Dear Friends:

I hope this email finds you well during a very difficult time for our communities and our nation.

I believe that the terrible killing of George Floyd has brought forth a moment of national reckoning, a moment that makes me optimistic and determined at the same time. I am optimistic that Americans of all colors, faiths and ages are forcing us to look reality in the eye and acknowledge our system must change to confront and end racism in all of its forms. I am optimistic that young people are demanding that we act; to that end, my office has received over 3,500 emails & calls over the past week supporting change. And we now have acted to make change.

This week, my legislative colleagues and I adopted a package of bills that takes a bold and important step toward reform—a step we had to take to begin to rebuild trust between law enforcement and Black & Brown New Yorkers. Click here to watch my speech on the Senate floor. Included in these reforms was the repeal of section 50-A, which effectively prohibited the release of an officer’s disciplinary record, even when relevant to a misconduct claim; a statewide ban on the use of chokeholds by law enforcement; and the creation of an Office of Special Investigation, under the Attorney General, to investigate & prosecute any incident of death in a police-civilian interaction. A full list of policing reform measures adopted this week is also included in a section below. 

NEW YORK FORWARD UPDATES
  • The Governor issued a new Executive Order extending the time for voting for school board elections and school budget votes. According to Executive Order 202.39, ballots for school board elections and school budget votes must be received in person or by drop-box by Tuesday, June 9th, or received by mail by Tuesday, June 16th, in order to be counted. Previously, I had spearheaded a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo requesting a short term extension of the due date as a result of printing and mailing delays encountered by many school districts because I wanted to be sure that eligible residents had an opportunity to vote.
  • In person, outdoor graduations of up to 150 people will be permitted beginning on June 26th. Earlier, a number of my Senate Colleagues and I sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo urging that New York State permit outdoor, in-person graduation ceremonies this summer under guidance set by the NYSDOH. This new directive is a good step forward, and I’m hopeful it will be extended in the future.
  • Masks are mandatory on public transportation, including Metro-North, the Bee-Line Bus System, and the NYC Subway System.
  • Outdoor dining was authorized in Westchester County beginning on June 9th as part of Phase 2 of reopening. Click here for outdoor dining guidelines for employees and employers. Additional guidance about industries included in Phase 2 are noted below.
  • Many local libraries are offering scheduled pick-ups of materials. Call or email your local library, or check their website, to find out more. 

REOPENING WESTCHESTER COUNTY
County Executive George Latimer announced this week that Westchester County has under 1,000 active cases of the coronavirus—a great achievement for the county which saw nearly 12,000 active cases at our peak. Westchester County and the Mid-Hudson region have remained in control of all 7 metrics required to continue reopening, and the region entered Phase 2 of reopening on Tuesday, June 9th. Industries included in Phase 2, and the guidance for those industries, is included in a section below.

CENSUS JOBS AVAILABLE
On Tuesday, June 16th at 12:00 PM, the New York Regional Census Center and the Westchester County Association will host a live video chat about immediate job opportunities with the U.S. Census, and how you can apply. The position pays $23/hour, the hours are flexible, and 1,900 additional workers are needed now through December. Join the live chat using any of these links:

OPERATION NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BHCF
The Town of Bedford's Prison Relations Advisory Committee (PRAC), Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Superintendent, and Hour Children, have come together to offer a few ways we can support the 630 women of the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility with a few necessities and small comforts. They have created a shopping list, available here, for supporters to purchase needed items. Please send the items to: The Parenting Center at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, 247 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507. Thank you to all involved.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS:
  • Prepare, Respond, Recover: What To Do When Disaster Strikes, Thursday, June 11th, 4:00 PM
I will be presenting jointly with the American Red Cross a virtual meeting to help you prepare, respond, and recover from local emergencies and large-scale disasters in your community, and what to do to be prepared from any disaster. Of course, we will discuss COVID-19 related challenges. This event will be streamed on WebEx. Click here to register for the event with Event Password: BePrepared611.

  • Virtual Coffee & Tea, Wednesday, June 17th, 4:00 PM
Join me for a virtual coffee & tea informal discussion on Facebook. We will talk about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, reopening plans, community response to the killing of George Floyd & our legislative response, and answer any questions you have. You can email your questions in advance to smayer@nysenate.gov or ask them live in the comments. The Coffee & Tea will be livestreamed to my Facebook Page: Facebook.com/ShelleyMayerSD37. You do not need a Facebook account to join us. Click here for a flyer to share with interested friends and neighbors.

FREE HAND SANITIZER FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS & COMMUNITY GROUPS
Religious institutions, senior buildings, public housing and community groups who need hand sanitizer may complete a request form here. My office will be in touch with you to coordinate drop-off. As of now, we are prioritizing institutions in the 37th Senate District, but we are also working with our regional Senate partners to accommodate as many requests as possible.

