Dear Friends,
Last year, we accomplished so much together. We raised the bar and are going to raise it higher than ever during the year ahead.
On January 3rd, we began a new legislative session and I'm overwhelmed for the honor and privilege of continuing to serve you and our great community in the People's House.
Together with my Assembly colleagues from the Bronx Delegation
Over the last year and beyond, I heard you and your pleas concerning smoke shops, motorized scooters, housing issues, the rising cost of prescription drugs, and so much more. I have spoken out against programs and projects which will not serve to benefit our community and have fought voraciously for housing for our seniors and veterans.
While legislation in Albany helps, I know that the work we do here in our district is often most impactful.
Too many of our neighbors are food insecure. Our parks and playgrounds are in desperate need of cleaning and are in disrepair. Our schools are overcrowded with additional students and without the supportive infrastructure to handle the load. Our neighbors, many of whom are seniors, face eviction or are just barely getting by. Our veterans—after selflessly serving our country—continue to struggle to access the services they need. Lastly, our community is one of the ONLY communities in New York City that does not have a community youth center.
This year, we will continue walking tours throughout our community to hear directly from you. My office will be hosting mobile office pop ups at libraries across our district to make it easier for YOU to interact with our team. And we will continue to host our bi-monthly housing specialist to help with your housing needs. (Please call my office to make an appointment)
New York is home to individuals representing nearly every culture. It’s what makes us one of the most diverse cities in the world. It’s also why I am proud to rally with our Muslim brothers and sisters to finally make Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha an official holiday recognized by the State of New York.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Shredding Is Back!
My office will be hosting free shredding events starting in April. See below for dates and locations: (times will be be added closer to the event day)
- April 6, 2024 - Our Community Office at 2018 Williamsbridge Rd
- May 4, 2024 - Parkside Playground, 665 Arnow Ave
- May 5, 2024 - Allerton Coops, 2700 Bronx Park East
- May 18, 2024 - Pelham Parkway Houses, 910 Mace Ave
- June 1, 2024 - Tracy Towers, 40 E. Mosholu Parkway
- June 8, 2024 - Brady Court Community Center
February is Heart Health Month
Together with my partner Jacobi Hospital I visited local senior centers throughout February as part of Heart Health Month to discuss ways to keep your heart healthy.
SAVE THE DATE
I will be hosting my annual Summer Kickoff Block Party this year on June 22nd.
Do you have an event idea that would benefit the community or want to request that I speak with your organization? If so, we want to hear from you! Call our office at 718-409-0109 and ask for Evan.
Together with my loving family in Albany on the Opening Day of the 2024 Session
There’s much to be done, but I know that we will rise to these challenges and take our Borough to new heights. New Yorkers always have - and we always will. Our time together is just beginning, and I’m very excited for what we will accomplish as a community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your partnership, your friendship, and your support.
2024 Legislative Update
A new legislative session in Albany means new bills to introduce! Responding to the needs and concerns of our communities I have introduced several bills and will work hard to see them pass this year:
A8079 - As electric scooters have grown in popularity ensuring operators are educated about their responsibilities to other motorists and obtain the proper license to operate e-scooters is fundamental for the safety of all who use New York’s roadways.
This bill would create the Electric Scooter Safety Education Course and License to require a safety manual, education course and licensing requirements for the operation of an electric scooter. It would also require liability insurance to drive an e-scooter on a public road in New York City.
A6882 - The proliferation of smoke shops that unlawfully sell illicit cannabis is among the most pressing quality of life issues voiced by the Bronx communities that I represent. The response by state government to stop the ability of smoke shops to sell illicit cannabis requires lawmakers to examine all avenues to achieve our collective goal. My bill is one part of that response.
Existing public health law prohibits the advertisement of the public display of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, smoking paraphernalia, and vapor product advertisements on a place of business within 500 feet of a school in New York City. This bill would include visual images, graphics or words commonly associated with cannabis within that law.
A8266 - This bill would provide support to customers from overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds fees by allowing a ten-day grace period to deposit funds that will cover the transaction. It would also prevent a banking organization’s ability to charge fees related to subsequent, unrelated transactions and prevent more than one non-sufficient fee per transaction.
The protections for customers in A8266 build upon the legislature’s commitment to prevent customers from falling into inescapable debt caused by overdraft and non-sufficient fund fees.
Members of the Assembly and Senate at the State of the State earlier this month
A8260 - Gun violence impacts every corner of our state and across the United States of America, ending lives too soon that results in pain felt throughout our communities. The legislature must do all in our power to ease the suffering of gun violence survivors and provide them with the help they need to heal.
This bill would establish the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund by imposing an excise tax on the gross receipts of the sales of firearms, major components of firearms and ammunition sold in New York.
The Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund is a comprehensive solution to address the impact of gun violence – it would provide help to survivors heal from trauma, harden physical and safety infrastructure at schools, fund gun violence research, dedicate resources to prevent firearm related suicides, educate firearm and ammunition purchasers on their obligation to comply with gun safety laws and implement many more evidence-based initiatives to end gun violence and save lives.
If you have any questions, comments or would like to discuss these bills, or any bills I have introduced, please call my Albany Office at 518-455-5844 and ask to speak to Justin.
Medicaid Equity Now
I stood with healthcare workers from across New York to demand Medicaid Equity. When so many voices of conscious, voices of morality, voices of courage and voices of resilience come together AS ONE it is impossible to ignore us!
Our State’s Medicaid program is critical to the communities I represent and many of my colleagues represent. This funding provides a literal lifeline for patients and it ensures hospitals provide essential services. Failure to fully fund Medicaid is not an option. The time to act is now!
Recently Co-Sponsored Bills
Someone once said there is no monopoly on good ideas. So when my colleagues in the Assembly Majority sponsor bills that ensure vulnerable populations are taken care of, provide support for working individuals and families, and uplift communities across New York I will lend my support to those efforts.
I recently co-sponsored the following bills:
A1921 – The "Safe Staffing for Hospital Care Act" would require minimum staffing levels in different healthcare facilities
A1096 – Requires insurance policies to provide coverage for pre-term labor hospitalizations, home visits to monitor pre-term labor patients and counseling.
A7180 – Provides eligibility for medical assistance benefits for infants up to age three.
A2897 – The Right To Read Act" would requires school districts to provide instructional programming and services in reading and literacy which are evidence based and aligned with state standards and also requires teachers in grades pre-K through five to attend professional development courses in reading education.
A3068 - Establishes Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha as public holidays, with dates established by religious law and tradition.
A6381 – This bill requires high schools to carry and have a trained employee to administer opioid antagonists.
A7976 – Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for confronting an individual to prevent theft or the unlawful taking of goods, wares or merchandise.
A8196 – This bill would strengthen protections for patients regarding sexual misconduct by medical providers.
A6658 – Establishes the crime of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree.
A8208A – Provides for a formal process for a parent or legal guardian to request the issuance of an AMBER alert.
A8045 – This bill would requires comprehensive coverage for treatment of obesity, including coverage for prevention and wellness, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved anti-obesity medication.
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