New York State Insider: STATEMENT FROM NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2023

 

STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR ON SUPREME COURT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DECISION.

“Today’s decision is a triumph for the fundamental American notion that all men and women are created equal and deserve equal treatment under the law. Affirmative action implicitly divided us, creating  quiet divisions among Americans over the entire college admissions process. The Conservative Party cherishes the individual, regardless of race or creed; we believe, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. eloquently stated, that a person should be judged on character and nothing else. This is a great step forward for America and all who call her home.” 

New York State Insider: 2024 Campaign Trail: Fri. June 30, 11 a.m.: Somers: Gina Arena to Announce State Senate Candidacy.

 

Arena to Announce State Senate Candidate on Friday.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE LAWLER, ASSEMBLYMAN MATT SLATER, AND OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL JOIN GINA ARENA AS SHE ANNOUNCES HER CANDIDACY FOR NEW YORK STATE SENATE (40th DISTRICT) AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 30 AT 11 A.M AT SOMERS TOWN HOUSE AT 335 SOMERSTOWN TURNPIKE IN SOMERS. 

MS. ARENA CAME WITHIN JUST A FEW POINTS OF DEFEATING PROGRESSIVE INCUMBENT STATE SENATOR PETER HARKHAM IN 2022.  

DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023

TIME: 11:00 A.M.

PLACE: 335 SOMERSTOWN TURNPIKE, SOMERS, NY

New York State Insider: STATEMENT FROM NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2023

 

STATEMENT ON WOOD-FIRE PIZZA ATTACK FROM NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR.

Brooklyn-NY…”The Conservative Party has always understood that ‘a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.’ But we never could have imagined that government would go after wood-fire pizza. What’s next? Hotdogs and hamburgers on charcoal grills?  

“New York Democrats are out of control. Gas stoves have been banned by the State, and clearly the City and State will be going after campfires, fireplaces, and, eventually, matches. If New Yorkers don’t stand up and say ‘no' now, the future here may be very dark.” 

New York State Insider: New York State Senator Pete Harckham: In Albany to Make a Difference.

 

With a focus on public safety, protecting the environment and ensuring the well-being of residents statewide, I am proud to say that the recently completed Senate session was my most productive since taking office in 2019. 

 

The Senate approved 62 of my bills, the full State Legislature approved 31, three have been signed into law already and one was included in the enacted FY2024 State Budget.

 

I expect more executive approvals of some of my bills are forthcoming.

 

During this Senate session we worked together to solve problems and made progress on so many important issues. Like:

 

Getting serious about roadway repair S.4531A, which was ultimately included in the state budget, authorizes DOT to conduct a $3 million study of Routes 35 and 202 from the Hudson River to the Connecticut border.

 

Helping first responders, S.1176 and S.1180 make permanent benefits for volunteer firefighters with lung and heart disabilities. Important other public safety bills received praise from family advocates, like S.2102 requiring police officers to take temporary custody of firearms when responding to reports of family violence

 

As chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, I had 16 bills that passed in the Senate, including eight that now await the Governor’s signature, like:

• 1725A Protects Class C streams and fragile drinking water supplies
• 6604 Exempts geothermal boreholes at depths beyond five hundred feet requirements
• 3365 Requires disclosure of insurance information from pipeline developers

 

Important bills to protect the environment that await approval in Assembly include:

• 6893 Prohibits the discharge of radioactive wastewater into the Hudson River
• 2994A Prohibits fuel oil, grade four in any building or facility in the state after July 2026

 

In addition, both houses approved S.2099C—Matthew’s Law—making fentanyl test kits, a critical harm reduction tool for preventing overdoses, available in pharmacies.

 

There is more work ahead for all of us!

 

Thank you.

 

 

New York State Insider: New York State Senator Shelley Mayer: **Press Release: NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer Joins White House Panel on Reproductive Rights.

 

Date: June 16, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer Joins White House Panel on Reproductive Rights.

