With all the challenges that we face in our daily lives, it easily can be overlooked how lucky we are to live in the United States. Our form of government, the structure of which is set forth in the U.S. Constitution, is surely an integral part of our greatness.
When one thinks of the holidays, spending time with loved ones, exchanging gifts with friends and family, and other traditions come to mind. However, the reality is that for our troops, this special time of year can be much different.
One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is to make sure that there is parity in state spending between Upstate and Downstate New York. This is particularly challenging when it comes to transportation spending. Downstate New York relies on mass transit for their transportation needs, while in Upstate, we are much more reliant on our cars for our transportation needs.
Every day, the choices we make impact our health and well-being. And as research has shown, doing things like eating nutritious foods, exercising and getting regular health checks can help you live a longer life. While it’s important for everyone to practice healthy living habits, it’s especially important for our aging population.
Beginning this year, New York state high school students have more choices available to meet the graduation requirements. The State Education Department has dubbed this flexibility as “multiple pathways” or “4+1.” I was pleased to sponsor legislation which passed and was signed into law in 2014 that required the State Education Department to adopt instruction related to CPR and the use of defibrillators.
If you’ve lived in Upstate New York for any period of time, you know that weather changes the way we do things, specifically, the way we drive. And, while most people might think winter is the only season that is difficult for drivers, fall, with its back-to-school traffic, fog, rain and changing hours of daylight, presents challenges, too.
Almost every week there is news concerning a large cyberattack in which personal identifying information is compromised. This personal information has included addresses, phone numbers and even social security and credit card information. No one is immune to these sophisticated schemes, including the U.S. Government and it has proven hard to police for law enforcement.
As a mother and grandmother, I know there’s nothing more important that making sure one’s children are safe and out of harm’s way. That’s why I was surprised to learn that every two weeks, a child in the United States dies as a result of a tip-over incident involving a television or piece of furniture.
Several local firefighters have been traveling throughout our communities and schools in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Month. This month they’re out teaching young children about the basics of fire safety, hosting tours of fire trucks, and opening their fire departments to meet and greet the public.
This week, as temperatures in most areas dipped into the 30s, many of us took the chill out of the air by turning up our thermostats or lighting our fireplaces. As temperatures continue to drop, a little planning now will pay off in the longrun.
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