Dear Neighbor,

As always in January, the Legislature has hit the ground running this year. The Senate has passed several packages of bills, the Governor has given her State of the State address and released her Executive Budget, and the Legislature has begun holding joint hearings on the Governor's budget proposal.

• For more details on what's included in the Governor's budget proposal, click here.
• For the Senate Finance Committee's analysis of the Governor's budget, known as the Blue Book, click here.
• For more information on the budget hearing schedule, including how to watch and how to submit testimony, click here.

The Governor's budget proposal includes several positive provisions. I was very pleased to see the inclusion of critical elements of my NY Home Energy Affordable Transition (NY HEAT) Act, which will help save New Yorkers money on their heating bills while allowing for the long-term transition away from fossil gas. The Governor also included Sammy's Law, which allows New York City to lower its speed limits to increase pedestrian safety, as well as a ban on the sale of non-certified lithium-ion batteries.

The Executive Budget also includes important programs for climate adaptation and resilience to protect New York communities against baked-in climate change. Unfortunately, the Governor failed to include my Climate Change Superfund Act, which would require Big Oil & Gas to help pay for these non-negotiable expenses, meaning that New York taxpayers, individuals, and businesses will continue to foot 100% of the bill to prepare for the climate crisis.

I am also pleased to see inclusion of language to fine and padlock illegal cannabis shops, as well as streamlining the cannabis taxation regime by replacing the THC potency tax with a straightforward excise tax, both of which will help encourage the growth and success of the legal cannabis market.

The Governor's budget also includes several concerning elements. I was disappointed at the lack of ambition and tenant protections in the Governor's housing proposals, given the extremity of the affordable housing crisis across the entire state. I also have concerns about changes to education funding formulas, substantial proposed cuts in capital funding for CUNY and SUNY, a number of questionable economic development proposals, yet-to-be-determined savings in various programs funded through Medicaid, and a 50% cut in funding to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, among other issues.

Budget hearings will run until the middle of February. Then, in early March, the Assembly and the Senate will each release our "one-house budgets," which serve as the Legislature's response to the Governor's proposal. Following the one-house budgets, the Assembly, Senate, and Governor's office engage in three-way negotiations to try to reach agreement on a final budget that must be passed by April 1st (except when it isn't).

Below you will find updates on other legislative activity, as well as upcoming events and other useful information. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at [email protected] or 212-490-9535.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Governor Hochul Vetoes

NY Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act

I was incredibly disappointed that on December 23rd, Governor Hochul chose to veto my NY Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act. This bill, which passed both houses of the Legislature earlier last year, would ensure that our taxpayer dollars are not driving tropical deforestation through our state procurement policies.

Just a week after the nations of the world produced the most aggressive joint statement yet from COP 28, this decision from the Governor sent a dangerous message that New York is not going to do its part. Vetoing this bill was a missed opportunity and a failure to take leadership on a critical issue that affects every New Yorker.

Let’s be clear, this is not some esoteric issue for tree-huggers – the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis threaten the very survival of human civilization. The days when New York’s leaders can pretend that what goes on in another part of the world has no impact on us are long past. It is crunch time to make sure New York is solidly on the path to fight climate change with everything we've got. That means we can't ignore the emissions we outsource to other countries through our consumer choices. State government must take the lead in ensuring our procurement dollars are not driving deforestation in our planet's critical tropical forests, exacerbating the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and threatening the rights and lands of Indigenous peoples.

At the same time, this bill would have given New York businesses a leg up on the competition by helping them clean up their supply chains. It was a win-win-win for people, planet, and New York's economy. Unfortunately, now it’s a lose-lose-lose because of the Governor’s veto.

In the weeks leading up to the veto my office negotiated in good faith and offered everything we could to ease the Governor’s fears. But we cannot cross the line beyond which the bill would no longer have any actual impact. I have no interest in getting a bill signed that makes a nice press release but does nothing in reality.

The climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are not going anywhere. They are existential threats that will require significant efforts over the next several decades. Signing this bill should have been the easy part. I will be reintroducing the bill again soon, but unfortunately we will have wasted another year with inaction.

