Regular Session - January 11, 2010

                                                            49



         1                 NEW YORK STATE SENATE

         2

         3

         4                THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

         5

         6

         7

         8

         9                   ALBANY, NEW YORK

        10                   January 11, 2010

        11                       3:22 p.m.

        12

        13

        14                    REGULAR SESSION

        15

        16

        17

        18

        19  SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER, Acting President

        20  ANGELO J. APONTE, Secretary

        21

        22

        23

        24



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         1                 P R O C E E D I N G S

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    The

         3       Senate will come to order.

         4                  (Color guard presents.)

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    I

         6       would like to welcome the cadets:  Zin Han,

         7       Albaro Pillco, Thomas Macrini, and Jason Chan,

         8       from the New York City Group of the New York

         9       Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, along with Major

        10       Mac Brice, Captain Valerie Ricchiuti, and

        11       Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Liddle, who will be

        12       presenting the colors today.

        13                  I also would like to welcome

        14       Lieutenant Colonel Vandon Williams, Major

        15       Stephen Samuels, Major Sharon Williams, First

        16       Lieutenant Audrey Dayton, Cadet Jaretsky

        17       Chino, senior member Virginia Ricchiuti, Cadet

        18       Ryan Dayton, and Russell Macrini, who are in

        19       the gallery with us today.

        20                  I would ask everyone present to

        21       please rise while they lead us in the Pledge

        22       of Allegiance to our Flag.

        23                  (Whereupon, the assemblage recited

        24       the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)



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         1                  (Color guard performs.)

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

         3       you very much.

         4                  The invocation today will be

         5       delivered by Rabbi Haskell Lookstein of the

         6       Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun and the

         7       principal of the Ramaz School of my district

         8       in Manhattan.

         9                  Welcome, Rabbi.

        10                  RABBI LOOKSTEIN:    The Talmud

        11       states:  Rabbi Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim Omer.

        12       Rabbi Hanina, the deputy high priest, said:

        13       {in Hebrew} Pray for the welfare of the

        14       government, {in Hebrew} for were it not for

        15       respect for it, people would swallow one

        16       another alive.

        17                  Eternal God, in these very

        18       difficult days when so many of our citizens

        19       are suffering from all kinds of deprivations,

        20       we thank You for those who dedicate their

        21       lives here to the peaceful ordering of society

        22       in New York State.

        23                  We thank You for their commitment

        24       to justice, fairness and equity for all, for



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         1       their devotion to the American ideals of

         2       democracy, freedom, opportunity, and equality

         3       for all regardless of race, religion, or

         4       national origin, and for their concern for the

         5       safety of our citizenry in a world in which

         6       the opponents of those ideals use violence and

         7       terror to, in the words of Rabbi Hanina,

         8       swallow us alive and destroy our way of life.

         9                  {In Hebrew}  Dear God, bless this

        10       State Senate and all its members with health

        11       and well-being.  May their deliberations and

        12       decisions help us all to live in a world of

        13       happiness, prosperity, and peace.

        14                  And let us say amen.

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

        16       you very much, Rabbi Lookstein.

        17                  Call for the reading of the

        18       Journal.

        19                  The Secretary will read.

        20                  THE SECRETARY:    In Senate,

        21       Sunday, January 10, the Senate met pursuant to

        22       adjournment.  The Journal of Saturday,

        23       January 9, was read and approved.  On motion,

        24       Senate adjourned.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

         2       Without objection, the Journal stands approved

         3       as read.

         4                  Presentation of petitions.

         5                  Messages from the Assembly.

         6                  Messages from the Governor.

         7                  Reports of standing committees.

         8                  Reports of select committees.

         9                  Communications and reports from

        10       state officers.

        11                  Motions and resolutions.

        12                  Senator Klein.

        13                  SENATOR KLEIN:    Madam President,

        14       I have two motions.

        15                  First, on behalf of Senator Foley,

        16       I move that the following bill be discharged

        17       from its respective committee and be

        18       recommitted with instructions to strike the

        19       enacting clause:  Senate Number 4663.

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    So

        21       ordered.

        22                  SENATOR KLEIN:    Next, on behalf

        23       of myself, I move that the following bills be

        24       discharged from their respective committees



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         1       and be recommitted with instructions to strike

         2       the enacting clause: Senate Numbers 1182,

         3       1363C, 1827, 1832, 1841, 1844A, 1854, 2654,

         4       2582, 4164, 4202, 5622, 5754, 5770A, 5931B,

         5       and 5934.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    So

         7       ordered.

         8                  Senator Libous, why do you rise?

         9                  SENATOR LIBOUS:    Thank you, Madam

        10       President.

        11                  I too, on behalf of Senator

        12       DeFrancisco, move that the following bills be

        13       discharged from their respective committees

        14       and be recommitted with instructions to strike

        15       the enacting clause.  And they would be Senate

        16       Bill Numbers 1494, 2038, and 2424.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    So

        18       ordered.

        19                  Senator Klein.

        20                  SENATOR KLEIN:    Madam President,

        21       I believe Senator Volker has a privileged

        22       resolution at the desk.  I ask that the

        23       resolution be read in its entirety and move

        24       for its immediate adoption.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     The

         2       Secretary will read.

         3                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

         4       Volker, legislative resolution mourning the

         5       death of Joseph A. Tauriello, former New York

         6       State Senator.

         7                  "WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow

         8       and deep regret that this Legislative Body

         9       records the passing of Joseph A. Tauriello,

        10       noting the significance of his purposeful life

        11       and accomplishments; and

        12                  "WHEREAS, A lifelong West Side

        13       Buffalo resident, Joseph A. Tauriello attended

        14       Grover Cleveland High School and was appointed

        15       to the United States Military Academy at West

        16       Point but instead enrolled at the University

        17       of Buffalo; and

        18                  "WHEREAS, In 1958 Joseph A.

        19       Tauriello began a 10-year stint with the

        20       Buffalo Fire Department as a firefighter.  He

        21       eventually rose to the position of arson

        22       investigator in the Fire Prevention Bureau;

        23       and

        24                  "WHEREAS, Inspired by his uncle, a



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         1       former councilman and member of Congress,

         2       Joseph A. Tauriello won the 27th Ward seat of

         3       the Board of Supervisors in 1965, where he was

         4       a key figure in bringing off-track betting to

         5       Erie County, in Erie County Community College

         6       Affairs, and in the long controversy that

         7       eventually established the home of the Buffalo

         8       Bills in what is now Ralph Wilson Stadium; and

         9                  "WHEREAS, In 1973, Joseph A.

