TCC CEO Mike Pease said through the 340b program, TCC has the ability to offer prescriptions at a greatly reduced price for patients, “And the second thing is, it offers another form of income for organizations like us as well as other health centers, hospitals systems, Ryan White clinics, most of us participate in this program. And we reinvest those dollars into programs like care coordination, case management, transportation, translation services – things we don’t traditionally get reimbursed for.”

Pease said while this is a federal program, former Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s 2021 budget introduce a measure to “carve out” the savings healthcare facilities receive and directed it back into the state coffers. That measure was put on hold due to the Pandemic, but is now part of Governor Kathy Hochul‘s budget and is set to go into effect April 1.

Pease said if this goes forward, it means a loss of over $2 million for TCC. According to a report by Buffalo Business First, Buffalo-based Evergreen Health could see $13 million in annual losses to its $117 million budget due to the changes. Business First reports that the change is expected to usher in a $250 million funding loss statewide, and hospitals across New York are predicting losses of $240 million. Pease said this also would affect UPMC Chautauqua and Brooks Memorial Hospital who have their own pharmacy programs.

Pease said TCC is part of the Save New York’s Safety Net Coalition, which has come up with an alternative proposal for the State Legislature, “On how we could continue to get the benefit of the program as health centers but also we would ensure that the program’s guidelines are being met from the standpoint of reinvesting those dollars into programs that are supportive, things like that. So, there is a way that this could benefit both the state, the community – which is the most important, as well as us as providers of those services.”

Pease added that both State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell have been supportive of the continuance 340b program.

Robert Megna (SUNY)

A familiar face has returned as New York State Budget Director.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Robert Megna has been appointed as the State Budget Director.

He previously served as Budget Director under Governors David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo.

Megna starts immediately and plans to serve through this legislative session and assist with the search for a long-term Budget Director before returning to SUNY, where he serves as President of the Rockefeller Institute of Government and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor.

During Megna’s previous tenure as Budget Director from 2009 to 2015, the State achieved its highest financial rating in 40 years from three major credit rating agencies.

Megna earned an M.S. in Economics from the London School of Economic and Political Science at the University of London and received both his B.A. in Economics and M.P.A. from Fordham University.

Norm Green addresses Chautauqua County Legislature (February 22, 2023)

The Chautauqua County Legislature is urging New York State to release funds to help get a new Brooks Memorial Hospital constructed.

The Legislature unanimously passed a motion requesting Governor Kathy Hochul release the $74 million toward the project.

Former Democratic Board of Election Commissioner and County Democratic Committee Chair Norm Green spoke at privilege of the floor, calling the project the biggest issue in Chautauqua County, “This isn’t a Dunkirk problem. It’s not a Fredonia problem. It’s not a Brocton problem. It’s not a Silver Creek problem. It goes way beyond those borders and only the County of Chautauqua can be the ones who assist. So I hope tonight, after you pass this motion, that the work won’t stop.”

Green brought up the idea that the County should even consider taking over the hospital.

Legislator Kevin Muldowney said he agreed with Green’s comments, which is a rare thing, and that it’s vital the legislature presents a united front in asking governor to release the funds issued in 2016, “It’s an economic development motivator. If we do want to recruit and continue to recruit businesses into Chautauqua County, we have to have a viable, state of the art hospital. And this is a regional issue. Stop thinking parochial and start thinking regional.”

Muldowney said access to a hospital is also important for north county residents from a safety standpoint.

County Executive PJ Wendel said in his monthly interview with WRFA that his biggest fear is that the state will release the funds for the construction of the hospital, and then the money will run out, “The model has some questions, as far as their sustainability financially. And my biggest concern is that they get the funding and the monies run out and the hospital isn’t finished. You know, prior to this large sum of money that Governor (Andrew) Cuomo first put aside from Brooks, and now Governor (Kathy) Hochul has it as well, they were supporting Brooks quite substantially, the Department of Health, with funding for two years prior to that.”
Wendel said the state required that the hospital have a sustainable financial model moving forward, which he doesn’t believe has been presented.

He said the blue ribbon task force he formed with Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas, State Senator George Borrello, Assemblyman Andy Goodell, and numerous health experts have worked with Brooks Hospital officials on moving forward with the proposed new hospital building.

