Friday Morning Brief Nov 10, 2023

Nov 9

Written By Michael Avella

Please note that the morning brief will now be posted on a weekly basis

Member Spotlight:

Senator Shelley B. Mayer

For today's Member Spotlight, Senator Shelley B. Mayer joined us to talk about her experiences in the Senate, her district, and about herself. She is very proud to serve her district and has been a lifelong champion for children and public schools throughout her career in the Legislature. She is currently the Chair of Senate Committee on Education, and is a sitting member of various other committees, such as Rules and the Legislative Women's Caucus

What district do you represent? Can you describe it for those that have never been there?
I represent the 37th Senate District. It’s about half of Westchester County; from a portion of Yonkers, which borders the Bronx; to the Sound Shore, communities on the Long Island Sound like the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck; to the Cities of White Plains and Rye; all the way up to North Castle, which is called North White Plains, Armonk, and Pound Ridge - which is on the border of Connecticut. So, it’s a long stretch of land. It’s a diverse district – geographically, ethnically, and income-wise. It has some of the most affluent people in New York State, a lot of middle class and working-class people, and a fair number of people who are lower-income.

What do you like the most about your district? Is it the diversity that you talked about?
I love the diversity of my district. I was first elected to the Assembly in a district that represented only a large part of the city of Yonkers - a diverse place - and I loved that. In my newly mapped Senate district, I now have much less of the City of Yonkers, but I appreciate the opportunity to go to communities that I didn’t know. I recently went to the Armenian church in White Plains for a celebration, and that is a community that is currently under attack in their homeland, so it is very near and dear to me. I also have a significant Ukrainian community. In Port Chester, I represent people from Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico and many other South and Central American nations. I also represent a significant African-American community. And I have one of the largest Jewish communities – including Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews, as well as people of Middle Eastern, Indian-American, and Pakistani-American heritage. And of course, I have significant Irish and Italian communities throughout my district. This is one of the most satisfying things about being an elected official: being able to experience things that are outside of your own experience, and just have a wonderful time doing it.

What is your favorite part of being a legislator?
I can get big things done that better the lives of New Yorkers. In the Senate Majority and as Chair of the Committee on Education,we have achieved major victories, including the full funding of Foundation Aid for all of New York State’s public schools – that’s one of my proudest achievements. In addition, I’m proud to stand up publicly for students and families, teachers, and those involved in the world of education. There are other issues where I had a leading role, certainly in election reforms and in the Judiciary Committee. Also, I’m proud of my work in the reproductive rights field as a sponsor of the bill that protects New York healthcare providers who serve patients in other states through telemedicine for medication abortion – that was a big deal. The thing I care about most is getting things done for both my constituents and all New Yorkers.

What did you do before becoming a legislator?
I am a lawyer by training, and I’ve worked with both Mike Avella and Chrissy Dickinson when they worked in the Legislature. We worked closely together and I’m very lucky to have made good friends and lasting relationships over many years I’ve been involved in the state Legislature. Before being elected to the Assembly, I was the counsel to the Senate Democrats and before that I worked for the Attorney General, including advocating for their legislative agenda in the 80s. So, I have many years of experience dealing with things in Albany and learning about how to get things done for New Yorkers. But I think I bring my own energy and passion to the job.

Why did you get into politics? Was it because you were an education advocate?
No, I wasn’t an education advocate. I’m just a parent and a grandparent. I had no unique knowledge of education, but I represented Yonkers and the number one issue in Yonkers was getting the state to give more money for Yonkers public schools. So, that became the number one issue for me. I have a strong policy affinity with public education. I think it’s one of the greatest parts of the American democratic tradition, and so I’m very committed to it. My commitment is to ensure that every child has every opportunity they can have in our school system and that means strengthening our public schools. As well as obviously giving opportunities to parents that choose to not send their children to public schools, whom I have worked hard to support.

