the new york public interest research group ( nypirg ) is a new york statewide student-directed , non-partisan , not for profit political organization .

it has existed since 1973 .

its current executive director is blair horner and its founding director was donald k. ross .

nypirg is directed by a student board of directors .

any issue that nypirg works on , or stance it takes , must be approved by its student board of directors .

alex bornemisza is the current chairperson of nypirg 's board of directors .

nypirg is one of the largest of the public interest research groups , which were inspired by ralph nader in the 1970s , and operate at the state level .

after leaving columbia university , former president of the united states barack obama worked at nypirg at its city college chapter .

new york public interest research group

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the new york public interest research group fund ( nypirg ) is a non - partisan , nonprofit , research and public education organization . nypirg was founded in 1976 as an independent 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) public outreach and education sister organization to the new york public interest research group .
ask a question about working or interviewing at new york public interest research group . our community is ready to answer .
the process took 1 day . i interviewed at new york public interest research group ( albany , ny ) in may 2015 .
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the new york public interest research group’s unique mission is to give students an array of extracurricular activities and opportunities to participate in important public policy discussions , through which they can learn a wide range of valuable skills , contributing to a well - rounded educational experience .
when 23 - year - old barack obama , then a recent columbia university graduate , walked into the office of the new york public interest research group in 1985 after answering an ad for a job , his supervisor had a warning for him .
learn more about our issue priorities and how we’re working to improve new york city’s public transit .
resource for academic research includes scholarly journals and selected general interest titles in a wide variety of subjects . novelny
the maryland public research group , marypirg , discussed six big issues to fix in society throughout this semester during its spring kickoff meeting in stamp on feb . 13
the new york public interest research group fund ( nypirg ) seeks to empower , train and educate students and community members through organizing and advocacy efforts in order to solve significant problems affecting the health , environment , democratic institutions and quality of life for new york state ' s residents . our principal areas of concern are environmental protection , consumer rights , higher education , government reform , voter registration , mass transit and public health .
rutgers university and the new jersey public interest research group ( njpirg ) students have been working in conjunction to help lower the financial burden of college students . over the two years the program has been running , $ 1 . 6 million has been saved by students .
some pension funds profit from new york real estate . why don’t the city’s ?
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no one doubts cuomo’s ability to get deals done . he has a better sense than any lobbyist of how individual legislators can be stroked and persuaded on an issue . “he has advanced political sonar , ” says blair horner , director of the new york public interest research group ( nypirg ) . “he can see issues coming . he can plan ahead . he’s often steps ahead of his legislative colleagues . ”
as your watchdog in new york , nypirg works to strengthen democracy , fight for the rights of consumers and voters , and protect the environment and public health .
new york must lead the way to win a renewable energy future and hold corporate polluters accountable .
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the federal reserve bank of new york offers guided tours to school groups and the general public . visitors will learn about the roles and responsibilities of the federal reserve .
new york ' s leading civic organizations call for action to respond to the state ' s corruption crises .
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from education to gay rights , new york ' s governor has racked up a long list of liberal accomplishments .
on this week’s podcast , we look at public spending at trump’s private businesses .
our economists engage in scholarly research and policy - oriented analysis on a wide range of important issues .
public providers are generally less aggressive than private ones , and some opt not to sue at all . the new york fire department said it sends letters to ambulance patients but stops short of suing .
the new york fed provides a wide range of payment services for financial institutions and the u . s . government .
gold custody is one of several financial services the federal reserve bank of new york provides to central banks , governments and official international organizations on behalf of the federal reserve system . learn about the new york fed ' s gold vault .
paramedics in new york had to covertly swipe medical supplies from a hospital to restock their depleted ambulances after emergency runs .
the latest annual report chronicles the impact of federal reserve policies and includes data on the new york fed ' s operations .
was an internship for college , met a few times a week and worked for the great cause of no fracking in the state of new york . it was a great group of people that i worked with , i enjoyed it .
nypirg’s full - time staff examines important issues , produces studies , and engages new yorkers in public education campaigns designed to produce policies that strengthen democracy , enhance the rights of consumers and voters , and protect the environment and public health .
the new york fed works to protect consumers as well as provides information and resources on how to avoid and report specific scams .
energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones in new york’s national leadership on clean energy and combatting climate change . under governor cuomo’s direction , new york is significantly accelerating its energy efficiency target to reduce harmful emissions , lower energy costs , and create jobs . this new target of 185 trillion btus ( british thermal units ) of end - use energy savings by 2025 is the equivalent to saving the energy consumed by 1 . 8 million new york homes .
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the city of mount vernon , another former customer in new york , hired a new private company at a cost to taxpayers , and is developing its own ambulance operation within its fire department . in new york city , where transcare had operated 27 ambulances , the fire department paid its own ambulance workers overtime to fill the void .
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new york city mayor bill de blasio was once a top cuomo aide , but the two have feuded openly in office . ( ap )
welcome to the new york asu alumni chapter ! we help to serve sun devils in the greater new york area . take advantage of the opportunities to get together , meet alumni , network , rekindle old friendships and , most importantly , promote our alma mater and have fun !
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as a project coordinator for nypirg on the city college of new york campus in harlem for three months in 1985 , obama spent hours with students in the trailer that served as the group ' s office just below 140th street and convent avenue , giving lessons on how to organize rallies and letter - writing campaigns , how to speak to legislators and lobby for change in public policy .
new york thinks of itself as a global financial capital , but the retirement funds for city employees lag in performance and miss opportunities others have taken .
the new york fed has been working with tri - party repo market participants to make changes to improve the resiliency of the market to financial stress .
he is a member of a violent white supremacist group . so why is he working for a defense contractor with a security clearance ?
provides access to more than 600 periodicals , books , research reports and proceedings covering librarianship , classification , cataloging , bibliometrics and more .
from the new york times to the press & sun - bulletin , nypirg is in the news . see the coverage of the issues you care about .
joint comments on pseg - long island utility 2 . 0 ( updated ) | october 21 , 2014 sierra club , renewable energy long island , environmental advocates of new york , alliance for clean energy new york , citizens campaign for the environment , natural resources defense council , national wildlife federation , pace law school
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working within the federal reserve system , the new york fed implements monetary policy , supervises and regulates financial institutions and helps maintain the nation ' s payment systems .
new york ' s congressional race wasn ' t the only one with an upset on tuesday . an anti - incumbent wave hit two states ' legislative elections .
“private equity has , in this case , threatened public safety , ” said richard thomas , the mayor of mount vernon , n . y , which relied on transcare . “it’s not the way to treat the public . ”
nypirg is truly student - directed . it ' s a real progressive group that does a lot of grassroots organizing that other groups then take the credit for , but on the dl , everyone knows without nypirg , new york losing its largest student - led grass roots movement . it ' s a group with crazy lefty student activists and professional organizers and lawyers and they ' re all comrades against the corrupt government . fight the power ! ! !
democrats have a nominal majority in the state senate , yet republicans maintain control thanks to support from a renegade group known as the independent democratic caucus - - a band of outliers that progressives believe cuomo encourages , rather than squashes . it’s not forgotten on the left that cuomo has accepted campaign contributions in the past from president trump , as well as other liberal bêtes noires such as the industrialist david koch . “the governor still seems to feel that the best way to strengthen new york’s economy is the failed trickle - down policies that offer tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest new yorkers , ” says karen scharff , executive director of citizen action of new york , a liberal advocacy group .
over the decades , we have educated hundreds of thousands of new yorkers and recruited tens of thousands of community - based members from all parts of the state , enhancing nypirg’s institutional impact and helping to bring the voices of average new yorkers to public policy debates .
learn about the role of the new york fed and the federal reserve system in setting monetary policy , promoting financial stability , and serving communities to advance economic growth .
of the 12 ambulance companies recently owned by private equity , three filed for bankruptcy in the last three years , according to public filings and s & p global market intelligence , a research service that tracks over 1 , 100 major ambulance companies in the united states . those three companies had problems that predated private equity . but no other ambulance company tracked by the research firm filed for bankruptcy during that period .
