Dear Friends:
After so many holidays without family and friends, with some continued precautions, I know many are looking forward to gathering together for Thanksgiving. Among the many things for which I am grateful, I am tremendously thankful for the opportunity to serve the residents of the 37th Senate District. It is a beautiful and diverse district stretching from Yonkers to Bedford. Its residents have diverse needs and interests, and I appreciate the opportunity to work to represent your voices in the NYS Senate and to help address issues that might arise for you.
As always, if there is anything my office can do to assist you, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.
Warm regards,
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Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District
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Thanksgiving Celebration in New Rochelle |
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On November 20, I had the pleasure of attending New Rochelle's 57th Annual Thanksgiving Day parade with the theme of “Thankful for Essential Workers.” It was a beautiful salute to those who stood on the frontlines throughout the pandemic to serve and protect New Rochelle and its residents. It was a lovely celebration with so many residents happy to be out and celebrating together!
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NYS Senate Veterans Hall of Fame |
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On Nov. 16, I had the honor of presenting my 2021 New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame honoree, Joshua Gaccione, with his award at Westchester Community College. Sergeant Gaccione, a resident of Tuckahoe, has had a distinguished career both in the military and as a civilian, dedicating his life to service to our country and community. First, as a paratrooper in the US Army, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Sergeant Joshua Gaccione was among the first units deployed into Afghanistan in 2002 and into Iraq in 2003. As the Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC) of intelligence for the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, he gathered intelligence across numerous channels to plan and support combat operations. After leaving military service in 2004, Sergeant Gaccione has continued to serve the veteran and military community throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley and is a prominent voice on behalf of veterans in our community. As the Director of Student Support Services at Westchester Community College, he oversees veteran services assisting veterans and military-affiliated students with all aspects of their reintegration process. This includes the development and implementation of Veterans College Success which is a three-credit elective course tailored to address the concerns of student-veterans and dependents, emphasizing critical thinking, success strategies, goal setting, learning and memory theory, and study skills while exploring local, community, and national resources for veterans, as well as veteran successes, opportunities, and best practices. Sergeant Gaccione is an active member of VFW Post 2285 and American Legion Post 979, serves as the secretary for the Westchester County Veterans Advisory Council, and is a board member for the Eastchester Veterans Foundation. He is a 2020 recipient of the Business Council of Westchester’s Rising Stars 40 under 40 award, a 2020 graduate of Leadership Westchester from Volunteer New York!, and is currently pursuing his PhD. in history. It was such a pleasure to present this award to such a deserving honoree in our community. You can see the presentation here. |
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Legislative Update:
Nursing Care for Medically Fragile Adults
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Over the past few months, I have heard from a number of parents of medically fragile children who require private duty nurses. While their children are under 21, their care is reimbursed at enhanced Medicaid rates structured to properly account for the nature of the care provided. However, when these medically fragile individuals reach the age of 21, they no longer qualify as "medically fragile children" and reimbursement rates for their private duty nurses drop significantly. This reimbursement cliff means that nurses face significant financial loss if they stay with these patients, many of whom have become quite attached to their caregivers. Despite this, many caregivers are forced to leave for higher-paying jobs. This has made it exceedingly difficult to find care for medically fragile adults - whose needs have not lessened by virtue of growing older. To address this arbitrary situation, I introduced legislation, S7513, which raises the reimbursement rate for medically fragile adults to that set for medically fragile children. The federal American Rescue Plan Act temporarily increases rates until March 31, 2022, and this legislation would provide a permanent resolution.
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Meeting with Dr. Henriquez's Youth Advisory Council |
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I had a great meeting with Port Chester Superintendent Dr. Henriquez, Port Chester Middle School Principal Patrick Swift, and their Youth Advisory Council. We discussed the role of New York State government, what the students appreciate about their school and what they would change. |
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ICYMI: New Ways to Think About Retirement |
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On November 16, I hosted an important discussion of planning for retirement. Speakers presented about the different living arrangements available during retirement, health care planning, legal and financial planning, Westchester County Senior Programs, and staying active in your senior years. The speakers were incredibly engaging and thoughtful about the diverse circumstances of seniors throughout the district and all of New York State. You can view the program here.
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Narcan Training
Registration Deadline Extended to Wednesday, Nov. 24
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Holiday Hot Chocolate in the Parks |
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We are seeking interns for our district office to provide assistance to me and my staff. Our district office is located in Port Chester. Interns can work remotely or in-person with social distancing and masks.
Work Includes: research, attending meetings, drafting correspondence, data entry, and more.
While this internship is unpaid, we can work with your school to provide school credit. If this is of interest to you or you have questions, please send your resume and cover letter to Rachel Estroff at estroff@nysenate.gov or call 914-934-5250 ext. 7.
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222 Grace Church Street, Suite 300
Port Chester, NY 10573
Phone: (914) 934-5250
Email: SMayer@nysenate.gov
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