[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6510999,"mediaKeyId","5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9","parentId",5340771,"title","Rensselaer Legislature passes resolution urging governor to withhold $15 million allocation for legal expenses; vote splits 11–6","audioSeconds",85,"startMs",3336615,"endMs",3422350,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9&start=3336&end=3422","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9/thumbnail_3336615.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510999/Rensselaer-County/New-York/Rensselaer-Legislature-passes-resolution-urging-governor-to-withhold-15-million-allocation-for-legal-expenses-vote-splits-116","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510999-3de15d8234571923e2814e0f23e04409/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154210&Signature=YQ2dFVrW-QhB6UP7RVjaraZNs2z2AYlwiR6wh3AfEsN1dqD3ACtKzxUnRAQZXFGxnSmbqfsDf0OvZKglKA7ed06c6zfCHaY6bGVugRruDq5Bwv8tXIqNpoRzaQ7kH7wMIq4mIwqhNAQDkr7DKh-TmONMdXJXCVEUohyqhj9Xg~puVAyWJwTTosPbBcatxT382QE3n30i4DynpCb7X3Q90Y~Xvmt8vlHrbUP4idMTZM25r7dpRGFYI7VoJi7g1KJNg5WFgMWtzZQwww84sIOcAJxN0go-Das~p92HnTtyn-4vtVy98nq14ymbe644MuBtqzL4USNfG9mxh-WZeWeGoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rensselaer County, NY","date","2025-07-09T15:20:16Z","article","The Rensselaer County Legislature voted 11–6 to approve a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to reserve her decision to allocate $15 million in taxpayer funds to legal expenses for noncitizens, a measure that drew expressed opposition from at least one legislator on constitutional grounds.

Resolution PU 2 94 25, introduced by a coalition of legislators listed in the record, reads in the transcript as “urging governor Kathy Hochul to reserve her decision to allocate $15,000,000 in taxpayer funds to legal expenses of individuals in The United States illegally.” The roll call recorded 11 ayes and 6 nos; the chair declared the motion carried.

Legislator Grimm spoke against the resolution on grounds raised during a previous meeting’s public testimony, referencing the Fifth Amendment and a concern for due process protections. In the record Grimm said: “...they cited, in the words of Judge Scalia, that in the Fifth Amendment, it protects and honors due process for every person. And, I think with that, I cannot vote for this particular resolution tonight.” Grimm said earlier public testimony by two speakers, referred to as Claudia and Susan, had emphasized due process.

Why it matters: The resolution expresses a county-level political stance on state executive decisions concerning funding for legal services. It does not bind state action or appropriate county funds, but a divided vote indicates partisan or procedural disagreement among county legislators.

The motion was introduced by legislators Hoffman, Leverage, Bailey, Harrington, Cassell, Choquette, Fiaco, Jenren, Grant, Maloney, Pateri, Rogers and Wysocki as recorded in the meeting minutes. The resolution passed despite recorded objections from six legislators.

The transcript does not record the names of all legislators who voted yes or no; the official roll call in the minutes should be consulted for a full vote-by-vote record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 2025 Legislative Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The legislature adopted a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to reserve a decision to allocate $15 million in taxpayer funds for legal expenses of individuals described in the resolution; the measure passed 11–6 after at least one legislator voiced a constitutional concern.","taxTitle","Rensselaer County, New York","taxId",66124,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511004,"Public comment and unanimous resolution back efforts to preserve Martin Dunham Reserve and dam",1136,2286125,3422775,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9&start=2286&end=3422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9/thumbnail_2286125.jpg","/articles/6511004/Rensselaer-County/New-York/Public-comment-and-unanimous-resolution-back-efforts-to-preserve-Martin-Dunham-Reserve-and-dam","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511004-7d551ff346fc2b508017611935f36674/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154210&Signature=HNWpL9K1jIvfp3iTwu51sj1g7mZhvDICo6LbPoQ6dp0RLDhPJY-fsBLbO72fJRiemfkDmbxbhURcWymaXPGLsMRBxQjz9Jd4aoeySG1vOTAM8RNqzf5KyF1v-Y4NzPeBKus93Tm368qJmQzVYde89A0B32T2yScRutvRx1tyyxSaxeIn0loalAddjdK0QEg9cNMDKa8VBXafQCBVapO9jy2i3yqK9BPTRDC7zuk5E5upMnDnl2divZF92y8XgQOv3fkj2PAEThhh~hdBRmv9YS2D7teWwHhEDq4YfIg6N3SElAVvjuJ4oIGPrQSbNPU1OXMZNP12kbb0mMAWFYTWWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public commenter described growing community support for preserving the Dunham reservoir and the Rensselaer County Legislature voted unanimously to urge state action to protect the Martin Dunham Reserve and dam.