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aims to help new york state residents reduce energy waste and lower their energy bills . home performance with energy star ® and assisted home performance with energy star ® provide a comprehensive , whole - house approach to improving energy efficiency and home comfort while saving money . empower new york provides free energy efficiency upgrades at no - cost to income eligible households .
recognizes and rewards village , town , city , and county governments in new york state for implementing clean energy actions to save taxpayer dollars , create jobs , and improve the environment .
the state began investigating barry helfmann after a 2015 article by propublica and the new york times about debt collection lawsuits against his patients that included details of their mental health diagnoses and treatments .
alexandria ocasio - cortez ' s upset is a warning for more moderate incumbents like new york ' s governor , who can ' t feel safe while the democratic party is shifting to the left .
since the 2008 financial crisis , private equity firms have increasingly taken over public services like emergency care and firefighting , often with dire effects .
governor andrew m . cuomo has set new york state on a path to achieve 1 , 500 mw of energy storage by 2025 . this target will provide approximately $ 2 billion in benefits , support renewable energy like wind and solar , and help avoid more than one million metric tons of co2 emissions . this sector could grow to create approximately 30 , 000 jobs by 2030 in new york state .
support policies that protect new yorkers and promote quality medical care for patients and their families .
find out how to get to the new york fed by subway , train , bus and car . once here , visitors must enter the building at 44 maiden lane and undergo security screening upon arrival .
as we celebrate chesapeake bay awareness week , we remember the environmental , ecological , and economic significance of the estuary and how its conservation is imperative to the united states as a whole . obstacles facing conservation in the chesapeake bay are made clear once one understands the many watersheds in new york . here are some interesting facts about new york’s watersheds , including the susquehanna river watershed and its relevance to the chesapeake bay .
we engage all sectors – elected officials , policymakers , businesses , community groups and grassroots citizens – in open , non - partisan discussion about sustainability policies in order to achieve the environmental breakthroughs that new york needs .
by february 2015 , shortages became critical . according to meeting minutes reviewed by the times , transcare executives discussed how their new york locations would be “unable to make it through the weekend with current medical supplies . ”
james bradley , deputy commissioner of public safety in white plains , blamed patriarch for transcare’s woes . “that’s where the problems lie , ” he said .
“there is private equity — a lot of it — and it’s happening everywhere , ” said vikram pandit , a former citigroup chief executive who is now head of the orogen group , which invests in financial businesses . across the financial landscape , he said , “new champions will emerge . ”
for too long , new york has not provided adequate funding for colleges and universities , and that has had real consequences . students are stepping up across the state to tell their stories through nypirg’s higher education storybank project .
our national , state , and local organizations are united in support of responsible development of offshore wind power , and we urge new york to take pride in leading the nation toward this shining clean energy frontier .
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k . k . r . — a firm memorialized in “barbarians at the gate , ” a book that chronicled a defining 1980s wall street deal — also invested in public water services . blackstone is now america’s largest landlord of rental houses . and in the mortgage industry , until recently the province of banks , the fortress investment group controls a huge bill collector .
new york’s spectacular open spaces not only provide awe - inspiring views and recreational opportunities , they help keep our children and families healthy . our parks , rivers , lakes and oceans should be protected so future generations can enjoy them .
we went door to door to talk about environmental issues ( primarily hydro - fracking ) . it was great to work with a group of like - minded people , all working to protect our environment .
rural / metro’s community fire service , which operates in arizona , oregon and tennessee , is one of the nation’s few private fire departments . only 4 percent of americans rely on a private fire service . rural / metro mainly serves unincorporated areas without public fire departments , where often there is no government contract or public oversight .
in the age of trump , new york is going to need to push forward innovative climate change policies that show the way for other states and create a guaranteed market for renewable energy that encourages the private sector to continue to invest .
the federal reserve bank of new york works to promote sound and well - functioning financial systems and markets through its provision of industry and payment services , advancement of infrastructure reform in key markets and training and educational support to international institutions .
new york state faces a wide range of sustainability challenges that differ from region to region . jointly with nylcv , the nylcv education fund issues policy agendas that lay out specific legislative and budgetary remedies tailored to different levels of government or regions of the state . they serve as practical blueprints to help guide elected officials , policymakers , political candidates , voters and the general public toward a more sustainable future .
but cuomo knows his job involves more than appealing to activists on the left . he’s well aware that new york state gets less liberal as you head north and west out of new york city . clinton beat trump easily in the city in 2016 , but her margin in the rest of the state was less than 1 , 000 votes , out of more than 4 million cast . “the governor has the dubious task of trying to manage the entire state of new york , ” says kevin parker , the democratic whip in the state senate . “in that context , he’s considering everybody’s concerns , not just what the liberals want . you can run [ as a purist ] , but you can’t govern that way . ”
cuomo has somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 100 billion worth of infrastructure projects underway or approved around the state , including major overhauls of penn station in manhattan and jfk and laguardia airports . he has also devoted some $ 25 billion to various projects and proposals designed to boost the upstate economy . but those efforts have met with mixed success . despite the state’s heavy investment , job growth outside booming new york city has been anemic on his watch . “upstate new york is a basket case , ” says daniel disalvo , a political scientist at city college of new york . “you can sort of prop it up through all the state subsidies , but population decline and economic decline persist , and that doesn’t look good . ”
“we’re reaching new lows in the public safety services we will help provide , especially in very poor cities , ” said michelle wilde anderson , a law professor at stanford university who specializes in state and local government . private equity firms , she said , “are not philanthropists . ”
use this database of over 279 u . s . consumers to conduct market research . records are continuously updated and processed against the usps national change of address ( ncoa ) and delivery sequence file ( dsf ) .
an online database of nearly 10 , 000 foundation and public charity programs that fund students , artists , researchers , and other individual grantseekers . available at the central library .
britannica academic combines the encyclopædia britannica with merriam - webster’s collegiate dictionary , magazines and periodicals , and many other research tools . articles are written by nobel laureates , historians , curators , professors , and other experts . novelny
now is the time to deepen the commitment to wind energy resources , both onshore and off . new wind energy development will not only enable new york to get back on track in meeting our renewable energy targets , but will also provide emission - free power , help us guard against volatile fossil fuel prices , and contribute substantially to local economic development .
198 million historical records dating back to 2003 . find businesses by geography , sales volume and employment size . advanced search available by year or specific time frames . for businesses trends reporting and overall industry market research by year .
lots of liberals are complaining that long - established politicians just aren’t progressive enough . in cuomo’s case , it’s not just that he has been a tax - cutter and a frequent social spending skeptic . it’s also that he seems to go out of his way to pick fights with liberals who could be his allies , such as teachers unions and new york city mayor bill de blasio . by contrast , he often finds common cause with republicans , whom new york democrats now invariably refer to as “trump republicans . ”
cuomo returned to new york and launched an ill - advised run for governor in 2002 . in his first campaign for office , he was seen as an upstart , interfering with comptroller carl mccall’s hopes of becoming the state’s first african - american governor . cuomo botched his chances with a gaffe denigrating gop gov . george pataki’s role in response to the terror attacks of 2001 , suggesting pataki had done little more than hold new york city mayor rudy giuliani’s coat . cuomo dropped out of the race before the primary .
for alexis , the battle for mental health must happen in the public sector . “i look out at the city of new york , the state as a whole , and realize that people are suffering . it’s tied into their other struggles and it’s become a public health crisis . they need more than just access to health care , they need relief . ” as a mother and a student she sees first - hand how the system has failed so many . “i meet so many mothers battling with depression who aren’t taken seriously . i meet students who are depressed and anxious ; they need someone to advocate for them . ”
tuesday : the new yorkers in our aquatic backyard , cultural festivals across the city , and pop - up pianos .
we empower new yorkers to make environmental change by engaging them in the civic process . that includes registering voters , helping residents make their voices heard on environmental issues , and connecting new yorkers with candidates , elected officials and policy makers .
more than 50 , 000 new businesses added each week . this product is for personal non - commercial use only .
nyserda offers objective information and analysis , innovative programs , technical expertise , and support to help new yorkers increase energy efficiency , save money , use renewable energy , and reduce reliance on fossil fuels . a public benefit corporation , nyserda has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975 .
an extensive legal research tool that contains approximately 370 legal periodicals , the federal register from 1936 - present , 18 , 000 treaties and international agreements and resources from the u . s . supreme court library . available at all library locations .
the new york fed engages with individuals , households and businesses in the second district and maintains an active dialogue in the region . the bank gathers and shares regional economic intelligence to inform our community and policy makers , and promotes sound financial and economic decisions through community development and education programs .
replacing the outmoded bridge had been a white whale in new york government for years . cuomo’s three predecessors spent a combined $ 88 million dollars on studies , coming up with 150 different proposals . cuomo took one off the shelf , tempered its scope and cost , and made sure the work got started . he didn’t have anything like the full financing needed for the project in hand , but he knew that once work was underway , the money would be found . the bridge will start carrying vehicles across the hudson river later this year . cuomo is the first governor to get bridges built in the new york metro area in half a century . “no one thought we could get the tappan zee bridge replaced , ” says gerald benjamin , a longtime albany watcher at the state university of new york at new paltz . “he’s been able to do things no one has been able to accomplish in some cases since robert moses , ” the powerful city planner whose career extended from the 1920s into the 1960s .
the manhattan institute is a think tank whose mission is to develop and disseminate new ideas that foster greater economic choice and individual responsibility .
supports real time energy management ( rtem ) system and service providers who help eligible facilities in new york state with selecting appropriate rtem systems and offers cost - sharing incentives for installing the systems . assistance includes an in - depth analysis of energy usage data at the site and suggestions for capital improvements .
