Regular Session - March 9, 2016
882
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 March 9, 2016
11 12:12 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHLEEN C. HOCHUL, President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
3 come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and repeat with me the Pledge of
6 Allegiance.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 THE PRESIDENT: In the absence of
10 clergy, may we please bow our heads in a moment
11 of silence.
12 (Whereupon, the assemblage
13 respected a moment of silence.)
14 THE PRESIDENT: The reading of the
15 Journal.
16 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
17 Tuesday, February 8th, the Senate met pursuant
18 to adjournment. The Journal of Monday,
19 February 7th, was read and approved. On motion,
20 Senate adjourned.
21 THE PRESIDENT: Without objection,
22 the Journal stands approved as read.
23 Presentation of petitions.
24 Messages from the Assembly.
25 Messages from the Governor.
884
1 Reports of standing committees.
2 Reports of select committees.
3 Communications and reports from
4 state officers.
5 Motions and resolutions.
6 Mr. Floor Leader.
7 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam
8 President, could we please go to the
9 noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
10 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
11 read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 88, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 4444C, an
14 act to amend the Insurance Law.
15 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
16 aside for the day, please.
17 THE PRESIDENT: Lay it aside for
18 the day.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 110, by Senator Croci, Senate Print 4967A, an
21 act to amend the Domestic Relations Law.
22 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
23 section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
885
1 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
4 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
5 passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 111, by Senator Marcellino, Senate Print 425, an
8 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
10 section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
16 result.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
18 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is
19 passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 126, by Senator Little, Senate Print 1216, an
22 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
23 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
24 section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
886
1 act shall take effect on the 180th day.
2 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
5 results.
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
7 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 190, by Senator Ortt, Senate Print 2953B, an act
10 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
11 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
12 section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
18 results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 190, those recorded in the negative are
21 Senators Addabbo, Avella, Carlucci, Espaillat,
22 Hoylman, Krueger, LaValle, Marcellino, Perkins,
23 Sanders and Serrano. Also Senator Latimer. Also
24 Senator Klein. Also Senator Stavisky.
25 Ayes, 43. Nays, 14.
887
1 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 196, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 22, an act
4 to amend the Correction Law.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
6 section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect on the first of July.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
12 results.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 196, those recorded in the negative are
15 Senators Hassell-Thompson, Montgomery, Perkins
16 and Persaud.
17 Ayes, 54. Nays, 4.
18 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 199, by Senator Golden, Senate Print 1943, an act
21 to amend the Correction Law.
22 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
23 section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect on the first of November.
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1 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
4 result.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 56. Nays, 2.
6 Senators Perkins and Rivera recorded in the
7 negative.
8 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 224, by Senator Hamilton, Senate Print 4602, an
11 act to amend the Education Law.
12 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
13 section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
19 result.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
21 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
22 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
23 246, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 3850, an act
24 to amend Chapter 154 of the Laws of 1921.
25 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
889
1 section.
2 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
3 act shall take effect upon the enactment into
4 law.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
6 (The Secretary called the roll.)
7 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
8 results.
9 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
10 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 250, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 6024A, an
13 act to amend the Public Service Law.
14 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
15 aside for the day, please.
16 THE PRESIDENT: Lay it aside for
17 the day.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 263, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 5725, an act
20 to amend the General Municipal Law.
21 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
22 section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
890
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
3 result.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
5 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 265, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 6459, an
8 act to authorize.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
10 section.
11 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
12 act shall take effect immediately.
13 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
16 result.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. Nays, 2.
18 Senators Bonacic and Larkin recorded in the
19 negative.
20 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 267, by Senator Savino, Senate Print 66 --
23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
24 aside for the day, please.
25 THE PRESIDENT: Lay it aside for
891
1 the day.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 272, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 1600, an
4 act to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
6 section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
12 result.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
14 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 311, by Senator Farley, Senate Print 2896, an act
17 to amend the Banking Law.
18 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
19 section.
20 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
21 act shall take effect immediately.
22 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE PRESIDENT: Announce the
25 result.
892
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 61.
2 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is passed.
3 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
4 314, by Senator Savino, Senate Print 5296, an act
5 to amend the Banking Law.
