Tomorrow Gov. Kathy Hochul will present her State of the State address, a blueprint outlining some of her agenda items for the year. We’ll be listening for any Adirondack Park mentions and reading through her State of the State book, which delves into more details on proposed projects statewide. (Editor’s note: This column originally ran in Gwen’s newsletter on Jan. 9. The story is now live here.)

Adirondack Park lawmakers are already slated to have important roles on certain legislative committees. State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, is the ranking minority member on both the environmental conservation and internet and technology committees. In a news release he said: “From protecting our unique natural resources to improving broadband access and other regionally specific issues, I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure state government takes action to improve our quality of life.” State Assemblyman Matthew Simpson, R-Horicon, was also appointed ranking minority member on the environmental conservation committee.

We spoke to Simpson last week about his new appointment and a bill he and Stec ushered through and Hochul signed late last year. Shari Raymond, the widow of Environmental Conservation Officer Stephen Raymond, will get over $2 million from the state for her late husband’s death benefits. You can read the story here.

The Adirondack Park Agency will not be meeting this month “due to no agenda items that require board action,” according to its website. Commissioners are expected to meet next on Feb. 10. The agency continues to update its website seeking public comment on various projects. You can review them here: https://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/index.cfm.

Also of note, the state Department of Environmental Conservation released its Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group’s report on managing visitors and protecting our neighboring forest preserve to the south. This group was convened shortly after the Adirondack Park’s version, called the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group. You can read the Catskill Park’s report here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/122227.html.

Photo: State Sen. Dan Stec, Shari Raymond and state Assemblyman Matt Simpson at a memorial service for fallen officers. Photo courtesy of Shari Raymond

This first appeared in Gwen’s weekly “Adirondack Report” newsletter. Click here to sign up.