Government

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.

One day after saying they could not “speculate” on when a key health review on hydrofracking in New York would commence, the state health department has now announced three university experts have been chosen and will review the data.   

The state’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Nirav Shah, was tasked with hiring outside experts to review health impact data on fracking as the Cuomo Administration continues to study whether the gas drilling will be permitted in New York.