Bath Landlord Is Facing Accusations 

From the Sheriff: 

Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that on February 13, 2023, the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office arrested Scott M. Wilkins, age 55, of Unionville Road, Bath, New York following an investigation into a reported harassment of a tenant by a landlord.  It is alleged that Mr. Wilkins withheld utilities from a tenant in violation of a Steuben County Court Order.  It is further alleged that when placed under arrest, he physically resisted arrest, causing injury to the deputy arresting him.  Mr. Wilkins was charged with Assault in the Second Degree, a class D Felony, Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, Willful Violation of a Lease Term and Resisting Arrest.  Mr. Wilkins was arraigned in the Centralized Arraignment Court and released.  The deputy was treated at a local medical facility and released,

It's The Last Year The Governor Must Provide School Aid

A local school superintendent tells our news department that this is the last year that the Governor has to fully fund foundation aid for schools.  The superintendent says, if the governor doesn't fully fund schools this year, then Hochul would have been in violation of a settlement agreement a few years back.  That school superintendent also says, the concern now is what happens with state aid for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Housing Compact - A Part Of The Proposed State Budget

Part of the governor’s proposed budget, is to order all towns, villages and cities, to set up new housing.  The idea has some support in New York City where there are many homeless people.  However in upstate New York, not all mayors like the idea.  In Hornell, Mayor John Buckley maintains, if this is passed in the state budget, it will end the idea of home rule, which allows villages, cities and towns to decide how much housing they have.  However, we’re told it is not like the Urban Renewal programs of the 1970s, which gave eminent domain powers to the state, allowing the state to knock down homes and businesses to put up roads and highways. Officials say, the governor’s plan does not go that far.