(Washington, D.C.) - On Thursday, June 15th, State Senator Shelley B. Mayer traveled to Washington D.C. to join the White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights. Approaching the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the White House hosted more than 80 state legislators from 41 states to discuss the rollbacks to reproductive rights and state efforts to safeguard access to reproductive health care.  Senator Mayer joined as a speaker on a panel called Protecting Providers and Patients, moderated by Elisabeth Smith, Director of State Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, alongside Connecticut State Representative Matt Blumenthal (D - Stamford), Colorado State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, (D - Longmont), and Illinois Representative Kelly Cassidy (D - Chicago) which highlighted legislation their states have passed, with their leadership, to protect providers and patients.  Senator Mayer discussed her legislation S.1066B/A.1709B, which provides explicit protections for doctors, medical providers, and facilitators serving patients outside New York State seeking medication abortion and reproductive health services via telehealth.  Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am proud and honored to have the opportunity to speak at the White House as part of the Legislative Convening of Reproductive Rights. As the New York State Assembly returns to Albany next week, I am eager for A.1709B to pass in the Assembly, sponsored by my colleague Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, RN. New York has vowed to stand up for the right of women everywhere to control their reproductive future, and it is pivotal that we pass this legislation to ensure New York does its part in providing women across the country access to the healthcare they deserve. “In the wake of the Dobbs decision, it is vital that states lean on each other for help, inspiration, and guidance as we fight the threats and restrictions on abortion spreading across the country. I want to thank our moderator Elisabeth Smith for her insightful questions. I also would like to thank my fellow panelists, Representative Blumenthal, Senator Jaquez Lewis, and Representative Cassidy; as well as the many other state leaders who joined us in Washington, for sharing your insight and your work. It was empowering and informative to join a group of state legislators who share the same goal.  “I also would like to thank our New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her leadership on this critical matter. I am eager to see A.1709B pass in the Assembly next week and be signed into law by Governor Hochul.”  Representative Blumenthal led Connecticut to be the first state to enact an interstate shield law. The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, signed into Connecticut law in 2022, expands access to abortion in Connecticut and legally protects medical providers and patients traveling to Connecticut seeking care.  Representative Cassidy led the effort to pass the Patient and Provider Protection Act of Illinois, which reinforces protections for Illinois health care providers and patients who travel to Illinois for abortion access. Representative Cassidy also led the initiative to expedite temporary Illinois licenses for providers from other states.  Senator Jacquez Lewis enacted a package of reproductive rights legislation, including shield laws. Colorado also prohibited deceptive advertising in health care centers and can hold crisis pregnancy centers liable for deceptive advertising. 

New York State Insider: Press Release: Mayer, Otis Pass Legislation Requiring Schools to Provide Student Government .

 

Date: June 14, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mayer, Otis Pass Legislation Requiring Schools to Provide Student Government.

(Albany, NY) New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis announce that their legislation, which would require school districts to provide students with the opportunity to participate in student government while in high school, passed the Assembly on June 1st, preceded by its passage in the Senate on March 13th. The bills passed overwhelmingly, with bi-partisan support in both houses.    S.1732/A.6091 will enhance the high school student experience, give young people a voice in school governance, and help build habits of civic participation. For many high school students, student government is their first experience participating in democracy, and serving as a voter, advocate, or elected leader. Students can gain real life skills by participating in student government and learn hands-on how government functions and how they can shape their community. Participating in student government prepares students to be active citizens in their communities throughout their lives. Research has found that students who directly participate in school governance programs have higher rates of academic success and civic engagement in adulthood.    Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “Student government is a tremendous opportunity for young adults to have a direct experience with representational democracy. It is a pivotal chance to encourage civic participation. We must ensure we are lifting up every student and helping them understand that their voice matters, and they have the right - as well as the obligation- to participate in our democracy. I want to thank Assemblyman Otis for his partnership on this legislation and look forward to Governor Hochul’s signature on the bill.”   Assemblyman Steve Otis said, “Democracy is not just a form of government; it also requires the learned skills of deliberation, cooperation, compromise, and the ability to listen carefully and respect the views of others. One place we learn these skills is through student government where participants learn to engage with each other and with the school administration. Senator Mayer and I know the importance of these skills in our work in state government. This legislation will ensure that the opportunity for this important civics lesson is available in every high school throughout the state.”     This bill will require the board of education or trustees of every public school district serving students in grades nine through twelve, without a district wide or school building peer selected student government, to establish at least one student government organization in the district or school building.

New York State Insider: New York State Senator Shelley Mayer: Press Release: Senator Shelley B. Mayer Recognizes Local Students with Youth Leadership Awards.

 

Rye Neck Superintendent Dr. Eric Lutinski E.d.D., Senator Mayer, Rye Neck Students, and Rye Neck Assistant Principal Jason Doerr.

