Community Update: Celebrating Women's History Month, Bills Passing, in the Community

Dear Friends,

The last two weeks in Albany have been extremely busy!

As we continue to negotiate to reach an agreed-upon budget, the Senate takes up other bills and our committees continue to meet. I’ve also been busy continuing to speak up and rally against the Governor’s proposed cuts to the education budget, which results in significant losses to many districts, and far less than anticipated to others. The Senate’s One-House budget, which we passed recently, fully restored the Governor’s cuts to Foundation Aid and provided a minimum three percent increase to every district, invested in universal school meals, expanded and improved pre-K, increased support for afterschool, and provided additional support to the schools that serve our most vulnerable children. I’m hopeful these provisions will survive in the final, agreed-upon, and balanced budget. But the fight is not over and I was pleased to join my County Legislative colleagues who all strongly support this effort. If you share my deep concern about public school funding, I urge you to contact the Governor to express the dire need to restore the cuts in the final enacted budget, as both the Senate and Assembly proposed. You can reach the Governor at 1-518-474-8390 or by completing this form.

Last week, I was deeply humbled to introduce Ronen and Orna Neutra of Plainview, Long Island, on the floor of the NYS Senate. We honored their courage and resilience as they fight for the release of their son, Omer, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, as well as the other hostages still being held. My remarks are here.

In addition, last week I was honored that our Port Chester public officials traveled to Albany to discuss the pressing issues facing that community, including improvement of our state roads, funding for critical projects, attention to flooding, etc. I thank Mayor Luis Marino, Trustees Joan Grangeois-Thomas, Phil Dorazio, Juliana Alzate, and Village Manager Stuart Rabin for joining me for an important discussion.

Saturday, even in the driving rain, we had a wonderful Celebration of Women's Art and Cultural Expressions jointly sponsored by Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Arts Westchester, and my office. The four women artists - poets, singers, and oral speakers, touched all our hearts and reminded us of the tremendous power of art in our lives and our communities. Thank you to all who ventured out - it was truly worth it. Pictures of the event are included below.

Of course, I continue to participate in as many events in the district as possible, given our Albany schedule, but I welcome your invitations or calendar notices so I can be present in every place I am fortunate to represent.

If there is anything my office can assist you with, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.

Warm regards,

Shelley B. Mayer

State Senator

37th District

Legislative & Budget Update

Senate Passes Package of Utility Ratepayer Protections,

Including Mayer Bills

I am proud New York is taking a stand to protect ratepayers, including by passing two of my bills. I share the anger many of you feel about unacceptably high gas and electric bills. The passage of these bills, as well as the others in the Senate’s Ratepayer Protection Package, affirm our commitment to ensuring New Yorkers have affordable and reliable utility service. Now we need the Assembly to pass them as well.

Strengthen Utility Storm Response and Compliance: S4882, will strengthen utility companies’ storm response and compliance by giving the Public Service Commission more discretion to levy penalties on violations and expanding emergency response plan requirements.

Utilities to Adopt the Common Equity Ratio: S6557A, requires utility companies to use an updated consumer-friendly, generic financing method when setting utility rates to provide the lowest possible delivery rates for ratepayers.

Fighting for Security Funding

I was proud to stand with my colleagues and with Jewish, Islamic, and Catholic school advocates to fight for the final budget to double security funds for non-public schools. After October 7, many religious schools faced enormous fiscal burdens with increased security costs. I am hopeful this important addition to the Governor’s budget will make it through the negotiation process and onto the final budget.

Meeting with 32BJ SEIU

It was great to meet with my friends from 32BJ SEIU in Albany. I am a strong supporter of organized labor, and value hearing the stories of these hard-working union members as they struggle to find affordable housing in NYC and the suburbs. I am committed to taking steps to expand the supply of affordable housing, particularly for renters, who make up a substantial portion of the state’s residents.

In the Community

Celebrating Women's History Month with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and ArtsWestchester

I had a great time and was fortunate to host a special celebration of art and culture in honor of Women's History Month. In Westchester, we are so fortunate to have beautiful forms of art all around us, much of it thanks to ArtsWestchester. It is important that we uplift female voices in our community and share experiences with one another through art. I thank Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and ArtsWestchester for co-hosting this event and I thank the four incredible performers -- Estelle Messina Bikibili, a Motown/Soul singer and pianist; Flor Bromley, a Latin singer/songwriter; Rachel M. Simon, a poet; and ShanelleTheArtist, a spoken word artist -- for sharing their work with the community. You can watch the performances here.

(L to R) Rachel M. Simon, Flor Bromley, Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Mayer, ShanelleTheArtist, Estelle Messina Bikibili, Janet Langsam, and Jessy Mendez.

Participating in Democracy Ready NY Civic Panel

I was honored to participate in the second Annual DemocracyReady NY Summit on Civic Readiness. It was a pleasure speaking on a panel alongside Jay Worona, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel of the New York State School Boards Association, and Jeff Matteson, Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy of the New York State Education Department. Thank you to DemocracyReady for hosting this great event and thank you to our moderator, Jonathan Collins, Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Groundbreaking for New Crawford Park Ballfield

Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman held a ceremonial groundbreaking to kick off the reconstruction of Rye’s Crawford Park ballfield. Crawford Park is a beautiful place that teems with children and families every weekend, and I am pleased to have been able to secure $200,000 in state funding to enable the Town of Rye to reconstruct this playing field. The Rye town communities of Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Rye Neck will soon have an upgraded, refreshed, and safe environment for play.

(L to R in right photo) Supervisor Zuckerman, Senator Mayer, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Assemblyman Steve Otis, County Legislator Nancy Barr, Town Council Member Pamela Jaffee, and Rye Brook Village Trustee Stephanie Fischer

Press Conference to Fight for the CDPAP Program

I joined Westchester on the Move, 1199 SEIU, and my colleagues to reject Governor Hochul’s proposed cuts to home care workers’ wages in the CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) program. I am proud both the Senate and Assembly rejected this draconian budget cut in our One-House budget resolutions. Seniors and those with disabilities deserve to live in dignity and as independently as possible in their homes, and their at-home caregivers who do indispensable work for their clients and our communities deserve a living wage. We will keep fighting to ensure that the final enacted budget rejects this cut, so over 10,000 caregivers can continue providing the necessary care and so our most vulnerable neighbors can continue to live independently.

Revolutionary Westchester 250

I am proud to be an Advisory Board member of RW250, preparing Westchester for the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. As the sponsor of the bill that created the State Commission on the 250th, I am committed to ensuring Westchester benefits and our residents get to experience the rich history of Westchester during the Revolutionary period. Our Board met at SUNY Purchase this week, chaired by Executive Director Connie Kehoe.

Housing Roundtable

Together with Senator Pete Harckham, last week we hosted an important housing roundtable with municipal officials, not-profit leaders, builders, and business leaders, to discuss the effective strategies our communities are using to increase the supply of affordable housing in Westchester and proposals for future state action Special thanks to Supervisor Ellen Calves of Bedford for hosting us at the beautiful Bedford Community Room.

Upcoming Events

Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services

I am proud to co-sponsor a VA Benefits and Services information session, along with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Village of Tuckahoe, on Wednesday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please help me spread the word by sharing this with any Veteran or active duty member you know.

Korean War Veterans Celebration in Albany

I am proud to join Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Chair of the Veterans, Homelands Security and Military Affairs Committee, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton in welcoming Korean War Veterans to the New York State Capitol for a second year. The Westchester Senate Delegation will be providing veterans and their companions with bus transportation to. theCapitol for this celebration. More details on how to sign up are to come.