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the power shift has happened with relatively little scrutiny , even as federal authorities have tightened rules for banks . unlike banks , which take deposits and borrow from the government , private equity firms invest money from wealthy individuals and pension funds desperate for returns at a time of historically low interest rates .
we educate new yorkers about environmental issues and the environmental decision - making processes at the local , regional , state , and federal government levels .
in march 2015 , a new problem emerged : some transcare employees did not get paid on time . then in july , it happened again .
i called the local office to express interest and after a few screen questions , i was invited to come in the next day for an interview . i was told i did not need to dress up for the first time ever in my life . i still dress semi - casual just because i wanted to .
energy efficiency is the most cost - effective way for new yorkers to lower utility bills , curb harmful emissions and battle climate change . . . we must continue our bold action to reduce emissions and protect all new yorkers , today and in the future , from the devastating effects of climate change .
propublica was a recipient of the 2017 pulitzer prize for public service , the 2016 pulitzer prize for explanatory reporting , the 2011 pulitzer prize for national reporting and a 2010 pulitzer prize for investigative reporting . see the full list of our awards .
students at small high schools , many of them black and latino , don’t have equal access to sports teams , and a new lawsuit aims to change that .
the business of driving ambulances and operating fire brigades represents just one facet of a profound shift on wall street and main street alike , a new york times investigation has found . since the 2008 financial crisis , private equity firms , the “corporate raiders” of an earlier era , have increasingly taken over a wide array of civic and financial services that are central to american life .
private equity gained new power and responsibility as a direct result of the 2008 crisis . as cities and towns nationwide struggled to pay for basics like public infrastructure and ambulance services , private equity stepped in . at the same time , as banks scaled back their mortgage operations after the crisis , private equity firms — which face lighter regulation than banks , and none of their rainy - day capital requirements — moved in there as well .
other firms bet that fragile towns would outsource emergency care . and , the thinking went , president obama’s health care overhaul would insure millions more people , providing new paying customers .
“over 11 million americans work for private - equity - backed businesses , and millions more rely on private equity performance for their retirement security , ” said james maloney , a spokesman for the american investment council , the industry’s leading lobbying group . private equity , mr . maloney said , helps “advance both our economic and societal well - being . ”
a college degree is a near - requisite for competing in today ' s job market . yet , since the great recession , funding for higher education has been dramatically cut ; tuition has been hiked five of the past six years , jumping $ 1 , 500 ; and financial aid and opportunity programs which serve new york’s most at - risk students have been under - resourced year after year .
cuomo himself has raised millions through the “llc loophole , ” which allows wealthy individuals to set up as many limited liability corporations as they like to give essentially unlimited political donations . early in his term , a “dark money” organization supporting his agenda was the freest - spending interest group in the state . although cuomo has not been tarred directly by scandal , joseph percoco , a former top aide who was so close that the governor called him “my father’s third son , ” was charged last fall in a bribery and fraud case . “if the percoco case goes to trial , ” says horner , the nypirg director , “even if the governor doesn’t come up , it will paint an unsavory picture about how albany operates . ”
with a free mi account , you can follow specific scholars or subjects , search mi ' s research archives and past articles , and receive customized news and updates from the institute . also , you will be able to manage invitations and registration for mi events , as well as your annual membership renewals . create your account today to begin exploring mi .
every morning before we headed out to our respective areas to canvas , we would begin with a learning session . this was to update us on any new developments on the cause we were canvasing on . during my time working for nypirg we were supporting anti - fracking legislation , so we would learn everyday about a new part of the
fracking
process .
samuels and other progressives lodge similar critiques about nearly every liberal victory that cuomo has racked up . and it’s quite a list . cuomo pushed through a same - sex marriage law long before marriage equality was a given everywhere , or even in new york . after the shootings in sandy hook , cuomo strengthened new york’s already strict gun control laws . last year’s budget included a $ 15 minimum wage , which is being phased in over a five - year period , as well as paid family leave . this year’s budget , which was the vehicle for the tuition plan , also reinstituted a tax on the income of millionaires , raised the age at which juvenile offenders can be tried as adults , created a $ 10 million legal defense fund for immigrants and provided a tax break for workers who pay union dues .
as president - elect obama prepares to enter the white house , relatively little is known about his five years in new york in the early ' 80s . it was a period of transition for obama , a time of soul - searching and uncertainty . it was also when he first worked full - time as a community organizer , a role that would define his young life and help shape his political outlook .
opposing viewpoints in context contains a range of perspective on many important issues , with more than 20 , 000 pro / con viewpoints and more than 19 , 000 reference articles and topic overviews . you ' ll find more than 12 , 000 charts and graphs along with statistical information . includes full - text coverage from newspapers and magazines such as national review , the new york times , commentary , and cnn wire . novelny
cuomo ' s predecessors had spent decades and millions of dollars trying to figure out how to rebuild the tappan zee bridge . cuomo will open a new span later this year . ( newnybridge )
after private equity took over rural / metro , new posters appeared on the walls of ambulance and fire stations , featuring a caricature of a uniformed employee delivering a mandate : get a signature .
britannica school is the go - to site for learning more about any subject—for all grades pre - k - 12 and all reading abilities—offering thousands of up - to - date , curated , and curriculum - relevant articles , images , videos , audio clips , primary sources , maps , research tools , recommended web sites , and three separate databases—elementary , middle , or high . novelny
since envision took over rural / metro in late 2015 , replacing private equity , the company has shown signs of improvement , knox county officials said . it has purchased new ambulances and raised salaries .
on paper , he also has a plausible résumé to run for president in 2020 , and that seems to be his desire . he has gone up and down the national democratic checklist and scored wins on many of the major issues . he has also attended to the economic woes of upstate new york , which in many ways resembles the beleaguered industrial areas of the upper midwest that shifted their allegiance to trump last november , costing democrats the white house .
but the 2011 takeover was the sort of acquisition that tarred private equity firms in the public mind as corporate raiders out to make a fast dollar . warburg financed its roughly $ 730 million purchase by adding more than $ 500 million in debt to rural / metro’s balance sheet — a deep hole to climb out of .
the company lost a major customer , the city of new rochelle , n . y . less than 48 hours later , employees learned the chief executive had stepped down — the third in four years to leave .
in the largest single commitment to renewables by a state in u . s . history , nyserda awarded $ 1 . 4 billion for 26 large - scale clean energy projects . located throughout the state , the 26 projects will generate enough clean , locally produced energy to power more than 430 , 000 homes , reduce carbon emissions by 1 . 6 million metrics tons , and create over 3 , 000 good - paying jobs , while helping meet new york’s clean energy standard .
in 2014 , zephyr teachout , a little - known and underfunded law professor , ran against cuomo from the left in the democratic primary . in the end it wasn’t close , but teachout performed better than any challenger had against a sitting governor since new york first instituted gubernatorial primaries . cuomo could well face a fresh challenge when he runs again next year . he has increasingly alienated the working families party , whose endorsement he had to push hard to get last time around .
the times examined court filings in the areas where rural / metro operates fire departments and identified dozens of lawsuits filed since 2011 , when private equity took over . in these lawsuits , which are unheard - of at tax - funded public fire departments , the company pursued unpaid bills ranging from a few hundred dollars to $ 59 , 000 .
while private equity firms have always invested in a diverse array of companies , including hospitals and nursing homes , their movement into emergency services raises broader questions about the administering of public services . cities and towns are required to offer citizens a free education , and they generally provide a police force , but almost everything else is fair game for privatization .