During the public comment period Herb Hasbrooke told the legislature that more than 1,200 people had signed a petition to protect the reservoir, pointed listeners to the advocacy website savedom.org and a related Facebook page, and said weekend recreation at the pond had been heavy over the July 4 holiday. He thanked the county legislature for its support.

Following public comment, the legislature adopted resolution P 2 95 25, which “urges the New York State [government] to preserve the historic Martin Dunham Reserve and Dam in Grafton Lake State Park.” The roll call recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays.

Why it matters: The resolution expresses county-level support for preserving a local reservoir and dam that members and members of the public said provide recreational and scenic value. The resolution itself urges state-level action; it does not create a county mandate or allocate county funds.

In his remarks the public commenter said community literature and a short film created by John Blomer document the reservoir’s value and that recreation—canoeing, kayaking and boating—had made the site heavily used on recent holiday weekends. The resolution was introduced by the full legislative body and passed without recorded dissent.

Action taken: P 2 95 25 was approved 17–0. The resolution urges state preservation of the Martin Dunham Reserve and Dam and registers the county’s formal support for local preservation efforts.","Public commenters urged protection of the Dunham reservoir and the Rensselaer County Legislature adopted a resolution urging New York State to preserve Martin Dunham Reserve and its dam.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511008,"Rensselaer County Legislature adopts Hudson Valley Community College budget after public hearing",2960,13945,2974575,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9&start=13&end=2974","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340771-462bdd5dfdfcbd48102c3b363af71bf9/thumbnail_13945.jpg","/articles/6511008/Rensselaer-County/New-York/Rensselaer-County-Legislature-adopts-Hudson-Valley-Community-College-budget-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511008-1be6c1da4c8fb68bb53f0cd302af31ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154210&Signature=WnVNR5LCG~0bnUSulqe8Utb2LYOoYDVeEccH1Q~9Npd5FXW8KF9QLX2APYmE2mZYeR2olmZC6LTB8Ll8k5gILzHt9zFRb-6g4rOZOlFZiNd32lSHqpF6c0kP8lh6sMMgqdi6BDhKKQ2GmKc~I9bwRDm~W9KYY7aMmAVrdh14XSm-corIGZRyQOMrpQ4CKchUoQa4~~YNkrcnXJnD0GaESdb3DoJW8SWP2it5xNX~R~ylJZ5UAHvKFH6KygY4S8VPK5ewx2AGAebKSA43IRRv3ZYZm6WyBCCpa801rMZHHghbF6znFOG85rIrLdW--z9UbY34o2hWCU2YdgtxGOr8Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hudson Valley Community College’s tentative budget for Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026, was adopted by the Rensselaer County Legislature following a public hearing and a presentation by the college’s interim leader.

At a public hearing opened by the legislature, Lehi Copeland, identified in the record as officer in charge of Hudson Valley Community College, described the college’s proposed 2025–26 budget as a 5.2% increase over the prior year built on projected enrollment growth of 5%. Copeland said the college serves more than 20,000 students annually and that the proposal requests level county investment for a sixth consecutive year. He said the college will hold tuition flat for a third consecutive year and that Hudson Valley’s tuition ranks among the lowest in the State University of New York system.

The hearing notice, read into the record by the clerk, cited Education Law §6304(5)(a) and County Law §359 as the authorities for the public hearing and noted that the legislature would take public comment before considering adoption.

Why it matters: The legislature’s adoption determines the county-level certification needed for Hudson Valley’s budget to proceed for the 2025–26 academic year and continues the county’s ongoing financial relationship with the college. County support also accompanies a new county incentive program for residents entering high-demand career programs at Hudson Valley, which legislators said will begin in the coming academic year.

During the hearing Copeland thanked the Rensselaer County Legislature and the county executive’s office for their partnership and said the college’s proposal was unanimously approved by its board of trustees in June. Copeland highlighted the college’s program breadth—more than 100 academic and career programs—financial aid for low- and moderate-income students, and ongoing enrollment momentum.

After the hearing the legislature considered and approved resolution G 28725, adopting Hudson Valley Community College’s budget for the period of 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2026. The roll call recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays.

The legislature’s chairwoman and education committee chair both thanked Copeland and college staff for their presentation. Legislators also referenced a planned pilot program between the county and Hudson Valley to expand access for county residents; the initiative was credited to Legislator Pateri and said to begin this academic year.

The budget adoption completes local steps required after the public hearing and before the college’s fiscal year begins Sept. 1, 2025.","After a brief public hearing featuring Hudson Valley Community College’s officer in charge, the Rensselaer County Legislature voted unanimously to adopt the college’s tentative budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rensselaer Legislature passes resolution urging governor to withhold $15 million allocation for legal expenses; vote splits 11–6

Public comment and unanimous resolution back efforts to preserve Martin Dunham Reserve and dam

Rensselaer County Legislature adopts Hudson Valley Community College budget after public hearing