Dear Constituent,

Below please find information about this month’s events and initiatives from my office, along with other time-sensitive information and a list of new laws going into effect in May 2025.

Sincerely,

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg

Mobile Office Hours

My staff hosts mobile office hours to bring the services of the district office to every corner of AD95. Below are the dates, times and locations for May. Stop by for help with anything you might come into the district office for: help navigating state agencies, information about state programs, and more.

Thursday, May 8, 1-4 PM: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Dr., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Thursday, May 29, 1-4 PM: Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Ave., Ossining, NY 10562

Community Impact Hearing & Other Updates from the Attorney General's Office

New York State Attorney General Letitia James will hold a community impact hearing from 6-8 PM on Thursday, May 8 to hear from New Yorkers about the impact the Trump administration’s policies are having here. Joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, Attorney General James will provide an update on her office’s work to protect New Yorkers’ rights and uphold the rule of law. To register, visit https://ag.ny.gov/community-impact-hearing.

The Attorney General’s office has also announced new actions aimed at protecting New Yorkers’ access to duly-earned benefits like Social Security. Click here to read more. If you have had difficulty accessing Social Security benefits in recent weeks, visit https://ag.ny.gov/federal-benefits to report the issue.

Visionary Voices - Call for Art Submissions

Working with local historian and artist extraordinaire Joyce Sharrock-Cole, I am proud to announce that my district office is resuming regular art exhibitions! We are currently seeking submissions for our third exhibition, Visionary Voices. Interested artists can learn more and submit work for consideration now through Monday, May 19 at https://bit.ly/AD95VisionaryVoices. The show will run from June 16 through December 24.

Last November, New York State voters extended equal rights to all New Yorkers by voting yes on the Equal Rights Amendment. Visionary Voices will frame the historic nature of this constitutional amendment through art. Artists are encouraged to submit up to three works in any medium that provide a vision of an equal future, offer personal narratives centered on equality, or that explore historic and current inequalities.

Bear Mountain Bridge Project Open House

The New York State Bridge Authority is hosting an open house for its Bear Mountain Bridge Deck Replacement project on Wednesday, May 21 from 6-8 PM at the Field Library in Peekskill (4 Nelson Ave). This is an opportunity to learn about the project, see early concept designs, and chat with the project team. Stop by anytime during the event to ask questions, share your feedback, or just learn more about what is planned. Learn more and RSVP (optional) at www.bearmountainbridgeproject.com.

Old Traditions, New Beginnings - Call for Submissions

The “Old Traditions, New Beginnings” project aims to give seniors the opportunity to connect with others by sharing their stories, memories, recipes, or whatever legacy they would like to impart to the generations that follow. The contributions will be collected for sharing online and possible print publication in an anthology (all not for profit). If you are interested in contributing your own writing (250-1000 words) or volunteering to help others share their contributions, please email district95@nyassembly.gov.

REAL ID Deadline Approaching

Starting May 7, 2025, all New York State residents will be required to have a REAL ID to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings, unless you have a valid passport. For more information and a list of necessary documents, visit https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id.

CDPAP Transition Reminder

If you or someone you know participate in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), please note that the deadline to enroll with the new fiscal intermediary, PPL, has been postponed to allow for more time to transition. Consumers now have until Thursday, May 15 to register; the registration deadline for workers is now Friday, June 6. Click here to learn more.

New Podcast Episode

The latest episode of my podcast series, Building Healthy Communities, is available now. In this episode, I speak with Ridvan Idara (pictured, left), founder and executive director of Peekskill’s New Era Creative Space (NECS). NECS is a community-driven educational and creative center offering inclusive, accessible programs that promote creativity and empowerment for both youth and families. The organization emphasizes developing stronger communities through arts education, leadership development, and a variety of hands-on creative programs. Be sure to listen to the episode and visit https://necspace.org to learn more.

New Laws for May 2025

New laws go into effect every month. Of particular interest this month are new laws supporting veterans’ families and promoting public health through improved information sharing. I was proud to support their passage. Here is a list of laws going into effect during May 2025:

5/20/2025: Ch. 625 of 2024, A8837C / S8119C; Ch. 69 of 2025, A2435 / S791

Establishes the Alex R. Jimenez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy program within the Department of Veterans' Services. The program will assist foreign-born family members of veterans and current service members in securing legal immigration status in the United States.

5/21/2025: Ch. 464 of 2024, A5576 / S3610

Requires information on patient safety plans and procedures to be provided to prospective maternity patients at a hospital or birth center.

5/21/2025: Ch. 477 of 2024, A8275A / S2739A

Requires information to be distributed about registering to be an organ and/or tissue donor in the pre-licensing course to operate a motor vehicle.

5/21/2025: Ch. 479 of 2024, A8374 / S8958

Authorizes regional planning councils’ eligibility to apply for federal and/or state grants.

5/21/2025: Ch. 480 of 2024, A8410 / S7810

Adds food intolerances to the current law that requires food service establishments to display food allergy awareness notices in staff areas and on their menus.

5/21/2025: Ch. 483 of 2024, A8864A / S7383A

Allows for public notice and online comment period for certain procurement contracts in New York City.

5/21/2025: Ch. 504 of 2024, A3122A / S6504A; Ch. 47 of 2025, A1472 / S2669

Establishes an Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program within the Department of Health.