        10       Tauriello was elected to the New York State

        11       Senate and emerged as a major Buffalo voice in

        12       the Legislature and served as the minority

        13       whip.  He was nominated to the New York State

        14       Workers' Compensation Board in 1980 by former

        15       Governor Hugh L. Carey; and

        16                  "WHEREAS, A major figure in local

        17       and state Democratic politics for more than

        18       four decades, Joseph A. Tauriello never lost

        19       his political touch.  He continued meeting and

        20       talking every day with voters in the coffee

        21       shops and gathering places in his long-time

        22       West Side political base; and

        23                  "WHEREAS, Joseph A. Tauriello also

        24       had a long relationship with the military,



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         1       joining the United States Army and graduating

         2       from Officers Candidate School at Fort

         3       Benning, Georgia, as a first lieutenant.  He

         4       later served as company commander of the Third

         5       Brigade Headquarters of the New York National

         6       Guard's 27th Division; and

         7                  "WHEREAS, A member of the Western

         8       New York Reserve Officers Association, 74th

         9       Infantry Regiment Veterans Association, and

        10       the Holy Name Society of Holy Angels Catholic

        11       Church, Joseph A. Tauriello was part of a

        12       group of politicians, judges, newspapermen and

        13       others who gathered each Saturday for lunch

        14       and conversation about the affairs of the last

        15       week, where his political predictions proved

        16       almost always 100 percent accurate; and

        17                  "WHEREAS, Joseph A. Tauriello is

        18       survived by his brother, Daniel, a sister,

        19       Lucille Mancinelli, and his long-time

        20       companion, JoAnn R. Joyce, all of whom felt

        21       privileged to be part of his life and rejoiced

        22       in his many accomplishments; and

        23                  "WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic

        24       spirit, imbued with a sense of compassion, and



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         1       comforted by a loving family, Joseph A.

         2       Tauriello leaves behind a legacy which will

         3       long endure the passage of time and will

         4       remain as a comforting memory to all he served

         5       and befriended; now, therefore, be it

         6                  "RESOLVED, That this Legislative

         7       Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the

         8       death of Joseph A. Tauriello, former New York

         9       State Senator; and be it further

        10                  "RESOLVED, That a copy of this

        11       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        12       to the family of Joseph A. Tauriello."

        13                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        14       Senator Volker.

        15                  SENATOR VOLKER:    Madam President,

        16       Joe Tauriello was a wonderful gentleman, a

        17       personal friend who I knew even before he was

        18       a State Senator.  He was a man who was part of

        19       a major political family in Western New York.

        20       His uncle was a highly rated Congressman who

        21       was very close to my father.

        22                  And Joe kept in contact with me

        23       even after he left the Senate.  He was a

        24       friend of some people in this chamber, because



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         1       it's been a number of years since he left

         2       after his appointment by Hugh Carey.  But he

         3       was the kind of fellow who, if he was your

         4       friend, he was your friend.

         5                  In fact, he was my friend -- I

         6       don't believe there was a political fundraiser

         7       that I had that he ever didn't contribute to,

         8       even though Joe Tauriello was very much a

         9       Democrat.

        10                  And he was a good man.  His brother

        11       Dan many of you would know although you may

        12       not have realized it.  Dan Tauriello was a

        13       Buffalo police officer who was one of the top

        14       security people for the governors, starting

        15       out, I believe, with Mario Cuomo, going

        16       through obviously George Pataki, and retired

        17       just a few years ago.  But Dan was also one of

        18       the highest-ranking intelligence people in the

        19       Northeast.

        20                  By the way, we notified the family

        21       but the family was unable to come up here.  Of

        22       course most of the family is a little older.

        23                  But Joe Tauriello is a guy that

        24       people in Buffalo -- I believe many -- will



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         1       never forget.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

         3       you, Senator Volker.

         4                  Senator Farley.

         5                  SENATOR FARLEY:    Yes, I rise to

         6       pay tribute to Joe Tauriello.

         7                  He was probably one of the

         8       sweetest, nicest men I ever knew.  You know,

         9       in this house, the collegiality and so forth,

        10       Joe Tauriello epitomized that.  Everybody

        11       loved him on both sides of the aisle.

        12                  He was a real dear friend of mine.

        13       I kept in touch with him from the day he left

        14       the Senate until almost his last few days on

        15       this earth.

        16                  Joe Tauriello was such a gentle,

        17       kind, great guy.  He was the epitome of what a

        18       good politician should be.  Because he really

        19       never offended anyone.  He believed in his

        20       principles.  And he was a moderate.  And he

        21       was a type of guy that I think represents what

        22       is the best in public office.

        23                  He was a great guy.  I really feel

        24       bad that the Buffalo area is poorer without



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         1       him.  And I wish he and his family all the

         2       very best.  And my sympathy to his brother and

         3       to all of his family on this great loss.  Joe

         4       Tauriello was a great guy.

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

         6       you.

         7                  Senator Bill Stachowski.

         8                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    Yes, Madam

         9       President.  I too rise to say a few words

        10       about Joe Tauriello.

        11                  Obviously, Senator Tauriello was

        12       gone before I got here, but I knew Joe

        13       Tauriello from the city.  He was a wonderful

        14       human being, a great person to go to for

        15       information, always supported you, was a real

        16       strong Democrat.

        17                  But he always came back to Senate

        18       Club dinners, and you could see from the

        19       reaction from people on both sides he was a

        20       well-liked individual.  Didn't make enemies,

        21       as Senator Volker stated earlier.

        22                  And most important of all is Joe

        23       Tauriello was my friend, and I'll miss him.

        24                  Thank you.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

         2       you.

         3                  Senator Antoine Thompson.

         4                  SENATOR THOMPSON:    Let me just

         5       say that it is with a humble heart that I

         6       stand today to also offer some kind words for

         7       a very distinguished colleague in government

         8       and also in the civic community as well.

         9                  As a number of folks have stated,

        10       that even after he left public service he was

        11       very involved civically and professionally.

        12       Even as recent as about a year and a half ago,

        13       he was out and about doing different things.

        14                  So I really had a chance to meet

        15       him on other folks' campaigns over the last 10

        16       to 15 years when he would pop in, as Senator

        17       Volker talked about.  I probably didn't get as

        18       much money out of him as Volker probably did,

        19       but he did make a couple of deposits.

        20                  (Laughter.)

        21                  SENATOR THOMPSON:    But I am very

        22       privileged to serve in the seat now that he

        23       held as well, and so many others that he

        24       provided a good legacy for as well.  So I just



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         1       wanted to offer those kind words.

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

         3       you.

         4                  Any other Senators wishing to be

         5       heard on the resolution?

