TUESDAY ROUND-UP

GUIDE TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Rensselaer County released an Officials & Services Directory.

"For anyone who wants to learn more about Rensselaer County, our Officials and Services Directory is a great place to start. We encourage interested residents to contact the legislative offices for a copy," County Legislature Chairman Neil Kelleher said.

In addition to aiding citizens in identify public officials, the guide contains useful tips on:

1- The care and feeding of officials;
2- A vaccination schedule;
3- Which officials are safe to approach;
4- Emergency phone numbers in the event an official gets inside your home or garage.

THE FIGHTING 21ST

Another possible contestant in the race to replace Congressman Mike McNulty. From the Times Union:

Former state Assemblyman Paul Tonko resigned this afternoon from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the first step in his bid for a congressional seat.

Meanwhile, Tracey Brooks went door-to-door in Colonie on Sunday and celebrated Earth Day by calling for:

Enhanced environmental protection and energy conservation efforts and more funding for renewable energy development, alternative fuels and climate change research.

"Each year, we celebrate Earth Day as a reminder of what we can and should be doing 365 days a year to help protect our planet, preserve the environment and find cleaner, more renewable ways to fuel our cars, heat and cool our homes and produce the energy we need for economic development,"

Candidate Phil Steck continues to utilize free media and receives more endorsements:

Phil Steck announced today that he has been endorsed by several more local elected officials from Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties in his campaign to succeed Congressman Mike McNulty. Albany County Legislator Don Rahm (city of Albany), Guilderland Town Clerk Rosemary Centi, Delanson Trustee Dianne Grygas, Rensselaer City Treasurer Susan Lupian, former Troy City Council President Beth Walsh, former Niskayuna Town Supervisor Luke Smith, and former Albany County Legislator Tom Cairns (city of Albany) have officially endorsed Steck.

Last Friday, congressional hopeful Darius Shahinfar, along with Mayor Tutunjian, spoke at the 93rd Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

“Last year, as Capital District Representative for Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, I was privileged to work on House Resolution 106 – the Armenian Genocide Resolution,” said Shahinfar. “Through that process I met with many Armenian and human rights groups. What I quickly learned is that the Armenian community’s strength transcends beyond the itself. To its great credit, the Armenian community has played an active role in raising awareness of the atrocities in Darfur , a region of the world to which the community has no connection other than the kinship of horrors.”

“Earlier this month was Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day,” said Shahinfar. “On this day, the world remembers and commemorates the atrocities that began against the Armenian people 93 years ago. We vow to never forget and to renew our promise to stand strong against violence and hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.”

The United States continues to refuse to recognize the Armenian Genocide for fear of pissing off the Turks.