In today’s economy, it is more important than ever for employers to draw upon the skills of the 54 million Americans are living with a disability. This innovative and often underutilized talent pool as a potential source of employees. Likewise it’s essential for employers to consider the growing number of consumers with disabilities as a potential market. Implementing inclusive workplace practices and offering disability-friendly service benefits everyone and can help businesses succeed.

At The Business Council we hope that you will find Disability.gov as a valuable resource for finding answers to questions about disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits.

On this site employers are connected to thousands of national, state and local resources on topics such as tax incentives, tips for recruiting and interviewing a person with a disability, workplace accommodations and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affects businesses.

2-1-1 in the Hudson Valley and Long Island region will be available 24/7 to answer non-emergency calls throughout the weekend, in response to the onset of Hurricane Earl. United Way of Long Island and United Way of Westchester and Putnam are working with their local governments and emergency managers to coordinate the provision of accurate and up to date information.

2-1-1 Hudson Valley provides services to Long Island and the North Country in addition to its own region.

From within the service area residents can dial 2-1-1. From outside the service area (for example if a family member who lives in another part of the state is looking for assistance for a family member who lives in the area) 2-1-1 Hudson Valley can be reached through an 800 number: 800-899-1479.

In New York City 2-1-1 can be reached by dialing either 3-1-1 or 2-1-1.

In a recent editorial by the Watertown Press Republican their editorial board gives support to the Essex County Board of Supervisors for voting against a North Country Community College labor agreement.

“The Essex County Board of Supervisors made a lot of friends with its vote against a North Country Community College labor agreement because of the raises targeted for the school’s support staff.

The supervisors voted 8-6 against approving the contract. The sticking point was the raises for the 24 employees in the bargaining unit. The raises would amount to $1,000 for the first year and 3 percent in each of the remaining two years of the contract’s life. That’s a lot of money for taxpayers to pony up during a period of such economic stress.

It is also what separates the public employment sector from private industry. Most of the workers in private business or industry are having to do without raises altogether. Some are enduring pay cuts or furlough days. Many of them have lost their jobs and have only unemployment insurance to tide them over. How are these people supposed to pay for raises for employees on the public payroll?”

To read more click here.

Craig Wolf of the Poughkeepsie Journal reports - “BM Corp. announced today that the chips inside its latest mainframe computer boast the fastest clock speed of any processors out there.

“The world’s fastest computer chip” is called a z196 and is what powers the zEnterprise mainframe computers that IBM will begin shipping out of the Poughkeepsie plant Sept. 10.

Making large computers and microchips is IBM’s main business in Dutchess County, where it employs several thousand. The health of the mainframe business is thus a key for the local economy.”

To read more click here.

According to a Quinnipiac University Poll released this morning - “Former Congressman Rick Lazio leads businessman Carl Paladino 47 - 35 percent among New York State Republican likely primary voters in the race for Governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But 18 percent of Republican voters remain undecided and 49 percent of those who do name a candidate say they might change their mind before the September 14 primary.

Paladino’s support looks a little stronger as 62 percent of his voters say their mind is made up, compared to 42 percent of Lazio backers, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

There is a significant gender gap as Lazio leads 51 - 26 percent among Republican women and only 44 - 42 percent among men.”

TO read more click here.

Cuomo Tops Lazio Or Paladino More Than 2-1, Quinnipiac University New York State Poll Finds; Voters Want To Know How Cuomo Will Fix Budge

Also in a poll released yeesterday by the University they found - “New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate for Governor, leads either of his Republican rivals by more than 2-1, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Cuomo tops former Congressman Rick Lazio 57 - 25 percent and leads Carl Paladino 60 - 23 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Independent voters back Cuomo over Lazio 55 - 23 percent and support the Democrat over Paladino 54 - 24 percent.

New York State voters approve 69 - 20 percent of the job Cuomo is doing as Attorney General and by 54 - 21 percent, they have a favorable opinion of him.

Lazio gets a split 25 - 24 percent favorability and 49 percent of voters don’t know enough about him to form an opinion. For Paladino, 70 percent don’t know enough about him.

Voters say 63 - 23 percent that Cuomo has not done enough to explain how he will fix New York State’s budget problems. Even Democrats say 52 - 35 percent that Cuomo hasn’t explained enough.

Asked if Cuomo is deferring to Gov. David Paterson or “ducking his responsibility as a candidate,” voters say 44 - 32 percent that he’s ducking.”

To read more form yesterday poll click here.