         6                  Senator Volker.

         7                  SENATOR VOLKER:    Madam President,

         8       may I offer the cosponsorship to anybody that

         9       wants to cosponsor it, to the entire chamber,

        10       unless somebody says they don't want to.

        11       Okay?

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    We

        13       will get to that further down the list.  Thank

        14       you.  Certainly, Senator.

        15                  The question is on the resolution.

        16       All those in favor please signify by saying

        17       aye.

        18                  (Response of "Aye.")

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        20       Opposed, nay.

        21                  (No response.)

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    The

        23       resolution is adopted.

        24                  Senator Volker has indicated he



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         1       would like to open this resolution up to the

         2       entire body for cosponsorship.  Anyone wishing

         3       not to be included as a cosponsor please

         4       notify the desk.

         5                  Senator Klein.

         6                  SENATOR KLEIN:    Madam President,

         7       I believe there's a resolution by Senator

         8       Seward at the desk.  I ask that the resolution

         9       be read in its entirety and move for its

        10       immediate adoption.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     The

        12       Secretary will read.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        14       Seward, Legislative Resolution Number 3608,

        15       honoring the members of the New York City

        16       Group of the New York Wing of the Civil Air

        17       Patrol Color Guard upon the occasion of

        18       capturing the 2009 National Color Guard

        19       Competition.

        20                  "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this

        21       Legislative Body to honor and pay tribute to

        22       the youth of today, and leaders of tomorrow,

        23       whose character and achievements have inspired

        24       and brought pride to our majestic Empire



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         1       State; and

         2                  "WHEREAS, Attendant to such

         3       concern, and in full accord with its

         4       long-standing traditions, this Legislative

         5       Body is justly proud to honor the members of

         6       the New York City Group of the New York Wing

         7       of the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard upon the

         8       occasion of capturing the 2009 National Color

         9       Guard Competition; and

        10                  "WHEREAS, From July 9 to 12, 2009,

        11       the members of the New York City Group of the

        12       New York Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Color

        13       Guard competed in the National Color Guard

        14       Competition at Evergreen Aviation Museum in

        15       McMinnville, Oregon, taking first place in

        16       five events -- inspection, outdoor practical,

        17       indoor practical, the mile run, and written

        18       exam, as well as second place in the standard

        19       drill and third place in the panel quiz; and

        20                  "WHEREAS, In addition, Cadet Chief

        21       Master Sergeant Thomas Macrini won the male

        22       Fleetfoot Award for the fastest time in the

        23       mile run, and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant

        24       Albaro Pillco for the highest score in the



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         1       written exam; and

         2                  "WHEREAS, The first team from the

         3       New York Wing and the Northeast Region to win

         4       the National Color Guard Competition, the

         5       members of the New York City Group of the

         6       New York Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Color

         7       Guard were comprised of Cadet Chief Master

         8       Sergeant Thomas Macrini, Cadet Chief Master

         9       Sergeant Zin Han, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant

        10       Albaro Pillco, and Cadet Staff Sergeant Jason

        11       Chan, and escorted by Major Mac Brice and

        12       Captain Valerie Ricchiuti; and

        13                  "WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with

        14       enthusiasm and determined purpose, the members

        15       of the New York City Group of the New York

        16       Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard now

        17       stand honorably, with just pride in their

        18       accomplishments and in eager anticipation of

        19       future challenges, understanding and

        20       appreciating the caring counsel and support

        21       provided by their teachers, coaches, family

        22       and friends; and

        23                  "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this

        24       Legislative Body that when young people of



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         1       such noble aims and accomplishments are

         2       brought to our attention, they should be

         3       celebrated and recognized by all the citizens

         4       of the great State of New York; now,

         5       therefore, be it

         6                  "RESOLVED, This that Legislative

         7       Body pause in its deliberations to honor the

         8       members of the New York City Group of the

         9       New York Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Color

        10       Guard upon the occasion of capturing the 2009

        11       National Color Guard Competition, and to

        12       extend to them its best wishes for a future of

        13       purposeful success and well-being, fully

        14       confident of their response to a promising

        15       future and appreciative of the model they

        16       represent for all aspiring young people from

        17       the Empire State; and be it further

        18                  "RESOLVED, That a copy of this

        19       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        20       to the members of the New York City Group of

        21       the New York Wing of the Civil Air Patrol

        22       Color Guard."

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        24       Senator Seward.



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         1                  SENATOR SEWARD:    Yes, thank you,

         2       Madam President.

         3                  It's certainly an honor and a

         4       privilege for me to rise today to support the

         5       resolution that recognizes the members of the

         6       New York City Group of the New York Wing Civil

         7       Air Patrol Color Guard for capturing the 2009

         8       National Color Guard Competition.

         9                  Now, this team, as we saw so well

        10       demonstrated here before us as they presented

        11       the colors, no doubt and no question in my

        12       mind how and why they won first place in five

        13       events, second and third place in two other

        14       events.  It's an impressive team.

        15                  This is especially significant

        16       because it represents the very first team from

        17       the New York Wing and the entire Northeast,

        18       for that matter, that has won the National

        19       Color Guard Competition.  So this is a very

        20       special group.

        21                  Now, as many of you know, there are

        22       a number of our colleagues who are involved in

        23       the Civil Air Patrol in one way or another.

        24       This is a volunteer, nonprofit auxiliary of



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         1       the United States Air Force.

         2                  We mainly think of the Civil Air

         3       Patrol in their role as providers of a whole

         4       array of emergency services to the people of

         5       the State of New York, including forest fire

         6       protection, disaster relief services,

         7       guaranteed communications, aircraft emergency

         8       assistance, such as search and rescue

         9       missions, those types of things.

        10                  But in addition to all of that, the

        11       Civil Air Patrol also encourages the

        12       activities to help develop young people into

        13       responsible citizens, which is primarily done

        14       through what I'd have to call the phenomenal

        15       cadet program.

        16                  Now, the color guard team that we

        17       are honoring today is comprised of exceptional

        18       young adults from the Civil Air Patrol's cadet

        19       program.  Now, this program is designed for

        20       young adults between the ages of 12 and 18.

        21       It aims at essential life-skill development

        22       and instills values including teamwork,

        23       personal integrity, leadership, respect,

        24       self-confidence, just to name a few.  And



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         1       we've seen all of those characteristics

         2       demonstrated by our team today.

         3                  You know, Lieutenant Colonel Andy

         4       Liddle, who comes from my district, is the

         5       regional governmental affairs advisor, and he

         6       has gotten me involved in the Civil Air

         7       Patrol.  And I have come to not only respect

         8       and admire the organization but to fully

         9       recognize that the Civil Air Patrol is a

        10       tremendous asset to the people of the State of

        11       New York, and the cadet program is certainly

        12       an important part of that.