Before getting elected to the Senate, you were a member in the Assembly. Does your experience in the Senate differ from being in the Assembly?
It is a different body. I had a wonderful time in the Assembly. I was there during a very tumultuous time. I think I was well-respected for being a thoughtful legislator and I cared about my district passionately. I used to say I walked around with a ‘Y” on my chest to spell out the letters of Yonkers. But I wanted people to know about Yonkers and see how great it was.

Coming to the Senate, I have a different district; Yonkers is a very small part of my district now and I represent different communities with different interests.To be appointed Chair of Education by the Majority Leader was a big responsibility that I took very seriously. I have worked to understand the intricacies of the Education Law and education financing so I can be an effective advocate.

I’m a very much of a believer that the Legislature is a team sport: you are not there for yourself, you’re not there for your own fame, you’re there to achieve things with your colleagues in a collective way. And that requires being very committed to the Majority and maintaining a strong Majority so we can actually get things done. Of course, that means you don’t get everything you want. There’s a lot of compromise but in the end, it’s profoundly rewarding.

What are/is your greatest/proudest legislative achievement(s) this year?
One is the full funding of Foundation Aid. It is a significant achievement and we worked over many years to get schools the money they were owed; and it translated into real benefits for students and schools. The second thing is the passage of my bill that protects New York healthcare providers prescribing medication abortion pills to women in states where it is currently prohibited or limited – that is very important to me. I was happy to be part of the effort this year to bring greater funding for schools for breakfast and lunch programs. We got a long way down the path this year. Of course, I’m very pleased with my bills to address flooding, civic participation by students and improvement to the long term care financing system.

Any favorite priority/issues throughout your legislative career?
I’m very proud of our Senate Majority for major changes in election law and in civil rights law and enforcement. I am proud of our commitment to greater civil and criminal justice – focused on improving our system while at the same time being mindful of public safety. I care about both and believe we can achieve both.

What was the most challenging piece of legislation/policy that you worked on this year?
For this year, it was certainly the medication abortion telehealth bill because only Massachusetts had done something like this. We were able to work with all the advocates; first we had a few who had concerns but we addressed them. I think people sensed the urgency of ensuring New York State was a leader in providing service to women in other states. My colleague, Assemblymember Karines Reyes fought to get it passed in the Assembly and we were thrilled when the Governor signed it. As a result of being the sponsor, I was invited to the White House to speak about it. I was also invited to national conferences to join leading legislators from other states working on protecting reproductive health rights.

As Education Chair, any priorities you foresee arising next year?
I have many priorities in the education space. First of all, we have to make sure we are doing everything possible to help kids recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly from when schools were closed and there was less in-person learning. Students lost social and emotional growth during those two plus years. I will be doing a tour of certain school districts across the state that are using innovative ideas – good ideas – to help students. Second, I’m very committed to expanding arts, music, athletics, and all the things that broaden the experience of school – it’s not just reading, writing, and arithmetic. Schools are a social and emotional place of growth, and we need to foster that in every school district. Third, we are continuing to expand full-day Pre-K and afterschool to more districts, but we need to make it work better. Fourth, we must update the teacher evaluation program for better results. Fifth, the Foundation Aid formula is now fully funded, but it has some indices that should be reexamined. All our districts face a fiscal cliff that’s going to occur when the federal and state Covid money runs out. Finally, I want schools to improve their physical infrastructure for climate change. There’s money available; we should be addressing climate change in our schools by installing air-conditioning classrooms, improving air quality and investing in climate-smart solutions.

What kind of music do you like - any favorite bands/artists?
I like all music, but most of all, I like to dance – that’s my thing. If there was music in the background or if someone is walking by with loud music on, I will be dancing to it the whole time. I like pop, R&B, soul and salsa – basically everything. My kids will teach me about new music, and I listen to everything that I can. Music is the spice of life.

