Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 9/19/22-9/23/22

 

Dear Community,

This week, Puerto Rico was hit by the first major hurricane of this Atlantic season. Five years after the destruction and neglect highlighted by the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the entire island is facing a loss of power and running water due to Hurricane Fiona, a Category 4 tropical storm.

My heart goes out to the millions of families impacted in Puerto Rico, as well as to the 660,000 members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York City. New York, along with the entire country, must support Puerto Rico during this crisis that has been intensified by the effects of climate change and federal negligence about Puerto Rico’s infrastructure needs.

The federal government must act––not just in providing emergency aid, but in reducing Puerto Rico’s vulnerability to climate disasters by constructing a more reliable, sustainable energy grid instead of rebuilding the fragile, fossil-fuel dependent one that has repeatedly failed in Hurricane Irma, Maria, and now Fiona. Without continued federal investment, the cycle of natural disasters crippling Puerto Rico’s infrastructure will continue.

There are ways to provide support right now for on-the-ground emergency response in Puerto Rico. Organizations like Hispanic Federation and Diaspora for Puerto Rico are all accepting monetary donations to provide essential supplies for families facing flooding, electricity loss, and lack of running water. Taller Salud is also accepting donations of nonperishable food, diapers, and water. Any help we can offer to Puerto Rico will go a long way in ensuring a speedier recovery for the island in the aftermath of this devastating hurricane.

Finally, this Sunday evening marks the start of Rosh Hashanah. I’d like to wish everyone observing a Happy Rosh Hashanah! 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Mount Vernon Memorial Field Ribbon Cutting - Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

On Wednesday, I joined Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard for a ribbon cutting for the official opening of Memorial Field in Mount Vernon.