Buffalo News, June 23, 2018

by Bob McCarthy

Some random observations about politics around here:

• Stephanie Miner, the former mayor of Syracuse, at one time maintained such a close political relationship with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that she served as his co-chairwoman of the Democratic State Committee – the same post now held by Mayor Byron Brown.

But things soured when Miner penned a New York Times op-ed railing against the governor’s borrowing plan for future pension obligations. That friendship quickly ended.

Now Miner has emerged as an independent challenger to the governor after flirting with a Democratic candidacy. Though nobody is rushing off to Las Vegas with wagers she will win in November, it’s a sure bet she will cause all kinds of problems for Cuomo’s re-election bid.

Ditto for Cynthia Nixon if she loses the Democratic primary but stays on the Working Families line. So will Howie Hawkins of the Greens, who was in town Thursday to advocate state divestiture of fossil fuel investments from the state pension fund.

News Growl, June 22, 2018

A News Growl Special Report uncovers evidence of bias against third party candidates among some of America's most respected polling organizations.

by Steve Goodale

On November 6th New Yorkers will choose their governor using ballots with at least four options on them. Two of those options, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and Libertarian Larry Sharpe, are running unusually strong third party campaigns and have been doing so for months.

Yet reputable polling firms like Siena, Marist, and Quinnipiac routinely restrict the choices of their respondents to just the two major parties – ignoring the disconnect between the question they ask in the polls and the questions voters will ultimately answer in the voting booth.

We wanted to know why, so News Growl contacted all three organizations. Two of them replied, but not with the answers we were expecting.

Spectrum News, June 21, 2018

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — While prosecutors across the state attempt to prove bid-rigging connected to the governor's signature economic development initiative, two Green Party candidates for state wide office criticized the Buffalo Billion as a whole.

"We'll see what the trial brings out and what the jury says but on the face of it, it's corrupt because big donations in, contracts out, and it's hard to prove a quid pro quo but it looks obvious just on appearance," Green Gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins said.

Comptroller candidate Mark Dunlea said he is concerned about the reports he's heard thus far from the trial, primarily that the state's economic development arm allegedly consulted with preferred developers about major projects.

"The testimony we've heard so far, it was routine for the Cuomo administration to allow companies that had given him donations to literally write request for proposals," he said.

Dunlea said current comptroller Tom Dinapoli has been silent about the Assembly's failure this week to pass legislation to give his office more oversight of state contracts. He said if elected he would be more aggressive in his scrutiny of contracts like the ones currently at the center of the trial.

"The state Assembly refused to bring the bill up for a vote even though it had passed the Senate, mainly because the governor did not want to see more state comptroller oversight," Dunlea said.

Meanwhile, Hawkins believes the Buffalo Billion model is flawed in general. Standing in front of the Freedom Wall on Buffalo's east side, he said he was skeptical the economic development money has made it to the neighborhoods that need it the most.

"The struggling working class and minority communities, this trickle-down economics don't trickle down to us. It goes to the rich," Hawkin said.

The candidates are pushing an economic development plan they call the Green New Deal which involves investing money into public works, specifically projects targeting climate change and improving the environment.

"That will create jobs directly. It will put people to work. It will put money in these communities and it will build the economy from the bottom up," Hawkins said.

For immediate release: June 21, 2018

(Buffalo NY) The Green Party candidates for Comptroller and Governor came to Buffalo today to call for increased action on climate change, which they say is the path to full employment.

They also called for reforms in the state’s efforts to create jobs, saying that presently economic development funds to often go to large campaign donors rather than to create jobs in communities where they are most needed. Several Cuomo administration officials and campaign donors are on trial in New York for allegedly rigging the bidding process for contracts for the Buffalo Billion. Cuomo and state lawmakers had stripped the State Comptroller of oversight of such contracts shortly before the Buffalo Billion contracts were entered into.

Mark Dunlea, the Green candidate for State Comptroller, said that the refusal of the current Comptroller to divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels is the main focus of his candidacy. For the last five years Dunlea has helped coordinate the NYC and state campaigns for 350.org to divest public pension funds from fossil fuels. NYC announced earlier this year that they would divest.

“Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity,” Dunlea noted. “It makes no sense for the State to continue to risk $6 billion in fossil fuels investment when the world has agreed to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewables. So far we have gotten 700 institutions worldwide to divest more than $6 trillion in funds from fossil fuels, but Tom DiNapoli thinks he will be more effective talking to Exxon, Chevron and the rest about climate risks,” said Dunlea.

Hawkins joined Dunlea to highlight the need to clean up the epidemic of political corruption at the State Capitol during the Cuomo administration. After the news conference, the Green Party candidates met with various community groups in the Buffalo area to determine if there was any evidence of local job creation as a result of Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion.

NewsChannel 34 WIVT/WBGH (ABC/NBC, Binghamton), June 20, 2018

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Green Party's candidate for Governor also appeared before the Broome County Courthouse steps along with the party's candidate for State Comptroller.

Mark Dunlea officially announced his run for Comptroller.

He says the main focus of his candidacy is to divest public pension funds from fossil fuels.

According to Dunlea, only 4 percent of New York State gets it's electricity from renewable energy and that he and Gubernatorial Candidate Howie Hawkins would support legislation to move to 100 percent clean energy by 2030.

Dunlea says climate change needs to receive more attention.

"The first issue is to really force the issue of divestment in climate change. I think it's the single greatest threat to humanity at this point and we're losing the struggle against climate change," said Dunlea.

Dunlea also cited a study done by Cornell and Stanford professors that showed a transition to 100 percent renewable energy would create 4.5 million jobs during construction and 58,000 permanent annual jobs thereafter for the energy facilities.