How about sports - any favorite NY sports team and any favorite sports/activities to play?
My entire family are Bills fans - my husband is from Western New York and we lived in Buffalo! They are soccer fans as well, specifically Arsenal from the English Premier League. We were recently in London a few months ago, and we went to another English Premier League game; it was great to see it live. I don’t play any sports, but my kids do.

Favorite foods? Any favorite places to eat in your district?
There is a famous place on the border of my and the Leader’s district: Candlelight Inn. It’s known in Westchester for many years for its chicken wings. There are also many new Latino restaurants in my district in Mamaroneck and Port Chester. In fact, one is now going to be on the TV show, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. But my district is full of new restaurants owned by many new immigrants, and they are wonderful.

What do you like to do in your free time – other than dancing?
I don’t have that much free time. That’s one thing people underestimate about these jobs, it’s truly a job for those that are fully committed to your district every day and every night. I have five grandchildren, so I make time to see them. So that is very important to me.

What is your office going to focus on before next year’s session?
I have three things.
One is district-related issues. Just recently my district had another serious flood. I continue to be very dissatisfied with the way insurance companies fail to reimburse for flood-related damages. People live in places that they never thought there would be flooding. Yet, their basement repeatedly gets flooded and they can’t get any money for it even though they pay insurance for the building. I’ve raised this issue after Hurricane Ida, and I’ve raised it again. So, the issues in my district are substantial in terms of climate change. The bills I’ve worked on with my colleagues are focused on trying to mitigate flooding and other disasters that we have had repeatedly and will have more.

Second obviously is the education priorities: continuing to make sure students come back in a healthy way and have the resources to do as well as they can through high school graduation.

Third is leading the charge to ensure that New York remains a true leader in access to reproductive healthcare. We just cannot turn away people from other states who have lost the reproductive rights that they had previously. I’m going to continue working on those issues.

Fourth, I want to ensure my constituents feel heard and respected. That is a top priority for me.

What are your priorities/goals for next year?
Clearly education is my priority during next year's session. I worry that we are losing young people who are cynical about anyone caring about them or the government being effective. I’m not going to give up on my constituents and young people in the state. We have a lot of work to do to make them believe in a government that serves them.

What advice would you give to young folks, especially young women, that want to get into politics?
One is to get into it! You don’t have to run for office, but get involved. It takes a certain degree of confidence to talk to someone that you don’t know, to volunteer at a campaign or for an issue – whether it is racial justice or environmental policies. You have to make the first step yourself. So just believe in yourself and believe that you are good enough, smart enough, and capable enough. Once you do the first thing, then you will find that doors will open and many paths are there. You are not going to win on day one, but you have to get into that world and that will open the door for you to step in.

I meet all these fantastic young women because I get to go to schools, and they have things to say but sometimes do not have the confidence to assert their voice. So, you can have a seat at the table, but you need to open the door. I’ve run for office and lost. And then I won. Losing is not the end, it’s just another opportunity to try again.

Any last comments you want to mention?
To be good at this job, it takes a positive spirit – that you can make a difference. It’s not about you being a big deal or making a lot of money or guaranteeing your reelection. This is about really using the ability of the government to make changes and improve people's lives. If you have that approach, with a spirit of resilience and good humor and caring about people, you will find it incredibly rewarding. It’s about making good changes to make people’s lives better.

Are you a public official or staffer that would like to be featured in our spotlight or do you know someone that would? If so, reach out to your favorite D&A team member or contact us at team@dickinsonavella.com to set up an interview!

EXECUTIVE UPDATES

Late last week, Governor Hochul announced the establishment of the Commission on the Future of Health Care to provide evidence-based recommendations for the state’s healthcare system. The new Commission will be composed of 13 healthcare experts and will be chaired by the Dean of NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The Commission’s establishment was committed in Hochul’s 2023 State of the State and builds upon the 2023 Budget’s $20 billion multi-year investment to ensure accessible, equitable, and high-quality care for all. Additionally, the Commission will help the state modernize the healthcare system through new technologies and by prioritizing patient preferences. “I have assembled this Commission – with some of the top health care experts in the country – to help us build a resilient health care system that leads the nation and delivers every New Yorker the care they deserve,” explained Hochul.

