Dear Friends:

I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy through the winter storms and continuing health crisis.

On Friday, February 5th, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that those with pre-existing conditions can begin to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccines beginning on Sunday, February 14th, with the first appointments scheduled for Monday, February 15th. Additional information and the list of comorbidities that determine eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccines is included below. I realize the process remains difficult, and we continue to have fewer doses of the vaccine than people who are eligible.

A list of non-state-run vaccine providers in the 37th Senate District is included below. A list of all non-state-run vaccine providers in Westchester County is available here.

On Tuesday, February 9th, I was pleased to join my Senate colleagues in adopting a package of legislation to bring higher education within reach for New Yorkers. The legislation included in the package creates a Student Loan Refinance Task Force, allows veterans to get credit for their military experience, and increases the Tuition Assistance Program Award for returning students, among other measures. Read more about the package of legislation adopted this week in the section below.

This week, the Westchester Senate Delegation hosted the first of two Budget Forums to receive input on the 2021-2022 Executive Budget Proposal. Thank you to all of the advocates, community leaders, and constituents who made their voices heard. The second forum will be hosted on Tuesday, February 16th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Registration to testify is at full capacity, but those who are interested can email testimony to the delegation at [email protected]. Both forums are streamed to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins' Facebook page here.

As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected] or call (914) 934-5250.

As of Friday, February 12th, 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in New York. To track the state's vaccine distribution click here.

On Friday, February 5th, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a list of comorbidities that will determine eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccines. Adults of any age with any of the following conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines beginning on Monday, February 15th:

To validate a comorbidity with the local vaccine provider, you will need a:

The state will audit the local systems to ensure compliance.

New Yorkers can use the Am I Eligible to determine if they are eligible and make an appointment at a New York State-run vaccination site. Please check back daily for new appointments. The hotline number to call is 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). There are also a limited number of pharmacies in our region that have vaccine doses for those who are 65 years and older. The list of non-state-run vaccine providers in the 37th District is included below.

If you have made an appointment for the vaccine, please fill out the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form, available here, and bring it with you to your appointment.

To sign up for the Westchester County Department of Health Alert System, click here. Eligible residents will be alerted when additional vaccines become available. To be clear, this system will not sign you up for an appointment. This will only sign you up to be alerted when there are additional appointments available. If you are 65-years-old or over, you are eligible for the vaccine according to Phase 1B. To look through the list of those who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine under Phase 1A and Phase 1B, click here.

Click here for a list of all non-state-run vaccine providers in Westchester County.

Higher education is still one of the key ladders we have to the middle class. This week, my Senate colleagues and I adopted a series of bills to make it easier for New Yorkers to get there. The bills adopted by the Senate Majority Conference include the creation of a Student Loan Refinance Task Force, allowing veterans to get credit for their military experience, and increasing the TAP Award for returning students, among other measures.

I have met with students of SUNY, CUNY and private colleges throughout NYS, and I recognize that college affordability & student debt are a few of the top issues we must address to help students and families. I am committed to working with my colleagues to do more on these issues and strengthen the support systems that help all New Yorkers earn a college degree.

On Monday, February 8th, the NYS Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Betty A. Rosa as the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department. Dr. Rosa has served as the Interim Commissioner since August 2020. She is an extraordinary person and this appointment is well-deserved. Dr. Rosa is a nationally-recognized education leader dedicated to educational equity and excellence for all of New York State's students—regardless of income or zip code—as well as an exceptional consensus builder. With 30 plus years of teaching and administrative experience, as well as her leadership of the Board of Regents, Dr. Rosa has an intimate knowledge of the challenges our students face, particularly during this difficult period. During the past eleven months of this pandemic, when students, teachers, parents, and many others have struggled with the impact of COVID on our schools, Dr. Rosa has led with an extraordinary combination of on-the-ground experience in the school setting, broad knowledge of the state's diverse educational needs, willingness to listen to divergent voices, and ability to work collaboratively towards solutions during the most challenging time in our recent history. I am confident that we will continue to work closely together, as we have to date, focused on every aspect of education policy and practice. Click here to read more about Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of NYSED & President of the University of the State of New York.

Rye High School students have stepped up to help Rye seniors and other community members who need assistance booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Tech-savvy students will operate a hotline every Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The number to call is 914-967-6100, ext. 6204. Callers should have their health insurance and all contact information at the ready. Commendations to each student volunteer and organizer who put this together! What a wonderful way to contribute locally during this time.

On Wednesday, February 24th, Westchester Residential Opportunities is hosting a free financial literacy webinar at 5:00 PM. Learn about saving, budgeting, and credit. Register for the event at www.wroinc.org or call (914) 428-4507 for more information.

The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers is launching a series of exhibitions, programs and panels that focus on immigration and human rights. Border Cantos/Sonic Border is a moving collaboration between photographer Richard Misrach and sculptor & composer Guillermo Galindo that addresses the humanitarian situation at the wall between the US and Mexico. The exhibition will open this Friday, February 12th and be on display through May 9, 2021. The two artists will join the Hudson River Museum for a conversation on Sunday, February 21st at 2PM. Collaborators in Conversation: Richard Misrach and Guillermo Galindo will be hosted on Zoom and it is free. Click here to learn more about upcoming events at the Hudson River Museum.

St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester, in collaboration with RyeACT, is offering a free training on how to administer naloxone and potentially save a life. The training will be held on Zoom and is limited to 25 participants. To register for the free training, email [email protected].

Naloxone is a prescription medicine that reverses an overdose by blocking heroin or other opioids in the nervous system for 30 to 90 minutes. Naloxone is administered by injection or intranasal. Click here for a flyer to share with interested friends or neighbors.

Westchester County is seeking candidates to fill seasonal positions at Playland Park in Rye. Positions available include cashier, ride operator, lifeguard, EMT, painter, carpenter, operations supervisor, clerical/intern, custodial and maintenance roles. Wages start at $14/hour. The job board is available here. Candidates have the opportunity to view video descriptions and job specs. Those who are interested can apply for their top three job choices. Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule virtual interviews. The first round of interviews will be held on Saturday, February 20, and Sunday, February 21.