6 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
7 section.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Lay the bill
9 aside for the day, please.
10 THE PRESIDENT: The bill is laid
11 aside for the day.
12 That completes the noncontroversial
13 reading of the calendar.
14 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now go
15 back to motions and resolutions.
16 THE PRESIDENT: Motions and
17 resolutions.
18 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: And I think
19 we have a guest coming in, if someone could knock
20 on that door.
21 (Pause.)
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I would like
23 to call up previously adopted Resolution 3262,
24 from Senator Peralta. And if you would read it
25 in its entirety in a moment.
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1 (Pause.)
2 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Maybe if I
3 said "Play ball."
4 (Laughter.)
5 (Pause.)
6 (Standing ovation as Mike Piazza
7 entered the chamber.)
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam
9 President, could we now read Resolution 3262 in
10 its entirety.
11 THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary will
12 read.
13 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
14 Resolution Number 3262, by Senator Peralta,
15 congratulating Mike Piazza upon the occasion of
16 his election to the National Baseball Hall of
17 Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
18 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
19 Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to
20 those esteemed individuals who distinguish
21 themselves through exceptional performance,
22 outstanding achievement, and peerless commitment
23 to excellence; and
24 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern,
25 and in full accord with its long-standing
894
1 traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud
2 to congratulate Mike Piazza upon the occasion of
3 his election to the National Baseball Hall of
4 Fame in Cooperstown, New York on Wednesday,
5 January 6, 2016; he will be officially inducted
6 on July 24, 2016; and
7 "WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Piazza,
8 affectionately known as Mike, was born in
9 Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1968, and grew up in
10 nearby Phoenixville; he is the second oldest of
11 five sons born to Vince and Veronica Piazza; and
12 "WHEREAS, A talented young athlete,
13 Mike Piazza practiced hitting with his father,
14 and received personal instruction from baseball
15 great Ted Williams; he was drafted by the Los
16 Angeles Dodgers in 1988; and
17 "WHEREAS, Mike Piazza won the 1993
18 Rookie of the Year Award and played seven
19 spectacular seasons as catcher for the Los
20 Angeles Dodgers before joining the New York Mets
21 baseball team in 1998; and
22 "WHEREAS, As a member of the
23 New York Mets from 1998 to 2005, Mike Piazza
24 became one of the most beloved players in the
25 city's long and distinguished sports history
895
1 through his exceptional drive and performance on
2 the field; and
3 "WHEREAS, During the 2000 season,
4 Mike Piazza had at least one run-batted-in (RBI)
5 in 15 consecutive games, the second longest RBI
6 streak in history, while leading his team to the
7 Subway Series against the Yankees; and
8 "WHEREAS, A hero to many
9 New Yorkers, Mike Piazza will be long remembered
10 for his towering and inspirational home run
11 which was hit following the terrorist attacks of
12 September 11, 2001; and
13 "WHEREAS, Mike Piazza played his
14 last game as a Met on October 2, 2005, and
15 received a long-standing ovation from the fans at
16 Shea Stadium; he continued to play baseball for
17 the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics until
18 his retirement in 2008; and
19 "WHEREAS, Widely recognized as one
20 of the greatest hitting catchers of all time,
21 Mike Piazza compiled numerous impressive
22 achievements during his Hall of Fame-worthy
23 career, including a lifetime batting average of
24 .308, 427 career home runs, and 1,335 RBI; he was
25 also selected a remarkable 12 times as a member
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1 of the National League All Star Team; and
2 "WHEREAS, Following the announcement
3 of being inducted, Mike Piazza has proudly chosen
4 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a
5 New York Met; and
6 "WHEREAS, Mike Piazza has clearly
7 been an inspiration to countless baseball fans,
8 as well as to the community at large, and
9 accordingly merits recognition and applause for
10 his tremendous passion for the game and
11 competitive spirit; and
12 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
13 Legislative Body that when individuals of such
14 outstanding athletic accomplishments are brought
15 to our attention, they should be recognized by
16 all the citizens of this great Empire State; now,
17 therefore, be it
18 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
19 Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate
20 Mike Piazza on his election to the National
21 Baseball Hall of Fame; and be it further
22 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
23 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
24 Mike Piazza."
25 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Peralta.
