Passing the Nation’s First-Ever Gun Industry Liability Law, End of Session Priorities, Small Business Recovery Fund Launched

It’s the last week of the legislative session at the State Capitol and hundred of bills are still in the pipeline.

I’m working hard to pass priority pieces of legislation I sponsor, including requiring 30% of New York land be protected by 2030 Right to Repair, expanding direct sales of EVs Upstate, breaking the ‘Iron Pipeline’s’ role in gun violence on our streets (passed!), and more.

New York State will lift most remaining COVID-19 restrictions if at least 70% of the state’s population is vaccinated! New York is at 61.9% as of today (6/9/21), so do your part and #GetVaxxed if you haven’t already! As always, read on for community updates, and events around the district!

LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND PRESS

• ​Bills On The Move: Several bills I sponsor are on the move through the committee and legislative process, and then onto the Assembly floor calendar for what is hopefully a final vote this week.

• New York Passes Historic Gun Industry Liability Law, First State in the Nation to Do So.

• #BREAKING: Victory. We just passed the first-ever Gun Industry Liability Law in the United States, countering a 2005 federal statute that extended complete and blanket liability immunity to the American gun industry. New York will be the first state to hold gun companies legally accountable for their role in the #GunViolence epidemic. Thank you to NYS Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie 米维, Brady, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Shannon Watts, Gabby Giffords, Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Youth Over Guns, and so many more for making this historic moment happen.

• Albany County Legislature Issues Proclamation in Support of Gun Industry Liability Law. 🤝 Thank you to Albany County Legislature Chair Andrew Joyce, Deputy Chair Wanda Willingham, and Albany County Legislators who signed on for your support of landmark legislation to halt the flow of illegal guns into New York State. We’ve seen an increase in the number of illegal guns found on our streets here in the Capital Region, and we’re going to pass the Gun Industry Liability Law this year to #BreakTheIronPipeline. Communities across New York — including Albany — have few tools at their disposal to crack down on illegal guns. Where the federal government won’t act on gun violence, we will.
• Coalition of Mayors From Around New York State Support Gun Industry Liability Law.

• A diverse coalition of Mayors from around New York State penned a letter urging the state legislature to pass A.6762-A/S.1048-A before the end of session to #BreakTheIronPipeline and end the flow of illegal guns into NY, including here in the Capital Region. Thank you to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Ithaca, New York’s Mayor Svante Myrick, Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, Mayor Patrick Madden, and others for standing with us in the fight against the gun violence epidemic in this country. Mayors know their communities best and are on the frontlines of this issue every day. Let’s listen to them.
• Wall Street Journal: Right to Repair Gains Steam Around Country. ⚙️ The #RightToRepair movement continues to gain momentum after the FTC’s recent report and here in New York, Senator Neil D. Breslin and I are working to get fair repair legislation passed by the end of session. (A.7006/S.4104) The Wall Street Journal: “Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission this month said in a report to Congress that “there is scant evidence to support manufacturers’ justifications for repair restrictions,” and raised concerns it may be too difficult for consumers with little or no engineering knowledge to attempt repairs themselves. The commission considered several ways the U.S. could improve consumers’ repair and maintenance options, including stricter enforcement of existing warranty protection laws and a France-style scoring system. The FTC said it stands ready to work with state and federal legislators on the matter.”
• 30x30 OP-ED.

• Every minute in the U.S., an area of land equivalent to the size of 2 football fields is lost to commercial development. Conserving at least 30% of New York State’s land by 2030 is a powerful climate action tool and critical in protecting our existing ecosystems and biodiversity. We have a chance to pass my legislation and achieve 30x30 in New York this year, and The Nature Conservancy’s Jessica Ottney-Mahar wrote an op-ed at the link in this section detailing why this is so necessary to get done in 2021.
• Times Union Report on Redlining Effects in Albany.

• Must read: Times Union reporters Massarah Mikati and Eduardo Medina detail how over decades, the practice of ‘redlining’ led to disinvestment in certain neighborhoods across #Albany. In the years that followed, a combination of conscious decisions by those in power and an ensuing ‘white flight’ from these neighborhoods led to blight in what are predominantly communities and neighborhoods of color. Learning and understanding our history — especially when it’s troubled or uncomfortable — is key to implementing and unlocking the solutions of the future. Reversing the effects of Albany’s redlining is how we’ll build a more equitable and just city in the years and decades to come.
• Recognizing the Center for Disability Services’ Role in the Pandemic and I/DD Advocacy.

