What I heard is not dissimilar from the challenges facing working families: rising utility bills, tariffs, inflationary costs, and expensive healthcare.
This year’s state budget must address these issues and deliver real relief for small businesses and workers.
Small businesses and their workers will always be the backbone of the Capital Region economy. I loved joining the Bethlehem Chamber to hear directly from our small business owners about what the state can do to better support them.
When NY passes my MELT Act, I'm confident it will have strong standing in court.
Read more here from the Los Angeles Times: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Our bill ensures that when all law enforcement officers carry out their duties in our communities, they do so with visible identification and no masks, protecting both public trust and passing constitutional scrutiny.
That's exactly what our legislation does.
No one should be detained by masked, unidentified individuals claiming to be law enforcement, and New York law enforcement has worked hard to build public trust.
🚨 Kristi Noem might be out, but ICE's secret police-style tactics continue, and NYers continue to live in fear. As the sponsor of the MELT Act to ban masking by law enforcement, recent court rulings on California’s first-in-the-nation mask ban make something very clear: the law must apply evenly.
I couldn't be prouder to stand with you today and champion this funding. While the federal government stymies and defunds research into spina bifida, treatment, and therapies, New York State will step up and invest.
More than 4,000 New Yorkers are living with spina bifida, but state funding has remained unchanged. Speakers today reminded us that words like inclusion, community, and 'care' are often buzzwords—but to this community, they're everything.
💙 As Chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, today I stood with the Spina Bifida Association of New York State (SBANYS) to urge an $250K total investment in this year's state budget for expanded services and better care.
🦺 Fixing the damn roads is good for our communities and creates good-paying jobs for the middle class.
Every year, I fight alongside my Senate colleagues to increase funding for our local roads and bridges because safe, reliable infrastructure is an investment in our workers and communities.
Proud to support this funding again this year. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul for making this a priority alongside the State Legislature.
Even more, working parents and families now have one less thing to worry about, and it’s saving households $600+ a year on food costs when inflation and tariffs are through the roof.
🥪 I visited some bright faces this morning at Albany’s School of Humanities (ASH) to say: once again, New York State will fund free breakfast and lunch for all P-12 students to ensure that no child goes hungry in our classrooms.
It’s simple: when kids are hungry, they aren’t learning.
Get your tickets now! www.americanirishlegislators.org/dinner
I've always been committed to fully funding our public schools, and that work hasn't stopped years later.
Thank you for having me, and to the students who stopped by for a photo!
🍎 Last night, I joined the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District's School Board to provide an update on increased funding for our P-12 schools this year, including marked increases for F-F's funding lines.
We also discuss my MELT Act, which bans ICE agents from wearing masks and concealing their identity. Tune into the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!
We talked about our support for Senator Gounardes' New York For All legislation, which would protect our immigrant neighbors and maintain trust in local law enforcement.
📲 On a new episode of Chat with Pat, I sit down with @agounardes.bsky.social to discuss ICE's ongoing reign of terror here in the Capital Region, New York State, and across the country.
Sgt. Curcurito’s service and family reminds us that freedom is not free, and behind every service member is a loving, caring family making sacrifices.
Thank you for your service, Sgt. Curcurito—it is not forgotten.
🇺🇸 They served us, and now it’s up to us to serve them. Today, we honored Albany native Sgt. Charles Curcurito, who fought with the 754th Tank Battalion to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation and oppression in World War II.
If you want to catch Northern Rivers Family of Services' Bill Gettman and me on New York NOW discussing why this is my number one priority as Senate Disabilities Chair, tune in tonight at 7:30pm or here over the weekend: nynow.wmht.org/blogs/full-e...
We need a 2.7% inflationary increase in this year's state budget. New Yorkers living with disabilities, their families, and workers are relying on lawmakers to deliver real relief for them, and 2.7% must be the floor.
📺 New York's disability care system is struggling. Direct support professionals and the home care workforce remain among the lowest paid in our modern economy. The time for change is long overdue.
Glad to see @cbsnews.com doing the right thing by dropping Peter Attia. There must be accountability and justice for survivors, no matter how long it takes.
@nynowpbs.bsky.social
Gov. Hochul proposes a 1.7% cost of living adjustment for nonprofits supporting human services. We discuss w/ Bill Gettman, CEO of
@northernrivers.bsky.social
@patriciafahy46.bsky.social updates on the $400 million allocated to Albany & immigration policies
nynow.wmht.org
As a first-generation college graduate, I understand the need to fully fund our SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities while keeping them affordable for working families.
Additionally, the Governor's proposed funding for Career Connects will support students who are searching for internships or employment post-graduation, which has been a long-term priority of mine.
address maintenance backlogs.
Students should be able to afford their higher education regardless of background, and have safe and modern facilities on our @sunyofficial.bsky.social and @cuny.edu campuses.
🎓 For too many New York students and their families, the cost of a higher education has gotten further and further out of reach.
At yesterday’s Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Higher Education, I emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in NY's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and
