The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)

Lots of scandal, not much accomplish­ment

- By Daid Klepper

ALBANY>> Three top state leaders faced a dilemma over potentiall­y tainted campaign contributi­ons last week, while eight local government­s received a disquietin­g update on their financial health. Meanwhile, efforts to overhaul Penn Station took another step forward and the state stepped in to help New Jersey dealwith a deadly train crash.

A guide to theweek’s top stories in New York government:

CORRUPTION CASE, CAMPAIGN CASH

An ongoing corruption case relating to state economic developmen­t initiative­s poses a conundrum for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and two other statewide officials: what to do with campaign contributi­ons from developers now facing criminal charges?

Cuomo, a Democrat, said Wednesday that his re-election campaign created a separate account for $350,000 it received from sources tied to LPCiminell­i and COR Developmen­t, two firms whose executives face charges. Cuomo said the money will be available in the event of federal forfeiture.

State Comptrolle­r Tom DiNapoli’s campaign, meanwhile, plans to return $23,700 in contributi­ons from LPCiminell­i and COR.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderm­an also received $15,722 in contributi­ons from LPCiminell­i, as well as from a third developer, Columbia Developmen­t, facing charges in a related state probe. His campaign will donate the money to a charity.

Five executives at Buf- falo-based LPCiminell­i and Syracuse-based COR face federal allegation­s they worked to rig bids for lucrative contracts awarded by the Cuomo administra­tion. Attorneys for COR Developmen­t executives Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, aswell as LPCiminell­i executives Michael Laipple, Kevin Schuler and CEO Louis Ciminelli, have said their clients are innocent.

JosephNico­lla, president of Columbia Developmen­t, faces state charges that he took improper steps to ensure his company won the contract for a student housing project. He pleaded not guilty on Monday.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT­S UNDER STRESS

Eight municipali­ties were under “significan­t” fiscal stress last year, with low fund balances and operating deficits, according to a new report on the financial health of local government­s from DiNapoli’s office.

The eight facing significan­t stress are the counties of Monroe, Broome, Franklin and Rockland; the cities of Port Jervis and Albany; and the towns of Tuxedo and Parish.

DiNapoli says the report released Tuesday shows it can be difficult for localities to overcome problems years in the making.

PENN STATION OVERHAUL

The state announced the selection of three contractor­s in the massive and ambitious overhaul of Penn Station and the nearby Farley Post Office.

Skanska AB, Vornado Realty LP and Related Companies will work together on the historic post office, set to be transforme­d into the Moynihan Train Hall. When completed in 2020, the facility will serve passengers on Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road trains.

The $3 billion project also involves the rehabilita­tion of the existing Penn Station. On Tuesday, Cuomo said of the aging station: “It is dirty, it is dingy, it is dark... it’s decrepit and it’s an affront to riders.”

“The new train hall that we are building will be magnificen­t,” he said at the announceme­nt of the contractor­s. “New York will not have seen anything like it in decades and decades.”

RESTING (EASIER) IN PEACE

Two new laws signed by Cuomo this week are consumer-oriented measures aiding the dearly departed. One will allow non-religious cemeteries to offer people the option of being buried with the cremated remains of their pets. The other prohibits phone, cable and utility companies from charging people an early terminatio­n fee in the event of their death.

TRAIN CRASH RESPONSE

Cuomo’s plans to attend the funeral of Israeli leader Shimon Peres were canceled following Thursday’s commuter train crash in New Jersey. Cuomo toured the site of the crash with Gov. Chris Christie, and said state law enforcemen­t and transporta­tion officials would assist in the response to the incident.

One person was killed and more than 100 people were injured when the New Jersey Transit train crashed into the station in Hoboken.

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