In 2022, I introduced legislation to create an annual day of commemoration in New York State on January 6th called "Democracy Day," to remember the terrible events of January 6th, 2021, honor those who were killed or wounded, and recognize the ongoing threat of anti-democratic, white nationalist, and authoritarian movements in the United States.

Earlier this month I issued the following statement on the third anniversary of the January 6th insurrection:

 "Three years ago today, the former president of the United States and his co-conspirators, including many leaders of the Republican Party, incited an armed insurrection against the government of the United States, with the express purpose of overturning the results of a free and fair election. It was the first time since the Civil War that our country has not enjoyed a peaceful transfer of power. One Capitol Police officer died, over a hundred officers were injured, and four took their own lives in the aftermath of the attack. It is vital that we commemorate the terrible events of that day, recognize the sacrifices that were made, and take a stand against the forces that threaten our democracy.

“Americans must never forget what happened on January 6th, 2021, how close we came to losing our democracy, and how fragile our institutions remain. The forces of anti-democracy and anti-Americanism on the Right have not gone away - they are regrouping and reorganizing, with the continued support of leaders in the Republican Party. Donald Trump, who incited and encouraged the insurrection in addition to a wide-ranging effort to overturn legitimate election results in several states, is now poised to once again be the Republican nominee for president. Americans simply cannot afford to have such short memories.

“Today all Americans of goodwill should take the time to honor those who were wounded or died as a result of defending the Capitol on January 6th, recognize the need to protect our democratic institutions, and continue to loudly call out anyone providing cover for white nationalism and authoritarianism. If we fail to remain vigilant, we could see the events of 1/6 repeat themselves with a much more destructive outcome."

Earlier this month the Senate passed a package of legislation that will improve New York State’s electoral system, allow for portable polling locations, expand ballot drop-off locations, establish the Democracy Preservation Act, establish the New York Voting and Elections Database, modify the ballot order, allow food and non-alcoholic drinks to voters waiting in line at the polls, establish voter suppression as a criminal offense, and allow the board of elections to join a multi-state voter list maintenance organization.

I am proud to be part of a Senate Supermajority that continues to take a strong stand on protecting the fundamental right to vote. Passing these bills just days after the anniversary of the anti-democratic January 6th insurrection is particularly meaningful, and represents the commitment of our conference to protecting our precious but fragile democracy. The bill I carry to remove New York from the list of states calling for a dangerous Article V convention would stymie efforts by extreme right-wing forces to tear up the protections all Americans enjoy under the US Constitution. I am pleased that the Senate will be passing it again, and I encourage our colleagues in the Assembly to do the same.

The voting reforms passed by the Senate include:

• Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression: This bill, S263, sponsored by Senator Stewart-Cousins, prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increases penalties for violations of the elective franchise.
• Democracy Preservation Act: This bill, S371, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris would ban political spending by foreign-influenced business entities in New York’s state and local elections. 
• Refreshments at the polls: This bill, S.616, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, allows snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to be given to voters waiting in line at the polls.
• Doctor John L. Flateau Voting and Elections Database and Academic Center of New York Act: This bill, S657A, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, establishes a New York voting and elections database and an academic center to maintain a statewide database of voting and election data and serve as a research hub.
• Political Committee Public Website Transparency: This bill, S6675, sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin requires public-facing websites that are operated by political committees to include “paid for by” language.
• Absentee Ballot Drop-off Box Locations: This bill, S610, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, allows local Board of Elections to establish absentee ballot drop-off locations to provide voters with a convenient alternative option to submit their absentee ballots.
• Protecting Constitutional Rights: This resolution, B1460, sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger, rescinds calls for a constitutional convention to protect all existing constitutional rights.
• Portable Polling Locations: This bill, S242, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, amends the election law to allow counties the option to establish portable polling places for early voting.
• Ballot Order: This bill, S5943, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis modifies the order in which candidates appear on the ballot in descending order based on the size of the electorate and requires certain federal offices to be listed before state, county, and local offices.
• Multi-state Voter List Maintenance Organizations: This bill, S6173B, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, authorizes the state board of elections to join a multi-state voter list maintenance organization such as the Electronic Registration Information Center also known as ERIC.