As always, feel free to contact my office at (914) 934-5250 or smayer@nysenate.gov if there is an issue with which we can offer assistance or if you have questions about reopening for yourself or your business.

Kind regards,
Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District
POLICING REFORMS LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE
On June 8th, 9th, and 10th, my colleagues and I adopted a series of measures to reform our system of policing and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities of color they are pledged to serve. As I noted in my speech on the Senate floor, I have worked closely with my local police departments as well as police and other law enforcement unions statewide throughout my career, and I am fully aware that taking these steps involved decisions that not everyone agrees with. Nevertheless, I am convinced that they were the right decisions.

Policing Reforms Legislative Package Adopted this Week:

S.8496 (Bailey): Repeals section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law which provided protection to the personnel records of police officers, firefighters, and correction officers from disclosure. This protection has been interpreted to include disciplinary records of law enforcement officers, and there have been too many instances in which this law shielded such records, even when relevant to a case of misconduct. This repeal would subject these files to FOIL, just as all other records kept by public agencies. However, in order to ensure continued protection of personal contact and health records of these officers, the bill enhances protections under FOIL for this sensitive information.

S.2574C (Bailey): Creates an Office of Special Investigation within the Department of Law, under the Attorney General, which will investigate, and, if warranted, prosecute any incident of a person whose death was caused by an act or omission by a police officer or peace officer.

S.3253A (Parker): Clarifies that a person not under arrest or in custody has the right to record police activity and to maintain custody and control of that recording, and of any property or instruments used to record police activities.

S.6670B (Benjamin): The "Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act" prohibits the use of chokeholds by law enforcement and establishes the crime of aggravated strangulation as a Class-C felony.

S.3595C (Parker): Establishes the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office within the Department of Law to review, study, audit and make recommendations regarding operations, policies, programs and practices of local law enforcement agencies. The goal of this legislation is to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement, increase public safety, protect civil liberties and civil rights, ensure compliance with constitutional protections and local, state and federal laws, and increase the public's confidence in law enforcement.

S.1830C (Hoylman): The Police Statistics and Transparency (STAT) Act requires courts to compile and publish racial, demographic, and outcome data for low-level offenses (misdemeanors and violations). The bill also requires police departments and sheriffs to submit annual reports on arrest-related deaths to the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and to the Governor and the Legislature, which DCJS will make available to the public.

S.8492 (Parker): Establishes a private right of action against a person who summons a police or peace officer based on a belief or perception about a person’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation without reason to suspect a crime or an imminent threat to person or property existed.

S.6601A (Bailey): Amends the Civil Rights Law by adding a new section that affirms New Yorkers’ right to medical and mental health attention while in custody.

S.8493 (Parker): The New York State Police Body-Worn Cameras Program directs the Division of State Police to provide all State Police officers with body-worn cameras that are to be used any time an officer conducts a patrol. It further prescribes mandated situations when the camera is to be turned on and recording, as well as limited situations in which the cameras may be turned off.

S.2575B (Bailey): Requires state and local law enforcement officers, as well as peace officers, to report, within six hours, when they discharge their weapon in situations where a person could be struck, whether they are on duty or off duty.
WESTCHESTER REOPENING:
PHASE 2
LIST OF INDUSTRIES INCLUDED IN PHASE 2:
PERMITTED TO REOPEN IN WESTCHESTER ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH

OFFICES

REAL ESTATE

ESSENTIAL AND PHASE II IN-STORE RETAIL

VEHICLE SALES, LEASES, AND RENTALS

RETAIL RENTAL, REPAIR, AND CLEANING

COMMERCIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT

HAIR SALONS AND BARBER SHOPS

OUTDOOR AND TAKE-OUT/DELIVER FOOD SERVICES

Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders, the following businesses remain closed:
  • Malls: specifically, any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease; however, any stores located within shopping malls, which have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance (e.g. strip malls), may open;
  • Dine-in or bar service, excluding take-out or delivery for off-premise consumption;
  • Large gathering/event venues, including but not limited to establishments that host concerts, conferences, or other in-person performances or presentations in front of an in-person audience;
  • Gyms, fitness centers, and exercise classes, except for remote or streaming services;
  • Video lottery and casino gaming facilities;
  • Movie theaters, except drive-ins; and
  • Places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE 37th DISTRICT
COVID-19 RESOURCES
CITIES

TOWNS

VILLAGES

If there's an important link that this list is missing, email us to let us know at smayer@nysenate.gov and we will include it.
222 Grace Church Street, Suite 300
Port Chester, NY 10573
Phone: (914) 934-5250 --- Email: SMayer@nysenate.gov