• The Center for Disability Services is not just an effective advocate for New Yorkers and our neighbors living with developmental disabilities; they’re a cornerstone of the Capital Region community. Proud to recognize their advocacy today and their first-in-the-state push to vaccinate individuals living with developmental disabilities with Assemblymember John McDonald and Senator Neil D. Breslin.
• New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Now Accepting Applications.

• Attention renters, tenants, and small landlords; the 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will begin accepting applications for rent relief. Learn more about these funds and what resources are available to you by clicking here or on the photo below.

ICYMI: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• ICYMI: Happy #PrideMonth!

• Happy #PrideMonth, Capital Region! This month we recommit ourselves to building equity, equality, and inclusiveness in our communities for all of our LGBTQIA+ neighbors. We have a long and proud history of advancing the fight for equal rights here in Albany and it’s up to us to carry that torch. Remember: you are seen and you are loved.
• ICYMI: Town of Bethlehem Opens Newest Park.

• Joined David VanLuven, Town Supervisor, Boy Scout Troop 75, and others for the ribbon-cutting of Bethlehem’s newest park — Normans Kill Ravines Park! Green spaces like these help to conserve land for future generations and public enjoyment, as well helping to protect the fragility of our local ecosystems. Great work and kudos to Supervisor VanLuven for his work on this!
• ICYMI: Albany Public Library Opens Doors For The Summer.

• Great to see the Albany NY Library re-opening its branches for the upcoming summer months! Details for each location at the link in this section.
• ICYMI: CDTA Launches Free Albany Nature Bus.

• Kudos to the Capital District Transportation Authority — CDTA and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy for making the Nature Bus™️ happen! Be sure to make use of this free service this summer!
• ICYMI: Announcing Historic State Education Funding at Guilderland’s Farnsworth Middle School.

• New York’s public schools received a historic increase and amount of funding in this year’s state budget to support our teachers, faculty, administrators, parents, and students who’ve been on the pandemic’s frontlines. I was joined today by Senator Michelle Hinchey, Guilderland Central School District, Farnsworth Middle School, and so many more to announce that Guilderland schools will receive over $2 Million in increased state aid as a result. I was impressed with the school district’s particular attention to improving the social-emotional wellbeing of its students and a wholistic mental health support approach. These are game-changers in student’s lives.
• ICYMI: Enabling Direct Sales of EVs in Upstate New York. ⚡️

• New York needs more electric vehicles on the road if we’re going to meet our Climate and Community Protection Act goals. It’s that simple. This morning Senator Todd Kaminsky and I were joined by environmental advocates, Tesla Industries, Rivian, and more to urge that we pass our legislation providing for direct sales of EVs in New York State. All of New York’s electric vehicle dealerships and points of sale are downstate, and we need to expand them throughout the state if we’re going to reduce our transportation sector’s emissions and make EVs more affordable for New Yorkers.

COMMUNITY EVENTS, RESOURCES

• Learn About Buying Your First Home with NYS Homes and Community Renewal. On Thursday, June 17, 10am-11am, join NYS HCR (Homes and Community Renewal) for a webinar regarding HCR’s “Give Us Credit” (GUC) program and their newly expanded down payment loan assistance program (DPAL PLUS). The programs are run through the State of NY Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) and are dedicated to increasing homeownership rates in communities that have historically lacked full access to this opportunity, including communities of color. These programs address some of these issues and are now being offered to all residents of New York State. Click here to register or on the photo below.

• Capital Pride 2021 Events Schedule! Click here for the full list of events and celebration this month to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community around the area! Hope to see you there!
• June 22nd: Primary Elections. Make sure you vote in this year’s primary elections on Tuesday, June 22nd this year. To find your polling place, polling hours, a sample ballot, and more, please visit: www.vote411.org
• Empire State Trail Challenge Begins! Click here to register for this year’s Empire State Trail Challenge, which runs until August and can be completed on your own time through logging and submitting mileage on the trail itself. For more information, click on the link in this section or image below!

PODCAST: The Fahy Files: What Makes the NY Capital Work (Or Not!) — Connecting in a Time of Chaos

• To highlight some of the individuals in the Capital Region who exemplify what it means to remain connected within our community and cope with the chaos of the past year, I’ve launched a new series of my podcast The Fahy Files, ‘Connecting in a Time of Chaos’.

Listen to our first 6 (3 of these are featured below) episodes from this year so far on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

If you know someone who might be interested in signing up for our weekly e-newsletter, forward them this e-mail or click and copy and paste the link found here.

For more on my work in the state legislature, please visit my official Assembly website, Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, or Medium to stay updated in 2021 and beyond! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns during this time at fahyp@nyassembly.gov or (518) 455–4178.