My friend,

Here's a quick update on what I've been working on during a busy few weeks in Washington, DC, Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn...

I joined concerned members of the Brooklyn community in calling on the City Council to repeal zoning laws that are allowing hotels to be turned into homeless shelters and incentivizing property owners to exploit loopholes to enter lucrative contracts with the City. Instead of robbing taxpayers blind to warehouse people in residential neighborhoods, the City should focus on creating permanent and affordable housing options.

I met with the Staten Island and Brooklyn winners of our office's Presidents' Day Essay Contest to celebrate their achievements and listen to the great ideas they have to improve our community. From combatting inflation and human trafficking, to keeping litter off our streets, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, these students effectively shared their thoughts on everyday problems impacting Americans. It was a pleasure to meet with them and I hope this contest sparks a passion for positive change and civic engagement that grows throughout their academic careers!

I stopped by the Salvation Army's Bensonhurst Community Center in Brooklyn to announce federal funding our office secured to make improvements to the facility and make their restrooms more accessible for individuals with mobility issues. By providing nutrition, activities and social services, this center plays a vital role in the lives of our senior citizens.

I also joined Staten Island and Brooklyn family members, friends and advocates for those with developmental disabilities at the On Your Mark Gala where I announced $1.5 million in federal funding for fitness center upgrades and wheelchair accessible elevators at their Staten Island facility. These improvements will increase patient-centered programming that promotes community, social inclusion, health, fitness and independence for those with developmental disabilities.

I joined State Assemblymen Michael Tannousis, Mike Reilly, and City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli in highlighting new legislation introduced on the state level to kill New York City's congestion pricing program, something I've also done on the federal level with New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer. As we continue to use every legal and legislative tool at our disposal to stop this cash grab, it's important for you to get your elected officials at every level of government on the record for OR against this scheme!

$1 MILLION FOR MID-ISLAND BLUE BELT

I recently announced $1 million in federal funding our office secured for the Mid-Island Blue Belt Street Reconstruction Project. This funding will be used for road reconstruction in the Ocean Breeze section of Staten Island, including new curbs, sidewalks and potential street raising to prevent future flooding and ponding. Securing New York City's fair share of federal infrastructure funding has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and I look forward to seeing this and other flood resiliency projects completed across our borough in the near future!

CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

The recent display of antisemitism on college campuses has been extremely disturbing, particularly at Columbia University here in New York City where pro-Hamas students have been camped out on the University's campus for nearly two weeks. I joined Speaker Mike Johnson and some of my House colleagues at Columbia to visit with Jewish students who have been threatened and assaulted by their peers to show our support.

HONORING AMERICA'S ROSIE THE RIVETERS

I attended the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring America's Rosie the Riveters, who, during World War II, took up jobs at factories to make fighter jets and military equipment to support the wartime effort that led to victory. We can learn a lot from these amazing women who contributed so much to our country's success!

Washington DC Office

351 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-3371

Staten Island Office

1698 Victory Blvd

Suite 2L

Staten Island, NY 10314

(718) 568-2870