Wendel added the hospital board is aware of the guidelines set by New York State and that they shoulder the responsibility in getting a completed plan to them.

PJ Wendel

Chautauqua County Government could be hit with a $4.3 million shortfall this year should New York State move forward with clawing back Medicaid funds.

The Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program (E-FMAP) funds are monies from the federal government to New York State that are meant to go to local counties, but Governor Kathy Hochul‘s proposed budget holds onto those monies.

County Executive PJ Wendel said if this stays in the budget, it would put counties back 20 years. He said the idea of the state holding onto E-FMAP monies isn’t new and that former Governor Andrew Cuomo had proposed doing the same in the past, “But the Budget Director, who was the Budget Director under Governor Cuomo, Robert Mujica; we were told kind of slipped this in without the Governor’s (Hochul) knowledge. Well, we all said this on a meeting last week, if anybody slipped anything into our budget without our knowledge they probably wouldn’t be working for us. This person has since left, so there’s a vacant position for.. I think there’s an Acting Budget Director now. So the Budget Director position is really vacant so we’re going after a ghost.”

Wendel said the claw back of funds is going into the state’s fund balance and not designated for any specific program.

He said he learned this week that the state is also behind on Medicaid reimbursements to counties to the tune of $8 million for Chautauqua County alone.

Should the Medicaid claw back continue to be part of the state budget when it’s passed April 1, Wendel said the $4.3 million that Chautauqua County would lose in funding is a large portion of the budget, “As you know, we have a very favorable fund balance. This year we did use $4 million in capital projects. So, I’d hate to cancel any of those capital projects cause they are necessary and sometimes, it’s most often times, deferred maintenance and stuff we’re putting off. We do have the ability right now to cover that, but why is it that we are being punished for being fiscally prudent when the Governor can’t seem to get their budget under control?”

Wendel added the New York State Association of Counties, which he is a member of and sits on the board of directors, is working to negotiate with Hochul’s office on this item. He said he hopes those who have pull with Hochul, like Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, can sway her to pull this out of the budget. Wendel said he doesn’t believe the State Legislature has any say over the budget item and that it’s at the Governor’s discretion.

Governor Kathy Hochul presents her 2024 State Budget

Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled her $227 billion state budget for 2024-25.

This budget is $5 billion more than the current year, with a 2.4% increase in all spending.

Hochul said public safety is her top priority, budgeting $337 million.

She is proposing $40 million for funding discovery law changes that have required local prosecutors to make evidence available to defense counsel on a fast basis. The budget also backs $20 million for pre-trial services.

Hochul has also proposed $50 million to aid communities affected by gun violence and $35 million in capital grants for combating hate crimes.

Annual school aid will increase $3.1 billion, or 10%, for a total of amount of $34.5 billion. This includes fully funding the Foundation Aid formula for the first time in 17 years.

Also under education spending is $125 million to expand full day pre-kindergarten and $250 million for tutoring programs to help students recover from learning loss.

As previously announced, Hochul allocated $1 billion toward Mental Health with that multi-year funding going toward the creation of 1,000 inpatient beds, $30 million to expand school-based mental health care, and increased funding for outpatient services.

Hochul wants to expand housing in the state by building 800,000 new units, counting those that are already in development. The budget includes a plan that would allow projects to move ahead over the objections of local zoning regulations if a community is failing to meet targets. Funding for housing includes $250 million for infrastucture support and $20 million for planning assistance.

Child care assistance will receive a $7.4 billion increase over four years. Hochul said this is the most ever. The budget also would provide instant eligibility for child care assistance for anyone receiving government support. Co-pays would be lowered and more support is being proposed for child care providers.

Under health care, the budget seeks to address access issues by adding more than $1 billion in health care capital funding, expanding Medicaid coverage for 7.8 million low-income New Yorkers, and improving access to aging services and high-quality long-term care.

However, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) President Michael Zurlo said Hochul’s budget includes an “unprecedented shift that will saddle local taxpayers” with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs by pocketing Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program (eFMAP) funds that were intended to go directly to local governments to help hold costs

While there is no personal income tax increase in Hochul’s budget, she is proposing to extend a higher tax rate for wealthy corporations that had been set to expire at the end of the year.