“what we’ve been told is that their challenge is around staffing , ” said dr . martha buchanan , director of the county’s health department . she cited the bankruptcy and a new law requiring more worker certifications , making hiring tougher .
after the death of marcia deoliveira - longinetti’s son , a new jersey state agency continued billing her for the student loans . propublica’s reporting on these aggressive collections spurred a state law requiring the agency to forgive debts of borrowers who die .
after warburg left the company , rural / metro eliminated care to cash and do the write thing . but even under its new non - private equity owner , it still sues to collect some unpaid bills from fire and ambulance customers . rural / metro’s new owner said it “will continue to utilize the legal system to pursue payment when appropriate , ” but added that it first asks “customers who need assistance to work with us to develop a payment plan that meets their needs . ”
in january , when gov . andrew cuomo announced his intention to offer new yorkers free college tuition , bernie sanders was by his side . in april , when cuomo held a ceremonial signing for the bill’s passage , hillary clinton was there with him . he became the first governor able to deliver on an idea dear to the hearts of democrats , offering a free ride not just for two years but four years of higher education at a public institution . “college is what high school was 70 years ago , ” cuomo said on the day of the signing . “it’s not a luxury , it’s a necessity . ”
the fact that cuomo has fallen short on promises to overhaul ethics and campaign finance rules also leaves a bitter taste on the left . there’s been an unending parade of legislative indictments and convictions on his watch , including successful prosecutions of the former top leaders in both the state senate and assembly . those cases were filed after cuomo had pulled the plug on an ethics commission . “he’s empowered the trump republicans in the state so he can’t get ethics reform , which he has no interest in , ” says samuels of effectiveny .
he rebuilt his career by winning the more modest office of state attorney general in 2006 . in that role , he went after bonuses paid at wall street firms and conflicts of interest in student lending . he also collected some $ 170 million in fines and clawbacks from pay - to - play investigations into pension funds . when cuomo decided he was ready to run for governor again , he elbowed aside democrat david paterson , who had become governor after eliot spitzer resigned in the midst of a prostitution scandal . cuomo won the governorship easily in 2010 .
in many of the fields where private equity now operates , it has not necessarily performed better or worse than the banks and governments it replaced . in some cases it financed projects that others wouldn’t fund and provided crucial public services , including emergency care . and because these firms do not rely on the government for loans , and are much smaller than wall street banks , they pose far less risk to the broader economy .
despite all these successes , cuomo gets little credit on the left . on nearly every issue they care about , activists complain , cuomo has had to be dragged kicking and screaming , coming around only when he realized it might be politically advantageous to do so . the governor can seem to them more like an opponent than a friend . “there’s definitely this feeling that he’s temperamentally opposed to the left wing , ” says sean mcelwee , a policy analyst at demos , a progressive think tank in new york . “when he does pursue a left policy , it very much seems like he’s doing it as his last option . ”
the average new yorker creates 16 . 5 tons of trash per year . although americans are recycling now more than ever , it is crucial we take steps to create less trash and prevent landfills from continuing to grow in size and number . here are some steps we can take to cut down on our trash and help our environment .
“obviously there were problems with rural / metro , ” said ron cunningham , a spokesman for rural / metro’s new parent company , envision healthcare , which is not a private equity firm . “we are continuing to hire paramedics and e . m . t . s and what you are seeing is that the response times are improving . ”
cuomo also seemed to turn on bill de blasio , a former aide , after de blasio was elected mayor in 2013 . the governor has shown the mayor who’s boss in fights over charter schools , funding for pre - kindergarten education and levels of municipal aid . but cuomo needed de blasio’s help in securing support from the working families party in 2014 . he had to agree to a list of demands to receive the party’s line on the ballot - - some of which he has not delivered on , including decriminalization of marijuana and public financing of elections .
about one - third of what new yorkers throw away can be composted . food scraps and other organics do not break down in landfills the same way they do in compost piles . not only does composting reduce waste , it also helps enrich soil used for growing trees and grass , improving our vital greenspaces . anyone can compost , whether you live in a house or apartment .
although the schedule of monday - friday from 2pm to 10 pm was quite demanding while balancing it with my music production , i genuinely enjoyed my time here . the energy and enthusiasm to organize against big fossil fuel interests and win is unmatched and i was genuinely excited to learn something new every day and hang out with my coworkers often . success here truly relies on one ' s motivation and desire to succeed .
he inherited a $ 10 billion deficit , which he closed without raising taxes . in fact , cuomo has consistently cut taxes and placed a cap on property tax increases at the local level . the complaints that cuomo might be a republican in democratic clothing began with the austerity budgets of his first term . his primary concern during those years was to bring the state back into fiscal balance while giving progressives things that don’t cost much money , like marriage equality and gun control . but he withheld funds from left - of - center priorities in education , housing and health care , and fought with teachers unions not only over spending levels , but expansions of charter schools and methods for evaluating public school teachers .
cuomo had pulled off a political and policy triumph . does that mean progressives were happy with him ? hardly . they find fault with much of his tuition plan . it does nothing to help part - time students and offers no help for room and board or books . it requires students to stay in the state for years after college , meaning that what looks like a scholarship could end up more like a loan . it doesn’t pump enough money into the state university system to make up for years of budget cuts . in short , cuomo’s critics argue , it was more about achieving a headline and claiming credit on an issue than really resolving it . “yeah , it’s a nice small step , but he doesn’t say it’s a first step , ” says bill samuels , head of effectiveny , a good - government group . “it’s an example where even when he does good things , he’s not candid . ”
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i told him he would make less than $ 10 , 000 a year ,
said eileen hershenov , who was the downstate campus coordinator for nypirg .
he laughed and told me that was a step up for him .
former colleagues recall a
fabulously intelligent
and confident young man who was intensely interested in the idea of creating political change from the ground up , an idea that would resurface years later in his meteoric political rise .
he stood apart from some of the more radical students on campus , they said , and believed strongly in working within the system .
he had a seriousness of purpose ,
recalled diana mitsu klos , then a school organizer working out of the ccny office .
his tenure was brief , but anyone who met him received a strong and lasting impression .
obama worked that spring semester , from february through late may , on several nypirg projects , including the straphangers campaign .
alison kelley , who was a sophomore at ccny and later became nypirg ' s chairwoman , remembers working with obama to improve the city college subway station at 137th street and broadway , which was dirty and had poor lighting . she said he was among the early leaders in the successful push to get cuny to divest itself of holdings in apartheid south africa . he also led voter registration drives and campaigns to keep tuition down at cuny .
we had other organizers who were competent people , but he really stood out ,
kelley said .
everyone knew that he was going to do something remarkable .
when he told hershenov he was leaving , she literally got down on her knees and begged him to stay , she said .
i wanted him to stay because he could appeal to so many different people ,
hershenov said .
people who were very interested in identity politics , people who were apolitical and people on the left and the right . he appealed to students across a political spectrum .
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knight foundry , also known as knight 's foundry and shops , is a cast iron foundry and machine shop in sutter creek , california .

samuel n. knight developed a high speed , cast iron impulse water turbine which was a forerunner of the pelton wheel design .

this site is the last water-powered foundry and machine shop in the united states .

a 42-inch ( 107 cm ) knight wheel drives the main line shaft , with smaller water motors powering other machines .

knight foundry

knight foundry ( no . 1007 california historical landmark ) - sierra nevada geotourism mapguide
sam knight and thomas edison have long since departed , but knight’s water wheels still keep the foundry running and they’re not subject to blackouts .
if knight foundry is lost , along with it go technologies that may never be replicated .
thank you ! together we can preserve this industrial crown jewel , the historic knight foundry .
amador ledger dispatch : plaques dedicated at historic knight foundry . ( 03 - 25 - 18
comment received jan . 2001 , andy fahrenwald : the situation at knight foundry is now much improved .
public knight foundry guided tours knight foundry in sutter creek is america’s last water - powered foundry and machine shop and a premier relic of mother lode gold mining history . join us for one of our guided tours on the second saturday of every month .
knight foundry , also known as knight’s foundry and shops , is a cast iron foundry and machine shop in sutter creek . it was established in 1873 to supply heavy equipment and repair facilities to the gold mines and timber industry of the mother lode .
industrial heating : back to your roots : knight foundry . by : reed miller ( 12 - 2017 )
the knight foundry remains an american tradition of invention and craftsmanship – - a money making tradition since 1873 .
the native son : historic knight foundry , the last water - powered machine foundry in the united states . by kimberly wooten . ( 09 - 30 - 17 )
knight foundry was able to stay in business after the gold rush was over by producing specialty parts that were more easily produced at the foundry than through mass production .
companies and people from as far away as arizona , oregon and hawaii come to the knight foundry because no one else will take on the small orders that knight foundry does . “we do a hundred different things a month , ” said borgh .