Earlier this week, on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Senate passed landmark legislation to strengthen reproductive rights and improve maternal health outcomes for all New Yorkers. Abortion care is an essential component of the reproductive health continuum and at a time when abortion bans are proliferating across the country, the U.S. maternal mortality crisis has continued to worsen with a maternal mortality rate that is three times higher than other high income nations. The U.S. maternal mortality rate is even higher for Black women, who are nearly three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. 

The legislation that passed in the Senate includes:

• Requires Maternal Depression Screenings to New Moms: This bill, S2039A, sponsored by Senator Samra Brouk, directs the Department of Health and the Office of Mental Health to develop guidance for incorporating maternal depression screenings into routine prenatal and postpartum care and to identify and publish trainings designed to support these screenings on the Department’s website.
• Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant Program: This bill, S348C, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, enacts the reproductive freedom and equity grant program to ensure access to abortion care in the state by providing funding to abortion providers and non-profit organizations whose primary function is to facilitate access to abortion care.
• Special Enrollment Period Protections: This bill, S201, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, bars a health insurance plan or contract from imposing a fee or other penalty for obtaining coverage during a special enrollment period where pregnancy is the cited “qualifying life event.”
• Uterine Fibroid Awareness Campaign: This bill, S3219A, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, directs the Department of Health to establish and run a public awareness and education campaign on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of uterine fibroids and the elevated risk for Black and Brown women to suffer from this condition.
• Ban on Carcinogenic Substances from Menstrual Products: This bill, S3529A, sponsored by Senator Nathalia Fernández, prohibits the sale of any menstrual products which contain certain restricted and harmful substances that may have a carcinogenic effect on the human body.
• Hospital Transparency Act: This bill, S1003A, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, provides information to patients and the public on whether the hospital, or hospitals, in their area provides the care they seek prior to admission.
• Protection of Health Information: This bill, S158B, sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger, would govern companies that collect and sell healthcare information, and provides additional rights and protections to users related to the sale of their private health information.
• Permit Doulas in the Operating Room of Maternal Care Facilities: This bill, S5991A, sponsored by Senator Roxanne Persaud, grants a doula guaranteed access to the operating room during a C-section delivery in circumstances where no other support person is available.  
• Guarantees Access to a Designated Doula: This bill, S5992A, sponsored by Senator Roxanne Persaud, guarantees expecting and new mothers’ access to their designated doula.  
• Maternal Health Care and Birthing Standards Workgroup: This bill, S7702A, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, creates a Maternal Health Care and Birthing Standards Workgroup to study, evaluate, and make recommendations on the development of standards to ensure quality, culturally appropriate care for all perinatal and birthing individuals.
• Maternal Care Mobile App for Medicaid Recipients: This bill, S7700A, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, authorizes the Department of Health to provide a prenatal and postnatal care mobile application to Medicaid recipients receiving prenatal and postpartum care.
• Maternal Mortality Data in Informational Materials: This bill S3610, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, requires the Department of Health to include racial statistics on maternal deaths in informational materials provided to prospective maternity patients. 

Ensuring access to a broad range of reproductive and maternal healthcare continues to be a critical fight nationwide, and New York is no exception. I am proud that the Senate Supermajority is once again prioritizing these important issues by passing a significant and impactful package of bills.

I have recently introduced legislation, which will work in coordination with a bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, to take steps to address the issue of unlicensed mopeds on our streets. Current law defines mopeds, whether electric- or gas-powered, as motor vehicles (specifically as limited use motorcycles), which require a license plate, insurance, and a licensed rider. Unfortunately, we know that these laws often go unfollowed and unenforced.

The bill that I carry, S.7860, requires that all moped dealers must register with the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill also increases fines, and requires that any vehicle being sold by a dealer have a valid Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN.

