Daily News staff writer Tom Rivers is now famous in Albany, if that's anything to brag about.
Thursday, Assemblyman Steve Hawley delivered copies of Tom's book, "Farm Hands," to every member of the State Legislature.
From a statement from Hawley's office:
As a former farmer and president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau, the assemblyman knows how important the farming industry is to New York State. It is the assemblyman’s hope that this book will create greater awareness of the importance of the agriculture industry and how damaging the passage of the Farmworkers Omnibus Labor Standards Bill (also known as the “Farm Death Bill”), a proposal that would impose expensive labor mandates, could be to farmers.
I would respect Assemblyman
I would respect Assemblyman Hawley more if he had done this quietly. Having a picture taken with a pile of the books and having his office send out a press release smacks of grandstanding.
It smacks of good community
It smacks of good community news to me -- something I'm very happy to publish. I'm very thankful to have gotten the press release because this is definitely something I would want to have known about and have published, and might not have heard about otherwise. We need officials like this and their staff to send more news our way along these lines.
I understand that Howard and
I understand that Howard and I'm not really going after Hawley here, it just seems like there's a press release and a photo op every time this guy does what he's supposed to be doing anyway.
They all do it ...
They all do it ... Republicans and Democrats ... when I worked in a legislative office, we did it -- and most of it went unpublished by anybody.
The Batavian is much more likely to use these press releases, so it might seem like you're seeing more of it... because we just publish more of it.
I couldn’t help
I couldn’t help thinking:
http://www.recoilmag.com/news/grfx/santa_battles_heat_miser_b_1205.jpg
CHRIS, You are the Democrat
CHRIS,
You are the Democrat County Election Chairman. Your job is to find somebody to run against Hawley this year, so your objection to his using this for publicity runs a bit thin.
News travels fast eh, John.
News travels fast eh, John. The guy is never more than ten feet from a camera, the same has been said (truthfully)about Chuck Schumer. If Hawley can prove that a publicity stunt like this successfully translates to good legislation being passed then I'll give him all the credit he deserves.
Ha...Good one John! Oh and
Ha...Good one John! Oh and Congrats on a big win in LeRoy, Chris!
I have no problem with this in the slightest. It's no different then making sure that your bosses know when you did something good at work. Every employee wants recognition for a good deed and it never hurts to have a little "Boss Equity"...:-)
Posted by Howard Owens on
Posted by Howard Owens on March 19, 2010 - 10:50am
They all do it ... Republicans and Democrats ...
The Batavian is much more likely to use these press releases, so it might seem like you're seeing more of it... because we just publish more of it.
Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer post press releases on a daily basis. Those rarely find their way to the Batavian unless there is a snarky headline calling attention to it or lambasting her for her efforts. Rarely, if ever, will there be a negative editorial comment in a headline regarding Hawley or what he is doing.
For example:
Sen. Gillibrand announces another big government plan to interfer in local school districts
... of a press release we received today from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office: Washington, D.C. – With health care reform the top priority for Congress, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is focusing her efforts on reducing childhood obesity, announcing a ...
Blog entry - Howard Owens -
'Fast track to nowhere' coming to Genesee County
... office for years. Chuck Schumer, Louise Slaughter and Mrs. Gillibrand have to go. Will we not be happy until New York goes broke? I agree ...
Blog entry - Howard Owens
Caroline Kennedy reportedly withdrawing from Senate consideration
... Per WPIX, our next US Senator will be....... Kirsten Gillibrand, Congress Woman - NY 20 She apparently has had the blessing of both ... irks I know. It just always irks me. Great pick! Gillibrand Great pick! Gillibrand represents a diverse district, from the ...
Blog entry - Howard Owens -
Sen. Gillibrand announces plan to tackle lost manufacturing jobs
... lost more than 160,000 manufacturing jobs and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants to do something about it. That's noble, but her four-point ... burdensome regulatory environment and high taxes. Gillibrand's calls for manageable health care for small businesses and the ...
Blog entry - Howard Owens
The prejudice is obvious.
Bea, what no links? No dates?