one such enclave of craftsmanship is the knight foundry at sutter creek . the foundry has been operating continuously in the same buildings , with basically the same equipment and methods since 1873 .
knight also invented several other types of mining equipment . the foundry had a total of eight patents for machines designed in his shop , one of them being after knight’s death . knight dredger pumps were used in san francisco bay , puget sound , and the willamette and columbia rivers .
abc10 . com : the last of its kind : restoring knight foundry . by : john bartell ( 03 - 19 - 18 )
the following is a dec . 14 , 1977 , account by the author about the knight foundry when it was in commercial operation .
sacramento valley : knight foundry : a window into the industrial technology of the 1800s . by : carl gwyn ( 9 - 19 - 17 )
the knight foundry ' s open house will be sunday , april 2 from 10 : 00 a . m . to 4 p . m .
your donations will help preserve and protect this industrial crown jewel , the historic knight foundry . the knight foundry alliance is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit organization under the umbrella of the amador community foundation , tax id # 68 - 0447992 . donations will be eligible for all applicable tax deductions .
a national mechanical engineering monument the knight foundry is the last water - powered foundry and machine shop in america , and one of the nation’s best preserved 19th - century industrial complexes . the preservation and restoration of the knight foundry provides an unparalleled opportunity to protect the history of industrial technologies as they were traditionally implemented , and to pass them on to future generations .
the land and buildings were recently donated to the city , which peters says was a crucial step in making knight foundry a place to teach fading skills .
the site was secured for posterity early in 2000 through the generosity of richard and melissa lyman , who purchased the foundry from the borgh family trust . the foundry is now being put back in operation by the knight foundry corporation , a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non - profit educational public benefit corporation which will ultimately acquire the site from the lyman ' s . the planning and fundraising work leading to the foundry acquisition and resumption of programs was carried out by the save knight foundry task force of the samuel knight chapter of the society for industrial archeology directed by then chapter president andy fahrenwald .
knight foundry was established in 1873 to repair facilities and supply equipment to the gold mines and timber industries of the mother lode . the knight foundry is thought to be the last remaining water - powered foundry and machine shop in the nation . samuel n . knight developed a high speed , cast iron water wheel about the same time as the pelton wheel that used the same concept . historic records indicate that his water wheels were used in some of the first hydroelectric plants in california , utah and oregon .
ps : we invite you to contact us to discuss the plans for knight foundry and other support opportunities such as evergreen donations , endowments , estate planning , and sponsorship .
knight wheels were used in some of the first hydroelectric plants in california , utah , and oregon .
to protect , preserve , and restore the knight foundry’s historic structures , features and operations in order to convey its local and regional importance as a unique 19th century industrial facility .
carl borgh first came to this small town in the foothills of the sierra nevada about 100 miles east of san francisco to have some parts cast by the historic knight foundry .
a center of innovation in california’s mother lode country , the historic knight foundry actively served the needs of the mining and lumber industries for over 120 years and is believed to be the only remaining water - powered foundry and machine shop in the united states .
the knight foundry , set in the heart of sutter creek , is america’s last water - powered foundry and machine shop . established in 1873 by samuel knight , this extraordinary facility includes the unique historic equipment and machinery , still in place in its original context , just as it was during its gold rush - era heyday . knight foundry is nationally recognized as a national historic mechanical engineering landmark and a california registered historical landmark . the foundry is listed on the national register of historic places and has been named by the national trust for historic preservation as one of america’s eleven most endangered historic places . please visit : urltoken
sutter creek’s historic , industrial crown jewel . the knight foundry , set in the heart of sutter creek , is america’s last water - powered foundry and machine shop . established in 1873 by samuel knight , this extraordinary facility includes the unique historic equipment and machinery , still in place in its original context , just as it was during its gold rush - era heyday .
knight foundry is nationally recognized as a national historic mechanical engineering landmark and a california registered historical landmark . the foundry is listed on the national register of historic places and was named by the national trust for historic preservation as one of america’s eleven most endangered historic places .
sutter creek’s historic , industrial crown jewel . the knight foundry , set in the heart of sutter creek , california , is america’s last water - powered foundry and machine shop . established in 1873 by samuel knight , this extraordinary facility includes the unique historic equipment and machinery , still in place in its original context , just as it was during its gold rush - era heyday .
private tours if your family , group , or organization would like to arrange a private tour of knight foundry , please contact ron edgar at theknightfoundry @ urltoken or 209 - 560 - 6160 .
currently at 143 years old , the knight foundry is open as a museum . the foundry / machine shop was powered by a knight water motor , predecessor of the pelton wheel . this motor drove multiple shafts and various equipment found in a machine shop . two more open houses are currently scheduled for april 22 , 2017 and may 27 , 2017 . for more information see : urltoken
the knight foundry is a complex of buildings just on the edge of downtown sutter creek littered with historical artifacts everywhere . machinery belts hum as they did back when california was still a new state .
the grey iron , so called because of its color , is brought to the knight foundry in the form of junked automobile parts and rusted bathtubs . old volkswagen cylinder heads and buick brake drums are melted down and reincarnated as gears , wheels , propellers , et cetera for the foundry’s customers .
the knight foundry alliance is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit organization under the umbrella of the amador community foundation , tax id # 68 - 0447992 . donations will be eligible for all applicable tax deductions .
the knight foundry still depends on that . “our business requires a great amount of hand skill , ” said borgh . “that’s how we find a niche for the products we make and the customers we serve .
the machine shop is a monument to the knight water wheel . water in a reservoir atop a 500 - foot hill a mile and a half away is fed by gravity through pipes leading to the foundry .
the foundry mr . borgh moved his wife and three young sons to was built using techniques knight learned working as a carpenter in neighboring gold fields . one of his innovations was the knight water wheel , a high - powered water turbine . mr . borgh says it ' ' fairly revolutionized the mining industry around here . ' '
today the foundry continues to operate , producing gray iron castings for industry and tourism . the machine shop is still powered by water falling more than 400 feet from the ridge above sutter creek . knight foundry is also listed on the national register of historic places and has been designated a california historical landmark .
samuel n . knight developed a high speed , cast iron impulse water turbine which was a forerunner of the pelton wheel design .
historic knight foundry , in sutter creek , california , is believed to be the only remaining water - powered foundry and machine shop in the united states . the foundry was established in 1873 by samuel n . knight ( 1838 - 1913 ) , a former ship ' s carpenter , was one of several inventors experimenting with impulse turbines to exploit the area ' s abundant high - head water power for driving hoists , ore stamps , and other mining machinery . he patented an efficient water wheel that came to dominate the field prior to the introduction of the pelton turbine in the mid - 1880s . knight turbines drive some of the machinery of the works .
following decades of effort and negotiations , the city of sutter creek has entered into an agreement to acquire the historic knight foundry complex . the knight foundry , for those not familiar , is one of the most significant and remarkably well - preserved historic industrial properties in the country . established in 1873 and operating continuously into the 1990s , knight foundry was instrumental in the design and manufacture of equipment for the mining , power , timber and agriculture industries , not only in the mother lode , but throughout california and beyond . the foundry is a california registered historical landmark , listed on the national register of historic places , a national historic mechanical engineering landmark , and has been named by the national trust for historic preservation as one of america’s 11 most endangered historic places .
knight developed a 42 - inch wheel to drive the main line shaft , and smaller water motors power other machines . knight invented other types of mining equipment . he held 8 patents on machines used in his shop . by the 1890s more than 300 knight water wheels had been produced and in use across the western united states . water wheels produced a cheap and effective energy source for miners .
on behalf of the city i extend appreciation to all who have helped and provided encouragement through the long process of knight foundry acquisition . we now look forward to working with volunteers and donors alike to preserve this unique historic resource .
knight foundry open house march 4th , 2017 in sutter creek , california . the first time the foundry has been open for public view in decades . the land and buildings were donated at the end of 2016 and fundraising is underway to purchase the equipment inside so that long sought plans of a living museum can move ahead . urltoken
comments from visitors / members : may , 2005 : knight foundry featured on history channel ! in what should be a great boost for the planned major fundraising to come , the history channel ' s “gold rush ghost towns , ” part of the channel’s save our history series , gave a substantial share of its air time to knight foundry . the film crew worked an intensive twelve hour day with iron master russ johnson , joe harralson , of the california state university at sacramento engineering faculty ; and foundry ownerrichard lyman , to recreate historic activities at the foundry , tracking the production of a cast iron bevel gear . project manager andy fahrenwald was interviewed by program host steve thomas ( of this old house fame ) about knight foundry’s historic background and plans for the future . for more info : contact : andy fahrenwald , project director , andylora @ sbcglobal . net , 209 - 267 - 5967 .