According to a new Siena College Poll released this morning - ” New York State consumer confidence decreased 0.5 points in August, while the nation’s confidence increased 1.1 points, according to the latest poll by the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). At 62.5, New York’s overall consumer confidence is 6.4 points below the nation’s* 68.9 confidence level.
In August, buying plans were up for: major home improvements, 0.1 points to 13.8%. Buying plans were down for: cars/trucks, 2.6 points to 7.0%; computers, 1.8 points to 11.0%; and furniture, 2.1 points to 15.3%. Buying plans remained unchanged for homes, at 2.0%.

“It’s hard to put a positive spin on these numbers,” according to Dr. Doug Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena College and SRI Founding Director. “Statewide our numbers are weak and depict worried consumers very reluctant to spend. Under the hood, we see Democrats saying the economic glass is nearly half full, but Republicans, 25 future index points lower, are now more pessimistic about their own prospects as well as the five-year state outlook than they have been since we began measuring consumer confidence in 1999. Over six of every ten Republicans expect poor business conditions in New York this year and widespread unemployment through 2015. Democrats forecast a somewhat rosier picture for the state and are much more likely than Republicans to insist that somehow, someway, they personally will be better off in a year.”

Each month since January 1999, the SRI survey establishes a Consumer Confidence index number for New York State consumers. This index number allows a direct comparison of New Yorkers to all Americans (“the nation”) as surveyed by the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment index. The SRI survey measures current and future consumer confidence, which combined provides the overall consumer confidence. SRI further looks at confidence in New York State by region (metro New York City and Upstate), age, income, gender and party.”

To read more click here.

Broome County and Binghamton city officials announced yesterday that the EPA’s final public meeting regarding the potential relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water will be held on September 13 and 15 at the Forum Theatre, 236 Washington St. in Binghamton. Each day will consist of a morning and an evening session. Part of the agreement calls for increased security to handle the expected protesters. Meetings have been held in Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado with the final meeting in New York, the only state where hydrofracking is currently prohibited pending DEC regulations.

Registration is still open to those wishing to comment on the record. For more information go to: http://hfmeeting.cadmusweb.com/Postponed.aspx

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has acted on 92 bills, signing 66 bills into law and issuing 26 vetoes.

Among the bills signed by Governor Paterson is the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act, which establishes Smart Growth criteria in State law, requires several State agencies to create Smart Growth Advisory Committees that would evaluate public infrastructure investments based on the Smart Growth criteria, and requires such infrastructure investments, to the extent practicable, to meet the criteria.

Governor Paterson also signed into law A.2563-A/S.6177-A, which requires employers who provide funeral leave for family members of a deceased person to provide the same leave to same-sex committed partners.

Additionally, Governor Paterson has signed into law the Construction Industry Fair Play Act, which creates a clear litmus test to distinguish the difference between a worker and an independent contractor. It also provides a method to clearly define which business on a construction project is responsible for which workers. Finally, for the first time in State history, it imposes monetary and criminal penalties specifically for the act of employee misclassification on construction projects.

Hudson A. Wilkin writes in a letter to the editor on Pressconnects.com - “The New York state Department of Conservation must allow the natural gas companies to use hydraulic fracturing to obtain the natural gas. Everything mankind has ever done has had both benefits and risks, and this time the benefits outweigh the risks. The DEC and those who are against hydrofracking want to have a 100 percent risk-free situation before they will allow the use of hydrofracking, which is impossible.

If the DEC allows hydrofracking, natural gas companies will hire hundreds of employees, who will spend their income in New York. The services that these people and their families will use, and the goods they will buy, will require other businesses to hire more people so they can meet increased demand for their products and services. With the increase in sales, more sales tax money will be collected by villages, cities, towns, counties and the state, which will reduce the amount of property and income taxes that have to be paid.

These newly employed people will be paying village, city, town, county, school, property, state and federal taxes; since more people are paying taxes, the burden is more spread out, and each taxpayer will be required to pay a smaller portion of the total taxes owed each year.”

To read more click here.

Daily News columnist William Hammond reminds readers that if they want things to change in Albany, to show up at the voting booth on primary day.

New Yorkers itching to clean house in Albany, be forewarned: The moment to act is coming sooner than you think.

Voters who wait until Election Day in November to vent fury at their notoriously dysfunctional and corruption-riddled state government are liable to miss the boat - especially if they’re Democrats living in New York City.

As a practical matter, the last, best chance to dislodge deadwood state legislators from seats in the five boroughs will be the Democratic primaries on Sept. 14.

That’s just two weeks from today, folks.

Mark your calendars in red. Figure out where your polling place is. Look up the names of your local senator and Assembly member. And exercise that voting finger.

Because Sept. 14 is the election that really counts when it comes to bringing much-needed change to state government, especially the Legislature.”

To read the rest of Bill’s column click here.