Andrea Stewart-Cousins's News items

Source: LoHud.com

Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said on an Albany public radio show Thursday that she “can’t imagine” there won’t be bipartisan support for a bill to strengthen New York’s abortion laws, which she views as a simple “updating” of state statutes to reflect federal standards.

Stewart-Cousins, who is the first woman to lead a legislative conference in Albany, has sponsored the Reproductive Health Act in recent years, a bill that supporters argue codifies in state law the 1973 landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. Conservatives and the Catholic church staunchly oppose the bill, arguing it will increase access in a state that already leads the nation in abortions.

Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appeared on Capital Tonight to discuss the latest on the Budget. Click here to view the video.

Westchester News Online covered the Senator's attendance at Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's Jobs For Veterans Roundtable discussion on Tuesday February 22nd. Click here to read the story. 

By Ernie Garcia

YONKERS — Biblical lepers were examples of self-liberation at the Nepperhan Community Center's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event on Monday.

The Rev. H. Beecher Hicks Jr. of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington urged about 300 attendees at the Warburton Avenue center's 25th annual breakfast to let go of the hurt from past injustices and reach for any goal they desire...

The Nepperhan event, which drew most of the city's elected officials, also honored state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins; Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow: Ken Jenkins, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators ; and Yonkers Councilwoman Patricia McDow with the Drum Major for Justice Award for their efforts to improve the city...

On the first day of the State Senate session, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District – D/I/WF) and senators designated “Heroes of Reform” by Honorable Mayor Ed Koch called on Majority Leader Dean Skelos and the senate leadership to today keep their promise by passing Mayor Koch’s “New York Uprising Heroes of Reform” pledge as the New York State Senate’s first order of business in the New Year. Senate Democrats encouraged all New Yorkers to sign an online petition at www.PassThePledge.com, to ensure the Senate majority keeps its promise and delivers on reform. The petition calls for action on the New York Uprising reform bills before the Senate moves on to consider other legislation.

Amy Kupfberg, a Hartsdale resident, stood before about forty concerned citizens and a hearing officer for New York's Public Service Commission Tuesday and said: "My mantra used to be 'I love shoes.' But now everything I do is about saving trees."

Residents from around Westchester converged in the Greenburgh Public Library to take the state Public Service Commission to task regarding its current regulations for the clearing of trees near power transmission lines…

"The PSC must use the hammer at its disposal to regulate the utility company's actions," State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. "Lawmakers will be able to forgo legislation and fines if you would just regulate."

Prior Law Allowed Tenants to be Forced from Homes without Notice

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District – D/WF) announced that a new law guaranteeing greater protections (S7139) for tenants of buildings in foreclosure has been signed into law. Under the new law, rent-regulated tenants are now required to receive a notice of their housing rights, along with a notice of the building owner’s foreclosure. The bill takes effect 30 days from the date of signing.

A review of the state’s prior notification requirement for renters revealed that existing law failed to effectively communicate to rent-controlled and rent-stabilized tenants that their housing rights are unaffected by a foreclosure proceeding.

Bi-Partisanship Effort Amongst Members is Key to Approval

The Yonkers City Council tonight voted 6-1 to approve the City’s FY 2010-11 Budget and provide the mayor with the necessary financial resources to restore essential services and jobs. Councilmember Joan Gronowski voted against its adoption.

The budget’s passage follows an announcement earlier today by NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NYS Senator Jeff Klein, NYS Assemblyman Mike Spano and NYS Assemblyman Gary Pretlow that $36.4 million in educational aid was being returned to Yonkers for school funding.

Following the death of a 66-year-old bicyclist in Westchester County last November, the New York Senate and Assembly have passed legislation that would require vehicles to pass cyclists at a safe distance to prevent accidents.

Westchester Putnam Bike Walk Alliance member Merrill Cassell was biking on Route 119 at the Greenburgh/White Plains border Nov. 6 when he was sideswiped by a Bee-Line public bus and killed. The bus driver didn't receive a ticket.