        13                  So I just want to rise and

        14       congratulate our outstanding team as well as

        15       all of those who are involved in the Civil Air

        16       Patrol throughout the State of New York.  You

        17       have our heartfelt not only congratulations,

        18       but our thanks.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

        20       you.

        21                  Senator Smith.

        22                  SENATOR SMITH:    Thank you very

        23       much, Madam President.

        24                  And thank you, Senator Seward, for



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         1       acknowledging these young men who have been a

         2       prime example of excellence for all of us.

         3                  Winning a nationwide competition,

         4       coming in at first place obviously sends a

         5       message to us as adults and other young people

         6       that there are young people who are

         7       disciplined and understand what it means to

         8       make their communities, their families, and

         9       their instructors and officers very proud.

        10                  I have the distinct pleasure of

        11       knowing that all of them come from Queens,

        12       New York.  And not to be proprietary, Senator

        13       Seward, but it's nice to know that we have

        14       good stock.

        15                  And so I appreciate the officers

        16       for what they've done.  Cadet Zin Han, who is

        17       from Corona, attends Aviation High School.  We

        18       have Cadet Albaro Pillco, from Jackson

        19       Heights, who attends Aviation.  I'm pausing on

        20       the next one, because Cadet Thomas Macrini, I

        21       told him that I had some reservations on

        22       acknowledging him because he went to Holy

        23       Cross.  And Holy Cross is a direct rival of

        24       Christ the King High School, where I went.  So



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         1       for the record, all my high school friends are

         2       probably asking me why I'm acknowledging

         3       somebody from Holy Cross.

         4                  But Cadet Macrini, good to see you.

         5       And also Jason Chan, from Fresh Meadows, from

         6       Bayside High School.

         7                  You have distinguished yourselves.

         8       This is a nice day for you.  You've made your

         9       officers and those who are here with you very

        10       proud.  But you have made us proud.  And you

        11       also allow us to know that the future is great

        12       and we have some tremendous opportunity for

        13       young people as yourself.

        14                  Congratulations to each and every

        15       one of you, to your parents, to your friends.

        16       And when you leave here, on me, your officers

        17       are going to treat you to some nice dinner.

        18                  Take care and God bless.

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

        20       you.

        21                  Senator Farley.

        22                  SENATOR FARLEY:    Unlike Senator

        23       Smith and Senator Seward, I have no connection

        24       with the team.  But as somebody that watched



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         1       them perform and having been in the military

         2       and seen a lot of honor guards perform, I

         3       never saw such precision in how well you -- I

         4       can see why you're national champs.  Because I

         5       could never perform the way that you did and

         6       with your precision as a team.

         7                  I congratulate you.  It's really

         8       something to watch.  And we're honored to have

         9       you here.  Congratulations and thank you for

        10       coming.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     Thank

        12       you.

        13                  Are there any other Senators

        14       wishing to be heard on the resolution?

        15                  The question is on the resolution.

        16       All those in favor please signify by saying

        17       aye.

        18                  (Response of "Aye.")

        19                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        20       Opposed, nay.

        21                  (No response.)

        22                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     The

        23       resolution is adopted.

        24                  Senator Seward has indicated he



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         1       would like to open this resolution to the

         2       entire body for cosponsorship.  Anyone wishing

         3       to not be included as a cosponsor please

         4       notify the desk.

         5                  Senator Smith.

         6                  SENATOR SMITH:    Yes, Madam

         7       President.  I believe there is a resolution by

         8       Senator Thompson at the desk.  I ask that the

         9       resolution be read in its entirety and move

        10       for its immediate adoption.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:     The

        12       Secretary will read.

        13                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        14       Thompson, legislative resolution mourning the

        15       death of Dr. William R. Greiner, a man of

        16       singular distinction and extraordinary

        17       accomplishment.

        18                  "WHEREAS, It is the custom of this

        19       Legislative Body to pay proper tribute to

        20       those individuals of extraordinary character

        21       whose lives exemplified the highest ideals of

        22       humanity and whose lifework and civic endeavor

        23       served to enhance the quality of life in the

        24       great State of New York; and



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         1                  "WHEREAS, Dr. William R. Greiner,

         2       who went from the first person in his family

         3       to attend college, to Yale Law School, to the

         4       presidency of the University at Buffalo, died

         5       on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at the age of

         6       75; and

         7                  "WHEREAS, A native of Meridian,

         8       Connecticut, the only child of a blue-collar

         9       family, Dr. William R. Greiner worked his way

        10       through Wesleyan University and Yale Law,

        11       where he earned both a law degree and a

        12       master's degree in economics; and

        13                  "WHEREAS, After his first job as a

        14       professor at the University of Washington,

        15       Dr. William R. Greiner came to the University

        16       at Buffalo as a law school professor in 1967;

        17       and

        18                  "WHEREAS, A distinguished educator,

        19       Dr. William R. Greiner gradually rose through

        20       the administrative ranks at the university,

        21       serving as associate provost at the law

        22       school, associate vice president for academic

        23       affairs, and acting vice president for

        24       academic affairs; and



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         1                  "WHEREAS, In 1984, Dr. William R.

         2       Greiner was named provost of the University at

         3       Buffalo, becoming the institution's chief

         4       academic officer.  Seven years later, he

         5       became the 13th president of the University at

         6       Buffalo; and

         7                  "WHEREAS, Throughout his presidency

         8       of the largest university in the state system,

         9       Dr. William R. Greiner continually

        10       demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary

        11       intelligence, and diligent leadership in his

        12       unwavering service to the University at

        13       Buffalo and the local community; and

        14                  "WHEREAS, Dr. William R. Greiner

        15       directed the comprehensive review of the

        16       University at Buffalo's academic mission and

        17       administrative structure, made significant

        18       advances in the recruitment and retention of

        19       quality students and faculty, increased

        20       external support, and established corporate

        21       partnerships including those developed with

        22       IBM and Xerox; and

        23                  "WHEREAS, Furthermore, under his

        24       luminous direction, five student apartment



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         1       complexes, a new Student Union and Commons

         2       retail center, an expanded UB Stadium, and a

         3       new natural sciences complex, mathematics

         4       building, and comprehensive health sciences

         5       education center were all completed, greatly

         6       improving the campus environment and student

         7       life as well as the university's academic and

         8       research capabilities; and

         9                  "WHEREAS, President Greiner's

        10       initiatives to both develop the university and

        11       aid in the improvement of the Western New York

        12       economy included renewed ties to the region's

        13       businesses and industries through the creation

        14       of the UB Business Alliance, the Center for

        15       Computational Research, the Institute for

        16       Research on Lasers, Photonics and

        17       Biophotonics, and other organized research and

        18       service programs; and

        19                  "WHEREAS, In addition to his

        20       academic responsibilities, Dr. William R. held

        21       numerous positions in local, state and

        22       national higher education organizations

        23       including the University at Buffalo

        24       Foundation, American Council on Education



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         1       Commission on Women in Higher Education,