Bea, what no links? No dates? Don't want to be that transparent? For example, the post you have on Gillibrand's selection attributes words to me that I never wrote. In fact, "It just always irks me" was a post by your fellow Democrat, Beth Kinsley, and she wasn't writing about Gillibrand specifically.
I also didn't write, "Chuck Schumer, Louise Slaughter and Mrs. Gillibrand have to go."
A little misleading, don't you think, Bea?
As for a couple of the others -- I've not gone down the path of being explicitly critical of Gillibrand recently. But I also use fewer of her press releases because she's not really local and most of what she's sent out recently hasn't been very interesting, especially compared to how much busier I am these days than when we first started getting her releases. I've also been more positive towards Gillibrand when appropriate. But it's no secret I'm not a fan of big government. I've also been critical of Hawley for seemingly to protect special interests against budget cuts. You didn't mention that, did you?
Only once that I can remember have we received a press release from Schumer's office.
Howard, Bea was simply
Howard, Bea was simply pointing out that you tend to editorialize both in the original story and in susequent comments on press releases from certain offices and let releases from others stand as gospel.
Looks like Steve had a bad
Looks like Steve had a bad hair day(kinda looks like he just woke up)....... I believe Tom Rivers is signing the book tomorrow in Medina(can't remember where right now)....
Exactly, Chris. Hawley's
Exactly, Chris.
Hawley's press releases are printed with a favorable headline.
Not so sure if this is a big
Not so sure if this is a big win in LeRoy. Keys won because she is a good candidate. Nice to see younger people with fresh ideas get in. I am leery of a county committee being involved on such a local level. Local electeds should be about helping people, not political parties. Actually, the real story might be with the election of Republican Taylor and the loss of Conservative Horgan ( who was put in by the Democrats!) that the Republicans now control the Vilage of LeRoy. The mayor was elected as a Republican, and you have Taylor and O'shea with a 3-2 lead over Democrats. LeRoy was always a Dem town I think. Lets hope they all work together for the Village. Hopefully the 2 new ones can express some fresh ideas! Good luck all!
Yeah, I guess my prejudice is
Yeah, I guess my prejudice is really showing through by highlighting great publicity for a local author. My bad. The next time Hawley tries to highlight something positive in Genesee County, I'll be sure to criticize him for it.
Is this book in local
Is this book in local libraries yet?
Julie; that's pretty funny
Julie; that's pretty funny
Mike, Tom told me he expected
Mike, Tom told me he expected it to go to the libraries. It's also available at Present Tense and the Holland Land Office Museum.
Mike, for a guy from Batavia,
Mike, for a guy from Batavia, you sure know a lot about LeRoy politics.
If it makes you feel any better, I was only there helping a friend, fellow Democrat and excellent candidate with her get out the vote effort. There were county representatives from the committees of both local parties there but the Republicans didn't seem nearly as pleased as we were with the results :)
Posted by Mike Mancuso on
Posted by Mike Mancuso on March 19, 2010 - 3:04pm
I am leery of a county committee being involved on such a local level.
Did LeRoy remove itself from Genesee Co.? Those, on the County committee, are there to help candidates and friends when needed. I'm sure it is the same way with the Republicans.
Having thought about this a
Having thought about this a little. I'll applaud Steve for doing this. This is a book researched, written, published and printed all within Hawley's district, he darn well should be proud of Tom Rivers' book. Handing it out to all the Senators and Assemblymen is a good thing. You can't reasonably expect someone born and raised in the Urban NYC area to understand what goes on at a farm in WNY any more than you'd expect a guy born and raised in Genesee Co to understand issues in The Bronx or Harlem. Although a lot of our legislators think they are so very smart and know everything, a little education won't hurt, especially just before voting on a Farmworkers Bill. I say Steve is doing his job and representing his constituents well by promoting a local product and giving legislators useful info. Whether they use it or not is something he can't control.
Michael, are you the Michael
Michael, are you the Michael Mancuso I know from Lime Rock? If so, forgive me, but with all this information on local elections I was simply very surprised by your comment having never seen or heard this from you before.