Dear Friends,

As a New Yorker and someone who has lived and spent time in Buffalo, I am devastated by Saturday’s hate-filled, racist shooting in the heart of the Black community that cut 10 innocent lives short. My heart is with their families and friends, and all those who have been impacted by this tragic event.

As EMS week comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to recognize the dedicated EMS personnel who provide critical care in emergency situations. Unfortunately, many of these workers lack access to health insurance and retirement benefits, which has led to a shortage of EMS personnel. I remain committed to fighting for these benefits and for EMS to be recognized as an “essential service.” 

Below you will find information on upcoming events - including a tenants’ rights information session being held tonight at the Don Bosco Community Center, and a healthy gardening program I will be hosting tomorrow morning at the Eastchester Public Library. We will be giving away free seeds and strawberry seedlings at the gardening event – I hope to see you there! 

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, email me at [email protected] or call (914) 934-5250. We are distributing free COVID-19 test kits Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. If you or someone you know is in need of a test, please do not hesitate to reach out or stop by to pick one up.

Warm regards,

On May 10, the Senate Education Committee, which I Chair, held its final meeting of the 2022 legislative session. We voted on and moved eight bills out of the committee including my bill, S.547, to reimburse reorganization studies for school districts considering consolidation. Two of the bills, S.392 and S.8924, moved to the Senate Finance Committee. I continue to advocate for schools throughout the state, and was fortunate to visit the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens this week, and read to 3 and 4 year olds – my favorites!

Legislative Update: Emergency Evacuation

In 2019, a Yonkers apartment fire displaced 86 people. Due in large part to the incredible work of the first responders, no one was injured, but during the blaze first responders and neighbors were unable to determine who was in the building or if everyone had been safely evacuated. In response, I introduced S.240B to ensure emergency personnel have access to residents’ names and contact information so they can confirm residents have safely exited their buildings in an emergency situation such as a fire or natural disaster.

I am pleased to share this bill passed the Senate on May 9 as part of a fire safety legislative package. In an emergency, every second counts. First responders can most effectively do their jobs and prevent the loss of life when they can determine who lives in the building and confirm they have safely evacuated.

Two years after the start of the pandemic, I continue to receive calls from constituents who have not heard back from the Department of Labor. This is an extremely real and frustrating issue for the people we serve. We need to change the system to get our neighbors the information and benefits they are entitled to in a timely manner.

I am pleased to share legislation (S.6828A/A.9268A) Assemblymember Chris Burdick and I sponsor to require the Department of Labor to notify unemployment assistant claimants of their approval status within 30 days has passed both the Senate and the Assembly. If signed by the Governor, it will ensure that claimants, many of whom are facing severe financial strain, receive a response concerning their eligibility for benefits in a timely manner. If a determination cannot be made within 30 days, the Department of Labor will be required to inform the claimant and provide a new estimated time frame for determination.

On May 12, the Climate Action Council, established under NY’s historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), held one of 11 statewide public hearings on its Draft Scoping Plan to address the climate crisis at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre in Peekskill. This in-person hearing in Westchester was not originally included in the public hearing schedule. However, we knew that the voices of our constituents in Westchester and Hudson Valley should be heard during this critical discussion, so we petitioned the DEC and NYSERDA to get this hearing added to the calendar. And it was. 

I was proud to co-sponsor and vote for the CLCPA, also called the Climate Act, which passed in 2019. In Westchester, there are communities at great immediate risk from climate change for a variety of reasons, including the threat of storms and flooding. It is essential we rethink our approach to suburban districts, like ours, to address these risks. 

I believe that addressing climate change presents real opportunities for meaningful economic growth in all our communities, especially if we increase the percentage of union jobs in this sector that will lead to real careers. We ought to be proactive and progressive in this effort, and not just defensive while we transition to the new economy. Good paying new jobs will be created, and we should be at the front of that effort.

Consolidating the various mandates of the CLCPA into a single vision and including all stakeholders – and seizing the opportunity to create meaningful economic growth – is work the Climate Action Council should pursue. I encourage them to do so.

To submit comments, visit climate.ny.gov. The public comment period closes on June 10. 

In conjunction with the Climate Action Council, the Climate Justice Working Group is seeking input on the "Disadvantaged Communities Criteria" and will hold six public hearings. Comments will be accepted through July 7.

On May 6, I was honored to attend the Rural Schools Association, the

Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association and Long Island Education Coalition’s School Funding Summit in Long Island. I discussed the legislative achievements that we fought so hard to achieve, and the challenges faced by our schools in the days and months ahead.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the blood drive I co-sponsored with the American Red Cross at the New Rochelle Public Library.  Together, our efforts led to 84 lives that were potentially impacted – a terrific accomplishment. If you are able to donate, please consider making an appointment at an upcoming blood drive near you.