Owen H. Johnson's Press releases

LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO PROTECT SEAGRASSJohnson-Sweeney Bill Helps To Address Threats to EcosystemThe New York State Legislature has passed legislation to guard marine habitat and protect the continued viability of commercial and recreational fishing. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Owen Johnson (R-C, Babylon) and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney (D-I-WF, Lindenhurst), establishes the Seagrass Protection Act to address threats to these ecologically important species.

Seagrass Protection Act, Invasive Species Awareness Helps Address Threats to Important EcosystemsThe New York State Senate passed legislation to protect marine habitat and the continued viability of commercial and recreational fishing. The bill (S.4287B), sponsored by Senator Owen Johnson (R-C, Babylon), establishes the Seagrass Protection Act  to address threats to these ecologically important species.

Dear Friend,

             I am pleased to provide you with a printable version of “2012 Fishing Facts for New York Marine Recreational Fishermen.”  This publication reflects the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) recently adopted marine recreation fishing regulations. 

             Please note that the seasons and recreational size limits referred to in this publication are sometimes changed by state regulation.  Be sure to check DEC’s Marine Fishing Regulations for the very latest information.

State Senators Owen H. Johnson (4th Senate District), John J. Flanagan (2nd Senate District), and Lee Zeldin (3rd Senate District) joined with East Islip School District officials, PTA representatives, and board members at a Legislative Breakfast hosted by the East Islip School District PTA Council.  Discussions focused on the educational programs available to the children of the East Islip School District.  The event took place at the East Islip Central Administration Building in Islip Terrace on March 23, 2012.

If you would like to save a life, please visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) link (www.dmv.ny.gov/) to enroll to become an organ donor.  Just click the organ donor link on the DMV homepage and start a NY.Gov ID account.  Go the extra mile and save a life!

Senator Owen H. Johnson joined employees of  Bethpage Federal Credit Union along with members of the Babylon Town Chamber of Commerce and other elected officials to celebrate the opening of the new Bethpage Federal Credit Union branch in West Babylon.  The official ribbon cutting ceremony took place on February 16, 2012 at the new branch location at 555 Montauk Highway, West Babylon in the Pathmark Shopping Center.

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES ACCELERATED ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS ON LONG ISLAND AS PART OF NY WORKS PROGRAM$40,686,000 Investment to Repair 86 Miles of Roads and Six BridgesGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an additional and accelerated $40,686,000 investment for nine NY Works projects that will repair 86 miles of roads and six bridges on Long Island. For the transportation component of NY Works, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reviewed its Capital Program and identified those projects, which can be accelerated by utilizing either the conventional design-bid-build project delivery mechanism or the newly-enacted design-build project delivery method.

Dear Friend:

I wanted to inform you about two tax cuts taking effect this Sunday, April 1st.

* State Sales Tax Exemption for Clothing and Footwear

All clothing and footwear sold for less than $110 per item (or per pair for footwear) will be exempt from the New York State 4% sales tax starting April 1st.  Additionally, most fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, zippers and similar items that are used to make or repair exempt clothing will also be eligible for the exemption.  The exemption from state sales tax is in effect year-round.

* MTA Payroll Tax Repeal

Senator Owen H. Johnson joined Assemblyman Phil Boyle in welcoming Helen Bagnato, of North Babylon, to the State Capitol on February 29, 2012.  Ms. Bagnato, an NSF S STEM Scholar (National Science Foundation – Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at Suffolk County Community College, participated in the “SUNY Undergraduate Research Symposium:  A Showcase of Scholarly Posters at the Capitol.”

At the symposium, Ms. Bagnato presented her research on Atmospheric Stability Classification, a project she worked on as part of a Suffolk County Community College internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory.  Her research involved a measure of stability class or how quickly gaseous pollutants spread using mathematical analysis.  The purpose of the research was to provide information to be used to evaluate applications for emergency response.