         2       New York State Senate Higher Education

         3       Advisory committee, Western New York

         4       Consortium of Higher Education, Western

         5       New York Health Sciences Consortium,

         6       Association of American Universities, and the

         7       National Association of State Universities and

         8       Land-Grant Colleges; and

         9                  "WHEREAS, Dr. William R. Greiner

        10       retired as president of the University at

        11       Buffalo in 2003, and from teaching in October

        12       of 2009, after 42 years as a brilliant

        13       educator and a superlative administrator; and

        14                  "WHEREAS Dr. William R. Greiner

        15       exhibited uncommon leadership and commitment

        16       to making quality educational programs and

        17       opportunities available at the University at

        18       Buffalo for the benefit of all its students

        19       and faculty, the Western New York region, and

        20       the State of New York; and

        21                  "WHEREAS, Despite his busy

        22       professional life, Dr. William R. Greiner was

        23       active in several organizations which work to

        24       promote economic development throughout



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         1       Western New York.  He served on the board of

         2       directors and the executive committee of the

         3       Buffalo Niagara Partnership.  He was also a

         4       member of the board of directors of the

         5       Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and served on the

         6       Empire State Regional Economic Development

         7       Council, the Western New York Economic

         8       Development Corporation, and the Western

         9       New York Regional Economic Development

        10       Council; and

        11                  "WHEREAS, Additionally, Dr. William

        12       R. Greiner served on several citizens advisory

        13       committees and boards related to the

        14       healthcare concerns of the Western New York

        15       region; and

        16                  "WHEREAS, A devoted husband and

        17       father, Dr. William R. Greiner embodied

        18       countless attributes and truly exemplified the

        19       virtues of family, sacrifice, and excellence.

        20       He was a beautiful light in the lives of many

        21       and served as a constant source of inspiration

        22       for his loved ones through his loving,

        23       hardworking and selfless example; and

        24                  "WHEREAS, Dr. William R. Greiner is



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         1       survived by his wife, Carol Morrissey Greiner,

         2       one daughter, Susan Keenan, and three sons,

         3       Kevin, Terrance and Daniel, as well as

         4       13 grandchildren; and

         5                  "WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic

         6       spirit, imbued with a sense of compassion, and

         7       comforted by a loving family, Dr. William R.

         8       Greiner leaves behind a legacy which will long

         9       endure the passage of time and will remain as

        10       a comforting memory to all he served and

        11       befriended; now, therefore, be it

        12                  "RESOLVED, That this Legislative

        13       Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the

        14       death of Dr. William R. Greiner, a man of

        15       singular distinction and extraordinary

        16       accomplishment, and be it further

        17                  "RESOLVED, That a copy of this

        18       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        19       to the family of Dr. William R. Greiner."

        20                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        21       Senator Thompson.

        22                  SENATOR THOMPSON:    Yes, Madam

        23       President.  You look so lovely up there.

        24       Happy New Year.



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         1                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

         2       you.

         3                  SENATOR THOMPSON:    Let me just

         4       take a brief moment to say a few kind words

         5       about a very distinguished gentleman,

         6       Dr. Greiner.

         7                  Under his guidance, UB became the

         8       first American university to establish a

         9       branch in China.  Under his guidance, UB

        10       developed the reputation of one of the

        11       nation's best research-intensive public

        12       universities.  In addition, under his

        13       leadership UB developed a world-class medical

        14       campus in downtown Buffalo which is growing by

        15       leaps and bounds with the help of many members

        16       of this body as well.

        17                  Under his leadership as well, UB

        18       went to Division 1 in sports -- go, UB Bulls.

        19       Under his leadership, UB also became really

        20       expanded with his tremendous investment in the

        21       college dormitories as well, and in fact the

        22       student population has grown by leaps and

        23       bounds.

        24                  I'd like to thank my colleagues



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         1       today.  I'm grateful to be joined on this

         2       resolution by my colleagues from Western

         3       New York, Senator Stachowski, Senator Volker,

         4       Senator Maziarz, and Senator Young, and invite

         5       any of my other colleagues in the Senate to

         6       join onto this resolution.

         7                  Thank you, Madam President.

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

         9       you.

        10                  Senator Stachowski.

        11                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    Yes, Madam

        12       President.  I too would like to rise to say a

        13       few words about Dr. Greiner, who did a

        14       remarkable job at the University of Buffalo.

        15                  He was a terrific law professor at

        16       one time, at least so my brother tells me, and

        17       I'm sure Senator Volker will add to that.  He

        18       was an outstanding provost.  And then he did

        19       just an outstanding job as the president.

        20                  He obviously was at the helm when

        21       UB made a lot of the growth that they are now

        22       enjoying.  The medical corridor that Senator

        23       Thompson mentioned is one of the really

        24       shining lights of the city.  It now has spun



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         1       off approximately 1250 biotech companies, some

         2       very small but some larger, and they are now

         3       on a website where people can look and develop

         4       a pathway to a job.  And I'm sure that that

         5       made him very proud.

         6                  But one of the things he did that

         7       was especially good for the community is he

         8       tried to get UB more into the community and he

         9       also tried to get the community more

        10       interested in UB by taking its sports program

        11       to Division 1.  And he did it in one big bold

        12       step.  And everybody thought they're crazy,

        13       you know, they're going to take quite a few

        14       down years.  But fortunately the UB Bulls have

        15       had a pretty good run in the MAC.

        16                  And I know that Dr. Greiner still

        17       went to the games while he was healthy.  He

        18       enjoyed all the football games and the

        19       basketball games.  And the fact is that that

        20       program is on the map, and it's really through

        21       his effort and his push.

        22                  And the area lost a really

        23       distinguished citizen, a wonderful human

        24       being, and his family lost a wonderful loving



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         1       father and husband to his wife.  His wife

         2       Carol is a wonderful person.  My best to his

         3       family, and I will miss my friend Bill Greiner

         4       very much.

         5                  Thank you.

         6                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

         7       you, Senator.

         8                  Senator LaValle.

         9                  SENATOR LaVALLE:    I yield to

        10       Senator Volker first.

        11                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        12       Senator Volker.

        13                  SENATOR VOLKER:    Thank you.  I

        14       was going to yield to Senator LaValle first.