Date: June 13, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senator Shelley B. Mayer Recognizes Area Students with Youth Leadership Awards.

(Rye Neck, NY) - State Senator Shelley Mayer awarded 17 students throughout Senate District 37 with the 2023 New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award on Monday, June 12. The NYS Senate Youth Leadership Award recognizes outstanding high school students for excellence in the classroom, athletics, and extracurricular or community activities. In addition to presenting each student with a certificate for their achievement, Senator Mayer led an open discussion to learn more about each student’s work and to allow student leaders to learn from and inspire one another.  Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am pleased to present Youth Leadership Awards to these tremendous students from high schools throughout District 37. We are fortunate to have many hard-working students dedicated to inspiring and leading others. Whether they achieved high marks in academics, gave hundreds of hours of community service, or led their peers to success, as a community we benefit from their leadership, empathy, and determination every day. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I especially appreciated hearing their stories and learning more about what they have done in their schools and their future plans. I thank Superintendent Dr. Eric Lutinski and the Rye Neck High School for hosting this ceremony.”  “We are proud to host the 2023 Youth Leadership Recognition Awards this year.  Our five nominees exemplify the quality and character of our Rye Neck student body and we are gratified that they have been recognized by Senator Mayer for their efforts,” said Dr. Eric Lutinski, Ed.D., Superintendent of Rye Neck Schools. Students from Bronxville, Harrison, Rye, Rye Neck, Scarsdale, Tuckahoe, and White Plains were recognized. Each student was nominated by a teacher or school administrator for their outstanding leadership.

New York State Insider: STATEMENT FROM NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2023

 

STATEMENT ON END OF 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR.

Brooklyn-NY…“New York State’s leftward march under one-party rule sadly continued  in 2023. The punishing cost of living here got more punishing; nothing was done to reverse cashless bail, despite the clear will of the public to repeal it; the pro-criminal clean slate bill will deprive employers of the right to know who has a dangerous criminal record before hiring; unprepared communities were inundated with illegal immigrants that will need school seats, housing, and medical care. The Democrats also set April 2nd as Presidential primary day, resulting in early voting being on several of the most solemn days on the Christian calendar, including Good Friday, Holy Thursday, and Palm Sunday. The New York State Conservative Party takes great exception when the legislature puts politics over faith.

“Democrat politicians didn’t forget themselves — they expanded taxpayer-funded political campaigns to an eight-to-one match on donations over $250 — adding an even larger public cost to an already bad spending program, and changed the local election calendar to even years, depriving voters of the full attention that local, off-year elections deserve. Democrats also created a special slavery reparations committee, 195 years after slavery ended in New York, that is certain to create racial tensions throughout the state. And they did all this in the name of ‘progress.’

“What we are seeing is a state legislature, far to the political left of the average New Yorker, plowing forward with the radical fads of the day at the expense of families who can barely make it here. The only true winners from this legislative session are Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas, all of which will grow in population as the alarming New York exodus continues.” 

New York State Insider: STATEMENT FROM NYS CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117

Bill@NovemberTeam.com

June 9, 2023

 

STATEMENT ON TRUMP INDICTMENT BY NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR.

Brooklyn-NY…“The Conservative Party adamantly opposes selective law enforcement, which is exactly what we're seeing with the indictment of former President and current GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Both Trump and President Joe Biden were found to have classified documents in their homes, but only the Republican challenger is being prosecuted. How can that be viewed as anything other than weaponization of the federal government for electoral advantage?   

“Americans are quickly losing faith in their government, and the glaring discrepancy in the treatment of the two presidents will only make things worse. Politics should be left up to the voters, not partisan officials in Washington. The precedent that these indictments set will drag the country into truly dangerous territory. President Biden should call off his dogs and let the voters decide.”

New York State Insider: Press Release: Senators Shelley B. Mayer and Pete Harckham Call for a Pause to Toll Increases on NYS Thruway Roadways and Bridges.

 

Date: June 8, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senators Shelley B. Mayer and Pete Harckham Call for a Pause to Toll Increases on NYS Thruway Roadways and Bridges.

