Calling the Republican-led New York State Senate “beyond dysfunctional,” Democratic Senate candidate Alessandra Biaggi today said the lawmakers deserve a failing grade after another ineffective legislative year.
“Whether it was a common-sense need -- like speed cameras -- or something requiring a little backbone – like ethics reform – the Senate was missing in action,” Biaggi said. “And critical progressive measures like the Reproductive Health Act and the DREAM Act that my opponent has promised for years to enact have once again failed to move forward.
“Comically, though, they did fix a 54-year-old spelling error in the name of a bridge.”
The Legislature’s 2018 session ended when the Senate adjourned shortly before two this morning, three hours after the gavel fell in the Assembly. Lawmakers are not scheduled to reconvene until January, after a new Legislature is elected in November.
Biaggi will face State Senate Deputy Democratic Conference leader Jeff Klein in the District 34 Democratic primary on September 13. For the past seven years, Klein led a rogue group of Democratic senators called the Independent Democratic Conference that caucused with the Republican Conference and effectively handed control of the State Senate to the GOP. Democrats and grassroots activists blame the IDC for blocking more than two dozen progressive legislative proposals.
Biaggi also criticized the State Senate for failing to pass: an end to cash bail; early voting; the New York Health Act; the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Acts; and the Child Victims Act.
Biaggi, 32, brings extensive experience in the state capital to her bid for a Senate seat. An honors graduate of Fordham Law School, she served the Cuomo Administration in the Counsel’s office, focusing on women’s health issues; advocated for affordable housing with New York Homes and Community Renewal; and helped lead the rebuilding of homes and businesses after Hurricane Sandy in the governor’s Office of Storm Recovery.
This is her first bid for elective office.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
In the second sentence of the statement above by candidate Alessandra Biaggi she speaks of the need of speed cameras.
We were at the announcement, and found out how the DOT made it appear that the street in front of PS 81 was surveyed for the results of over ninety percent of drivers going over the then 30 MPH speed limit, even by only one mile. In fact the DOT surveyed a street several blocks from PS 81 that runs behind the Russian Mission, which also is an entrance ramp for the Henry Hudson Parkway South, and leads into the private community of Fieldston.
Senator Jeff Klein did two surveys of the street in front of PS 81 and the results were much less that what the DOT reported, but cars were still speeding in front of a school.
It was Senator Jeff Klein who was instrumental in getting the first Speed Camera law passed.
We believe however that more police officers are needed to police the roads, because a fifty dollar fine to someone who may not be driving the vehicle is not fair, nor is it a deterrent.
A speeding car being stopped by a police officer will result in a higher fine, points on a license (or possible revocation), and a speed camera can no way stop a reckless driver from operating a motor vehicle. Only a police officer can do that.
