Assembly Will Barclay

Mandate relief, economic development, community safety top my ‘To Do List’ during last days of session.

While many enjoyed the record warm temperatures March offered, fruit farmers held their breathes and wondered what this would mean as trees began to bud earlier than they could remember.

There were a number of pro-business policies enacted this year in Albany. I’m pleased to announce the Foreign Trade Zone in Central New York will expand. The Governor recently signed this legislation that I co-sponsored into law to help draw more businesses to Central New York.

I’m pleased that this year’s State Budget enables New York State to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to create a State Veterans’ Cemetery.

My point is sometimes the state gets in its own way of doing business. This is not a surprise to most people who have their own businesses.  Anyone in the restaurant business or daycare business expects routine inspections. The state should not be in the business of over-extending its reach or its authority to the detriment of well-intentioned business owners.

Few know the warning signs of a stroke.  Learning them and acting FAST can save your life or the life of a loved one.  FAST is an acronym.  It stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time.

An estimated 8.6 million households were victims of identity theft in 2010, the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports. I hear from people on a regular basis who have, unfortunately, been among those statistics.

In recent years, New York was criticized for having a low organ donation rate compared to other states.  This month, the process became easier and those who wish to donate their organs can do so online.