897
1 SENATOR PERALTA: Thank you, Madam
2 President.
3 Today I am joined here by
4 Assemblymembers DenDekker and Moya, who are true
5 Met fans. And they're here with me because
6 they're my partners in the Assembly and I wanted
7 to make sure that they are part of this ceremony.
8 So this is just an amazing feeling.
9 Not only did Mike Piazza honor us with his
10 presence today, but he also brought the warm
11 weather.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR PERALTA: I want to welcome
14 Mike Piazza and his lovely wife to the State
15 Capitol. I want to welcome you to the New York
16 State Senate. As a Met fan, as a baseball fan
17 and a New Yorker, it is truly an honor to have
18 you here with you us today.
19 And as a Dominican-American, I am
20 also very proud of Mike because he was the first
21 American-born player to volunteer at Campo Las
22 Palmas, the Dodgers Baseball Academy in the
23 Dominican Republic.
24 Mike, you're one of the greatest
25 players that played this game. And personally,
898
1 you're the best-hitting catcher ever. You were
2 the face of the Mets franchise for eight seasons,
3 the face of Shea Stadium of Queens -- although
4 today it's called Citi Field.
5 You swung hard at the plate. Your
6 numbers are impressive, both as a Met and as a
7 Dodger. Lifetime batting average, .308; 427
8 career home runs; 1335 RBIs; 12-time All Star.
9 1993 Rookie of the Year. And your most
10 impressive and most unforgettable home run was
11 the one you hit just ten days after
12 September 11th, after the terrorist attacks.
13 After the attacks, Shea Stadium
14 became a relief area for rescue workers. And
15 yes, there were strong debates about whether the
16 city was ready or not for sporting games or for
17 sports. And in front of more than 41,000 fans
18 and heavy security, you hit that colossal home
19 run, that two-run home run to left corner, to
20 give our beloved team a 3-2 lead late in the game
21 against the Atlanta Braves -- no disrespect to
22 Atlanta.
23 (Laughter.)
24 SENATOR PERALTA: After that
25 emotional game, you said, and I quote: "The
899
1 hardest thing I've ever had to do as an athlete
2 was to play that game. We had to win that game.
3 People wanted to find refuge in baseball. In a
4 crowd, being around other people, it has a
5 tendency to ease the pain a little bit."
6 This July, our beloved New York Mets
7 will retire your Number 31. And we all know Mike
8 Piazza's history, your story, how besides having
9 been picked up in the 62nd round by the Dodgers,
10 your motivation, your passion, and your
11 perseverance made you a legend. We enjoyed
12 having you wear the Mets' color for eight years;
13 the 2000 season, hitting at least one RBI in 15
14 consecutive games, the second longest streak in
15 history; leading our team to the first postseason
16 Subway Series in almost half a century.
17 Mike, you announced your retirement
18 at 39, and when you did, your heart spoke for
19 you. You said: "I can't say goodbye without
20 thanking the fans. Los Angeles, San Diego,
21 Oakland and Miami, whether it was home or on the
22 road, you were all so supportive over the years.
23 "But I have to say that my time with
24 the Mets wouldn't have been the same without the
25 greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest
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1 moments of my career was walking off the field at
2 Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship
3 with you made my time in New York the happiest of
4 my career, and for that I will always be
5 grateful."
6 It is a true honor and a privilege
7 to present you with this resolution today. Among
8 other things, the resolution says Mike Piazza has
9 clearly been an inspiration to countless baseball
10 fans as well as to the community at large, and
11 accordingly merits this recognition, and whereas,
12 it is the sense of this Legislative Body that
13 Mike Piazza should be recognized by all the
14 citizens of the great Empire State, be it
15 resolved that this Legislative Body pause in its
16 deliberations to congratulate the great Mike
17 Piazza on his election to the National Baseball
18 Hall of Fame.
19 Congratulations, Mike Piazza.
20 (Extended standing ovation.)
21 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Flanagan.
22 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you, Madam
23 President.
24 I want to congratulate Senator
25 Peralta, Assemblymembers DenDekker and Moya, and
901
1 Mr. and Mrs. Piazza. And let's give a nice round
2 of applause for the lady in charge, Mrs. Piazza.