Fox 40 WICZ-TV, Binghamton, June 20, 2018

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BINGHAMTON, NY - The Green Party candidates for Governor and State Comptroller made a stop in Binghamton Wednesday morning, calling for action on a number of issues.

Candidate for Governor, Howie Hawkins, endorsed Mark Dunlea for State Comptroller, discussing what he calls corruption in the Cuomo administration.

Dunlea centered the press conference around climate change, a major focus of his campaign.

“I think it’s the single greatest threat to humanity at this point, and we’re losing the struggle against climate change. I also want more progressive taxation in New York State, I believe the Comptroller should be standing up. The Governor and the state lawmakers violate the rules every year on how much money goes to our schools, that should be stopped.”

Dunlea said the refusal of the current Comptroller, Thomas De Napoli, to divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels is another main focus of his candidacy.

The Green Party candidate previously served as Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State.

“I think he has more financial background than De Napoli did when he went in. I think he’s a much better candidate. He’s much more qualified than anybody running.” - Howie Hawkins, Green Party Candidate for Governor

Dunlea will challenge Democrat incumbent De Napoli in the primary.

For immediate release: June 20, 2018

(Syracuse, NY) The Green Party candidates for Comptroller and Governor were in Syracuse today to call for increased action on climate change which they say is the path to full employment.

Mark Dunlea, the Green candidate for State Comptroller, said that the refusal of the current Comptroller to divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels is the main focus of his candidacy. For the last five years Dunlea has helped coordinate the NYC and state campaigns for 350.org to divest public pension funds from fossil fuels. NYC announced earlier this year that they would divest.

Howie Hawkins, the Green candidate for Governor, welcomed former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner to the Gubernatorial race but noted that her conservative economic policies had made the poverty crisis worse locally during her tenure. He has also questioned her credentials as an anti-corruption advocate.

In a release issued earlier this week, Hawkins pointed out that during Miner’s tenure as Mayor of Syracuse, the city’s high level of poverty and segregation of housing and schools by race and class became further concentrated. Miner’s policies and subsidies gentrified downtown, pushing low-income people out.

In addition to divesting from fossil fuels, Dunlea and Hawkins want the state to halt any more fossil fuel infrastructure, including natural gas, and instead transition to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030.

For immediate release: June 20, 2018

(Binghamton, NY) The Green Party candidates for Comptroller and Governor came to Binghamton today to call for increased action on climate change which they say is the path to full employment.

Mark Dunlea, the Green candidate for State Comptroller, said that the refusal of the current Comptroller to divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels is the main focus of his candidacy. For the last five years Dunlea has helped coordinate the NYC and state campaigns for 350.org to divest public pension funds from fossil fuels. NYC announced earlier this year that they would divest.
Hawkins and the Green Party campaigned 8 years ago to ban the fracking of natural gas in New York State, saying it was bad for the climate and for the local economy. Methane from natural gas is more than 80 times more potent short term as a greenhouse gas than carbon is.

“We are glad that grassroots opposition in the Southern Tier and elsewhere forced the Governor to agree to ban fracking. The Greens' 5% of the vote in the general election in 2014 meant Cuomo could not ignore the movement’s demand for a fracking ban and take its votes for granted. Unfortunately, Cuomo continues to allow the state to be flooded with imported fracked gas from Pennsylvania. He even wants to spend $88 million to power the State Capitol complex with fracked gas instead of using renewable energy such as geothermal or solar. NY lags far behind other states in moving us to 100% clean energy,” stated Hawkins.

For immediate release: June 20, 2018

Notice of News Conference

Date: Thursday, June 21 2018

Location: Buffalo Freedom Wall, corner of Ferry St. and Michigan Ave.

Time: 11:30 AM

Who: Mark Dunlea for State Comptroller; Howie Hawkins for Governor

Mark Dunlea, the Green Party candidate for State Comptroller, will hold a press conference in Buffalo on Thursday June 21 to announce his candidacy. A major focus of his campaign is on climate change, starting with requiring the state pension funds to divest from fossil fuels. Dunlea has helped coordinate divestment campaigns in NYC and NYS over the last 5 years. NYC has recently agreed to divest but the State Comptroller prefers to talk with Exxon and other fossil fuel companies.

Dunlea will be accompanied by Syracuse resident Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate for Governor.

After the news conference, Hawkins will lead of tour of community sites throughout the Buffalo area to talk with local residents and see if any evidence can be found of positive job creation or community benefit from the so-called Buffalo Billion program.

For immediate release: June 19, 2018

Notice of News Conference

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Location: North side of the County Court House, 92 Court Street, Binghamton,
Time:  11:30 AM

Mark Dunlea, the Green Party candidate for State Comptroller, will hold a press conference in Binghamton on Wednesday June 20 at 11:30 AM to announce his candidacy.  The event will take place on the north side of the County Court House, 92 Court St., Binghamton NY.

A major focus of his campaign is on climate change, starting with requiring the state pension fund to divest from fossil fuels. Dunlea has helped coordinate divestment campaigns in NYC and NYS over the last 5 years with 350.org. NYC recently agreed to divest but the State Comptroller prefers to talk with Exxon and other fossil fuel companies.

Dunlea will be accompanied by Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate for Governor.  Hawkins called for a ban on fracking from fossil fuels during his 2010 campaign. While grassroots activists eventually convinced Cuomo to agree to ban fracking in New York, Cuomo has continued to support the importation of fracked gas from neighboring states such as Pennsylvania. Hawkins will discuss the Green New Deal which seeks to transition to 100% clean energy while providing living wage jobs for local residents.

Hawkins and Dunlea will discuss the ongoing problems with corruption in the Cuomo administration.