As we welcome in a new year, 2018 brings a new opportunity for New York State to highlight what makes it so special. Agriculture – our farms, growers, producers and related agribusinesses – leads the way. As New York State’s leading industry and a major driver of the state’s economy, this is the time to make sure it remains as such.
There seems to be a substantial amount of confusion as to what effect the newly enacted Federal Tax bill will have on residents of New York state. The confusion stems from the fact that (i) taxes are complicated, (ii) what people pay in taxes depends on individual circumstances, and (iii) the political rhetoric about the tax bill and its effects has been misleading and in certain cases inaccurate. In order to understand the effects the federal tax legislation will have on New Yorkers, there needs to be a general understanding of how the federal income tax system works.
Generosity is powerful. All throughout the year, I have seen so many people go out of their way to help their community, their family, friends and neighbors. It simply amazes me every time someone in our community does something that brings a smile to the face of another – even if it’s someone they’ve never met and perhaps never will.
After a baby is born, hospitals perform a variety of screenings for the baby. Some tests are completed by a physical exam or through the use of a medical device at the hospital, but many genetic disorders can only be detected with a blood sample. In an attempt to help minimize the effects of some genetic disorders, in 1965 New York began the Newborn Screening Program. Since then, millions of babies have been tested and thousands have been identified and treated for their disease.
Earlier this year, our shoreline communities were victims of historic flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Thousands of homes, businesses and properties are still picking up the pieces from the damage they suffered. While visiting many of these shoreline communities as the waters were rising, it became immediately clear that financial help would be needed. That is why I cosponsored the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Seaway Flood Relief and Recovery Grant Program, which provided $45 million in funding to impacted year-round and seasonal homeowners, small businesses, farms, not-for-profits and municipalities.
Finances are obviously a big consideration when it comes to higher education and with good reason. Costs have risen dramatically. The average cost of attending a four-year public college in 1980 was $7,770 (in today’s dollars). Today these average costs have increased to more than $20,000 a year.
New Yorkers consistently rank public safety high on the list of importance so it is good news that in 2016, the number of crimes in the state reached an all-time low. In addition, the crime rate in New York has steadily declined since 1990 with few exceptions. According to the latest data compiled by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York was the sixth most violent state in 1994, but today it is the safest large state in the nation.
For families all across New York State, nothing says Christmas quite like the smell of pine, that deep green color and the way a tree brightens up our homes and businesses this time of year. It’s become an annual tradition here in New York to get the family together for a trip to the local Christmas tree farm to pick out that perfect evergreen to take home and decorate. Not only are Christmas trees a big part of the holiday season, they’re a big part of New York’s agriculture industry, too.
As a State Senator with five state correctional facilities in my district, and a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, I continue to see that dedication and hard work every day from correctional officers throughout New York State. Ensuring that our state correctional facilities employ hardworking correctional officers is critical to public safety, as well as the safety of our prisons. In an effort to achieve both of those goals, I have been proud to sponsor Senate bill S.2959-A, which would help ensure correctional facilities across the state have adequate staffing.
Most people’s medicine cabinets contain either expired or unwanted over-the-counter and/or prescription drugs. With the rise in prescription drug abuse, in particular opioids, keeping these medications in the home isn’t safe. Fortunately, thanks to recent federal, state, and local efforts, more opportunities have been created to help people safely dispose of unwanted drugs.
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