Agriculture is part of the very fabric that constitutes New York. Despite many obstacles, our farming community provides food and sustenance for our families, schoolchildren and the less fortunate year after year with passion and diligence. Starting tomorrow,...

On Tuesday, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) (right) joined Brian Reeves (left), President of the NYS Vegetable Growers Association and owner of Reeves Farm located in Baldwinsville, at a press conference on the Million Dollar Staircase...

“Throughout her distinguished career in public service, Sen. Patty Ritchie has been among the most dedicated and effective voices for the region we both call home. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside her for many years and know she will be greatly...

Members of the Assembly Minority Conference, along with advocates supporting New York’s farmers, gathered to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject the recent recommendation by the Farm Laborers Wage Board to further lower the overtime threshold for farm...

New York’s mask mandate for businesses finally came to an end this week. On Wednesday, Gov. Hochul lifted an Executive Order requiring masks to be worn indoors for some places, but she has kept the requirement in place for children in schools. There...

“Gov. Hochul’s decision to lift the statewide indoor mask mandate is long past due and welcome news. However, dropping it some places but not others make little sense. While other states have seen fit to lift the mask restrictions for school children,...

Each February we celebrate American Heart Month, a time when we can reflect on the importance of good cardiovascular habits like healthy eating and exercise, and take some time to consider ways we can improve our overall wellness. For many New Yorkers,...

As the Farm Laborers Wage Board continues to evaluate potential changes to the overtime threshold in New York, I want to again call upon them to consider the gravity of their decision. Recently, I submitted testimony to the board calling for them to consider...

“Today’s decision by the Farm Laborers Wage Board demonstrates how completely tone-deaf Albany bureaucrats are to the needs of the agriculture industry. Despite hours of testimony, multiple financial reports and real-world accounts of the devastating...

“The confusion and chaos surrounding Gov. Hochul’s overreaching mask mandate reached an unfortunate peak today. A state Supreme Court judge struck down the requirement yesterday. And in the aftermath, conflicting messages from state officials provided...

The recently unveiled executive budget proposal should be no surprise to anyone who has lived in New York in the last decade. Spending is looking again to be record-setting, and the $216 billion proposal on the table would represent the largest in the...

“Gov. Hochul offered an executive budget proposal that one might expect in an election year: something for everyone and plenty of cash to dole out, thanks in part to billions in bailouts from Washington, D.C. On its surface, there’s a lot to like...

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood the importance of bringing people together and creating a better world through unity. Today, we pay tribute to that legacy, and Dr. King remains one of the most inspirational and important leaders in our nation’s...

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) will host a COVID-19 test giveaway on Thursday, Jan. 13 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Fulton War Memorial, 609 W. Broadway in the City of Fulton. Up to two test kits are available per household and supply...

The start of 2022 offers us many opportunities to change the way we do things. In New York, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed as we begin the New Year, and at the top of that list are the dangerous criminal justice policies that continue...

“Gov. Hochul’s State of the State Address presented her vision for the coming year, but little for New Yorkers to get excited about. This was a safe speech that hit popular notes. Unfortunately, clear solutions to current problems were few and far...

“Today, we begin a new year with a renewed sense of hope and optimism. I am confident that 2022 will be filled with opportunities for growth for our families, friends, neighbors and state. As we continue to manage the realities of COVID-19, it is important...

While we’re closing the final chapter on 2021, and my colleagues and I gear up for a new Legislative Session, I am optimistic for a brighter and better 2022. To say that the last year has been littered with obstacles and unfortunate distractions is...

“The Christmas season is one of great joy, love and charity. I hope this year is no different, and that you get to spend it surrounded by loved ones. In whatever way you celebrate the holiday, I urge everyone to take a moment to reflect on all the blessings...

The holiday season, for many, is a time of celebration and gathering with family and loved ones. For too many, though, it is a time of economic uncertainty, stress and anxiety. As a community, there are plenty of ways we can help alleviate some of those...