Good morning, CivMixers.
It’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in WWII. Commemorations are taking place across the country and the world. President Donald Trump is in France, where he will accompany British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron at the US War Cemetery at Omaha Beach.
Here’s an excerpt from the speech the president is expected to give at the American military cemetery in Normandy, as provided by the White House:
“We are gathered here on Freedom’s Altar On these shores, on these bluffs, on this day 75 years ago, 10,000 men shed their blood — and thousands sacrificed their lives — for their brothers, for their countries and for the survival of liberty.”
Back here in New York, LG Kathy Hochul will mark D-Day by delivering remarks at the NYS Veterans Home at Montrose at 10 a.m., and at 1 p.m., will honor WW II veterans at the Purple Heart Museum, 374 Temple Hill Rd., New Windsor.
At 11:30 a.m., Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano pays tribute to those who fought and died during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II, Unity Fountain, City Hall, Unity Fountain, 40 S. Broadway, Yonkers.
While Hochul is on D-Day duty for the Cuomo administration, presumably the governor will be back in Albany, where he and state lawmakers are till trying to reach deals on outstanding issues before the legislative session’s scheduled end on June 19.
Things are still up in the air on two key issues – the legalization of pot for adult recreational use and the Green Light bill, which would enable undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
The Assembly is expected to pass the driver’s license bill next week, but the measure is hung up in the state Senate, where the New Democratic majority is still trying to determine whether it has sufficient votes to pass.
The Republicans, now in the minority, where they are (likely quixotically) hoping not to stay, are pushing back very hard on this. They’ve got the support of many upstate county clerks, who say they won’t issue driver’s licenses to anyone in the country illegally no matter what Albany does.
On pot, bill sponsors are at odds with the Cuomo administration over whether active, behind-the-scenes talks are even taking place, which doesn’t seem terribly promising.
While all this was going on, the state Senate held a hearing on equine safety in advance of this weekend’s Belmont Stakes and as the Saratoga meet is approaching.
Also, the LGBTQ rainbow pride flag is flying over the Capitol for the first time in state history in celebration of Pride Month. It was hoisted yesterday.
In local news…
A Ballston Spa nursing home has the dubious distinction of making a federal watchlist due to its questionable conditions.
A café and art gallery that will cater to women in the mobile workforce is the latest business to open on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
This idea of creating women-only workspaces is something of a trend, although the “no-man” policy was dropped by one prominent business, The Wing, in the wake of a discrimination suit. CM is curious how readers feel about this…
Approximately one year after its nurses organized and joined a union, Albany Medical Center’s other employees are preparing to do the same.
A former longtime hairstylist at Jean Paul Salon & Spa has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a female manager at the salon and that woman’s boyfriend of sexually assaulting her last year when they were all highly intoxicated.
As part of “Sing Out! New York,” the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s two-week American Music Festival, the Dogs of Desire, (their 18-member cutting edge chamber orchestra) is traveling to four communities (Schuylerville, Albany, Schenectady and Hudson) this weekend to offer a free concert at each stop.
It looks like things are finally drying out…for the moment.
It will be mostly cloudy in Albany and Troy this morning, followed by some sun in the afternoon, according to the Weather Channel. The projected high is somewhere between 77 and 78 degrees, with a low of 54 degrees.
Expect some morning showers if you’re in the Schenectady area – the chance of rain is about 50 percent – with “ample” sunshine in the afternoon. The predicted high is 77 degrees.
In Saratoga, there’s a 40 percent chance of morning rain, with “some” sun expected in the afternoon. It will be slightly cooler up north, with a projected high of about 75 degrees.
Have a great day!
Photo credit: Fred Coffey.
