Dr. Kevin Sabet is the President and CEO of both the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions and Smart Approaches to Marijuana. He has studied, researched, written about, and implemented drug policy for more than 25 years.

Sabet has published several books including bestseller, “Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know,” which has been optioned for a documentary film that will be released this year or in 2024.

His work as a government advisor began in the Clinton Administration as a researcher, and he was the senior speechwriter on drug policy in the Bush Administration. He returned to government in 2009, where he was asked to assist in drafting President Obama’s National Drug Control Strategy as a senior advisor

Dr. Sabet will deliver his presentation from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron and again from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at SUNY Fredonia’s Williams Center.

Both presentations are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Sheriff Jim Quattrone at 716-753-4900 or by email at QUATTRONE@sheriff.us.

The representatives asked that any eligible work paid for through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) be paid for by the federal government rather the New York taxpayers, as was done by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama after 9-11 and Superstorm Sandy.

“With New York State at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, it is imperative that New York receive all the federal resources available to save lives and protect public health and safety. The costs associated with responding to this public health crisis are astronomical,” the jointly signed letter stated. “New York State expects to request billions of additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the DRF in the coming months. If New York State must shoulder the cost of even 25 percent of this massive bill, it could deal a devastating blow to New York’s vibrant economy.”

The complete 28 member New York delegation that joined the letter were Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representatives Lee Zeldin (NY-1), Pete King (NY-2), Thomas Suozzi (NY-3), Kathleen Rice (NY-4), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Grace Meng (NY-6), Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Max Rose (NY-11), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jose Serrano (NY-15), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Nita Lowey (NY-17), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Tom Reed (NY-23), John Katko (NY-24), Joe Morelle (NY-25), and Brian Higgins (NY-26).

A copy of the letter sent to President Trump can be found below:

Dear President Trump: 

We write today to urge you to expeditiously grant New York a waiver that provides 100 percent federal funding for all FEMA emergency work in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Any eligible work paid for through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) should be paid for by the federal government, not New Yorkers.

On March 13, you issued an Emergency Declaration for New York, as well as for 55 other states, territories, and the District of Columbia. On March 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York requested a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD), the first in the country, to aid the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 20, you granted the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 MDD for New York after a strong push from the New York Congressional Delegation. Both of these declarations allow New York State to receive reimbursement for eligible work from the DRF. On March 25, the Senate passed H.R.748, the CARES Act, which more than doubled the DRF by adding $45 billion. The March 20 MDD now grants New York State access to Public Assistance, Category B – Emergency Protective Measures and the Crisis Counselling program for individuals. While this is an incredibly important step in combating the COVID-19 outbreak, this assistance comes at a 75 percent federal and 25 percent state cost share.

As of April 13, the New York State Department of Health reported over 195,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York State, with over 104,000 in New York City alone. Tragically, our home state has already experienced at least 10,000 deaths from this outbreak and experts anticipate this number will continue to rise. 

With New York State at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, it is imperative that New York receive all the federal resources available to save lives and protect public health and safety. The costs associated with responding to this public health crisis are astronomical. New York State expects to request billions of additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the DRF in the coming months. If New York State must shoulder the cost of even 25 percent of this massive bill, it could deal a devastating blow to New York’s vibrant economy.

As New York continues to address the escalating outbreak of COVID-19, we urge you to expeditiously grant a waiver that adjusts the current DRF cost-share to provide 100 percent federal funding for New York State’s response to this outbreak. We thank you for your time and attention to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact our staff members with any questions.

Amo Houghton

CORNING, NY – Amo Houghton, the Corning businessman who went on to serve in Congress and represented Chautauqua County for 16 years, has passed away. He was 93.

His official name was Amory Houghton Jr. but everyone called him “Amo.” He led his family’s glass company in Corning for much of his professional career and then, at the age of 60, entered politics and served two decades in Congress.

Although he was a Republican, Houghton had a reputation for breaking with his party. He was a fiscal conservative and social-policy moderate who often strayed from the party line during times of contention and war. He supported abortion rights and advocated for additional funding for the arts. Houghton was also one of six Republicans to vote against a 2002 resolution that gave President George W. Bush the broad authority to invade Iraq.

Houghton represented Chautauqua County in Congress from January 1987 to January 2003, when reapportionment moved Chautauqua County out of his district.  He retired from Congress at the end of 2004.

Houghton died at his home in Corning on Wednesday. That’s according to Corning, Inc., which announced his passing in a post on its website. A cause of death was not given.

Chautauqua County’s current representative in the House, Rep. Tom Reed-R, also hails from Corning and sent out a statement following the announcement of Houghton’s passing.

“The Reed and Houghton family relationship goes back generations – as my grandfather bounced Amo on his knee working for the Houghton family more than 90 years ago. However, our relationship with Amo goes even deeper than that. Amo was a classmate of my father and mother, but more importantly, Amo was my mentor and friend,” Reed said.

“Washington still has much to learn from his legacy. A legacy of common sense governing through respected bipartisan friendships and political civility. A legacy where our country comes first and our political party a distant second. Our nation has lost a true hero, and our hometown of Corning has lost a great ambassador. He will be missed by all,” Reed added.

WASHINGTON – Republicans in Washington aren’t letting up on their criticism of Hillary Clinton following the FBI’s recommendation that she shouldn’t face criminal charges over her handling of classified emails. Instead, they’re expanding their criticism to include the FBI itself.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

On Tuesday FBI Director James Comey announced that “no charges are appropriate” against the presumed Democratic Party presidential nominee, drawing a deluge of GOP criticism. While Comey said that charges would be filed, he also called Clinton “extremely careless” in her handling of highly sensitive information, and suggested she sent emails with information that was classified at the time, contrary to her previous claims.

The FBI is supposed to be insulated from partisanship, with directors appointed to serve 10-year terms under legislation passed in 1976. Comey is a Republican first nominated to a senior Justice Department post by George W. Bush, and tapped to lead the FBI in 2013 by President Obama.

In response to the announcement, GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump complained that the system is “rigged,” and that “it was no accident that charges were not recommended against Hillary the exact same day as President Obama campaigns with her for the first time.”

Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Comey’s recommendation to the Justice Department that Clinton should not face prosecution “defies explanation” and promised House hearings on the FBI investigation.

Chautauqua County’s representative in Washington, Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) – was also critical of the FBI decision not to file charges. In a conference call with local media on Tuesday afternoon, Reed says that he has grave concerns about the recommendations not to press charges, saying it’s an indication that the Washington DC establishment continues to receive preferential treatment.

“The message is clear. Hillary Clinton is part of the Washington, DC political establishment, an elite protected class that is above the law,” Reed said. “This double standard is unacceptable and unfair to the American people. We care about the American people, which is why we will continue to fight for changes within Washington, DC and are calling on the Department of Justice to bring charges against Hillary Clinton to ensure consequences for her dangerous behavior.”