        15                  Bill Greiner was a close personal

        16       friend, and Carol Greiner both.  My wife and

        17       I, who's also a Carol, spent a lot of time

        18       with the couple at various events, university

        19       events, business events, sporting events.

        20                  Bill Greiner probably was the first

        21       president, certainly the only president in my

        22       time that was really involved directly in not

        23       just university affairs but in the entire

        24       community.  He was considered by most people



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         1       to be one of the top five or six leaders in

         2       the entire Western New York area.

         3                  He had an interesting sense of

         4       humor.  He was very articulate.  He knew how

         5       to deal with people.  And sometimes in Buffalo

         6       you'd better know how to deal with people

         7       because we have a few problems there

         8       occasionally between groups and so forth.

         9                  He was a man who I really enjoyed

        10       being with, as I enjoyed being with his wife,

        11       Carol.  In fact, I must confess to you that

        12       the best academic dinners that I was ever at

        13       were dinners where Bill and Carol Greiner were

        14       the hosts.  And they always were able to get

        15       everybody to speak together and talk about

        16       what was going on in the community.

        17                  As Senator LaValle will tell you,

        18       it was Bill Greiner who, against the wishes of

        19       a lot of the old academics, stood up for

        20       athletics.  And many people thought that he

        21       was very over-optimistic and that he would

        22       fall on his face and that the university would

        23       be embarrassed.

        24                  But the truth is that the two



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         1       universities surged forward, one happens to be

         2       in Senator LaValle's district and the other

         3       one, of course, is in Western New York.

         4       That's Stony Brook on Long Island and SUNY in

         5       Buffalo.  Probably the two most important

         6       people -- this is in my opinion -- in the

         7       development of SUNY sports was Bill Greiner

         8       and of course Senator Ken LaValle, because I

         9       was right there with him and listened to some

        10       of the board meetings, which were really

        11       something to listen to many of the old timers

        12       say it's not good, it's bad for education.

        13                  Bill Greiner will be badly missed

        14       not just by the university community but by

        15       the entire Buffalo community.  And I wish

        16       Carol and their entire family the best for the

        17       future.

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

        19       you, Senator Volker.

        20                  Senator LaValle.

        21                  SENATOR LaVALLE:    Thank you,

        22       Madam President.

        23                  During the years that I was

        24       chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher



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         1       Education, I had really a great privilege in

         2       getting to know both Bill and Carol Greiner.

         3       Bill was a very, very interesting individual

         4       because he was very outspoken.  He had only

         5       one agenda, and that was to move forward the

         6       UB agenda.

         7                  Bill came as dean of the law school

         8       and was provost and then became president.

         9       And there were a lot of people that were

        10       skeptical that a law school professor and dean

        11       would lead UB.

        12                  It is under Bill Greiner's watch

        13       that he moved the agenda from one of

        14       undergraduate to graduate programming and to

        15       build a synergy between UB and the business

        16       community.  So that all of the things that we

        17       see today in Western New York began under Bill

        18       Greiner's watch.

        19                  And it was very controversial,

        20       because when you move an agenda from one

        21       program, meaning undergraduate, to the

        22       graduate program, that becomes disruptive with

        23       some of the stakeholders or faculty at the

        24       university.



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         1                  Bill Greiner was a real person,

         2       loved to play golf, talked about golf, talked

         3       about sports.  Was able to build the stadium,

         4       a 30,000-seat stadium at UB that held the

         5       World Games and then was able to -- with very

         6       little cost, if any, to the state -- to have a

         7       stadium that would move his football team into

         8       Division 1.

         9                  So he was truly a person who was in

        10       the right place at the right time and moved

        11       the agenda to where it is today.  And we owe

        12       Bill Greiner a great debt for doing the things

        13       that he did.

        14                  Thank you, Madam President.

        15                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

        16       you.

        17                  Any other Senator wishing to be

        18       heard on the resolution?

        19                  The question is on the resolution.

        20       All those in favor please signify by saying

        21       aye.

        22                  (Response of "Aye.")

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        24       Opposed, nay.



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         1                  (No response.)

         2                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    The

         3       resolution is adopted.

         4                  Senator Thompson has indicated that

         5       he would like to open the resolution up to the

         6       entire body for cosponsorship.  Anyone wishing

         7       to not be included as a cosponsor please

         8       notify the desk.

         9                  Senator Smith.

        10                  SENATOR SMITH:    Madam President,

        11       before I call up the next resolution, from

        12       time to time we are visited in this chamber by

        13       very distinguished individuals.  Today we have

        14       the pleasure of having one such of those

        15       individuals with us.

        16                  I would like to acknowledge Arturo

        17       Vargas, who is the executive director of the

        18       National Association of Latino Elected

        19       Officials.

        20                  Mr. Vargas, good to have you in the

        21       chamber with us.

        22                  (Applause.)

        23                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        24       Welcome, Mr. Vargas.



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         1                  SENATOR SMITH:    And I'm not sure

         2       why he's standing next to Senator Dilan, but

         3       that's okay.

         4                  But, Madam President, I believe

         5       there's a resolution by Senator Maziarz at

         6       this desk, and I ask that that resolution be

         7       read in its entirety and move for its

         8       immediate adoption by my friend Senator

         9       Maziarz.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    The

        11       Secretary will read.

        12                  THE SECRETARY:    By Senator

        13       Maziarz, Legislative Resolution Number 3540,

        14       congratulating the North Tonawanda High School

        15       Football Team and Head Coach Eric Jantzi upon

        16       the occasion of capturing the 2009 New York

        17       State Class AA Championship.

        18                  "WHEREAS, Excellence and success in

        19       competitive sports can be achieved only

        20       through strenuous practice, team play and team

        21       spirit, nurtured by dedicated coaching and

        22       strategic planning; and

        23                  "WHEREAS, Athletic competition

        24       enhances the moral and physical development of



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         1       the young people of this state, preparing them

         2       for the future by instilling in them the value

         3       of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy

         4       living, imparting a desire for success, and

         5       developing a sense of fair play and

         6       competition; and

         7                  "WHEREAS, The Section VI champions,

         8       the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks High School

         9       Football Team, defeated New Rochelle High

        10       School 14-7 in the Syracuse Carrier Dome to

        11       finish the season with a perfect 13-0 record

        12       and capture the 2009 New York State AA

        13       Championship; and

        14                  "WHEREAS, The athletic talent

        15       displayed by this team is due in great part to

        16       the efforts of Head Coach Eric Jantzi and his

        17       team of outstanding assistant coaches, skilled

        18       and inspirational tutors, respected for their

        19       ability to develop potential into excellence;

