Toby Ann Stavisky

Top News

Sen. Stavisky speaks about education on The Capitol Pressroom

Sen. Stavisky addresses the questions of whether teachers should be obligated to earn a master's degree in education, what should the emphasis of these programs be, and how best to prepare teachers for the challenges of today's classrooms. 

Listen here: http://thecapitolpressroom.org/the-capitol-pressroom-program-for-may-12-2010/  Sen. Stavisky's interview begins at about the 14:30 mark.

May 12, 2010
Read more...

Senator Stavisky, Assemblywoman Meng, Councilman Koo, Flushing High School community discuss plans for the school

On January 21, 2010, the State Education Department released its list of 57 “persistently lowest achieving” schools eligible for new funding for turnaround programs.  Flushing High School was on the list.  Its inclusion is troubling because in the last seven years Flushing High School has significantly improved its graduation rate, going from

April 22, 2010
Read more...

Senator Stavisky urges Queens residents to send in their Census forms

You have a big refund coming – Be sure to send in your Census form so Queens gets its share of state and federal resources

April 22, 2010
Read more...

Complaints Grow Over Governor's Cuts to SUNY - WXXI Radio Clip

Please visit WXXI's Website to hear the audio clip.

ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - Governor Paterson is getting some complaints about his decision to target public colleges and universities in the half a billion dollars worth of budget cuts that he has ordered. Among the critics, are several of his fellow Democrats in the State Senate.

October 8, 2009
Read more...

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 7, 2009Travis Proulx | travisproulx@gmail.com | 518-455-2415 STATEMENT FROM SENATORS TOBY ANN STAVISKY,DARREL J. AUBERTINE,  NEIL D. BRESLIN, BRIAN X. FOLEY,SUZI OPPENHEIMER,  WILLIAM STACHOWSKI, AND DAVID J.

October 8, 2009
Read more...
October 2, 2009
Read more...

Dependent Coverage Extension (Age 29) and COBRA Expansion (36 Months)

The Department of Insurance is updating its web site, daily, to provide information and guidance to help consumers and insurers to understand and implement the new laws.

The web address is: www.ins.state.ny.us

Once on the website, information on both of these laws can be found by scrolling down to the "Hot Topic" section.

August 17, 2009
Read more...

Public School, Public Business

First published in print: Sunday, July 12, 2009  As the State University of New York copes with two years of state funding cuts totaling $334 million, state Sen. Toby Stavisky raises a question worth asking: Why, at a time when SUNY has $450 million in cash, has it apparently rebuffed the Paterson administration's proposal to tap some of that money to offset those budget cuts?  It turns out that SUNY has some answers to those questions. But the official word from Chancellor Nancy Zimpher's office is that she won't discuss the matter in public.

July 15, 2009
Read more...

SUNY Cuts Despite Cash Hoard - Senator urges use of balances to halt layoffs at 64 campuses

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Wednesday, July 8, 2009  ALBANY -- It didn't take long for the new State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher to get under a lawmaker's skin.   

July 15, 2009
Read more...

NY State senate leadership to get first-hand look at firsthand look at the leading model for nanotechnology education

New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and senior senators visited the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany to receive a firsthand look at the world's leading model for nanotechnology education, research and development, and commercialization, and discuss emerging opportunities to drive high-tech economic investment and growth throughout New York State. 

June 9, 2009
Read more...

State Senate passes MTA budget, prevents bridge tolls and fare hikes, and promotes reform

The State Senate passed the MTA budget late Wednesday night, closing the book on decades of mismanagement and fostering reform and a new accountability in the agency.  This budget minimizes the devastating fare hikes and service cuts that had previously been suggested as a way to close the MTA’s budget gap, restores service cuts and enacts much-needed oversight.

May 7, 2009
Read more...

Albany Times Union: Legislature keeps college affordable

By TOBY ANN STAVISKY First published: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 Deciding where to spend and which cuts can be made are the most difficult decisions any legislator faces. But voters expect their elected officials to make choices, and to stand up and show leadership in bad times as well as good.

A national economic downturn that hit New York particularly hard left the state with a $17 billion budget deficit. However, education was prioritized in the budget we recently passed for the first time in many years.

May 6, 2009
Read more...

Swine Flu Resources - Sen. Stavisky attends swine flu briefing at St. Francis Prep

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and other Queens elected officials attended a briefing at St. Francis Prep with Principal Brother Leonard Conway and officials from the New York State Department of Health regarding the recent cluster of H1N1 (swine) flu cases at the school.  The principal and the Department of Health reassured the elected officials that St. Francis Prep has taken all appropriate measures, thoroughly cleaning the school building and filtering and replacing the air inside.

May 6, 2009
Read more...

Stavisky Passes Legislation Requiring Accident Reports to Note Cell Phone Use

(Albany, NY) New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky today passed legislation that would require police to note whether drivers involved in a motor vehicle accident were using a cell phone at the time of the crash.

March 25, 2009
Read more...