Michelle Breidenbach / The Post-Standard
About Me:
I am a reporter on The Post-Standard's enterprise team. I write about business and government.
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mbreidenbach@syracuse.com.Tweet: twitter.com/mbreidenbach
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Update: In Syracuse/Onondaga County government gang of four, a battle over the keys to a land bank
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on February 07, 2012, 2:19AM
On one side, the mayor and county executive; on the other, the leaders of Common Council and the county legislature. Full story »
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney have a ball raising campaign cash
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on January 26, 2012, 2:01AM
A donation or $250 per person and up can get you a night of dinner and dancing -- and access to high-level government officials. Full story »
Gov. Cuomo proposes new state office to help refugees and immigrants with citizenship, jobs and more
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on January 09, 2012, 2:00AM
Plan is short on details for now, as governor attempts to put together a state spending plan. Full story »
NY State police stop wrong-way driver on I-81
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on December 25, 2011, 9:54PM
LaFayette, NY -- Early Christmas morning, State Police forced a Rochester woman off the road after she was found driving the wrong way on Interstate 81 in the town of Onondaga. Heather L. Fritzen, 25, of Rochester, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and other offenses, police said. She was released and is to appear in the town... Full story »
New York Thruway's Port Byron rest area is closed
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on December 25, 2011, 7:49PM
Port Byron, NY -- The Port Byron rest stop on the New York State Thruway is closed tonight. Food and restrooms are unavailable, but the gas station is open. The service area is on the eastbound side between Exit 41, at Waterloo, and Exit 40, at Weedsport. The next place to stop is at the DeWitt Service Area, between Exits... Full story »
Double-dipping county sheriffs draw both state pension, salary
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on December 19, 2011, 7:00AM
State law allows for this common practice by elected officials; 23 of New York's 58 elected sheriffs are double dipping. Full story »
Syracuse University consults with public relations firm that helped Spitzer, Paterson with their scandals
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 22, 2011, 4:11PM
Paul Verbinnen, president of Sard Verbinnen & Co., is a Syracuse alumnus who is providing advice. Full story »
Cuomo's do-over: Summer fundraiser rescheduled for Tuesday
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 17, 2011, 7:24AM
Republican-led event was postponed by Hurrican Irene. Full story »
Syracuse Democrats applaud Hudson, Joy as next councilors at large
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 08, 2011, 10:21PM
Hudson won 35 percent of the vote and Kathleen Joy won 33 percent in a four-way race for two seats. Full story »
Onondaga County Legislator Judith Tassone ahead by only 31 votes, unofficial results say
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 08, 2011, 10:14PM
Syracuse, NY - Onondaga County Legislator Judith Tassone, a Salina Republican, appears to have won the election night count by just 31 votes. She unseated one-term Democratic Legislator David Stott, by just 138 votes two years ago. Stott, a sales consultant from Salina, is trying to take the seat back. The unofficial count is 2,151 votes for Tassone and 2,120... Full story »
Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse celebrates 125th anniversary
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 06, 2011, 6:43PM
Worshippers fill the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as prayers are offered in six languages. Full story »
Gravediggers for Syracuse Catholic diocese accept severance packages, call off Sunday protest
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on November 03, 2011, 2:27PM
Syracuse, NY - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse gave severance packages to six cemetery workers, who have agreed not to protest Sunday outside a special Mass to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the diocese. Gravediggers at St. Mary’s and St. Agnes cemeteries have worked since the 1960s under a contract between the church and SEIU Local 200 United. The... Full story »
The police chiefs who retired are not contributing to a second pension.
Posted on Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments on October 24, 2011, 10:27AM
Click where it says "search by job title."
Posted on Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments on October 24, 2011, 8:49AM
You can see who passed the civil service exam for police chief on the Onondaga County Personnel Office's Web site: http://www.ongov.net/employment/ranking.html
Posted on Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments on October 24, 2011, 8:47AM
Overtime is included for most public employees. There is a limit in the most recent tier (5)....overtime pay that is higher than 15 percent of regular annual wages doesn't count for those employees.
Here is a link to the Web site that explains to retirees how to calculate their final average salaries:
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/members/final_average_salary.htm
Posted on Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments on October 24, 2011, 8:29AM
About 300,000 pension checks go to people who still live in NY. About 33,000 in Florida. 58 people took their NYS pension and moved to Alaska. See page 25 of the pension fund's most recent annual report.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/word_and_pdf_documents/publications/cafr/cafr_11.pdf
Posted on Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments on October 24, 2011, 8:13AM
Police chiefs receive pension and government pay by switching departments
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on October 23, 2011, 8:36AM
New York allows officers to retire at a young age, so police chiefs land waivers and carefully manage pension and pay to stay legal. Full story »
Catholic diocese ordered to answer gravediggers' complaint
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on October 18, 2011, 8:32AM
Church will not bargain with union; employment board investigates. Full story »
New Syracuse Philharmonic strives for flexibility
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 26, 2011, 6:01AM
Its 5-year plan leaves former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra musicians unemployed, disappointed. Full story »
A tour of World Trade Center debris on display in Central New York
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 08, 2011, 5:00AM
When Pat Masten talks about the piece of the World Trade Center she expected to get for the DeWitt Sept. 11 memorial, she uses her hands to make a square about as big as the seat on her walker. Full story »
New York State Grange cultivates a new generation
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 04, 2011, 1:01AM
Organization started as a farm advocate. Few members now are farmers. Full story »
Zumba flash mob breaks out at the New York State Fair
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 03, 2011, 6:15PM
Strangers wandered from under the shade trees in Chevy Court and danced together on the hot asphalt. Full story »
CNY Central News Anchor Michael Benny a good sport about state fairgoers' cell phone pictures
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 03, 2011, 2:18PM
Careful with the nose, OK? Full story »
New York State Fair offers a taste of Zimbabwe
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 03, 2011, 1:38PM
Amid the deep-fried fair foods, the Rev. Blessed Sikhosana brings family traditions and healthy eating. Full story »
Baldwinsville family makes roller coasters out of pretzels at NY State Fair
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 03, 2011, 1:08PM
It's not as easy as it looks. Full story »
Get a free bike helmet at the NY State Fair today
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on September 03, 2011, 10:44AM
A brain surgeon says the helmets could prevent thousands of hospital visits. Full story »
Hurricane Irene is expected to mostly bypass Syracuse
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on August 26, 2011, 6:00AM
Predictions of the storm's path, which place the eye over Manhattan, put Central New York on its edge. Full story »
Mahoney, a Republican, to co-host fund-raiser for Gov. Cuomo Thursday in Skaneateles
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on August 23, 2011, 8:02AM
Her support means a $5,000 contribution from her own campaign committee and phone calls to encourage her donors to give to the governor. Full story »
Should government pay for staff parties to build "company" morale?
Posted on News from The Post-Standard on August 11, 2011, 11:31AM
The New York Power Authority spent more than $9,000 on food for its annual holiday party at its White Plains headquarters. Full story »
