Did you know that Lyme disease can be caused by an insect as small as a poppy seed? Lyme disease, an infection caused by a bacteria spread by the bite on an infected tick is particularly prevalent in our area of the state and that’s why we need to take extra caution to protect ourselves from this serious risk. So far this year, in New York State alone, more than 450 new cases of Lyme disease have been reported.
The Legislative Session has come to a close for the year. There were many good measures that passed and many more, however, that did not come to floor for a vote. Here are a few noteworthy items that passed that I was pleased about. This list is not comprehensive and I will be sharing more about other measures which passed throughout the coming weeks but I wanted to share with you some highlights.
I asked the State Office of Unclaimed Funds to create a list of abandoned or forgotten accounts, including old bank accounts, rent or utility deposits, gift cards and other types of accounts, that the state is holding with owners’ addresses in the three counties I represent. In doing so, I discovered accounts belonging to 57,000 Central and Northern New York residents, including some area local governments.
On a number of occasions in the past, I have voted against the legalization of medical marijuana. However, in what is a rare occurrence in Albany, the sponsors of the initial legislation to legalize marijuana agreed to sit down with the Governor and others and amend the legislation in order to take into account the legitimate concerns of those who opposed it. As a result, a compromise was reached and legislation to legalize medical marijuana was passed in both houses with limited opposition.
Just recently, my colleagues and I wrapped up the 2014 Legislative Session in Albany. As State Senator, my top priority is creating more opportunities for the people who live in our region and I’m pleased to report that in the past several months, we have made significant strides towards doing just that.
Unfortunately, our office often hears firsthand accounts from local residents who have been scammed. I wanted to let people know of common scams local residents have experienced recently and how to avoid scams and identity theft. One scam currently affecting local residents is a lottery scam. In this scam, an email is sent announcing that the recipient has won a prize.
For college seniors across the country, the month of June means pomp and circumstance, caps in the air and lots of celebrating. However, as graduates experience the excitement surrounding the next chapter of their lives, for many, the high cost of higher education looms large in the distance.
We’ve seen many cases in recent months concerning heroin use and overdoses. It has become a public health epidemic. The stories are sad and often tragic. Overdose rates have increased substantially. Deaths from heroin overdoses in New York more than doubled from 215 in 2008 to 478 in 2012.
As the school year winds down, students are itching to get out of the classroom and dreaming of days spent having fun in the sun. However, while the season might mean time off from school, it shouldn’t mean a break from the books.
The Governor, legislators and advocacy groups are all jockeying in attempt to get their favored legislation passed and signed into law before the legislative session concludes. The Assembly majority, which is dominated by downstate Democrats, is pushing a number of agenda items including medical marijuana, publicly financed campaigns , and an expansion of abortion rights to name a few.
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