Dear Friends & Neighbors,
We are in full summer mode here at our community office. My team has been hard at work with the NYC Parks Dept to get parks and playgrounds cleaned and curating an exciting calendar of summer events.
Before I go into what we’ve done and what we have planned, I want to say a little something about some amazing people in our lives…our moms.
May marks the month when we celebrate moms. Those special women in our lives who forever hold the secrets to the world. The ones who welcome us with open arms and help to guide us. In that vein, I was honored to host a Mother’s Day luncheon at Bronx House on May 17th. The afternoon was filled with amazing food thanks to our partners at Prime and great music.
As I mentioned, we have been hard at work getting our community ready for summer. For all our students out there, I know the end of June may feel like it’s far away, but summer vacation is just around the corner. As part of my community beautification initiative, my team recently tackled Kossuth Playground where we put down mulch, planted rose bushes, and cleaned the playground and surrounding park areas.
We also know how much our community depends on our FREE food giveaways and we were proud to hold events at Tracy Towers and outside Allerton Coops. As your Assemblymember, nothing is more rewarding than meeting the wonderful members of our community during these events.
Save money on your water bill with an Eco-friendly water barrel. We have a limited supply so sign up for yours today
Join us for a very exciting day at the Bronx Zoo on June 1st. Only a few tickets left…book yours today by calling my office 718-409-0109
Recently Introduced Bills
Allow for the sale certain non-cannabis products at premises licensed for adult-use on-premises consumption
As New York continues our fight against illegal cannabis operators we must also find ways to help the adult-use cannabis industry. One way is to allow for licensees that possess an on-premises consumption license to sell products that do not contain cannabis. Partnering with Senator Luis Sepulveda, I have introduced A10243, which permits the sale of food, non-alcoholic beverages and entertainment at these locations. This will give customers more options to purchase products and will provide licensees with additional revenue that allows for a broader range of economic activity.
Prohibit fees for Certificates of Still Birth
I have introduced A9896, which prohibits fees associated with the cost of obtaining a certificate of still birth or fetal death. In March 2012, a law went into effect that that required New York to issue a certificate of still birth, a document that no parent ever desires to receive but this piece of paper provides grieving parents and family members with some degree of remembrance of their child.
The law provides that a cost may be charged to obtain a certificate of still birth, and that if a cost was implemented it would be equal to the fee to obtain a certificate of birth or a certificate of death. However, there is no requirement that a mandatory fee be paid to obtain a certificate of still birth.
Presently, it costs $30 to obtain a certificate of still birth from the Department of Health, per copy. Although the initial cost of a certificate of fetal death is free, additional copies of this certificate cost $30 each. These fees may seem inexpensive but it is important to remember why a certificate of still birth exists, to ease the pain of parents and family members in the healing process. I am proud to work with my colleague Senator Nathalia Fernandez, who has sponsored this bill in the Senate, S9149 and we will work hard to get this passed.
More 2024-2025 State Budget Highlights
Summer Youth Employment Program: The state budget includes $55 million for the Summer Youth Employment. This program connects youth across the state between the ages of 14 and 20 from low income families with summer employment and educational experiences with entry level positions, earning at least the minimum wage for their region. Between 2016 and 2016, the Summer Youth Employment Program has served approximately 100,000 youth across the state.
Supplemental Empire State Child Credit: $350 million has been allocated to support the Supplemental Empire State Child Credit which will ease the tax burden on families with children, impacting 1.8 filers across New York. Last year, this credit was expanded to families with children under four years old.
$2.4 million for 2-1-1 New York: The 2-1-1 hotline was created in 1999 and has helped connect New Yorkers with essential services across the state at no cost. The 2-1-1 hotline was added to the Disaster Preparedness Commission in 2022 and ensures the 2-1-1 services into New York's disaster response to get help to New Yorkers in need during a state of emergency.
$500,000 to review and update curriculum on the Holocaust: This funding ensures that New York's Holocaust curriculum is fully reviewed and updated as antisemitism continues to rise across the state. Educating the next generation on the atrocities of the Holocaust ensures the stories of victims and survivors are never forgotten and the lessons taken from this horrible chapter in human history never happen again.
Funding for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) provides:
- $22.25 million for the Water Quality Improvement Program
- $20 million for Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquaria (ZBGA)
- $26 million for municipal parks
- $21 million for farmland protection
- $19 million for municipal recycling
- $14.3 million for waterfront revitalization
- $18.5 million to combat invasive species.
$30 million in tax credits to support local journalism: Will allow publishers to use the $30 million in tax credits over the next 3 years to cover half of the salaries of the journalists up to $50,000 each year. The credit can apply to current staff, but also provides an additional $5,000 to companies for each new employee hired to support local papers in expanding their newsroom. This will benefit our communities and allow residents to remain engaged and informed and while giving needed assistance to local journalists.
Recently Co-Sponsored Bills
A3759 – Provides for hazard pay of an additional $2,500 for essential work performed in accordance with a state emergency declaration.
A3768 – Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of public employee retirees or their dependents or reducing the state's employer's contribution for this insurance.
A1303 – This bill would prohibit requiring parents or caretakers to earn a minimum wage to be eligible for child care assistance.
A1885 – Requires the office of children and family services to utilize a cost estimation model when determining the actual cost providers incur when providing child care.
A4099A – Requires social service districts utilize a presumptive eligibility standard for child care assistance.
A2019 – Addresses the unintended consequences that child care providers who serve families and children on subsidies, experience in receiving market rate increases for the cost of care.
A8886 – This bill promotes public health by establishing standards for operation, maintenance, and monitoring of indoor air quality at ice arenas in New York that use resurfacing equipment powered by combustible fuels which produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
A9834 – Prohibits any person or applicant from receiving a license from the office of cannabis management if they are found to be operating an illicit cannabis operation.
A6114 – Enacts the “Effective Enforcement and Civil Rights Act” and provides for the enactment and enforcement of local human rights laws.
A7353 – Establishes an online insurance verification system for motor vehicle insurance and requires insurers to provide necessary information.
Recently co-sponsored Resolutions
K2062 – Proclaim April 2024 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York.
K2091 – Proclaim May 7th, 2024 as Police Memorial Day in the State of New York.
K2105 – Proclaim May 7th, 2024 as Fentanyl Awareness Day in State of New York.
K2143 - Proclaim May 14th, 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Day in the State of New York.
K2150 – Proclaim May 2024 as Maternal Depression Awareness Month in the State of New York.
K2111 – Commemorate the 54th Anniversary of Earth Day in the State of New York
K2087 – Proclaim May 2024 as Be Kind to Animals Month in the State of New York.
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