NYS Passes Historic Police Reform Package, Setting Benchmark and Standard for Rest of the Nation — Legislative Update, Monday, June 15
This week, I joined my New York State Assembly colleagues in passing a historic package of far-reaching police and criminal justice reform bills. Make no mistake: this is the time for us to seize the moment of change — a moment for action, and to finally enact the long-overdue reform to reverse the system injustice too many people of color in our society face. Black Lives Matter.
Additionally, I was joined by colleague John McDonald, local elected officials and leaders from the business community at Crossgates Mall this week to urge the state re-open shopping malls in Phase 3 of New York’s reopening.
Note: Keep an eye for out for my Spring 2020 Newsletter in your mailboxes!
Legislative News and Events:
• NYS Assembly Passes Historic, Far-Reaching Police Reform. This week, I was proud to join my New York State Assembly colleagues today to vote on a number of historic and long-overdue criminal justice and police reform bills proposed by colleagues in the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus. Across the Capital Region and New York State, we continue to hear the call for real and transformative institutional reform. Passing these bills is a far-reaching step in addressing systemic inequalities that people of color continue to face. We have more work to do in advancing true justice through combatting persistent, rising income inequality, creating jobs and more, and I am anxious to continue work to address these challenges.
- NY Times: Defying Cop Unions, NY Lawmakers Pass Historic Reforms. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues as we dismantle decades of race-driven criminal justice and policing policies, and affirm that in New York State; #BlackLivesMatter.
- Listen to my Floor Statements on these Historic Bills:
- Repealing 50-a
- The NYS Assembly Police Reform Package
- Section 50-a Has Been Repealed: The Assembly has just passed the bill to fully repeal section 50-a, the law that shields police disciplinary records from public view. As a cosponsor and an aye vote tonight — this is a historic first step towards justice and equality — but emphasize that it is one of many as we continue seize this moment of change. See a photo of this historic vote below:
#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #SayTheirNames
• Press Conference: Include Malls in Phase 3 of Reopening. This past Thursday, I was joined by local elected officials Assemblymember John McDonald, Albany County Legislator Dustin Reidy, Town of Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber, and local business leaders from the Capital Region Chamber, Guilderland Chamber of Commerce including representatives of Spa Mirbeau — Albany, Laced Up, and The Standard, to urge that the state provide guidance on reopening of malls and businesses therein, provide a timetable moving forward. Local, small businesses and the 2,500 they employ within the mall are able and ready to reopen safely and responsibly, and are hanging by a thread — while ‘Big-Box’ stores continue to receive precedence. Businesses and workers deserve transparency in planning for reopening. Read more about our push here.
- (Related) Letter Sent to Governor Urging Small Business Opening in Malls. As most of New York State including the Capital Region moves into Phase 2 of reopening with includes most retail, small businesses within shopping malls must be allowed to reopen alongside other retail with so many jobs and the lifeblood of our communities at stake. I signed a letter to the Governor urging this change in regulation to allow for our Mom and Pops to open safely in line with other retail. While resilient, some simply may not make it until Phase 3 or 4. With 2,500 plus jobs on hold alone at Crossgates and Mom and Pops struggling with fine bottom lines, these businesses need a lifeline and fast.
- WAMC: Officials Urge State Guidance on Malls.
• New Legislation: Prohibiting Retaliation Against Officers Who Report Misconduct. ✅ I’ve introduced new legislation this week to end the ‘silence culture’ found in too many police departments throughout #NYS, which actively discourages ‘good actors’/police officers from holding colleagues accountable for violence or misconduct in the communities they’re supposed to serve. Senator Robert Jackson will carry the bill in the state Senate.
• WAMC — New WPA: Jobs Lost to COVID-19 Aren’t Coming Back. 📉 Too many of the jobs lost during the #COVID19 pandemic will not be coming back in the future economic recovery — necessitating an investment in the American workforce not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930s — to ensure that hundreds of thousands of workers aren’t left behind in the new economy. Read more on NYS Senator Rachel May and I’s legislation to create a public jobs and works program (#NewWPANow) in NYS from WAMC Northeast Public Radio in the link above.
