Andrew J Lanza's News items

More than 20,000 New Yorkers have signed online petitions supporting legislation, passed last week by the State Senate, to eliminate New York State taxes on gasoline from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The online petitions were set up by members of the Senate Majority Conference.

Senator Lanza Introduces Legislation to Eliminate theNew York StateTax on Gasoline fromMemorial Day to Labor Day

Lanza Also Joins With Senator Fuschillo in Calling Upon Governor Paterson to Consider Summer Gas Tax Cut

STATE SENATOR ANDREW LANZA, THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS’ OFFICE OF EMPOWERMENT, THE FOOD BANK OF NYC/FOOD CHANGE AND H&R BLOCK ANNOUNCE FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR SENIORS

Seniors offered free tax preparation services on Staten Island to enable them to receive about $300 as part of the IRS’s economic stimulus package

Fighting proposed tax increases and working for more tax relief is one of Senator Lanza’s top priorities. The Senate Majority’s budget provides meaningful property tax relief, contains no new or increased taxes or fees, and advances approximately $300 million in across the board spending cuts to reduce waste and increase government efficiency.

Staten Island, NY – Despite new laws on the books, continual removal efforts, and clear statements of accountability from law enforcement, the graffiti problem on Staten Island continues to worsen, with some locations growing markedly worse. On Saturday February 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., in front of the now shuttered Boulder Creek Restaurant at 1821 Richmond Avenue, New York State Senator Andrew J. Lanza and New York City Council Minority Leader James S.

New York State Senator Andrew Lanza was honored by the College of Staten Island for his enthusiasm, and his $100,000 support, of the Discovery Institute’s Teaching Scholars program, which provides 200 teaching scholars to 23 public schools on Staten Island.

The innovative program is designed to provide teacher support in the public schoolroom, as well as give CSI students the opportunity to see the world of education in action, whether they are planning to become teachers, or have never given teaching a thought as a career goal.

Senator Andrew Lanza (R - Staten Island) and Assemblyman Lou Tobacco (R - South Shore) have authored legislation which will strengthen provisions of the law pertaining to impact statements given at parole hearings by victims and family members. Under current law, it is only required that statements given by crime victims and family members be heard by one member of the parole board, while convicts plead their cases before all three members of the parole board.

The last hurdle has been cleared for the construction of the long-awaited Charleston Bus Depot project on Staten Island. The funding amendment, which will provide $39.3 million dollars to fully fund the project, met no objection from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program Review Board and was finalized on Monday.

Senator Lanza worked closely with Senator Dean Skelos, the Senate’s representative to the MTA Capital Program Review Board, to inform him of the importance of the project to Staten Islanders.

Throughout the year we will all be receiving that certain gift that we either will never use or already have. If we don’t spend hours on that return line this gift will sit in a closet or a drawer until it is finally thrown out when we do our spring cleaning. Senator Lanza has joined with Where to Turn to give you another option. Donate your unwanted gift and we will make sure it gets to someone who could use it.