Rensselaer County Minority Office – Monthly Report – May 2025
Medicaid Budget Cuts – For the second month in a row, some county residents attended the monthly Public Forum to express their concern about the impending Federal Medicaid budget cuts ($880B) and the devastating impact it would have for Rensselaer County’s social services. The speakers provided hard dollar figures and offered their professional expertise to work in a united approach with the legislature. While the Republican Majority tried to assure the residents that the budget was fluid and a live document, no bi-partisan cooperation has been offered, no contingency plan has yet been discussed or presented; and the worry remains that it may become a last-minute scramble to address the significant challenges these cuts will impose, as this hypothetical scenario increasingly appears to be a reality.
Pickleball Courts – G/202/25 – A $ 3.9M Siemens project to build eight pickleball courts at 99 Troy Road was introduced by the County Executive. While the idea of free recreation areas sounds wonderful for county residents, the Minority Legislators took issue with the timing of such a project and requested to table the resolution. It failed by a 6-9 vote along party lines, with 2 abstentions (Herrington, Maloney). In the end the resolution did not move with a 9-7 vote with one abstention.
Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A.6543 & S.5684) – The Minority legislators have once again submitted a resolution (P/46) in support of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. Expanding the list of returnable containers would significantly reduce the amount of trash going to landfills as they approach full capacity. Plus, it would save local governments millions of dollars. Yet, it seems like a ‘Deja Vue’ all over again, as the GOP doesn’t support the most effective litter reduction program and the resolution once again failed in committee.
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in the Rensselaer County Chambers located at 99 Troy Road, East Greenbush, NY.
PUBLIC FORUM – Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Residents are welcome to contact our office at 518 270-2890.
www.rensselaercounty.org & follow us on Facebook: “Rensselaer County Legislature – Democratic Team”