        20       and

        21                  "WHEREAS, The team's overall record

        22       is outstanding, and the team members were

        23       loyally and enthusiastically supported by

        24       family, fans, friends and the community at



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         1       large; and

         2                  "WHEREAS, The North Tonawanda High

         3       School Football Team benefited especially from

         4       the constant support and encouragement of a

         5       dedicated and talented cheerleading squad, who

         6       rooted the team on with great enthusiasm both

         7       at home and on the road; and

         8                  "WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the

         9       North Tonawanda High School Football Team,

        10       from the opening game of the season to

        11       participation in the championship, were a

        12       brotherhood of athletic ability, of good

        13       sportsmanship, of honor and of scholarship,

        14       demonstrating that these team players are

        15       second to none; and

        16                  "WHEREAS, Athletically and

        17       academically, the team members have proven

        18       themselves to be an unbeatable combination of

        19       talents, reflecting favorably on North

        20       Tonawanda High School; and

        21                  "WHEREAS, Head Coach Eric Jantzi

        22       and his dedicated staff have done a superb job

        23       in guiding, molding and inspiring the team

        24       members toward their goals; and



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         1                  "WHEREAS, Sports competition

         2       instills the values of teamwork, pride and

         3       accomplishment, and Head Coach Eric Jantzi and

         4       the outstanding athletes on the North

         5       Tonawanda High School Football Team have

         6       clearly made a contribution to the spirit of

         7       excellence which is a tradition of their

         8       school; now, therefore, be it

         9                  "RESOLVED, That this Legislative

        10       Body pause in its deliberations to

        11       congratulate the North Tonawanda High School

        12       Football Team, its members -- Steve Kijowski,

        13       James Aquilina, Joe Montesanti, Jake Brock,

        14       Josh Kern, Mike Tuzzo, Darrik Bloomfield,

        15       Billy Connors, Bruce Hakes, Brendan Wingrove,

        16       Tom Sell, Steve Stefanski, Rob Wiklerski, Dave

        17       DiPietro, Aaron Davis, Devan Moultne, Luke

        18       Zacher, Zach Christopher, Travis Charsley, Max

        19       Jackson, Shaun Schottmiller, Ryan Daigler, Dan

        20       Montesanti, Sean McDonough, Joe Medina, Travis

        21       Barke, Mitch Milbrand, Casey Shreve, Clayton

        22       Schmidt, Jeff Verrall, Jeff Schinaman, T.J.

        23       Haug, Nick Gonnella, Jim Rogers, Mike

        24       Grimaldi, Jesse Bradley, Jim Gigliotti, Jordan



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         1       Marrs, Randy Miskho, Ben Kanaley, Brennan

         2       Perkins, Cody Klawiter, Collin O'Donnell, Kyle

         3       Shreve, Justin Sherk, Tyler Body, Kevin

         4       VanHise, Josh Fritz, Brandon Camarre, and

         5       Andrew Mellott -- Assistant Coaches Rick Tomm,

         6       Corey Zayatz, Chris Cook, Erik O'Bryan, Dave

         7       Celeste, Kevin Pieper, Brian Hoffman, Todd

         8       O'Bryan, Archie O'Bryan and Ben Ladik and Head

         9       Coach Eric Jantzi on their outstanding season

        10       and overall team record; and be it further

        11                  "RESOLVED, That copies of this

        12       resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted

        13       to the North Tonawanda High School Football

        14       Team, Assistant Coaches Rick Tomm, Corey

        15       Zayatz, Chris Cook, Erik O'Bryan, Dave

        16       Celeste, Kevin Pieper, Brian Hoffman, Todd

        17       O'Bryan, Archie O'Bryan and Ben Ladik, Head

        18       Coach Eric Jantzi, North Tonawanda School

        19       Superintendent Vincent Vecchiarella, North

        20       Tonawanda High School Principal James Fisher,

        21       North Tonawanda Board of Education President

        22       Jeff Glatz and North Tonawanda High School

        23       Football Booster Club President Paul Frye."

        24                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:



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         1       Senator Maziarz.

         2                  SENATOR MAZIARZ:    Thank you very

         3       much, Madam President.

         4                  At long last we get to the

         5       resolution that I'm very proud of today

         6       congratulating my alma mater, the

         7       North Tonawanda Lumberjacks, on being the

         8       Class AA New York State 2009 Football

         9       Champions.

        10                  Now, I have to tell you that

        11       there's a colleague of mine, Senator

        12       DeFrancisco, who is in an absolute state of

        13       disbelief right now because Senator

        14       DeFrancisco can't believe that there's a

        15       championship anywhere in New York State that's

        16       not from Syracuse or Central New York.

        17                  But I do want to welcome school

        18       superintendent Vince Vecchiarella --

        19       Superintendent, if you would please stand

        20       up -- and Coach Eric Jantzi.  Coach, would you

        21       please stand up?

        22                  The North Tonawanda Lumberjacks

        23       went 13 and 0 this year, 13-0, an absolutely

        24       perfect season.  And they did it with a great



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         1       team, a great team of players and a great team

         2       of cheerleaders who were equally important to

         3       this championship.  They brought a great deal

         4       of pride and recognition to the City of

         5       North Tonawanda.  Why don't all of you stand

         6       up?

         7                  Thank you all for being here.  I am

         8       proud to call North Tonawanda my home.  I'm

         9       proud to call this high school my alma mater.

        10                  You've done something that has

        11       never been done before in the history of our

        12       school and our community.  You had a perfect

        13       season and you brought home a championship,

        14       which I know was historical and which will go

        15       down as a great deal of pride for everyone in

        16       the community of North Tonawanda.  So

        17       congratulations to each and every one of you.

        18                  And also to my good friend Senator

        19       Suzi Oppenheimer, who has the -- I don't know,

        20       I guess you would call it the unfortunate

        21       honor of representing the New Rochelle

        22       Huguenots, who were no match for North

        23       Tonawanda, no match at all for North

        24       Tonawanda.  Even though they were from



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         1       Westchester, even though they had more money

         2       than we had, even though they eat lobster and

         3       we eat chicken, we beat them anyway.  Right?

         4       All right.

         5                  Congratulations, team.  Thank you.

         6                  Thank you, Madam President.

         7                  (Applause.)

         8                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

         9       Senator Bill Stachowski, to refute the lobster

        10       reference, please.

        11                  (Laughter.)

        12                  SENATOR STACHOWSKI:    Madam

        13       President, I too would like to rise and

        14       congratulate the Lumberjacks from North

        15       Tonawanda.  They had a truly outstanding

        16       season.  They obviously have a great group of

        17       young men and obviously their cheerleaders, I

        18       believe, are with them also.

