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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019
Grant funding under scrutiny
n FORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT WED
By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media Some sunshine
Increasing clouds
Cooler with a few showers
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Complete weather, A2
n SPORTS
Homecoming Night Chatham pulls away from Whitehall PAGE B1
CAIRO — Concern swelled online Monday over federal grant money that has remained untouched for over 20 years. In August the town board passed a resolution authorizing a $50,000 federal Housing & Urban Development Grant from 1998 to be granted to the Cairo Development Foundation. Town board members Daniel Joyce, Mary Jo Cords and Jason Watts voted in favor
of the resolution. Town Su- funding with the Town Attor- grant, Watts said. “I did make sure that was pervisor Daniel Benoit, whose ney Tal Rappeleyea. wife Diana Benoit is co-pres“I asked the town attorney, the only thing we could use the ident of the foundation, ab- is there anything else we can money for,” he said. Cords agreed. stained from “The De the vote and “The Development Foundation requested Councilman velopment Gary Warner refunds for low-income housing. That’s what Foundation was absent. quested funds the funds are designated for.” The grant for low-income money will be housing,” she — TOWN BOARD MEMBER MARY JO CORDS used for renosaid. “That’s what the funds vating two low-income apartments at 467 do with this money?” Watts are designated for.” said. HUD did not respond to a Main St. Only low-income housing request for comment Monday. Watts inquired about the Watts has performed work options the town had for the projects are eligible for the
on the project in the past, he said. “I have done work for the foundation,” he said. “I put a new boiler in. I haven’t received any money.” When asked if he was doing the work pro bono, Watt said he expected to be paid for the materials. “I had already done the work before the [grant] money was even around,” Watts said. “I don’t foresee it being a conflict of interest because I don’t See GRANT A8
Department of Justice considers weighing in on Green Light
n REGION
Texas man sentenced John Acklin gets 300 years for child sex abuse PAGE A3
n REGION
FILE PHOTO
A rally in support of New York’s Green Light Law. The U.S. Justice Department may intervene in challenges to the law allowing undocumented immigrants to have driver’s licenses.
By Massarah Mikati Columbia-Greene Media
Pet Food Bank replenished Shop-Rite Pet Food Drive nets 1,500 pounds PAGE A6
n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice
A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4-5 B7-8
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The U.S. Department of Justice is considering intervening in legal challenges to the Green Light law, according to documents filed by the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of New York last week. The department filed a motion to extend its deadline to decide whether to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Erie
County Clerk Michael Kearns over the summer challenging the law that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. Under the new law, local departments of motor vehicles and county clerk offices are prohibited from sharing private information about those who apply for licenses with immigration enforcement agencies. Kearns’ suit argues that it is a felony to withhold
information about undocumented immigrants from those entities, according to Title 8, Section 1373 of the U.S. code. But in an amicus brief filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union in September, attorneys argued that Section 1373 violates the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees states’ authority over policy matters not delegated to the
federal government — and which the Supreme Court ruled on last year. “When the Federal Government attempts to force state and local jurisdictions to enact federal programs and policies, it impermissibly ‘commandeers’ those governments in violation of the Tenth Amendment,” according to the brief. See GREEN A8
Vandalism closes popular Devil’s Path Trail By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media
HUNTER — A section of the Devil’s Path Trail has been closed due to vandalism for an indefinite period, state Department of Environmental Conservation officials announced Friday. The temporary closure affects the trail from Pecoy Notch trail, to the Twin Mountain summit, according to the release. Devil’s Path is a popular 21-mile trail that leads to Hunter Mountain and the highest historic fire tower in the state, according to dec. ny.gov. “The temporary closure was put into effect after recent vandalism of the steel rungs that were installed in August 2019,” according to the release. “The vandalism has created a safety
FILE PHOTO
This April 19, 2018 file photo shows the Devil’s Tombstone Campground in Hunter. Police closed the nearby trail, called the Devil’s Path, for an indefinite period, because of extensive vandalism.
hazard for visitors utilizing this section of trail.”
Visitors can still access the summit from the east by using the Jimmy
Dolan Notch Trail from Prediger Road or from the Devil’s Path from Indian Head Mountain, according to DEC. DEC will make an announcement when the section has reopened. Earlier this year, the nearby Devil’s Tombstone Campground closed for renovations. Devil’s Tombstone, which opened in 1926, earned its name because it is rumored that Old Scratch himself frequented Stony Clove, the nearby mountain pass. Home to 24 campsites equipped with picnic tables and fireplaces, three restrooms on site, two picnic areas, a playground, a volleyball court, horseshoes, firewood for sale, hiking trails and Notch Lake, the campground has See TRAIL A8