(Upper West Side, NY)- Senator José M. Serrano participated in a rent control forum, sponsored by Tenants & Neighbors, to address the growing concern by community residents regarding rent-controlled apartments and the availability of affordable housing for seniors citizens within New York City. As part of the forum, Senator Serrano discussed the importance of promoting and pushing tenant-friendly legislation in Albany.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) had the pleasure of inducting World War II veteran Allan Atwell of Clifton Park into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame on May 21st in Albany.

“Mr. Atwell is an amazing individual,” Senator Farley said. “He was a typical small town, upstate boy who went into the Army at age 18 in 1943, and the private first class ended up aiding in the liberation of France in 1944. Not only did he protect our Country, he was a protector for France as well.”

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced the New York State Senate recently passed three bills to help farmers succeed by improving agricultural marketing efforts and better connecting farms to consumers across the state.

The “Buy From the Backyard Act” (S978) requires state agencies with food contracts to buy at least 20 percent of their food from New York sources. The bill expands upon an existing law that encourages state agencies to purchase local food products. Mental health facilities, prisons, universities, and state institutions that have food contracts would be required to purchase at least 20 percent that is grown, produced, harvested or processed in New York State.

(New York, NY) - Senator José M. Serrano joined Senator Liz Krueger, the Women’s Equality Coalition,  and local women’s rights advocates at a press conference on the steps of City Hall in full support for passage of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 10-point Women’s Equality Plan. The plan, which supporters hope to have passed before the end of this year’s legislative session, is designed to break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on gender.

(New York, NY) - Senator José M. Serrano (D- Manhattan/Bronx) and Assemblymember Sandy Galef (D-Westchester/Putnam) sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo asking him to support legislation that would reform the current problematic legislative member item system.  In 2010, Serrano and Galef worked together to craft legislation A641/S920 item reform.