. They’re separated by a narrow two percent margin.
Democrat incumbent Ken Zebrowski kept his 96th Assembly district seat over Republican challenger Brett Yagel. Republican John Mcgowan won Lawler’s 97th Assembly District spot by a two to one margin over Democrat Eudson Tyson Francois. A similar margin keeps Republican incumbent Karl Brabenec in the 98th Assembly District over Democrat Bruce Levine. 99th Assembly District is razor thin and too close to call, Democrat Christopher Eachus holds a 19-vote lead over Republican challenger Kathryn Luciani, this for Assemblyman Colin Schmitt’s former seat. He conceded his race for Congress to Demcratic challenger Pat Ryan.
Democrat incumbent state Comptroller Tom Dinapoli easily topped Republican Paul Rodriguez, while Attorney General incumbent Democrat Letitia James held a seven percent lead over Republican Michael Henry.
The Environmental Bond Act easily passed with nearly 70 percent giving green the thumbs-up.
In Stony Point the proposition to sell Letchworth Village for a development project was rejected, with 70 percent of voters saying no thank you. George Potanovic is the co-founder of the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment, and says voters just didn’t have enough information before the vote…
Stony Point supervisor Jim Monaghan says he and the board respect the voters’ decision…
Elsewhere in Stony Point, Republican Michael Puccio won his race for Town Council over Democrat Eleanor Kassner, and Republican Karl Javenes won the race for Superintendent of Highways over Democrat John Fox.
Democrats in the Village of Piermont Trustee race won, incumbent Nathan Mitchell and Richard Owen Burns.
In the Village of Sloatsburg’s Trustee race, incumbent John Bonkoski and Marc Bitterman, both Republicans, held the lead over Democrat Joyce Donohue.
In the Village of Suffern Trustee race incumbent Democrats Steven Alpert and Fred Sauberman held leads over Republicans Andrew Zavoski and Banks Dastine.
Seven Democrats running for Justice of the State Supreme Court held slim leads over their Republican challengers.
In the U.S. Senate race, Chuck Schumer easily defeated Republican Joe Pinion.
Uncontested races: Ramapo Town Justice: Democrat David Fried won his uncontested race; Democrat Richard Sena won his uncontested race for Village of Haverstraw Trustee; Village of Nyack Trustee – Democrats Pascale Jean-Gilles and incumbent Donna Lightfoot Cooper; Village of Suffern Justice – Republican Ernest Buonocore.
Congers Woman Killed in Single-Car Crash in New City
A Congers woman was killed in a one-car crash in Clarkstown on Sunday afternoon. Clarkstown police say the accident took place on Congers Road near Conrad Lane in New City around 12:30. The Jeep Grand Cherokee struck a tree. The driver, 71 year-old Rosanne Firenze, was found unconscious. Police removed her from the car and performed CPR. New City Ambulance and Rockland Paramedics took over and brought her to Montefiore Nyack Hospital where she was pronounced dead. No word yet on what caused the crash.
Early Voting Ends, Election Day is Tuesday
Early voting is over, if you haven’t voted yet you’ll have to wait until tomorrow, if you’re voting at all. The number of registered voters who come out in non-presidential election years is usually not as high. Orangetown supervisor Teresa Kenny says it’s important to take part, regardless of how you vote…
Haverstraw supervisor Howard Phillips calls voting a patriotic duty …
New Yorkers will be voting for a number of races, including governor, senator, state senate, assembly, congress, and more. Click here for the Rockland County Board of Elections. You can also confirm how to vote by visiting Vote411.org, or the New York State Board of Elections website.