today the foundry continues to operate , producing gray iron castings for industry and tourism . the machine shop is still powered by water falling more than 400 feet from the ridge above sutter creek . knight foundry is also listed on the national register of historic places and has been designated a california historical landmark . see asme website for more information
the foundry makes sand casts , a trade that has changed little since 1873 , when samuel knight , its builder , poured the first test ingot . it is the oldest cast - iron foundry in california and itsadjoining machine shop is said to be the oldest water - powered shop west of the mississippi , perhaps in the united states .
all machinery in the shop and foundry is driven by water wheels . a dozen water wheels in the foundry run drill presses , lathes , milling machines and air compressors . it’s a functioning rube goldberg setup that dates back to the original owner . sam knight designed , built and patented water wheels before the invention of the electric light bulb .
family run foundry , based in wadeville , gauteng invests r4 . 5 million in new greenfield facility .
there the water blasts at a pressure of 200 pounds a square inch through 10 ancient knight wheels , which spin and hum like electric motors .
at the heart of the new foundry is a one and half ton an hour furnace which was supplied by local furnace manufacturer solid state induction furnaces . the furnace is equipped with a new generation cooling tower that allows knight foundry to run on a closed circuit cooling system , and it has a gauge incorporated to monitor the water temperature and keep it at a constant temperature
the name knights sales , which was the brokerage side of the business , does not readily associate itself with the foundry business . it was derived from its location in knights industrial area in germiston , gauteng . however because of the long association with the foundry industry the family has kept the name but now trades as knights foundry .
i ' ve been wanting to go inside and have a look around the foundry for years . it was incredible
organizers hope to eventually pour molten metal at the foundry several times a year , truly keeping the past alive .
tours begin at 10 a . m . , 12 noon , and 2 p . m . admission is $ 10 for adults 18 and older , $ 5 for students age 5 - 17 , free for children under 5 . discover the compelling history that is historic knight foundry !
knight died in 1913 and left the ownership of the foundry to his employees , and it stayed in employee hands until 1970 when the last employee - owner died . at that point , it was purchased by carl borgh , an aerospace engineer from southern california who was originally a customer .
this is one of the earliest us foundry - machine shops remaining in operation and one of the few water powered . it was founded by samuel n . knight ( 1838 - 1913 ) to manufacture machinery for the gold mines of the mother lode region . knight was one of several inventors experimenting with impulse turbines to exploit the area ' s abundant high - head water power for driving hoists , ore stamps , and other mining machinery . he patented an efficient water wheel that came to dominate the field prior to the introduction of the pelton turbine in the mid - 1880s . knight turbines drive some of the machinery of the works .
when knight died in 1913 , he left the shop to his employees who continued to own the building until 1970 when the last employee died . the foundry changed owners and stayed opened until 1996 . the city of sutter creek intended to purchase the foundry from its current owners in 2009 for clean up , historic preservation and re - opening as a museum with public displays , workshops and limited local historic foundry work . the transfer of ownership was not completed , and the building remains in private ownership with no immediate plans for public access .
the knight foundry was named by the national trust for historic preservation as one of america’s eleven most endangered historic places . please take this all - important opportunity to give this unique treasure a new life . whether you can donate directly or help us find other funding , your support is greatly appreciated .
fifty to 75 percent of the products poured at the foundry are new designs . the rest are replacement parts for obsolete equipment .
please help us preserve and restore the historic knight foundry . after an unprecedented fundraising effort the city of sutter creek can proudly say that it owns the property , the buildings , and the contents of this historic jewel . now the real work is under way to reach our long - term goal : to turn knight foundry into a world - class interactive museum and educational center . the irreplaceable , invaluable , and unique historic equipment and machinery that is still in place in its original context is being cleaned , catalogued , and restored . your donation of any amount will make a positive difference to current and future generations . please help .
waupaca foundry and others donated funds for the new waupaca middle school performance enhancement center to support students ' health and well - being .
quantic foundry is a market research company focused on gamer motivation . we combine social science with data science to understand what drives gamers .
amador’s heritage as a part of amador county’s industrial heritage corridor , the knight foundry will join the kennedy mine , kennedy tailing wheels , central eureka mine , and miners’ bend park to tell the story of how local industry created , and then contributed to , the viability of the mother lode communities of sutter creek , amador city , jackson , and others . the foundry will serve as an educational resource that provides a unique window into amador’s history and heritage .
knight foundry has volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups , including hands - on historic restoration , research , and preservation of historic industrial skills . adults , students , scout troops , service groups , and others are welcome . for more information contact ron edgar , volunteer coordinator , at theknightfoundry @ urltoken or 209 - 560 - 6160 .
knight foundry was designated an official project of the federal save america ' s treasures program in 1999 , and through that program subsequently received a $ 35 , 000 matching planning grant funded by the j . paul getty fund and a $ 250 , 000 matching preservation grant funded by the national park service . these two grants will enable the non - profit develop curricula , collection management , a full historic structures report and stabilize the buildings and machinery . matching funds are being sought to enable this work to go forward . contributions are tax deductible and should be made to the knight foundry corporation , p . o . box 1776 , sutter creek , ca , 95685 .
i had the pleasure of visiting knight foundry in the early nineties . i was amazed by the intricate pulley system which ran all the equipment . this was truly a feat of engineering for its time . the foundry was operating and all machines were powered by water flow . the people who worked there were very friendly . i watched a blacksmith make an alligator shaped bottle opener . i bought it and a cast iron bumper sticker . how cool ! ! i still have the bumper sticker . great place to visit .
sutter creek was a foundry town , and its products can still be found adorning the state capitol building in sacramento as well as structures throughout old town .
although the van der walt family has been associated with the foundry industry since the 1960s it was only 11 years ago that the company poured its first casting .
“most foundries are big operations . automated . the workers are machine operators , ” said borgh . “the foundry business started with people working with their hands . ”
the people of the knight foundry are also a link with the past . ' ' it ' s the men who work here that make this place , ' ' mr . borgh said . almost every week , wendell boitano , 69 years old , stops by to watch the pouring . his father put in 58 years at the foundry , and mr . boitano , who is known as casty , worked there 45 years . now he watches his successor , jay raper , 34 , mr . borgh and david demarest , 54 , at work .
nick is the co - founder and analytics lead of quantic foundry . he combines social science and data science to understand gamer behavior in large - scale game data .
a unique educational facility the knight foundry is a premier relic of mother lode gold mining history . from precision equipment for our hard - rock gold mines , to the lights of san francisco , to the impulse turbine systems that powered many of the state’s hydroelectric plants , the foundry literally helped to build california . when restoration is completed , this unique facility will allow partnership opportunities for high schools , colleges , and universities to provide hands - on training to engineering , museum studies , and history students , and will be a center for teaching crafts and skills that are in danger of dying out .
sutter creek vice mayor robin peters says if local gold mines needed a large iron tool or piece of equipment , odds were it came from the foundry in the late 1800s .
[ 16 ] major - gabryś , k . ( 2015 ) . biodegradable materials as foundry moulding sands binders , metalurgija , vol . 54 ( 3 ) . 591 - 593 .
foundries and machine shops , such as the knight foundry in sutter creek , provided the foundation for california’s booming gold rush . miners depended on foundries and machine shops to produce sophisticated tools and equipment as mining operations continued to grow and became increasingly more complex . foundries cast the tools and machine shops formed equipment . mining operations needed a continuous supply of stamp mills , pumps , ore cars , dredger buckets , rock crushers and assorted other mining equipment .
“in the ’90s , knight had the recognition that the core of biology is digital code , and he realized our ability to read it was just starting to get cheap , and our ability to write [ with computer programming ] it was getting cheap , ” says kelly .
[ 9 ] głowacki , c . r . , crandell , g . r . , cannon , f . s . , clobes , j . k . , yoight , r . c . furness , j . c . , mccomb , b . a . & knight , s . m . ( 2003 ) . emission studies at a test foundry using an advanced oxidation - clear water system . afs transactions . vol . 111 . 579 - 598 .
that way of thinking was pretty controversial back when kelly was at mit . “back when we were starting to say this in the early 2000s , biologists hated us—they thought it was never going to work , ” says kelly . “but we did think that you could create a design discipline where people can say , ‘hey , this is a set of code we should put together to accomplish something . & apos ; ” one of kelly’s cofounders is tom knight , an mit professor who is known as one of the grandfathers of synthetic biology . kelly , along with the other bioworks founders—reshma shetty , barry canton , and austin che—were knight’s biological engineering doctoral students . knight was a pioneering computer engineer at mit in the ’80s before switching his focus to the field of bioengineering , where his groundbreaking research connected computer code and genetic code .