In 2021, former Governor Andrew Cuomo had increased the tax rate for corporations taking in at least $5 million a year in revenue from 6.5% to 7.25%. The increase was only supposed to be temporary and set to end after three years, but Hochul wants to extend it for another three years. The extension would bring in between $800 million and $1.1 billion annually. Democrats are expected to support the extension.

The State Legislature now has until April 1 to approve a fiscal plan.

Kathy Hochul takes the oath of office as New York State’s first elected female Governor (January 1, 2023)

Kathy Hochul was inaugurated Sunday as New York State’s first elected female governor.

Hochul took office in August 2021 after then-Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.

She was elected by voters in November, defeating Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.

Hochul said she’d get into policy more in her State of the State address this month, but cited housing affordability and energy affordability among other topics in her inaugural address, “And the gun violence epidemic, my gosh. The loss of lives goes on and on. The rise in hate crimes. What happened here? Especially antisemitism, Asian hate, anti LGBTQ hate and the systemic racism that still persists to this day. Those are the fights we are called to take on. We must.”

Hochul also mentioned the lingering effects of the pandemic as well as women’s rights in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Tom DiNapoli also took the oath of office on Sunday as New York’s second-longest serving Comptroller of more than 15 years. Letitia James was sworn in a second time as Attorney General and Antonio Delgado was sworn in as the state’s Lieutenant Governor, his first full term.

Jamestown School Board meeting (December 6, 2022)

Jamestown Public Schools’ Superintendent is accusing New York State of dragging its feet in resolving a lawsuit over the state under funding poor school districts.

Dr. Kevin Whitaker said the state is trying to “smoke out” the remaining eight districts involved in the Small Cities lawsuit even though they know the funding formula is unjust to poor districts, “They believe that extending through legal means the timeline for which this process will take will cause districts, especially the poorer ones, to run out of money and drop out of the lawsuit. I think it’s despicable and I think they should own up to their fiscal mismanagement over the course of decades and take care of the kids who need it the most.”

The Jamestown School Board voted 5 to 2 on Tuesday to continue paying litigation fees in the amount of $20,000 in the Small Cities lawsuit, also known as Maisto v. New York. Shelly Leathers and Pat Slagle were the two no votes, citing concerns over spending more tax money on a case that doesn’t seem to have a defined end.

The case is currently in the remedy stage after the New York State Appellate Court rejected an appeal by then Governor Andrew Cuomo in August 2021 of the court’s decision. The unanimous decision by the Third Appellate Division in May 2021 overturned Cuomo’s position that education aid to the eight small city school districts, including Jamestown, was constitutionally sufficient.

Whitaker said the districts’ goals are to change state foundation aid formulas so it’s fair for all districts in the state and for the eight small city school districts to be reimbursed for the funds lost over several decades. He said the district should receive $30 to $40 million from the lawsuit that would go specifically toward academic intervention, “It would go to tutoring. It’s essentially money that we need to help catch kids catch up to their grade level peers. [Reporter “These are teachers? Different kind of programs?] Additional teachers, additional supports – It’s all of that. It’s the entire process of assisting kids throughout their learning to close the gaps that exist with poorer communities.”

Whitaker added the state is in arrears for over $100 million for the Jamestown Public Schools District, but he doubts the district will ever see that money. However, a change in formula would provide ongoing support to the district.

The Maisto plaintiffs started the case in 2008 because they believed their districts were not getting enough educational funding/resources to give their students, mainly poor and disadvantaged, what they needed to succeed and that this violated the state constitution.

On the mascot and nickname guidance that the State Education Department is supposed to provide to school districts, Whitaker said he heard the topic is on the agenda for the Regents’ December meeting next week. He said he wasn’t aware if it was just going to be discussed or if there would be any formal action taken on on the guidance.

Dr. Mary Bassett

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett has announced she will resign on January 1.

In a statement, Bassett said she plans to return to the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

Bassett, a former New York City health commissioner, replaced Howard Zucker a year ago, who had served as a holdover from Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s administration. She was the first major appointment to Governor Kathy Hochul‘s new administration.

Bassett was the primary official in charge of the state’s response to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, an ongoing rollout of vaccinations and booster shots as well as efforts to respond to an outbreak of polio and monekypox, now known as mpox.

In a statement, Hochul said she is “deeply grateful” to Bassett for her service leading the department over the last 12 months.

