Woerner makes horse sense. DEC appoints leadership.
Police response looked worse than it was.
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TOP: Briefs on police at Congress Park and the DEC making leadership announcements.
BELOW: Assembly member Carrie Woerner took her colleagues on a tour of horse country. Find out why and what she thinks of the industry…
It looked worse than it was
The section of Spring Street adjacent to Congress Park and the city’s carousel was already blocked off when police responded, a little after 1 p.m., to a disorderly conduct situation. The result was a closed road with two or three police cars and a commercial truck, with traffic crawling around it. The road was closed for an event just inside the park fence. One person was taken into custody, police on scene said.
DEC makes leadership appointments
From a press release
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has made leadership appointments positions at the agency.
Michelle Marchello is joining DEC to serve as Executive Deputy Commissioner starting Sept. 8, 2025. Marchello worked in the New York State Executive Chamber for over seven years, at the federal EPA, and most recently as the Director of Federal Affairs to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Anthony Luisi was appointed to serve as DEC’s General Counsel, after serving as Regional Director for Region 4 for several years. He also previously served as Regional Attorney for DEC’s Region 4, managing legal affairs for the nine-county Capital Region and working closely with the Office of General Counsel team.
Matt Franklin was appointed DEC's Deputy Commissioner for Public Protection. Franklin rejoined DEC after working for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Franklin served a combined approximately 25 years with the DEC Region 4’s Spill Response Section and as the Director of Emergency Management.
Sean Mahar was appointed as Regional Director for DEC’s Region 4, which includes Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.
Adriana Espinoza will serve as DEC’s Acting Chief of Staff following the September departure of long-time Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald. Espinoza currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for Equity and Justice, overseeing the Offices of Environmental Justice, Indian Nation Affairs, and Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights.
“DEC welcomes proven leaders Michelle Marchello, Tony Luisi, Matt Franklin, and Sean Mahar to serve in these important leadership roles and looks forward to seeing these exceptional professionals bring their extensive knowledge and experience to the Department,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement. “I want to extend a special thanks to former General Counsel Thomas Berkman and outgoing Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald for their many years of exemplary service to DEC and all New Yorkers.”
Keep reading!
Woerner makes horse sense
Assembly member talks about the entire industry, not just racing
By: Stephen Thurston
Last week, New York State Assembly member Carrie Woerner, whose 113th district includes Saratoga Springs, took an entourage of other Assembly members on a tour through horse country. The object was to allow those other people to see the horse-related agricultural industry that helps drive Saratoga County’s economy, Woerner said.
Asked if this was a way to protect the horse industry from people who might want to see it fold, she answered:
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