“this section has been equipped with a 10 ton an hour continuous mixer manufactured by endeco and a gassing unit manufactured by lauds foundry equipment that can accommodate boxes up to 1 . 8 metres . ”
foundry work remains essentially the same as it was at the beginning of the iron age . “this business is basically simple , ” said borgh . “it only gets complex as things take shape . ”
“don’t write your story about me , ” said carl borgh , proprietor of the foundry for the last seven years . “the foundation and success of this business is the employees . they’re the key . ”
in that way , the foundry operates similarly to a factory—one that’s growing . in september , bioworks opened up bioworks 2 , an extension of its foundry right next door . the automated machines are set up to work in a more streamlined fashion , with the ability to generate nitrogen and hydrogen on - site , rather than getting it delivered , which cuts down on production costs . kelly makes another silicon valley analogy to explain where they are going with their foundry designs , comparing the space to the data centers run by google or facebook , where they have their own power plant , their own cooling system .
the significance of acquiring and eventually preserving this 19th century wonder will begin to show as soon as the doors are re - opened to visitors . in the mid - 1990s , while still operating as a working foundry and machine shop , multi - day industrial living history workshops were developed together with tours and educational programs for adults and children . the level of interest those programs generated was remarkable , bringing visitors from all over the world to witness in real time , operation of the last water - powered foundry and machine shop in the world . once preserved and re - opened , the knight foundry complex will join with the kennedy tailing wheels , kennedy mine , central eureka mine and miner’s bend parks to form a world - class industrial heritage corridor that tells the story of how local industry created and then contributed to the viability of mother lode communities such as sutter creek , jackson and others .
“we have been on a quality drive at the company for some time . that started approximately four years ago when we introduced a new one and half ton furnace in our heavy bay area of the foundry . ”
tours have been resumed as of july 1 , 2000 , on weekends , with tours available by appointment during the week . the foundry number is 209 267 0201 . cast iron production will resume early this year , to be followed by workshops , an array of hands on education programs for young people and extended historic apprenticeship programs in traditional pattern making , machineshop , and foundry work in iron , brass and bronze and blacksmithing .
knights sales has recently commissioned a second foundry . equipment installed includes a 2 x 2 metre , 10 ton an hour shakeout as well as a 10 ton an hour reclamation plant and cooler classifier , manufactured and supplied by endeco
“at the same time that these installations were taking place we re - arranged the foundry to isolate the stainless steel melting and casting , added a 10 ton an hour continuous mixer that was manufactured by endeco omega , as well as a gassing unit manufactured by lauds foundry equipment that can accommodate boxes up to 1 . 8 metres , and installed a 2 . 4 x 2 . 4 metre , two pallet top - hat heat treatment unit . ”
for many years , the foundry made its money from 1 , 000 - pound weights for scales like those used for trucks . then came a big contract to pour all the ironwork and cast - iron filigree work for the restoration of the state capitol in sacramento , 50 miles to the east . this led to a similar project , the restoration of the historic placer county courthouse in nearby auburn . the foundry is at work on this project now .
“plus we have re - arranged the existing foundry to isolate the stainless steel melting and casting . so in essence we have two foundries operating in one , in this section . the common element between them is the fettling bay . ”
“we’re probably the smallest grey iron foundry in california , ” said borgh with the fast paced pride and concern he devotes to his business . “we pour 20 tons a month . most foundries pour more than that before their morning coffee breaks . ”
“the only downside was that we had to invest in a new 1 200 amp substation but the new foundry is housed under 1 600m² of roof and alongside we have 600m² under roof which has now become our dedicated fettling bay , ” continued vincent .
it’s clear talking to kelly that for ginkgo , the automation and the expanding infrastructure is really just a means to an end . the exciting aspect of the business is the design side ; the foundry is just the support system that allows the designers to iterate .
then , in the mid - 1990s , the foundry ' s melting furnace poured its last cast . since then , there have been failed attempts to restore it . the national trust for historic preservation even listed it as one of america ' s eleven most endangered historic places .
“the 1 x 1 metre gassing station that has been supplied was manufactured by rc systems . the unit has been fitted with a pre heater to maximize the productivity . in fact throughout the new foundry and the existing one we have made sweeping changes to automate and maximize our productivity . ”
the box is then flipped over . the pattern that was at the bottom is now flush with the sand surface . the sand doesn’t spill away when overturned as it does at the beach . foundry sand is mixed with sea coal and betanite , a clay , which makes the grains stick together .
one kilometre of roller track “we have not had the roller tracks in the foundry manufactured new . these were purchased from an auction held for a foundry that closed recently . each roller has half - a - ton loading capacity and each unit , of which there are plenty , has a five ton load capacity . in total there is over one kilometre of these roller tracks and even after all our requirements in the new facility have been taken care of , we still have enough remaining to possibly start another two foundries . the track did not come with corner units but we are busy manufacturing those ourselves . ”
mr . borgh , who lived near los angeles , drove the 400 miles north to the foundry one weekend in 1970 and planned to return the next weekend to pick up the finished work . but when he returned he found only the owner ' s widow and a ' ' for sale ' ' sign .
waupaca county sheriff brad hardel running for re - election to complete key initiatives such as providing the equipment and training officers need to do their work safely and efficiently . among these , the swat team now has a military surplus mrap that will soon have a battering ram designed , built and donated by waupaca foundry .
[ 17 ] major - gabryś , k . , dobosz , st . m . , drożyński , d . & jakubski j . ( 2015 ) . the compositions : biodegradable material - typical resin , as moulding sands’ binders , archives of foundry engineering , vol . 15 ( 1 ) . 35 - 40 .
founded in 2008 by kelly and four of his mit colleagues , ginkgo bioworks custom - designs living organisms for companies in the fragrance , flavor , and food industries . the foundry creates products like perfume , sweeteners , and cosmetic ingredients—all things that are typically extracted from plants—by genetically engineering common baker’s yeast to take on those properties .
in fact , if you draw a comparison between biodesign and web design—which kelly frequently does—his organism designers are like programmers , tweaking and manipulating code until it makes something beautiful . ginkgo’s foundries , meanwhile , are becoming more and more like factories , where automated tools give the bioengineering foundry the ability to scale like a software company .
twenty minutes to two hours later , depending on the size of the items to be cast , the molds are knocked apart with wooden mallets to disclose what has been created within . these days it is likely to be a specialized part for a barge dredging the yuba river for gold about 75 miles northwest of the foundry .
the article shows the influence of environment requirements on changes in different foundry moulding sands technologies such as cold box , self - hardening moulding sands and green sands . the aim of the article is to show the possibility of using the biodegradable materials as binders ( or parts of binders’ compositions ) for foundry moulding and core sands . the authors concentrated on the possibility of preparing new binders consisting of typical synthetic resins - commonly used in foundry practice - and biodegradable materials . according to own research it is presumed that using biodegradable materials as a part of new binders’ compositions may cause not only lower toxicity and better ability to reclaim , but may also accelerate the biodegradation rate of used binders . what’s more , using some kinds of biodegradable materials may improve flexibility of moulding sands with polymeric binder . the conducted research was introductory and took into account bending strength and thermal properties of furan moulding sands with biodegradable material ( pcl ) . the research proved that new biodegradable additive did not decrease the tested properties .
the city recognized knight foundry for its historic significance many years ago in its general plan historic element . preservation of the site has long been a goal of the city , though despite the efforts of many , acquisition remained elusive and until recently the facility seemed destined for demise . in a recent breakthrough however , the owner of the complex agreed to a generous two - step plan calling for donation of the land followed by purchase of the historic contents . recognizing this as a “last , best” opportunity to preserve the complex in its original condition , for posterity , the city council voted unanimously for acquisition . when acquisition of the facility and purchase of the contents is complete , the city will begin the process of raising funds for stabilization and preservation , probably in cooperation with a non - profit custodian .
capacity the new foundry , which was only commissioned in july , is currently casting mainly high chrome but will cast other metals in future . it has increased the capacity by 60 % , which will put the company in the 300 ton a month category . of this they are casting between 25 to 30 ton a month in stainless steel .