3 (Applause.)
4 SENATOR FLANAGAN: So, Mike, there
5 are a number of Assemblymembers who are here to
6 pay their respects as well. And we are so
7 grateful to have you stop by. Congratulations
8 from all of New York.
9 And I know this is the second time
10 you've been here. Just very quickly, this is --
11 the Assembly calls itself "the People's House."
12 This is the "House of Government."
13 Now, you played in an awesome place
14 called Shea Stadium; this is a pretty cool place
15 too.
16 (Laughter.)
17 SENATOR FLANAGAN: This is the
18 New York State Senate -- well, it really is. And
19 you know what, and this belongs to the taxpayers
20 of this state, and they're all proud.
21 Now, I have to -- Madam President, I
22 just want to -- I listened carefully to the
23 resolution, and we might have to make a
24 modification before we give it to Mr. Piazza.
25 There was reference to the fact that he had seven
902
1 spectacular seasons with the Dodgers, but I
2 didn't hear that when he played for the Mets. So
3 I'd like to have it modified to say that he had
4 an equal number of amazing seasons with the New
5 York Mets.
6 (Laughter; applause.)
7 THE PRESIDENT: So ordered.
8 SENATOR FLANAGAN: To the Piazzas,
9 on behalf of the New York State Senate, we are
10 again so humbled to have you here. You make us
11 all proud. And as New Yorkers, we like beaming,
12 especially when our teams are doing well and
13 winning.
14 And I would also respectfully add I
15 think you were a great ambassador for
16 professional sports. Far too often we read about
17 people who are finding themselves in harm's way.
18 And I think you distinguished yourself both on
19 the field and equally, if not more important, off
20 the field.
21 All the best to you. Thank you.
22 (Extended applause.)
23 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Gianaris.
24 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you, Madam
25 President.
903
1 As a lifelong Mets fan and someone
2 who represents parts of Queens, including Long
3 Island City, where a number of the Mets players
4 tend to live during the season, I couldn't let
5 this opportunity pass without saying a few words
6 while the photos are being taken.
7 We have a number of hardy Mets fans
8 in this body. We're a dedicated group. I don't
9 want to start naming them, because I'll leave
10 them out, but I'm sure they'll all say something.
11 But I know George Latimer and Joe Addabbo, Leroy
12 Comrie, and a number of others who are feeling
13 especially proud today.
14 And among them, I should also
15 mention is -- who's not with us, but wishes he
16 could be, certainly, was Senator Libous, who used
17 to sit in this chair right across the aisle. And
18 during session times when there were day games,
19 we'd be comparing notes on how the game was
20 going. And so I know he wished he could have
21 been here with us to celebrate Mike Piazza's
22 induction today.
23 As Mets fans, there are certain
24 groups of years that we remember in the history
25 of the team. So certainly the '69 to '73 team is
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1 one; the late '80s team; the team in the
2 mid-to-late 2000s; and then the era that's just
3 known as the Piazza era, the era when the team
4 made it to the World Series, was in the playoffs
5 on a regular basis, and provided great excitement
6 for our city and for Mets fans everywhere. And
7 we're forever grateful.
8 You all heard the many special
9 moments he provided our city, and he always did
10 so with grace and dignity. There was one
11 incident where someone who shall remain nameless
12 threw a bat at him, you may remember, but he --
13 is someone hissing at that? You should.
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR GIANARIS: But with typical
16 class, he didn't go down that dark road, he
17 simply carried on with the game. And that's the
18 Mike Piazza we all know and love as Mets fans.
19 The only last message I would leave
20 for you, Mike, is this team now seems on the
21 verge of another string of years that we're
22 looking forward to and excited about. So I know
23 you were down at spring training; give them
24 whatever great counsel you can, because we're
25 hoping to be back in the World Series next year.
905
1 Thank you very much.
2 (Applause.)
3 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Seward.