        19                  But the coaching staff did a great

        20       job.  These kids play very, very hard.  I had

        21       the opportunity to see some of their games on

        22       TV on replay, and they have a great team.

        23       They work very hard.

        24                  And one thing about North



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         1       Tonawanda's team that even if they don't

         2       happen to win their division every year is

         3       they are always known as a very tough team to

         4       play, because they're tough kids from a tough

         5       area.  And they should be proud of their

         6       accomplishments.

         7                  And the one thing that maybe

         8       Senator Maziarz didn't tell you is the one

         9       thing that's most important about winning a

        10       state championship is you are now the state

        11       champions.  All through your life, you will

        12       always be a member of the state championship

        13       team.  No one can ever take that away from

        14       you.  So it's the memory from this season, all

        15       those memories you'll share with your friends.

        16       And they will be your friends for your life.

        17       It's the greatest thing about the whole

        18       experience.

        19                  So I wish you luck in whatever you

        20       do in your future.  I congratulate you again

        21       on the job well done, your coach and

        22       superintendent and all the people involved,

        23       and your parents especially, congratulations

        24       to all the people involved with the North



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         1       Tonawanda High School Football Team.

         2                  Congratulations.  Great job.

         3                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

         4       you.

         5                  Senator DeFrancisco.

         6                  SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:    Thank you.

         7                  I just want to thank all of you of

         8       the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks.  You don't

         9       know how happy you've made George Maziarz.

        10       Year after year he's had to listen to these

        11       speeches that I'd make about the teams from my

        12       area, and he always would remark "Isn't there

        13       any champions from anywhere outside of

        14       Syracuse?"  So he wanted me to be sure I was

        15       here today.

        16                  What I know North Tonawanda for is

        17       a great football player by the name of Rick

        18       Cassata.  I don't know if anybody knows the

        19       family.  Rick and I played baseball at

        20       Syracuse University together.  And every time

        21       I think of the name North Tonawanda, I think

        22       of Rick, who was a great player.  He played at

        23       Syracuse and then went on to Canadian

        24       football, I think, for a period of time.



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         1                  The other thing, it's interesting

         2       that you beat New Rochelle.  A few years ago

         3       my high school team from CBA, Christian

         4       Brothers Academy -- I don't know if you've

         5       ever played them or know of them -- but they

         6       had a game against New Rochelle as well in the

         7       Carrier Dome, and CBA won.  And there was a

         8       player there, a young player that fortunately

         9       for our team -- not fortunately for

        10       New Rochelle -- had an injury about halfway

        11       through and he couldn't finish the game.  CBA

        12       ended up winning with a quarterback by the

        13       name of Greg Paulus, who went on to play

        14       basketball at Duke.

        15                  But his story is yesterday if you

        16       were watching TV, that same very player, Ray

        17       Rice, broke up the center of the line in the

        18       first touch -- I think it was 80-some-odd

        19       yards.  So maybe one of you will be doing that

        20       in a pro team.

        21                  But more importantly, you have

        22       shown what teamwork is all about, you've shown

        23       what hard work is all about.  And whatever

        24       happens in the future, as Senator Stachowski



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         1       says, no one can take it away from you.  And

         2       you'll always have these people that are

         3       surrounding you now as your closest friends

         4       for life.

         5                  So congratulations, and thank you

         6       again on behalf of Senator Maziarz.

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

         8       you.

         9                  Senator Hassell-Thompson.

        10                  SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON:    Thank

        11       you, Madam President.  I rise to also add my

        12       congratulations to Tonawanda, and let me tell

        13       you why.

        14                  New Rochelle beats Mount Vernon

        15       ever single year historically for the last

        16       fifty years.  So anybody who beats the

        17       Huguenots is my friend.

        18                  (Laughter.)

        19                  SENATOR HASSELL-THOMPSON:    Having

        20       said that -- having said that, we all owe

        21       congratulations to whomever wins in this

        22       state.  We're very proud of our young men and

        23       women who play sports and who play well.  And

        24       as the state champions, I want to add my



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         1       congratulations very seriously.

         2                  But I meant that about the

         3       Huguenots.

         4                  (Laughter.)

         5                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Things

         6       are getting a little personal here.

         7                  Senator Suzi Oppenheimer.

         8                  SENATOR OPPENHEIMER:    Whoa.

         9       Senator Hassell-Thompson.  And there's good

        10       reason why the New Rochelle team has been

        11       winning all those years.

        12                  But I'll tell you something, guys.

        13       I applaud what you -- as you probably figured

        14       out, I'm the Senator from New Rochelle.  But I

        15       know we've had a pretty good run.  And so I'm

        16       very proud of you.

        17                  I did team sports in high school

        18       and college, and I know the work that goes in.

        19       And I know, to address what's been said

        20       earlier, the camaraderie that gets developed.

        21       And it's very meaningful to be able to have

        22       worked collaboratively in a team manner.  In

        23       fact, as you go forward in life, that

        24       particular skill of being able to work



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         1       together cooperatively and collaboratively is

         2       probably the thing that's going to be the most

         3       valuable lesson you've learned.

         4                  But I am here to applaud you, to

         5       say I know the hard work you've done.  It

         6       really was quite an achievement to beat

         7       New Rochelle.  And I wish each one of you a

         8       very, very full future, a happy future.

         9                  Thanks.

        10                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    Thank

        11       you.

        12                  Any other Senators wish to be heard

        13       to defend your teams?

        14                  The question is on the resolution.

        15       All those in favor please signify by saying

        16       aye.

        17                  (Response of "Aye.")

        18                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        19       Opposed, nay.

        20                  (No response.)

        21                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    The

        22       resolution is adopted.

        23                  Senator Maziarz has indicated that

        24       he would like to open the resolution up to the



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         1       entire body for cosponsorship.  Anyone wishing

         2       to not be included as a cosponsor please

         3       notify the desk.

         4                  And congratulations for your fine

         5       win.  Thank you, gentlemen.

         6                  (Applause.)

         7                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

         8       Senator Addabbo.

         9                  SENATOR ADDABBO:    Madam

        10       President, is there any further business at

        11       the desk?

        12                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:

        13       Senator Addabbo, the desk is clear.

        14                  SENATOR ADDABBO:    There being no

        15       business at the desk, I move that we adjourn

        16       till Tuesday, January 12th, at 10:00 a.m.

        17                  ACTING PRESIDENT KRUEGER:    There

        18       being no further business to come before the

        19       Senate, on motion, the Senate stands adjourned

        20       until Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

        21                  (Whereupon, at 4:18 p.m., the

        22       Senate adjourned.)

        23

        24



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