April is Donate Life Month – a time to draw attention to the importance of organ donation. Over the last year, New York substantially increased the amount of registered organ donors thanks to changes made at the state level. Medical professionals, public health educators, and others dedicated to raising awareness have advocated and supported these changes, however, more donors are needed in New York.
Central and Northern New York is home to numerous veterans who made immeasurable sacrifices to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. Even after returning from serving on the front lines of some of the most dangerous battles, these brave men and women continued to serve, as they worked to better their community. As a small way to simply say “thank you,” I am once again accepting nominations for the New York State Senate’s “Veteran’s Hall of Fame.”
The 2017-18 New York state budget has been passed. The budget was nine days late breaking a streak of budgets that had been, for the most part, on-time for the last six years. The $163.2 billion budget is a behemoth. Not only does this budget continue New York’s reputation as a high tax state, this budget also ensures that New York spends more than almost any other state in the nation, second only to California.
This month, as part of “Senator Ritchie’s Community Spotlight,” I am highlighting Boldt Castle, a true gem of the Thousand Islands that just took home the top prize for New York State’s best warm-weather travel destination. Boldt Castle on Heart Island in Alexandria Bay was the finalist in an “I LOVE NY” March Madness bracket competition for favorite Empire State attraction. It was up against Letchworth State Park in Castile for the title, and after 50,000 votes, beat out 32 other locations.
According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services uniform crime report for 2015, more than 70,000 violent crimes were reported and more than 300,000 crimes involving property such as burglary, theft or larceny were also reported across the state. These crimes can leave a lasting physical, emotional, and financial impact on victims and their families.
April is National Autism Awareness Month, a time when people across the country join to increase understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder, also known as autism. This developmental disability affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States, affecting one in every 68 children.
According to the New York State Maple Producers Association, New York is home to the largest source of tappable maple trees in the U.S., making New York an ideal producer of maple syrup. Maple syrup production has been steadily increasing since the late 1990s. In 2016, New York ranked 2nd in the nation, producing more than 700,000 gallons of syrup and second only to Vermont in terms of production.
Across our state, and right here in our region, women are reaching new heights. Whether it be making career advancements or giving back to their community, the impact that women have is tremendous. To celebrate their contributions, I am again accepting nominations for the New York State Senate’s “Women of Distinction” program.
The unfortunate stories of Flint, Michigan, and the lead contamination of its water supply and here in New York in Hoosick Falls with the contamination of their water with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) illustrate that we need to do a better job on both the federal and state level to assist localities to maintain and upgrade their water and sewer systems. Upgrading this infrastructure will not be cheap.
In recent weeks, my colleagues and I have been hard at work crafting a new state budget that will help meet the needs of our state, and create new and better opportunities for all New Yorkers. Just last week, the Senate approved its 2017-18 one-house budget.
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