Dear Friend:
On Wednesday, January 9th, I was honored to participate in a historic day in Albany where I was sworn in to my first full term as State Senator, and I voted for my friend and colleague Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins as Majority Leader. Read more about this remarkable day in the section below.
In her first speech to the Chamber as Majority Leader, Senator Stewart-Cousins outlined the legislative priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session, including voting rights reforms, women's reproductive health, and gun violence prevention measures. Read more about this session's legislative priorities in the section below.
As always, if we can help you with an issue, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at 914-934-5250 or smayer@nysenate.gov.
Warm regards,
Shelley B. Mayer
New York State Senator
37th District
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CONTACT ME
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37th STATE SENATE DISTRICT
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District Office
222 Grace Church Street
Suite 300
Port Chester, NY 10573
914-934-5250
smayer@nysenate.gov
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The 37th State Senate District includes the Cities of Yonkers, White Plains, Rye and New Rochelle; the Towns of Bedford, Eastchester, Harrison, North Castle, Mamaroneck, and Rye; the Villages of Bronxville, Larchmont, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Tuckahoe; and the unincorporated places of Katonah, Bedford Hills, and Armonk.
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AN HISTORIC SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
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On Wednesday, January 9th, I had the privilege of participating in an extraordinary and historic day in Albany. I was sworn in to my first full term in the New York State Senate by Westchester's own Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, and I voted for my friend and colleague State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins for Majority Leader.
Leader Stewart-Cousins is the first woman to lead the State Senate Chamber or a legislative conference in NYS. We are fortunate to have her. She is someone who is smart, has a strong moral compass, will work hard for all New Yorkers, and knows how to build consensus around important issues affecting the state.
I look forward to working with Leader Stewart-Cousins, my colleagues, the Assembly, and the Governor's office to address the most pressing issues affecting residents of the 37th District and the state.
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CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR EVERY NEW YORKER
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On the first day of the 2019 Legislative Session, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins delivered an historic speech outlining legislative priorities. More than just priorities, Leader Stewart-Cousins articulated our Conference's commitment to removing barriers and to creating opportunities for every New Yorker.
Legislative Priority Highlights:
- Make our democracy work by allowing early voting, combating voter suppression, making voter registration easier, and allowing vote by mail;
- Give New Yorkers an honest, functional and ethical government by closing the LLC loophole, reforming campaign finance system, vetting state contracts, and shining a light on how government works;
- Protect our families from gun violence by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, fixing our flawed background check process, passing safe storage legislation, and banning bump stocks;
- Ensure that every child has access to the quality education they deserve and that all of our children have access to quality, affordable higher education;
- Recognize that women's rights are human rights by passing the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act;
- Ensure that every child and New Yorker has access to quality, affordable health care;
- Stand up for victims of child sexual abuse by passing the Child Victims Act;
- Bring higher education within reach for immigrants by passing the Dream Act;
- Build New York's economy by ensuring growth in all areas of the state, lowering the tax burden on middle class families, reducing mandates on local governments, and helping small businesses thrive, including MWBE's;
- Make bold investments in infrastructure, including the MTA, to improve roads, bridges, and tunnels;
- Protect tenants and work to provide affordable housing across New York;
- Reform our criminal justice system and pass bail reform;
- Stand up for the LGBTQ community by passing the protections included in GENDA;
- And ensure that the rights of our immigrant communities are respected and protected.
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Ossining UFSD Board Member Frank Schnecker; Ossining UFSD Superintendent Ray Sanchez; State Senator Shelley Mayer; WPSBA Executive Director Lisa Davis; Katonah-Lewisboro UFSD Board President Marjorie Schiff; Mt. Pleasant Cottage School UFSD Board Member Rita Golden; Chappaqua CSD Board Member Vicky Tipp; Eastchester UFSD Superintendent Walter Moran; Rye Neck UFSD Board Member Patty Nashelsky; and Rye City SD Board Member Karen Belanger.
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On Thursday, January 3rd, as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I was pleased to meet with superintendents and representatives of the Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association to discuss priorities for the upcoming legislative session. We spoke about our shared commitment to ensuring all children receive a robust and enriching education, concern about property tax burdens, and the potential for flexibility within current mandates.
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| State Senators Todd Kaminsky; Shelley Mayer; and James Skoufis; among others. |
On Monday, January 7th, I was pleased to participate in the Safe Roads in the Age of Legalization roundtable discussion organized by State Senator Todd Kaminsky and joined by State Senators John Brooks and James Skoufis. We heard valuable insights from state experts, as well as local law enforcement, about the driver and public safety challenges we must address if recreational marijuana is approved in NYS.
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On Tuesday, January 8th, I was pleased to take part in the dedication ceremony for the Royden A. "Roy" Letsen community space at St. John's Riverside Hospital. The ceremony was a beautiful commemoration of a man who contributed a great deal to the community through his public service and civic leadership. Roy was a founding member of the Rotary Club of East Yonkers and served on the boards of several other organizations, including as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Director Emeritus of St. John's Riverside Hospital. Roy also proudly served as a State Senator. I am glad that I was able to assist the Rotary Club of East Yonkers by securing an $8,000 grant used to build the memorial.
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On Wednesday, January 9th, I welcomed the multi-partisan Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus to Albany for the historic swearing-in ceremony and for the first day of the Legislative Session.
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As the federal government shutdown continues, over 16,000 federal workers in New York have either been furloughed or asked to work without pay. The shutdown is causing an undue financial burden on these workers and their families. Additionally, NY residents rely on programs that are being affected by the shutdown. SNAP benefits for more than 1.5 million New York households will be impacted starting on February 1st if no resolution is reached. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers are part of the workforce being asked to work without pay during this period as well. If the shutdown continues, it could cause serious operating issues at airports in New York. These are just a few of the ways the federal government shutdown is affecting our region. To read more, click here.
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The Income Verification Program (IVP) for the Enhanced STAR property tax exemption asks that eligible seniors complete an income verification form and submit the form to their municipal tax assessor. The application deadline varies for each municipality, but must be completed in 2019. Please check with your local tax assessor to find out the date by which you must submit the IVP form. Eligible seniors only have to submit the form once, and can be assured that they will receive the exemption for all subsequent years for which they remain eligible. Click here to read more about the program. Please call my office at 914-934-5250 if you need help enrolling for the Enhanced STAR exemption.
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Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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