Opening Act

Thomas F. O'Mara

January 10, 2013

It's always the opening act in New York State's annual legislative session: the governor delivers a State of the State address that, by design, lays out a broad and commonly ambitious agenda.

Tradition has long held that this kickoff to the session -- the presentation of the governor's vision -- is chock full of ideas but short on specifics on how these ideas will be carried out or paid for. The true nuts and bolts of the agenda arrive a few weeks later, during the presentation of the executive budget, which Governor Cuomo is scheduled to unveil this year on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. That's where we find the all-important details of specific proposals and the Legislature can then begin to better determine their impact on communities across New York.

So it goes with Governor Cuomo's third State of the State message, delivered to a full house yesterday in the Empire State Convention Center in Albany.

O’Mara welcomes announcement of new housing, treatment services in Yates County, Finger Lakes region: Says new state-local effort key to addressing addiction and homelessness

December 5, 2016

"This project will help people address the circumstances that have contributed to their homelessness while changing their lives for the better," said Finger Lakes Addiction Counseling & Referral Agency Executive Director Martin Teller.

Senator O'Mara's weekly column 'From the Capitol' ~ for the week of December 5, 2016 ~ 'Governor Cuomo says no to commonsense actions'

December 5, 2016

New York State Capitol

O’Mara: Governor Cuomo's veto keeps Upstate public transit systems at risk

December 1, 2016

"For thousands upon thousands of Upstate residents, these systems provide critical links to jobs, medical appointments, school, shopping destinations, and other necessities. Our public transit systems also stand as cornerstones of regional transportation networks vital to economic development, job growth, anti-poverty and housing initiatives, energy and environmental conservation. Governor Cuomo has put this challenge off for another day. That unfairly and unacceptably keeps Upstate public transportation systems at risk,” said Senator O'Mara.

O’Mara applauds today's celebration of job creation, manufacturing growth at Alstom manufacturing facility in Hornell (Read more and watch a video replay here)

November 30, 2016

Senator O'Mara speaks at today's event in Hornell celebrating the success of Alstom Transportation. "It’s about the strong workforce that we have, and we need to continue to build on that,” the senator said.