I spoke this weekend at a rally organized by Padres Hispanos of Ossining regarding safety in schools. Along with many parents, including Superintendent Sanchez, elected officials, social workers, teachers, and students themselves, we addressed our concerns about safety of our children. I raised my concern as to how we will continue to have excellent educators in school environments that are under siege. I asked “ How will we refocus ourselves on educating the next generation with so much fear and anxiety in our schools – the vanguard of what most consider the communal safe space”. Some shared thoughts included: 1) Discussing guns and violence with children of all ages and ask that they report anything they see to a teacher, principal, police, or family members. 2) Vote for people who address this issue straight on, and 3) Become informed about mental health options for students, teachers, and members of the community who might be struggling and who might turn to hurt  themselves or others. 

Gun Store Warning Signs: This measure requires signs at gun stores warning that firearms in the home significantly increase the risks of suicide, death during domestic disputes, and the accidental deaths of children or others. While warnings won't stop criminal violence, hopefully, they will increase mindfulness.

Reporting of Hate Incidents: Sadly, hate and bias incidents are on the rise. This law creates a process for the County's Department of Public Safety to keep track of hate incidents, in addition to the hate crime data it already assembles. Incidents of bias-based harassment and intimidation have profoundly damaging effects on individuals and entire communities, even when they don't rise to the criminal level.

Waiving Civil Service Exam Fees for Veterans: Making life easier for those who have served is a priority. This bill will waive exam fees for veterans applying for civil service jobs like Police Officer, Firefighter, or Correction Officer exams in Westchester. 

Memorial Day Weekend always seems like the official kick off the summer. As usual, Ossining was alive with events, marches, memorials, and lots of folks enjoying the parks and waterfront which our river town is famous for.  

I welcomed summer's unofficial first weekend by supporting the OHS Class of 2024 at their car wash on Saturday. Never mind that it rained later in the day, it was worth it!

This Sunday, I joined my community at a rally to support more security and mental health focus for children and educators after yet another mass shooting at a school. 

Monday's Memorial Day Parade had a huge turnout culminating in a meaningful memorial service at Nelson Park. Thank you to the Veteran’s association for producing such a thoughtful event and to all those that marched and participated to honor those veterans that sacrificed their lives for us.

To make a long story short: The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance recently adopted state budget that included a temporary suspension of certain taxes on motor fuel and diesel motor fuel in New York State between June 1 and December 31, 2022. All of this is supposed to help consumers’ manage the increasing prices of gas in our area. 

The details: Effective tomorrow, June 1, 2022, retail sellers of motor fuel and highway diesel motor fuel must exclude New York State/Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) sales tax from the price charged at the pump. In Westchester County, which is part of the MCTD, the state tax rate is 8.75 cents per gallon and 6.6 cents per gallon on B20 Biodiesel sold or used as qualified fuel. Additionally, effective June 1, 2022, retail sellers of motor fuel and diesel motor fuel must exclude the New York State motor fuel excise tax from the price charged at the pump. The budget bill also authorized localities to change the method for computing local sales tax effective June 1. Westchester County, which has used a percentage (4%) to calculate the local sales tax (multiply taxable receipt amount by tax rate), will change to a price per gallon which outside of the cities of Mount Vernon, Yonkers, White Plains, and New Rochelle will be .12 cents per gallon for motor and diesel fuel and .10 cents per gallon for B20 Biodiesel. 

I would like to invite the community to join me at two upcoming amazing and important events at Market Square: On June 2 at 9 am there will be a flag raising in honor of Juneteenth (stay tuned for more information regarding the June 19th event at the waterfront), and on June 3 at 4pm there will be a flag raising for Pride month. 

We have our sixth Local Planning Committee (LPC) meeting on June 7th at 6:00pm, where we will be having an in-depth discussion of the projects and identifying a preliminary slate of projects to be submitted to the State for funding consideration. This will be a hybrid meeting with an option to attend in person at 16 Croton Avenue or via Zoom. Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81976309173

That preliminary slate of projects discussed at the June 7 LPC meeting will be presented to the community at the final meeting on June 14, 2022, at 6:00pm at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center. 

Tomorrow’s Legislative Meeting will take place at 7:30PM over Zoom.