Senator Hoylman-Sigal's bill, S.7703, would make sure that registered moped dealers are required to confirm that the purchaser has the appropriate license and insurance, while also properly registering the vehicle and affixing license plates, before the vehicle leaves the dealer's premises.

These bills alone will of course not do the work of enforcing our existing laws, but I am hopeful that they will go some way to ensuring that mopeds on our streets are licensed, registered, and insured.

The Impact of Casinos on Urban Communities

Thursday, February 22nd, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Up to three casinos could open in New York City in the coming years and five casino proposals are being discussed in Manhattan. Are you wondering how that would impact you and your neighborhood?

On Thursday, February 22nd from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, join Senator Krueger for a virtual town hall on the “Impact of Casinos on Urban Communities.” You will hear from the experts about the casino siting process in New York City, the fiscal and economic impacts of gaming institutions, and their impact on individuals, businesses, and the surrounding community. The event will be co-sponsored by local elected officials who may be involved in the casino siting process depending on which casino applications are ultimately submitted, including Senators Brad Hoylman and Kristin Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Alex Bores, Tony Simone, and Harvey Epstein.

Speakers:

• Vicki L. Been, Member, Gaming Facility Location Board, and the Judge Edward Weinfeld Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, an Affiliated Professor of Public Policy of the NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
• Lucy Dadayan, Principal Research Associate with Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
• Les Bernel, Executive Director, Stop Predatory Gambling.
• Business Community Representative (invited)

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom.

You will also have the option to view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook.

Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Vicki L. Been, Lucy Dadayan, and Les Bernel. If you have questions about the casino siting process, how much revenue casinos may generate, and how casinos impact the surrounding community, please join us on February 22nd. You will be able to submit questions during the event but are strongly encouraged to submit them in advance.

Please let us know if you plan to attend on February 22nd by registering at http://tinyurl.com/KruegerCasinoTownHall.

Masking Recommendation Updates

As you may be aware, the New York State and New York City Health Departments have issued masking recommendations in healthcare and residential facilities to help prevent transmission due to substantial increases in cases of influenza and COVID-19.

From December 17, 2023 to January 2, 2024, there were 7,847 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and from December 17 to December 30, there were 3,497 new influenza-related hospitalizations reported to the NYS Health Department. This included 1,776 Coronavirus hospitalizations and 69 Coronavirus deaths in New York City between December 16 and 31.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital, NYP/Columbia, and Weill Cornell, as well as NYC Health + Hospital facilities have implemented mask mandates. If you are going to receive care at another NYC hospital, please consider protecting yourself and others by wearing a high-quality mask.

Friday, January 26, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Monday, January 29, 2 pm - 4 pm

As was anticipated by public health experts, we are currently experiencing an increase in cases of COVID-19, Flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), as well as other viruses. This was expected to occur following the holiday season and due to spending more time indoors as a result of the cold weather.

We are also seeing an uptick in hospitalizations as a result, and therefore, it is particularly important that we take extra precautions to protect ourselves and others from contracting these respiratory illnesses.

My office is handing out free COVID-19 rapid at-home tests and high-quality masks this week and next week at my District Office, 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite #2000 (20th Floor), on:

Friday, January 26, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

and

Monday, January 29, 2 pm - 4 pm

At both distribution events, my staff will hand out up to 3 free tests and 2 masks per person as long as supplies last. My district office is located at 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite #2000 (20th Floor). The building is situated between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. When you enter the building off of 43rd Street, you will be required to sign in at the reception desk. Once you have signed in, please proceed to the bank of elevators and take one of the elevators on the left side to the 20th Floor. Turn right once you exit the elevator and my office is straight ahead.

Please Note: Due to my office meeting schedule on Friday, January 26, the earliest you will be able to come pick up COVID-19 tests and masks will be 2:30 p.m. Please do not arrive earlier.

We hope to see you at one of these distribution events!

If you are unable to make it to my office for one of these events, you can CLICK HERE for a list of City-run free at-home test distribution sites.