Last Friday, Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced the state’s partnership with the Induction Stove Challenge RFP to encourage appliance manufacturers to design and produce induction stoves to replace existing gas stoves while limiting economic costs for New York City Public Housing. NYSERDA and NYPA will now partner with NYCHA to lead the installation of 10,000 new induction stovetops. One or two manufacturers will be selected and will have up to two years to design, prototype, and produce 100 units for testing. Successful testing will lead to a large-scale purchase order of at least 10,000 units from NYCHA. The collaboration with NYCHA will build upon the state’s commitment to the CLCPA goals, which include electrification projects to facilitate a green economy in the state.

Late last week, Hochul announced the award of $12 million to develop three new Intensive and Sustained Engagement Teams for the communities in NYC, Hudson River Region, and on Long Island. The teams will focus on individuals identified as high risk or with complex mental health needs for those leaving incarceration, hospitals, or other institutional settings. “By taking a holistic approach, these skilled teams will help build trust among individuals with complex mental health needs and support them as they navigate and embrace the services that will aid their recovery,” explained Hochul. The Intensive and Sustained Engagement Teams is part of the 2024 Budget’s $1 billion mental health care plan to address the mental health crisis in the state and aims to expand access, reduce wait times, and ensure appropriate levels of care for all.

To help further boost the state’s mental health programs and the 2024 Budget’s $1 billion mental health care plan, Hochul announced a $5 million expansion of the Community Mental Health Loan Repayment Program, extending eligibility to licensed mental health professionals. The program will now dedicate $14 million to recruiting and retaining skilled mental health professionals, providing up to $120,000 for psychiatrists and $30,000 for other mental health professionals to repay qualified education loans and student debt. “This loan repayment program will provide the incentive needed to attract new workers or retain existing professionals to address staffing shortages and meet unmet demand statewide,” explained Hochul.

Earlier this week, Hochul announced that the Biden Administration has awarded $6.76 billion for four downstate passenger rail projects to ensure further economic growth and regional connection with the rest of the state. The four projects are:

Gateway Program: Hudson Tunnel Project Systems and Fit Out ($3.80 billion)
Metro-North Railroad Penn Station Access with Four New Stations in the Bronx ($1.64 billion)
Rehabilitation of East River Tunnels to Penn Station ($1.26 billion)
Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement ($58 million)

“New York State is investing billions in the MTA and in infrastructure statewide, including in projects that directly benefit Amtrak. This latest funding will help us deliver modern, safe, and reliable public transportation to underserved communities,” explained Hochul.

During the state’s Association of Chiefs of Police’s Leadership Summit yesterday, Hochul unveiled the first comprehensive statistics overview of crime trends across the state for 2023. The data highlights that violent crimes have decreased by 6% outside of NYC in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022, with murder down by 27%, rape down by 16%, robberies by 5%, and aggravated assault down by 4%. In NYC, reported murders, rapes, and robberies were all down by 10%. “Keeping New Yorkers safe is my administration’s top priority. These trends are proof positive that our smart, strategic investments and strong local, state, and federal partnerships are making a difference in neighborhoods and communities across the state,” Hochul said, reiterating her commitment to increasing public safety. Some of her investments in public safety include $347 million in gun prevention and reduction programs, $31.4 million in pretrial services, and $11.5 million for reentry services.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Statewide Doula Registry Established to Address Rising Maternal & Infant Mortality Rates

Earlier this week, Hochul signed a bill creating a statewide doula registry to address nationwide rising maternal and infant mortality rates. Alongside the bill’s signing, Medicaid will start covering doula services in January, and $4.5 million will be provided annually for Regional Perinatal Centers. This comes after a federal data report highlighting rising infant mortality nationwide for the first time in two decades and a report on doula care in the state released by Senator Samra Brouk earlier this summer. “This bill will ensure that doula care is more accessible to families who need it and marks a crucial step forward in combating rising maternal mortality rates, especially for Black New Yorkers, who are five times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication,” said Brouk.