(Westchester, NY) - On Monday, June 5, Senator Shelley B. Mayer (D-37) and Senator Pete Harckham (D-40) submitted testimony on behalf of their constituents of the 37th and 40th New York State Senate Districts expressing opposition to the proposed toll increase on roadways and bridges owned and operated by the NYS Thruway Authority until the Authority improves toll collection and accounting of costs and losses. Their full testimony can be found here.  Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I oppose the proposed toll increases on the NYS Thruway, and urge the Thruway Authority to withdraw this proposal. While I am pleased that the Thruway Authority’s proposal maintains the commuter discount off the NY E-ZPass rate for those who opt into the commuter program, the recent report of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli strongly suggests that the Thruway Authority needs to do more to improve efforts at toll collection, improve its accounting, and increase transparency with more comprehensive reporting of costs and losses. All of these efforts should be undertaken before imposing a toll increase.” Senator Pete Harckham said, “Proposed toll increases from the NYS Thruway Authority deserve necessary scrutiny because of the impact they will have on Westchester and Rockland County commuters and small business owners. While road maintenance and construction certainly are expected to ensure driver safety, it is important that the Thruway Authority not simply rely on bridge and roadway tolls to cover costs. I’m grateful the NY E-Z Pass discount is being maintained for commuters on the Cuomo Bridge but unrealized revenue because of scofflaws needs to be addressed before tolls are raised.”

New York State Insider: Press Release: Mayer and Otis Pass Legislation Requiring Automated External Defibrillator Implementation Plans for Camps and Youth Sports.

 

Date: June 8, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mayer and Otis Pass Legislation Requiring Automated External Defibrillator Implementation Plans for Camps and Youth Sports.

Albany, NY - State Assemblyman Steve Otis (AD 91) and State Senator Shelley B. Mayer (SD 37) announced the passage of their bill, A.366A/S.7424, in both houses of the New York State legislature. This legislation will require camps and youth sports programs to adopt a plan to provide automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment at camps and youth sports games and practices. The legislation is designed to address the issue of sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death for young people. Sudden cardiac arrest has a 90% fatality rate, but those outcomes can be improved when CPR and AED response occurs within three minutes of the episode. But this equipment is often not always available. While AED equipment is already required in school buildings, this legislation applies to non-school settings. It is estimated that between 7,000 and 14,000 youth sudden cardiac arrests occur nationwide each year. This measure will require that every camp or youth sports program establish and submit an AED implementation plan to the Department of Health, which describes how AEDs will be made available at every camp, game, or practice and how at least one employee, volunteer, coach, or other qualified adult, who has completed an AED training course, will be present. By ensuring that AEDs are available in camps, in gyms, and on the fields, lives will be saved. The issue was brought to the attention of Assemblyman Otis and Senator Mayer by Rye Brook residents Dana Colasante and Alice Schoen, whose family members experienced sudden cardiac arrest at youth sports events. Dana’s husband and Alice’s son were both saved because AED equipment was present and used immediately. Most families are not as fortunate. Senator Mayer said, “I am very pleased the Senate and Assembly were able to take action to ensure the safety of young people and adults during camp and youth sports programs by passing legislation requiring AEDs at camps and sporting events. More than 7,000 children experience cardiac emergencies each year, and too many times an AED is not available or its presence is unknown. By establishing AED plans for camp and youth sports programs, it will ensure confidence that in the event of SCA, AEDs are present and available. I want to thank the Colasante and Schoen families for bringing this matter to our attention and I thank my colleague Assemblyman Otis for sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly.” Assemblyman Otis said, “There is a tremendous gap in the public’s understanding of the need for including AED equipment and protocols as part of standard youth sports first aid planning. We have the ability to prevent heart-breaking tragedies by making sure that camps and youth sports programs develop their own plans to make sure AED equipment and procedures are in place. This important legislation was made possible through the advocacy of Dana Colasante and Alice Schoen who are dedicated to making sure lives are saved. This bill is another public health and safety victory in which Senator Mayer and I have combined efforts.” Dana and Alice formed an advocacy group, Saving Active Hearts, to educate the youth sports community about sudden cardiac arrest and what steps groups can take to have the necessary equipment and protocols available. Dana Colasante and Alice Schoen, in a joint statement, said, “We are absolutely thrilled that this life-saving legislation to require camps and youth sports programs to establish an AED implementation plan has passed the legislature. We are so grateful to the bill sponsors Assemblyman Otis and Senator Mayer for taking on this initiative to author and sponsor the bill. They have both been extremely supportive of our Saving Active Hearts mission to protect young athletes from dying from sudden cardiac arrest since we started this initiative four years ago.” The issue gained new attention with Damar Hamlin’s near-death experience in January during the Buffalo Bills/Cincinnati Bengals game. The goal of this legislative effort is to have this equipment available at all youth sports games and practices. Even in school settings, the awareness of the availability of equipment that is already on-site needs to be improved. The American Heart Association (AHA) reported in 2018 that there are more than 356,000 out- of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the United States, nearly 90 percent of which are fatal. Death can result within minutes from cardiac arrest if proper steps-such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED)-to shock the heart and restore a normal heart rhythm are not taken immediately. Data from 2019 shows that 38.3% of cases are witnessed by a layperson, and 12.7% by an EMS provider. Trained non-medical personnel can use AEDs, which are simplified and portable electronic medical devices, to treat a person in cardiac arrest using voice prompts, lights, and text messages to walk the responder through the steps. Sports-related SCAs account for 39% of SCAs in children ages 18 years old or younger.