“at the heart of the new foundry is a one and half ton furnace which was supplied by local furnace manufacturer solid state induction furnaces . the furnace is equipped with a new generation cooling tower that allows us to run on a closed circuit cooling system , and it has a gauge incorporated to monitor the water temperature and give early warning for pipes overheating . ”
the foundry stayed in business until 1996 when borgh retired , after which it survived for a while as a museum , but there was not enough business to offset the high insurance costs of the equipment . borgh died in 1998 and his estate sold the company to richard and melissa lyman in 2000 , a couple who was in the business of preserving old buildings .
at the heart of the new foundry is a one and half ton an hour furnace which was supplied by local furnace manufacturer solid state induction furnaces . the furnace is equipped with a new generation cooling tower that allows knights sales to run on a closed circuit cooling system , and it has a gauge incorporated to monitor the water temperature and keep it at a constant temperature
their purchase was simply to hold it until a non - profit organization founded by andy fahrenwald , a filmmaker who had come to create a documentary film about the foundry , had enough funds to purchase it . however , fahrenwald’s organization could never raise enough money . in 2007 the city of sutter creek agreed to buy it from the lymans , but could not come to an agreement on terms suitable to both parties , and negotiations ended in august 2010 . now it sits abandoned . the foundry is registered as a california historical landmark . and is listed on the national register of historic places . it is also designated a mechanical engineering historic site by the american society of mechanical engineers ( asme ) , and has been declared one of america’s most endangered places by the smithsonian institution .
in colonial new england , many youngsters less than 10 years old whose parents could not support them were indentured to masters who agreed to teach them a trade . this practice was legalized by the
poor laws .
the indenture mentioned below , for example , required a youthful apprentice in 1676 to serve more than 12 years to learn masonry . as apprentices then were usually bound to masters until they were 21 years old , apprentice nathan knight apparently began his service when he was about 8 1 / 2 years . these were the conditions of his servitude :
“like most foundries in south africa , we cannot deny it , the beginning of the year was one of the toughest starts to a year that we have ever experienced . fortunately business has subsequently turned around for us and , even with the increased staff compliment , we are currently still operating overtime shifts , ” said louis miller , one of six family members that run the 10 year old foundry that was established in 2006 .
waupaca foundry and farmers state bank each gave $ 3 , 000 to the new waupaca middle school performance enhancement center ( pec ) . the pec is a new space next to the middle school gym with improved workout equipment to help students be healthier . the waupaca school district is working with the waupaca middle school pec fundraising committee to upgrade the room with proper ventilation , lighting , ceiling fans , rubberized flooring , and mirrors to aid with exercise .
late one fall morning , i’m standing in the brightly lit foundry of the organism design company ginkgo bioworks , watching as a machine systematically injects dna sequences into baker’s yeast . with a uniformity that reminds me of a rockettes routine , eight slender black pipettes jet across the top of the machine , then fall into a single file line before they’re lowered into little black and gray boxes . when they emerge emptied , a robotic arm zips them away to refuel .
at a time when the foothills of california bustled with the men drawn by the lure of gold , copper , and other treasures , tools and machinery were needed to make the mining possible . stamp mills , hoist works , pumps , ore cars , dredger buckets , rock crushers , and many other types of equipment had to be manufactured . if the mines were to operate , a foundry was needed to cast the metal parts and a shop was needed to machine them to final form .
it starts when the men set a pair of wooden frames on the sooty , sand floor of the foundry , place the object to be poured inside one of them and then pack it with fine , damp sand . then they place the upper half of the frame on the lower half and continue packing the sand . when they separate the two frames and remove the object they are left with two boxes of firmly packed sand , each of which contains an impression of half of the object .
the task of creating a designer microbe that meets the needs of the foundry’s partner companies—a grape flavor , for example , or a peachy fragrance—fall to ginkgo’s “organism designers , ” synthetic biologists who tweak dna sequences to come up with new creations . the automated machines in ginkgo’s foundries do most of the physical work—like the dna - mixing process i was witnessing—which frees up the designers to do creative work and higher - level thinking . ginkgo also has proprietary software that makes genetic coding almost analogous to computer coding .
at the ginkgo headquarters , kelly leads me across the elevator bank to a space that had been gutted , the paint peeling , no lights yet , but it’s enormous—about the size of the two foundries on the other side of the floor combined . this was ginkgo’s space for bioworks 3 , lying in wait for the next development phase . once ginkgo has grown its production to the point that it needs the space of the third foundry - –likely by 2018—the entire operation will total 80 , 000 square feet .
kelly points to other companies that do similar work to ginkgo , such as transcriptic , a life science research lab that offers a web platform for users to enter in an experiment , or a reaction they want run . transcriptic’s biologists will run the reaction in its facility and send customers the results , offering a service to biotech startups similar to what amazon’s aws offers web developers . there’s also a foundry called zymergen , a company that biologists and biotech companies will hire to improve upon a strain they have already designed .
to be sure , acquisition of the foundry is a large commitment for a city the size of sutter creek . like any municipality , sutter creek must balance different interests – each representing a competing demand for energy and resources . streets need pavement , sewage must be treated , infrastructure needs maintenance , economic development must occur , historic resources require preservation ; all are necessary , and all at the same time . each such obligation is a single thread in the overall fabric of balanced municipal governance , and without each thread in its proper place the fabric becomes weak and fails . in sutter creek for example , we’re actively working to develop a capital improvement program that prioritizes and advances our pavement management plan . but we do so in parallel with , and not to the exclusion of , other things including historic preservation . acquisition of the foundry will not change the way the city works toward other important goals such as the capital improvement program , but instead will strengthen the historic preservation thread that is so important to the fabric of our mother lode communities .
the foundry has partnered with the french perfume company robertet , for example , to customize a rose fragrance by extracting the genes of real roses , injecting them into yeast , and rebuilding the biosynthetic pathways to produce the exact fragrance that a rose produces—a more authentic alternative to other synthetic rose - scented fragrances . and ginkgo is carving out a sizable niche for itself in the consumer biotech space : to date , it has raised $ 154 million in venture capital and is working with 20 companies on over 40 products still forthcoming .
“in addition , we added a 1 x 1 metre gassing station that was manufactured and supplied by rc systems , a hanger type shotblasting machine that has a height of 6 . 5 metres and can accommodate castings up to two metres in diameter that was installed in our fettling department , and one kilometer of roller track has been setup in the foundry to easily transport boxes and castings . each roller has half - a - ton loading capacity and each unit , of which there are plenty , has a five - ton load capacity . ”
saturday was a very hot day but our volunteers were hotter . they came prepared and they got of lot of much needed work done . the foundry back wall was way over due for some much needed maintenance . many timbers have been broken and pulled out of plum , the bases on some of them are rotten . our job this week was to remove the siding so the experienced timber framers could go in and do the repairs . we also tacked the pipe shop ramp and removed overgrown ivy off the back of the old blacksmith shop . great volunteers , wonderful to work with . thanks guys .
a modern equivalent of the early masterpiece , however , exists in the chicago areawide apprenticeship program in which apprentices are trained in patternmaking for the production of foundry castings . as part of the final examination , each apprentice is required to produce , without supervisions , a contract job ordered by a customer or a pattern - making shop . this job is judged by the area joint labor - management apprenticeship committee in charge of the program before the completion certificate is awarded . products made today by apprentices competing in national and area contests may also be likened to the final masterpiece of apprentices in early days . in several trades , such as bricklaying , electrical or sheetmetal work , painting , carpentry , plumbing , and pipefitting , cash prizes are awarded to apprentices who produce the best example of their craft . public demonstrations of apprentices ' abilities are also made in convention exhibits and at county fairs .
this indenture witnesseth that i , nathan knight . . . have put myself apprentice to samuel whidden , of portsmouth , in the county of portsmouth , mason , and bound after the manner of an apprentice with him , to serve and abide the full space and term of twelve years and five months . . . during which time the said apprentice his said master faithfully shall serve . . . he shall not . . . contract matrimony within the said time . the goods of his said master , he shall not spend or lend . he shall not play cards , or dice , or any other unlawful game , whereby his said master may have damage in his own goods , or others , taverns , he shall not haunt , nor from his master ' s business absent himself by day or by night , but in all things shall behave himself as a faithful apprentice ought to do . and the said master his said apprentice shall teach and instruct , or cause to be taught and instructed in the art and mystery as mason ; finding unto his said apprentice during the said time meat , drink , washing , lodging , and apparel , fitting an apprentice , teaching him to read , and allowing him three months towards the latter end of his time to go to school to write , and also double apparel at end of said time . . .