At the end of December, I joined elected officials representing Lower Manhattan in issuing the following joint statement regarding the state Department of Health's cease and desist letter to Mount Sinai Beth Israel:

“As elected officials representing Lower Manhattan, we are pleased that the New York State Department of Health has issued a cease and desist letter to Beth Israel, directing the hospital to immediately stop closing beds and services on its 16th Street campus without prior approval from the Department. The delegation met with the Department last month to express our urgent concerns and elevate the protests of our constituents; chief among our concerns was our understanding that Mt. Sinai could not close services at this location without approval from the Department. We thank everyone who has joined this effort and shares in this victory for our community. We appreciate the opportunity to have worked with the Department to halt the unlawful termination of services and will continue to work closely together with the Department and our community to ensure continuous access to the critical healthcare services we need.”

The latest edition of my Older Adult Resource Guide is available now. It includes a comprehensive list of services and resources available for older adults in New York City, covering nearly every possible subject area. On housing, healthcare, legal services and more, the Older Adult Resource Guide can point you in the right direction.

To view the guide online, click here.

To request a hard copy of the guide to be mailed to you, click here.

Earlier this month the New York Daily News ran an important op-ed by Kassandra Frederique and Melissa Moore of the Drug Policy Alliance, assessing the impact of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, or MRTA, which passed in 2021 and legalized adult-use cannabis in New York State. Although we are all very familiar with the challenges and struggles of the nascent legal cannabis market, we must not lose sight of the significant positive benefits MRTA has already had on communities and individuals across our state.

Applications to join one of Manhattan's 12 Community Boards are now open. In order to be considered for appointment, a complete application must be submitted online or postmarked by no later than 5:00 pm Friday, February 23rd, 2024.

To watch a short video on understanding NYC's Community Boards, CLICK HERE.

For more information, and to complete an application, CLICK HERE.

If you earned $85,000 or less in 2023, file for FREE with an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer. The deadline to file a tax return for your 2023 taxes is April 15, 2024.

For more information, visit https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-your-taxes.page.

Help New Yorkers put food on the table, pay rent and bills, and save for emergencies by joining the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Obtain FREE IRS tax certification and transferrable financial skills by becoming a trained tax preparer. Choose between in-person and remote volunteer shifts, with options available six days a week. Learn more and sign up at: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/vita/. 

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga reminds New Yorkers to protect themselves and their small businesses from predatory tax preparers as the tax season approaches. DCWP encourages New Yorkers who earned $59,000 as single filers, or $85,000 for families, to use NYC Free Tax Prep and save on tax preparer fees, which average $250.

Predatory tax preparer tactics include offering refund advances in the form of an anticipation check or a gift card - enticing filers who look forward to receiving their refunds sooner. Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs), or “express refund advances,” are sometimes advertised as “interest free” and typically offer a portion of a filer’s expected refund. Even when RALs do not include fees or interest, some preparers may charge borrowers higher fees.

Refund Anticipation Checks (RACs), or “refund transfers,” require consumers to agree to have their tax preparation fees deducted directly from their refund for an additional fee. Depending on the product, paid preparers may help the filer open a temporary bank account, with potential transfer fees and other product costs.

Consumers should wait until they receive their final tax statements from their employer, such as a W-2 or 1099, in January to prepare their return, and not use a paystub or past year’s information. This ensures they are filing with the same data the IRS and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance have on file.

By law, tax preparers must give every filer a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers, which is available in multiple languages, before beginning any discussions about tax preparation services. New Yorkers should be on alert for preparers that overcharge, charge hidden fees, or file a return without permission. Consumers can file a complaint about tax preparers with DCWP by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/dcwp.

This coming tax season, when the IRS begins accepting returns in January, New Yorkers who earned $85,000 or less for families, or $59,000 or less as single filers in 2023 will be eligible to file for free with an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer using NYC Free Tax Prep.

And this year, NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed Filers offers specialized tax preparation services for gig workers, freelancers and small business owners who often face barriers to filing taxes and managing financial recordkeeping. All self-employed New Yorkers are eligible for our workshops and one-on-one consultations, but only those who make up to $59,000 as single filers, or $85,000 for families, and have business expenses under $250,000 are eligible for free annual and quarterly estimated tax preparation services.