ICYMI: ‘Re-engage Students Lost to E-Absenteeism’. Read my Times Union op-ed from last month, where I urge creative solutions and strategies to be implemented to stop the ‘summer slide’, now compounded by the ‘COVID-19’ slide — and provide a summer of enrichment and opportunity to New York’s students, who have already born the brunt of the global pandemic academically.
Community Updates:
• Guilderland YMCA Food Drive-In. On Thursday, June 18th from 6pm to 7:30pm, the Guilderland YMCA, 250 Winding Brook Road, is hosting a drop-off food drive for the South End Children’s Café, a community organization which provides nutritious meals and groceries to children and families in the City of Albany’s South End. You stay in your vehicle while volunteers remove your donations from your trunk. Thank you in advance for your help in supporting this worthy organization!
• PICTURED: Capital Region Begins to Reopen. Great to see restaurants up and down Lark Street and New Scotland Avenue beginning to open patios and outdoor dining as the #CapitalRegion continues to reopen — and as always, great to see my predecessor Jack McEneny out & about!
Let’s keep up the progress and continue safely restarting our regional economy!
• A Brief Message for the Class of 2020. Click here for a short message from me for graduating seniors this year in college, and in high school; and congratulations to the #ClassOf2020🎓!
• Albany Schools Most Recent COVID-19 Update. You can find the Albany City Schools’ most recent COVID-19 update for families and students at this link. I appreciate the district’s transparency in sharing data regarding the serious challenges they face and getting their students and families online for e-learning.
• Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY (LASNNY) COVID-19 Guide. LASNNY has a free, easy to use COVID-19 legal/other resources guide you can access by following this link.
• Federal Stimulus Check — IRS’ ‘Get My Check’. Click here to check on your federal stimulus payment if you haven’t received it yet using the IRS’ new ‘get my check’ tool.
• Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region and Local Coalition Launch COVID-19 Grant Program to Assist Small Businesses. Application & Guidelines Available Here — ‘During this time of unprecedented economic hardship, local banks and community organizations have banded together to launch a new grant program in order to stabilize Capital Region small businesses. The COVID-19 Small Business Continuity Grant Program will award small businesses up to $20,000 to help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses can use the grant funds to make payroll, pay bills, and keep their operations going.’ Kudos to #SupportSmAlbany for continuing to support our local small businesses!
• Schuyler Center COVID-19 Resource Guide. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about families’ health and mental health, social isolation, economic insecurity, child welfare, child development, and parenting needs, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy has compiled a body of informative links, phone numbers, and text numbers to connect families to resources that may be helpful during this stressful and challenging time.
Most Recent NY-ON-PAUSE/COVID-19 Updates:
- Regions of NYS have begun to reopen after meeting requirements found in the Regional Reopening Metrics Dashboard linked here.
- New protections/rules for tenants and renters were announced by Governor Cuomo (graphic below).
- Masks Matter: All New Yorkers, in situations where 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained, must now wear a mask or face-covering in public.
- 🗳 Reminder: All eligible voters in active or inactive status will be mailed an absentee ballot application for the primary or special elections to be held on June 23, 2020. No one should have to put themselves or their health at risk to exercise their fundamental democratic right. More info: www.elections.ny.gov
109th District COVID-19 Resources:
>> Click here for The New York Times’ COVID-19 National and State Case Tracker <<
Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Check Information
New Federal Resources Available for Small Businesses
New York State’s Empire State Development (ESD) Updated List of Essential Businesses
NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles + Registration/Inspection Updates
NYS Dept. of Labor Unemployment Insurance (UI) Updates
New York State Department of Labor UI FAQ
Tenants Guide to NY’s Residential Eviction Moratorium
Health Insurance Enrollment Period Extended Until May 15th for Displaced Workers
Job + Employment Opportunities
109th Mental Health Resources
Headspace Partners with NYS to Provide Free Mental Health Resources
Domestic Violence Resources 1–800–942–6906
Hate + Biased-Related Crime due to COVID-19
Non-Essential Construction Ceasing — Executive Order
Healthcare Providers Who Need Equipment
Nonprofit + COVID19 Capital Region Response Fund
New York State — How You Can Help
Albany County Medical Reserve Corps
109th District | Capital Region Family Resource Guide, Now Available en Espanol
REMEMBER: Should you have any questions during this time please do not hesitate to utilize my office as a resource at (518) 455–4178 or fahyp@nyassembly.gov.
Sincerely,
Pat
