Local Government Updates

Senator Jack M. Martins spent a recent Friday morning visiting the Great Neck Arts Center, where he received a tour of the center from Executive Director Regina Keller Gil and Development Director Caroline Sorokoff.

Senator Martins was able to get a glimpse of 3D art of Dov Lederberg and Yael Avi-Yoneh, which is on display on the center until May 1. Senator Martins also toured the ceramics room, the drawing room and the studio.

The Great Neck Arts Center is a premier venue for art, music, dance, drama, film and literature. It offers a wide variety of education classes for both adults including singing and children. The center also offers an outreach program.

After a busy Monday in Albany, Senator Jack M. Martins travelled home to the Village of Mineola to see his good friend Scott Strauss sworn in as the new Mayor of the village. Senator Martins served as Mayor of the Village of Mineola from 2003 to 2011. He stepped down when he was elected to the New York State Senate.

Times are indeed changing in Albany and for the better. Not only do we have an on-time budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, but we went through the process with both sides of the aisle working together. The budget passed with overwhelming support in the legislature. Most importantly, we passed a fiscally-responsible budget that closed a $10 billion deficit without raising any taxes or fees. It is quite a change from years past when our state government found a way to overspend and overtax in the middle of a financial crisis. Quite frankly, we couldn’t suffer another year of those past practices and so we made a commitment – we would balance the budget, not on the backs of our taxpayers, but by cutting spending.