Traveling With Dignity Act Introduced

In a show of bipartisanship, Senator Pete Harckham and Senator Rob Rolison introduced the Traveling With Dignity Act to address the issue of travel accommodations for people with disabilities. The bill would require public buildings - such as restrooms and libraries - built after 2024 to have at least one adult changing table installed and require existing public buildings to have at least one adult changing table installed by 2027. Hotels would not be required to install adult changing tables under Harckham’s bill. “Now we’ve all seen family changing facilities with changing tables for young people up to say 50 or 60 pounds, but there’s nothing for adult changing facilities,” Harckham explained for the bill’s necessity.

GOP Lawmakers Propose "Dismantling Student Antisemitism Act"

After Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay sent an open letter to Cornell University after antiemetic threats were posted on the school’s online message board, Assemblymember Ed Ra and the Assembly Minority Conference proposed a “Dismantling Student Antisemitism Act.” The proposed bill would mandate training for students, faculty, and staff to combat antisemitism in colleges and universities. It would also require colleges to report their efforts to combat hate speech annually. Barclay said, “The rise of antisemitic incidents across New York State demands that the Legislature take action. It is hoped that the proposed bill would enable colleges and universities to take steps to curtail incidents of antisemitism on campuses.

Letter Spearheaded by Senator Jessica González-Rojas Urges President Biden to Expand Temporary Protected Status for Asylum-Seekers

Late last week, various lawmakers, alongside NYC Councilmembers, sent a letter to President Biden to urge for a redesignation and renewal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to 17 other nations, such as Ecuador, Columbia, Sudan, and Nepal. This comes as the asylum-seekers crisis in NYC and the state is ongoing, with asylum-seekers from Ecuador and Columbia representing 18% and 13% of asylum-seekers arriving in NYC last year, respectively. With Venezuelan asylum-seekers able to attain TPS for work authorization earlier this fall, the letter states that TPS for asylum-seekers from other countries will address the state’s “labor shortage and provide more economic relief…after incurring billions of dollars in expenses due to the emergency.” The letter was spearheaded by Senator Jessica González-Rojas, who said, “Our work isn’t done.”

2023 ELECTION UPDATES

With votes being counted and finalized, an estimated 2.4 million New Yorkers cast their ballots on Election Day, resulting in a 18% statewide voter turnout.

Justin Brennan Wins Competitive NYC Council Seat in Southern Brooklyn

In a competitive race for a NYC Council seat in South Brooklyn, Democrat Justin Brannan defeated Republican Ari Kagan, who hoped that his party switch last year from a Democrat to Republican would help him win the seat. Last year, several incumbent Democrats in southern Brooklyn were defeated by Republican challengers in an upset, with messaging on crime being a major driving force for voters. However, with 98% of the scanners reporting, Brannan won 58% of the total votes, while Kagan won 41%. Senator Andrew Gourdanes, who attended Brannan’s election night victory party, explained, “We still have a lot of work to do across the board to make sure that we are competing in every single neighborhood.” Kagan has indicated that he might run again, according to Brooklyn GOP Chair Richard Barsamian, explaining that Kagan is “not going anywhere.”

