Closing out my career in the state Senate this year is bittersweet, as I have enjoyed and appreciate so much about the past 25 years in elective office. It has just been an incredible honor representing and advocating on behalf of the constituents of the 45th Senate District. Having been ...

Dear colleagues and students: Voting is the touchstone of our democracy — so I want to encourage all to vote.  As everyone knows, this election season is very contentious with strong emotions on both sides. However, this year in our Smitty Pledge, we vowed to be “a good neighbor, ...

“I stood out front. I led. ... I know there’s a risk, there’s a danger.” You can guess who said that. But a responsible leader wouldn’t march us toward a cliff. We’re not his lemmings. Trump is the primary culprit. He’s modeled terrible behavior for his entire career by ...

This is a difficult letter to write. It’s difficult because it’s just one more about politics, the election, democracy, all subjects we are either obsessed or fatigued with. It’s also difficult because most of us are locked into our respective positions on candidates, and it’s unlikely ...

A little over two weeks ago, I was lying wide awake in my sleeping bag in the middle of the Debar Mountain Wild Forest, flinching at every snapping twig and raindrop that fell on my tent in the night. It was a far cry from my warm bed back in Saranac Lake, but I tried to remember the reason ...

In today’s divisive political atmosphere, it’s surprising to find legislation that enjoys widespread bipartisan support. Here’s one: the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and Pilot Program. If signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, this pilot program will set the course for clean water and ...