Her departure comes weeks after Division of Budget Director Robert Mujica submitted his resignation to take a job leading Puerto Rico’s financial oversight agency.

Governor Kathy Hochul is attempting to secure a full four-year term on the Democratic and Working Families line against Republican and Conservative endorsed candidate Lee Zeldin. Zeldin currently is the 1st Congressional District Representative. Hochul took over as Governor following Andrew Cuomo‘s resignation in August 2021. For the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Antonio Delgado is running with Hochul and Alison Esposito is running with Zeldin

Voters from Chautauqua County across to Stueben County and now part of Erie County will vote on a new representative for the new 23rd Congressional District. Republican Nick Langworthy is facing Democrat Max Della Pia for that seat. The pre-2020 census district was formerly led by Tom Reed for the last 10 years and is currently represented by Joe Sempolinski.

Longtime incumbent and Democrat Chuck Schumer is running for re-election against Republican Joe Pinion and LaRouche party candidate Diane Sare.

Two other statewide offices on the ballot include incumbent State Attorney General Letitia James on the Democratic and Working Families line facing Michael Henry on the Republican and Conservative lines.

And incumbent State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on the Democratic and Working Families lines is facing Paul Rodriguez on the Republican and Conservative lines.

In State Legislative races, incumbent State Senator George Borrello is running on the Republican and Conservative lines for the 57th District against Dan Brown on the Democratic line. Incumbent Assemblyman Andy Goodell is also running on the Republican and Conservatives lines against Democrat Sandra Lewis.

In Chautauqua County races, the County Sheriff race is unopposed with incumbent Jim Quattrone running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

There are two special elections for the Chautauqua County Legislature.

In District 7, incumbent John Penhollow is running on the Republican and Conservative lines against Barbara Colt who is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Penhollow was appointed to fill the seat after Mark Odell resigned in July 2021.

In District 10, Republican incumbent Jaime Gustafson is running unopposed. She was appointed to fill the seat after Ken Lawton resigned due to moving out of the district. District 10 represents the southwest side of Jamestown, the Village of Lakewood and part of the Town of Busti.

In the City of Jamestown, a special election for the Ward 5 City Council seat is being held between incumbant Bill Reynolds on the Republican and Conservative lines and Democrat Doug Lawson. The winner of that race will fill out the remainder of that seat’s term following Grant Olson declining to take the seat after the 2021 election.

There are five seats open for the 8th Judicial State Supreme Court Justices. Running on all four lines of Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families is Craig Hannah. Kelly Vacco and Gerald Greenan III are running on the Democratic, Republican, and Conservatives lines. Shannon Heneghan is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. And Joseph Lorigo is running on the Republican and Conservatives lines.

There is one proposition located on the back of the ballot.

The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Clean Jobs Environmental Bond Act would, if approved, authorize New York State to borrow $4.2 billion to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resilience, and clean energy projects.

The State Legislature has already approved the plan, which allows the state to sell the bonds immediately after approval. But in order to sell the bonds, the state has to get approval from voters.

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. in Chautauqua County.

For all of WRFA’s Election coverage, visit https://www.wrfalp.com/election-2022/

For voting information, including sample ballots and voting locations, visit VoteChautauqua.com

We’ll have Election Night coverage starting at 8pm tonight on 107.9 WRFA-LP.

Kevin Bruen

State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen submitted his resignation on Friday, just days after reports that he may be under investigation.

Bruen is under investigation for his handling of internal personnel matters including allegations he shielded former human resources director Mary Ellen Tedesco from complaints because of his close working relationship with her. According to the New York Post, Tedesco resigned a month ago after issues surfaced over her alleged handling of a prospective employee who was wheelchair-bound.

Bruen is also reported to be the official who opted not to punish the state trooper who was dating one of Andrew Cuomo‘s daughters while also serving as member of the former governor’s official protection detail.

Bruen was appointed Superintendent of the State Police 16 months ago by former governor Cuomo with the appointment confirmed in June 2021.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday that she had accepted Bruen’s resignation and that a thorough search for a new police superintendent would begin.

Bruen’s resignation letter said he will remain on the job until October 19.

First Deputy Superintendent Steven Nigrelli will take over as Acting Superintendent on an interim basis until a new superintendent is named.