In another newly created Council seat in Southern Brooklyn, Democrat Susan Zhuang defeated Republican Ying Tan with 59% of the vote, while Tan managed to garner 26%. Vito LaBella, who ran on the Conservative Party line, garnered 15% of the total votes, which likely helped Zhuang’s election victory. The newly created seat based in Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, and Gravesend was established to reflect the growing Asian-American families in the area and was one of the districts the Republicans were hoping to win in an upset. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa won 60% of the vote in the areas encompassing the district during the 2021 mayoral election. Zhuang was the Chief of Staff for Assemblymember William Colton and was endorsed by Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

City Council Upset in the Bronx

In an historic upset in NYC, Republican Kristy Marmorato defeated incumbent Democrat Marjorie Velázquez for a Council seat in the Bronx – the first time a Republican has won in the Bronx since 2004. Even with more of the district’s voters being registered Democrats and endorsements from Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and various labor unions, Velázquez trailed at 47% with Marmorto winning 53% of the total vote. Many observers noted that Velázquez lost heavily in Throggs Neck neighborhood, where her support for the controversial Bruckner Boulevard rezoning housing development project angered many. Speaking on her victory, Marmorato explained, “They wanted change, and they got a change.”

Vickie Paladino Wins Rematch for Northeast Queens City Council Seat

Councilmember Vickie Paladino defeated former Senator Tony Avella (no relation to D&A) in a rematch in northeast Queens. In 2021, Paladino defeated Avella by just 390 votes or two percentage points, but Paladino defeated Avella by about twenty points this year. Although Avella enjoyed endorsements from Congresswoman Grace Meng, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Senator Toby Ann-Stavisky, Paladino’s recent work fighting against the city’s migrant shelters and pushing for more funding for district schools and police precincts secured her victory. “This district means the world to me. I want to thank my Democrat friends, my Republican friends, my independent friends,” Paladino said in her victory speech.

GOP Wins Suffolk County Executive Election

In the Suffolk County Executive race, Republican Ed Romaine defeatedDemocrat Dave Calone in a landslide victory. Democrats and many observers did not expect Calone to win but hoped to cut into Romaine’s margin of victory for any hopeful indications for next year’s congressional races. However, Romaine led Calone by about 14 points, to Long Island Democrats’ disappointment. With Romaine’s victory, the Republicans now control both of Long Island’s county executive seats, its county legislatures, its district attorney’s offices, and four of its congressional seats.

OTHER UPDATES

FBI Raids Adams' Chief Fundraiser

Last week, on a trip to Washington, D.C., to address the ongoing migrant crisis in NYC, Mayor Eric Adams abruptly turned back around after news that his chief fundraiser’s home was raided by the FBI. The twenty-five-year-old Brianna Suggs worked with Adams on his 2021 mayoral election and raised more than $18 million. Now, the FBI is conducting a broad corruption investigation into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign for allegedly conspiring with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations. Currently, neither Adams nor Suggs has been accused of any wrongdoing.

US Supreme Court Heard Arguments on Gun Control with Possible Implications for the State

The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday on whether state governments can disarm people under domestic violence restraining orders. In United States v. Rahimi, Texas lawyers asked the justices to uphold a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court that restraining orders are unconstitutional based on last year’s ruling that struck down the state’s law prohibiting guns in public. A decision in the Rahimi case might result in new challenges to the state’s gun laws. Currently, there’s also a case in the Second Circuit Appeals Court on the state’s law on open carry passed in the Legislature in response to last year’s ruling. In addition, the US Supreme Court has also agreed to take a case on the federal ban on bump stocks.

Eight Days of Witness Testimony in Trump's Civil Fraud Trial

In the ongoing Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, Ivanka Trump testified last on Wednesday, drawing to the end of the unprecedented eight days of witness testimony that included Trump and three of his adult children. Trump, alongside the Trump Organization, is accused of fraud, falsification of business records, issuing false financial statements, and conspiracy. Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $250 million and a limitation on Trump to conduct business in the state. Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that there was conclusive evidence” that Trump overvalued his properties and net worth while applying for business loans. Trump’s legal team will begin their defense on Monday,

In Memoriam:
The D&A team extends our condolences to Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, as his father Alan Hevesi, 83, passed away yesterday morning. He was a former Assemblymember, NYC Comptroller, and state Comptroller.

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