Dear Friends, 

This week the Senate will adopt its One House Budget Resolution which represents the Senate’s priorities and policy positions as we begin to negotiate with the Governor and the Assembly. Among my many priorities, as we work toward the April 1st final budget deadline, are finding a finding a path forward that addresses the need for affordable housing but rejects the Governor's proposal as impractical, top-down, and misdirected; fair pay for homecare workers; and ensuring we give our students and schools the resources they need to succeed. As we negotiate, I remain mindful of the ways policies we adopt affect residents across my district and the many people I have met with and heard from.

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.

Warm regards,

My Stance on the Housing Compact

The Governor’s proposed Housing Compact is the budget issue I have been hearing most about from constituents and municipal leaders. While I commend Governor Hochul’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis in New York in her proposed budget, I believe the proposals are deeply flawed and unacceptable in their current form. More importantly, they do not focus enough on “affordability” and are far too blunt to be effective. 

Although the Governor’s proposals seek to walk a fine line between state enforcement and local control over housing policy, they represent a “top-down” approach which has left out the voices of local municipal officials and our communities. In addition, each of our communities is very different and has taken different steps to address the problem of affordable housing. Each community must develop an approach to increasing the supply of much needed affordable housing that works for it. In addition, we need a much more substantial state investment in infrastructure, services, and land costs in order to make additional affordable housing practical.

Over the next few weeks, I will continue to listen to the feedback from those concerned with this proposal and try to identify a path forward to achieve these important goals while respecting local control and the unique circumstances of each of our communities.

Introducing & Passing Legislation:



I am proud that my bill, S.4878, requiring employers to provide a written notice of the right to file for unemployment benefits to any employee who has lost their job or whose hours have been reduced, passed the Senate last week. Many New Yorkers who are laid off or face reduced hours come into financial hardship and do not know they are eligible for unemployment assistance, particularly in cases of partial unemployment. By requiring employers to inform employees of their potential eligibility, this bill will help ensure workers can access available resources if and when they lose their job.

Providing Paid Leave for Families After Stillbirth

I am extremely pleased that S.2175, proposed by my colleague Senator Kennedy, passed the Senate. This legislation will provide families with paid leave following a stillbirth. In New York, 3,000 families experience a stillbirth each year, and unfortunately 1 in 4 families know the pain of child loss.  And, yet, these parents are ineligible for New York’s family leave program.  I appreciate Senator Kennedy’s attention and efforts to rectify this. Please watch my full statement on the Senate floor.

Fighting Fair Pay for Home Care

I am proud to stand with my colleagues and the fierce advocates of the Fair Pay for Homecare Campaign. New York is facing a severe homecare worker shortage and the only solution is to pay the caregivers liveable wages. We must continue to implement the pay increases they need and deserve. It is necessary for the workers, as well as for the clients who rely on them. 

3 Calvert, Harrison

Assemblymember Burdick and I have worked hard to help the residents of 3 Calvert St. Harrison return to their homes. They have been out of their homes for over 100 days due to a fire in the building. We have urged the Town of Harrison to allow residents to move back into their homes with a binding commitment from the building owner to make the necessary improvements, including installing sprinklers. We hope a resolution is reached soon so residents can return home, and we will continue to try to identify paths to a safe and swift return.

City of Rye and Village of Port Chester receive $20 Million for Water Quality Improvement

This week Governor Hochul announced that the Village of Port Chester and the City of Rye were both recipients of major awards under the Water Quality Improvement Grant program administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Of the $108 million awarded this round, I am honored that Port Chester and the City of Rye will receive $10 million each for wastewater treatment improvement projects that will upgrade aging sewer infrastructure. Particularly after Hurricane Ida, Assemblyman Steve Otis and I have been laser-focused on helping obtain funds to upgrade our municipal sewer systems, and I’m proud to have been deeply involved in working with each of our municipalities in these efforts, alongside the City of Rye Mayor Josh Cohn, the City Council, Port Chester Mayor Luis Marino, and the Port Chester Village Board.

Staff Appointments 

I am proud to announce my team for the 2023 Legislative Session. Each member brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm and is ready to serve the 37th District. Click here to read more about each team member.

Visiting Lifting Up Westchester

I took part in a substantive discussion at White Plains’ Open Arms Shelter, focusing on methods for improving the long-term success of unhoused people in our communities. Many thanks to the residents of Open Arms for welcoming us, and to my colleagues, Senator Roxanne Persaud, Chair, Social Services Committee, and Senator Cordell Cleare, Chair, Committee on Aging; Anahaita Kotval, CEO of Lifting Up Westchester and Cynthia Knox, CEO of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill, Inc.

White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade 

I had a great time in White Plains at their St. Patrick’s Day Parade this weekend, alongside Assemblymember Chris Burdick. Congratulations to this year's Grand Marshal, Sister Laura Donovan, RDC, the Grand Marshal's aides, and the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, led by Chairman John Martin.

Veterans Advisory Council

On Wednesday, we had a very productive meeting of my Veterans Advisory Council. This is a diverse group of veterans who have served in wars from Afghanistan to Vietnam, and it is inspiring to work with them. One of their biggest concerns is identifying ways we can better connect with and serve our most hard to reach veterans. We are now beginning to plan a Veterans Resource Fair. I encourage all veterans of District 37 to join us. Please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov if you would like to receive information about our next meeting. 

Scarsdale Forum

On Thursday I had the opportunity to speak at the Scarsdale Forum. There was thoughtful and wide ranging discussion of key components of the budget, including education, the housing compact, and environmental initiatives. Thank you to President Susan Douglass for inviting me to attend.

Utility Webinar with the Public Utility Law Practice of New York & Sustainable Westchester

Please join me on Thursday, March 16 at 5 P.M. for a webinar with Sustainable Westchester and the Public Utility Law Practice of New York to discuss legislative and policy efforts to bring down high utility costs, as well as home energy savings from energy efficiency measures and new technologies, and financial assistance available to New Yorkers who need help. There will be an opportunity to have your questions answered. Sign up here.

“Women Who Tell Our Stories” Panel

Please join me and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for a zoom panel discussion, featuring three Westchester County authors: Linda Tarrant-Reid, Phylisha Villanueva, and B.K. Fischer. 

When: Friday, March 24

Time: 5:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. 

Where: Here is the Zoom Link

New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition Award

Do you know a future leader? The NYS Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Award program honors student leaders who make their schools and communities proud! Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who excel academically and through leadership in extracurricular and volunteer activities are eligible. Students selected for the award will receive a personalized certificate. To learn more and to nominate a deserving student, visit mayer.nysenate.gov. All nominations must be submitted by March 24, 2023.

Ways We Can Make Every Day Earth Day

Every day should be Earth Day! The NY State Senate invites K-12 students to help increase awareness of recycling and waste reduction by creating a poster, writing an essay, or a poem. For more information or to submit your work, visit mayer.nysenate.gov. Submissions are due by April 14, 2023