Ahlstrom Criticizes Print Media's Coverage Of County Home Issue

Legislator Keith Ahlstrom took issue Wednesday with the print media's coverage of the County Home issue currently before lawmakers in Mayville.

During discussion last night, Ahlstrom, D-Dunkirk, said the print media has painted the County Home issue as a partisan issue.

Legislators were asked Wednesday to support the selection of Marcus & Millichap as the firm to market the County Home.

There was no question of the firm's capability to advertise the County Home for possible lease, sale or other privatization. Instead, legislators argued that a vote in support of the firm was also an indication of interest in selling the County Home.

Ahlstrom began his comments with the following statement:

Leg. Keith Ahlstrom, D-Dunkirk:

"I would hope and want to make sure that the public knows this, that probably tonight or at some point in time we're going to have a very heated and impassioned discussion on this issue of whether or not we should sell the County Home.

And contrary to popular opinion, certainly as reported in the print media, it's not a political discussion.

We have differences of opinion in the Democratic caucus and in the Republican caucus and as individual legislators on this issue, as we do on a lot of issues, but, again, certainly, not as reported in the print media -- a lot of times it's such a negative partisan place here. But this is an issue that shows that it isn't."

Recent Coverage:

An article previewing Wednesday night's legislature meeting can be read by clicking here.

In that article, the votes from last week's committee meetings are detailed.

In Human Services, the resolution was opposed by Ahlstrom; Vickeye James, D-Jamestown; and Scot Stutzman, I-Jamestown. It was supported by Committee Chairman Mark Tarbrake, R-Ellicott, and Committee Vice Chairman Jay Gould, R-Ashville.

In Audit and Control, it was both opposed and supported by Democrats and Republicans.

It was opposed by Tom DeJoe, D-Brocton, and John Runkle, R-Stockton. It was passed in Audit and Control by Committee Chairman Gould; Committee Vice Chairman Jerry Park, R-Forestville; Doug Richmond, R-Westfield; Committee Ranking Member Chuck Nazzaro, D-Jamestown; and John Gullo, D-Fredonia.

Today's coverage of last night's meeting can be read by clicking here.

Follow-Up:

A call was made to Ahlstrom at 2:45 p.m. Thursday for details of what coverage, in specific, he has issues with.

Bob Duff Video:

Also last night, legislator Bob Duff, R-Sheridan, was featured in Channel 7's coverage of the legislature/County Home issue.

His appearance starts at about the 1:08 mark:

The video can be viewed by clicking HERE!.

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