NYC Free Tax Prep offers a variety of free tax prep options, including in-person, virtual, and drop-off options. For more information, contact 311 or visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep.

What is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)?

HEAP is a federally funded program that provides annual grants to help income-eligible homeowners and renters pay for their energy costs. Monthly income limits vary by household size and there are no asset limits for Regular HEAP. HEAP is available to households that pay directly for heat and to those where heat is included in rent. NYC residents who receive SNAP benefits and/or Cash Assistance should be automatically enrolled in the Regular HEAP Benefit. Additional details about HEAP eligibility are available here.  

What is the Emergency Benefit?

The Emergency Benefit assists households already receiving Regular HEAP benefits who are facing a heat or heat-related energy emergency. Households may be eligible if their heat has been turned off or is in danger of being shut off, if they are out of fuel or have less than a quarter of a tank and do not have the funds to purchase more, or if the electricity that runs their heating system or thermostat has been shut off or a shut off is pending. Income limits are lower than those for the Regular HEAP Benefit and asset limits apply. The emergency benefit grant ranges between $185 - $635 depending on the source of heat. The application period for Emergency HEAP started on January 2, 2024 and will run through Friday, March 15, 2024.

To apply for an Emergency HEAP benefit, applicants can call 718-557-1399 or visit a HEAP office. You can not apply for the Emergency Benefit on ACCESS HRA. For more information, including detailed eligibility requirements, click here.

What are P-EBT food benefits?

The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act reauthorized the payment of P-EBT food benefits to households with children who would have received free school meals under the National School Lunch Act, if not for a reduction in in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary food benefits are being provided to help cover the cost of meals children would have otherwise received at school during the 2021-22 school year and for the Summer 2022 and Summer 2023 periods.

Who is eligible for P-EBT food benefits?

All children who receive free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are eligible for P-EBT food benefits if their school has been operating with reduced in-person attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year. This includes Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools and any private, prekindergarten, parochial, and charter schools that participate in the NSLP.

When will benefits start to expire?

P-EBT benefits automatically expire 274 days, or about nine months, after they were last used. More than 60% of the summer 2022 benefits were issued to families last May, meaning those who have yet to use them will see their funds start to expire in February. As of October, at least 90,000 benefits in the city had not been redeemed by families, meaning at least $35 million were at risk of expiring.

If you think your child was eligible for P-EBT but you are unsure how to access your benefits, you can call OTDA’s P-EBT hotline at 1-833-452-0096. You can also call the hotline and request a replacement P-EBT card if your current card was lost, stolen, or damaged. You can check your family's P-EBT food benefit balance by visiting www.connectebt.com.

For more information about P-EBT and when the benefits will expire, please visit OTDA’s website or refer to this detailed article published on Chalkbeat about the issue.

Looking for a way to build community? GENuine Connections is a free, virtual

program, where teens and adults (65+) connect in small, multi-session groups to

hear each other’s perspectives, bridge the generational divide, and have fun.

Since they meet on Zoom, you don’t even have to leave home! Plus, they’re

conveniently scheduled on weekday evenings, when most of us are home. Read

more about them: https://www.dorotusa.org/genuineconnections.

The New York State Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Award program honors outstanding students who will become our future leaders. Eligible students include current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who excel not only academically, but through leadership in extracurricular and volunteer activities. Students selected to receive the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition Award will receive a congratulatory personalized certificate from your Senator.

All nominations must be submitted by March 22, 2024, and the nomination website will be taken down after that date.

*Please note the nominator must be a school administrator or educator*

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is seeking nominations to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. This registry recognizes businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their community’s history. The program is an opportunity for state elected officials (State Senate and Assembly members) to recognize and celebrate the contributions of historic businesses in their district.

Businesses that meet the criteria are listed on an interactive online map. They also receive a certificate and a window decal announcing their inclusion into the Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Each state senator can nominate up to 10 businesses in their district. If you know of a business in Senate District 28 that you believe should be added to the registry, please contact Wendy Brennan in my office at [email protected] with the business’ name and address.