New York State Insider: New York State Senator Shelley Mayer: Press Release: NYS Legislature Passes Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic’s Bill to Limit Sale of Diet Pills and Supplements to Children (S.5823C/A.5610D).

 

Date: June 7, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York State Legislature Passes  Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic’s Bill to  Limit Sale of Diet Pills and Supplements to Children (S.5823C/A.5610D).

(ALBANY, NY) - Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Nily Rozic announced that their bill to ban the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and supplements for weight loss to children under 18 passed the Senate on June 5 after passing the Assembly on June 1.  S.5823C/A.5610D will protect children under 18 from the risks of over-the-counter diet pills and supplements for weight loss or muscle building. Dietary supplements are dangerously under-regulated. Studies have found these products are laced with unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients, illicit anabolic steroids,  experimental and banned stimulants, and other dangerous chemicals. And research demonstrates that use of these products may be a warning sign for the presence or risk of an eating disorder. Young people who take over-the-counter diet pills are more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who do not.  More than 1.7 million, or nine percent of New Yorkers, will suffer from an eating disorder throughout their lifetime. Eating disorders cause immense harm to individuals, communities, and our state, costing the state more than $3.9B a year in direct medical care costs and lost productivity. Tragically, more than 10,000 lose their lives each year nationally as a direct result of an eating disorder.  The bill focuses on the marketing and advertising of over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements to minors by establishing age verification guidelines for retailers and delivery sellers. Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “For decades, we have seen young people struggle with eating disorders and the pressure to meet unrealistic societal expectations. As teens and young adults join social media at younger ages, we must do more to protect them. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I am committed to improving children’s health and well-being by addressing the serious threat of eating disorders and adverse health outcomes due to the use of these products. I am pleased that today we have taken this important step to protect the health and wellness of young people.” “Diet pills, weight loss, and muscle-building supplements are often marketed as quick fixes for insecurities. It is our responsibility to protect vulnerable and impressionable kids and teens from products that not only exacerbate negative self-image but also have detrimental effects on the growing body,” said Assemblywoman Rozic. “The marketing of such harmful products has serious physical and mental health consequences. This bill is an important measure in combating diet culture and ensuring the safety of young consumers.”  Pari Patel, of the STRIPED Youth Corps, said, “This legislation is more than just a milestone with its great progress; it is a shared vision that has been in my heart and the hearts of fellow advocates. It brings us closer to a New York where youth can protect their young minds from the dangerous grip diet pills and muscle-building supplements seem to have. Personally, as an advocate, this bill serves as a reminder that our voices have the power to drive meaningful change, instilling in me an even stronger determination to continue fighting for the well-being of our youth. We will continue our fight for what is right until the bill is signed into law.” Ryan Ahmed, STRIPED Trainee, said, “I am a college student in New York who has seen eating disorders and body dysmorphia play a detrimental role in our classrooms, in the sporting fields, and in household settings. Over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements are filled in isles, as there are seas of options, products, companies, and sales representatives. It is so easy for a child to buy these products in large amounts at their closest GNC or local market without parental supervision. A common scary question amongst young people in these stores in NY is: ‘What’s the strongest supplement you got?’ The underregulated supplements industry is marketing towards all youth members, so when thinking about Senator Mayer’s bill S5823C, it can help protect your own children, your younger cousins, and your nephews and nieces.”