Following a chorus of boos over the Long Island Power Authority's management of the Superstorm Sandy recovery, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday launched a statewide commission to hold the state's utilities accountable for their performance.
Cuomo's commission, which will have the power to subpoena and examine witnesses under oath, will probe the preparation and management of state utilities in the wake of recent major weather events such as Sandy, Tropical Storm Irene and Tropical Strom Lee in 2011, which caused disastrous flooding in upstate New York.
The commission will then make recommendations to reform a system that is already plagued with operational overlaps between the New York Power Authority, LIPA, the Public Service Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, according to Cuomo's office.
"From Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, to Hurricane Sandy, over the past two years New York has experienced some of the worst natural disasters in our state's history," Cuomo said in a statement. “As we adjust to the reality of more frequent major weather incidents, we must study and learn from these past experiences to prepare for the future.”
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice will be the only Long Islander on the commission, whose other members include former state attorney general Robert Abrams, state financial services superintendent Benjamin Lawsky, PSC chair Peter Bradford, Clarkson University president Tony Collins, former NYPA chair John Dyson, senior pastor of Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral Rev. Floyd Flake, former New York City public advocate Mark Green, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and Tishman Construction Corp. CEO Dan Tishman.
Cuomo has already called the response of the state's utilities to massive outages wrought by Sandy a failure.
I applaud you.. Right on target...
http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/03/amid-sandys-devastation-long-island-union-sent-written-demand-to-florida-utilities-pay-dues-or-stay-home/
As to President Obama, the feds have delivered a lot of gas to the island, and have done a fair amount to start the rebuild. But the bulk of our problems come from 1. LIPA incompetence, 2. heavy storm damage, 3. ineffective local government. For instance, we have streets in E Northport with so much debris piled up that ambulances and fire engines can't get through, and the Town of Huntington is nowhere to be found in trucking the stuff away. I'm no fan of Cuomo and his silver tongue, but there are plenty of government officials around to share the blame.
Just because you ran a company does not mean you know what OEM, COB plans or sites, disaster recovery, homeland security are etc........ COB plans are essential to keep a business running through a difficult experience.. So if you think that the think tank (Albany) needs to be present in the nucleus of a devastating event while it is happening then you really know less than I thought....
Just because you ran a company does not mean you know what OEM, COB plans or sites, disaster recovery, homeland security are etc........ COB plans are essential to keep a business running through a difficult experience.. So if you think that the think tank (Albany) needs to be present in the nucleus of a devastating event while it is happening then you really know less than I thought....
Oh yeah, that "think tank" did a bang up job alright.... From appointing Dietitians to LIPA board, to cronies using state services to cover their personal property.... The whole thing's a fiasco. You can argue till you're blue in the face. The media has got its hooks into this and are doing a great job making Andy look like a clown. Enjoying every minute of it. NYS lawmakers deserve a good slap.
If you want a copy of the proposed leislative resolution to DEMAND the Governor and the County Executives agree to Elected Trustees .... contact me on Facebook via Political Patriot or Greg Fischer or by email via perfect100 at hotmail.com
YOU voted for him.....now live with your decision.
You are so right on all counts. A wise man once told me the cream always rises to the top and competition is what makes it happen. LIPA has become our very own Little Shop of Horrors... We can only hope the taxpaying residents will have their demands met. If not local power, at least a new company that respects those who pay for their existence.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/utilility-workers-sue-over-pay/
What's important is ELECT. You can chose someone with the experience (if they have it). right now, they're APPOINTED... There's a Dietitian on the board and the voters did not have a say. that's just plain wrong. As for competition, the State will not allow it unless they slap a tax increase to cover the notes for the Shoreham debt. They will not default.
Electricity independance!!!