Government

A legal expert says that the Cuomo Administration’s decision to delay a decision on whether to allow hydro -fracking in New York for another 90 days makes sense. Meanwhile, some health care professionals say a review underway on the health effects of fracking is a sham.

When the Cuomo Administration announced two months ago that it wanted an additional review of data on potential health effects of hydro fracking, Governor Cuomo said he was going the extra mile to ensure that the state could win anticipated court challenges from environmental groups.:

The state’s environmental agency confirms it will miss a key deadline and delay approval of hydro fracking in New York once again.  Anti fracking forces see an opportunity in the likely new delay, while those waiting to benefit economically from the gas drilling process are feeling frustrated.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier Tuesday that he expected the State’s Department of Environmental Conservation would fail to meet a November 29th deadline to propose new rules for the gas drilling process known as hydro fracking.

Gas drilling companies in New York State says they’re “exhausted” by a more than four year long review process on whether to allow hydro fracking in New York, that they say they now fear will drag on into 2013.

Advocates for a minimum wage hike rallied at the State Capitol, amid growing signals that there might not be a special session to deal with the issue, or any items at all this year.

The rally, organized by churches located near the State Capitol , as well as statewide religious groups,  used words like faith and morals when talking about the connection they see between the growth of people coming to food pantries and the state’s stagnant minimum wage.

A union funded think tank finds that New York has the greatest income disparity in the nation. The Fiscal Policy Institute says that trend continues, with the top 1% gaining more financial resources, while the middle class is falling behind and the numbers of the poor are growing.