4 SENATOR SEWARD: Thank you, Madam
5 President.
6 You know, as the proud Senator
7 representing the birthplace of baseball,
8 Cooperstown, I'm delighted to rise in support of
9 this resolution and to join in welcoming Mike
10 Piazza and his wife to our chamber today.
11 You know, the Baseball Hall of Fame
12 in Cooperstown is such an amazing place. It
13 draws thousands and thousands of visitors each
14 year. It's a great collection of baseball
15 memorabilia. And thus it's an important part of
16 our local economy, as the thousands come to
17 Cooperstown each year.
18 So I'm very, very pleased, in
19 addition to the Piazzas, to also welcome the
20 President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame,
21 Jeff Idelson, to the chamber today.
22 Welcome Jeff.
23 (Applause.)
24 SENATOR SEWARD: I know that Mike
25 and his wife were in Cooperstown yesterday
906
1 visiting the Hall of Fame. And I hope that --
2 Mike, I hope that you enjoyed just a small
3 glimpse of what is to come later this summer in
4 Cooperstown.
5 You know, Mike Piazza did not just
6 walk out on the baseball diamond and become a
7 Hall of Famer. You know, he is known for his
8 intense work ethic, fierce determination to
9 improve, and the endless pursuit of greatness.
10 All of that fueled him to reach the pinnacle of
11 his sport. He truly is a model for any young
12 person looking to pursue a sport.
13 And Mike's career is filled with
14 many, many great moments and great memories. And
15 Senator Peralta had mentioned one that took place
16 on September 21, 2001, when baseball returned to
17 Shea Stadium for the first time following the
18 tragic 9/11 attack on our nation. That was the
19 night that the Mets donned the baseball caps
20 honoring our New York City policemen, New York
21 City firefighters, the true heroes in so many
22 ways.
23 And it was Mike's eighth-inning home
24 run that won the game in dramatic fashion.
25 You know, the cheers that followed
907
1 that home run were not only for Mike and the
2 Mets, they were for New York City, our nation,
3 the grieving families, the first responders, and
4 so many others. It was a moment that told us,
5 after September 11th, that it was okay to breathe
6 again, that we can truly, as New York City and as
7 a nation, we could look ahead to brighter days.
8 You know, baseball can do that. And
9 it was Mike Piazza who brought that moment to all
10 of us.
11 Now, I know this is a very special
12 moment here in the Senate as we honor Mike today.
13 There's going to be also another special moment
14 in July when Mike is inducted into the Baseball
15 Hall of Fame. And I look forward to seeing Mike,
16 his wife, and all Met fans coming to Cooperstown
17 for that wonderful event.
18 So, Mike, welcome to the Senate, and
19 welcome to Cooperstown. It truly will be a great
20 day when you're inducted. Congratulations.
21 (Applause.)
22 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Espaillat.
23 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: Thank you,
24 Madam President.
25 I want to thank Senator Peralta and
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1 the Piazza family for being here. I'm a Yankee
2 fan.
3 (Laughter; booing.)
4 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: Wait, wait,
5 wait a minute. Wait a minute. For two years,
6 Mike, we have honored -- last year we had Pedro
7 Martinez here, and now we have Mike Piazza. So
8 we're getting a little bit jealous here.
9 (Laughter.)
10 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: Let me say this
11 to you. First of all, I had to find a connection
12 to Mike Piazza that was not the Mets, and I found
13 it.
14 It is a team called Los Tigres del
15 Licey. They're a winter baseball team. Where
16 many of you, when the World Series is over, you
17 tune into football, I tune into winter baseball.
18 And the Tigres were managed by his uncle, Tommy
19 Lasorda.
20 And they are the Yankees of
21 Caribbean baseball -- 21 champions, 10 Caribbean
22 World Series, two of them unbeaten. Right? And
23 the Caribbean World Series is played by Puerto
24 Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and,
25 in the last two years, Cuba. The winning teams
909
1 of each of those winter championships then play
2 in a Caribbean World Series.
3 And the Tigres del Licey, which are
4 royal blue like to Dodgers, are the number-one
5 team in Latin America and the Caribbean. So
6 that's my link to you, Piazza.
7 (Laughter.)
8 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: But the other
9 thing is that numbers don't lie. And he has
10 great numbers. And that's why he's going to a
11 special place in Cooperstown.
12 And to be a catcher is not an easy
13 thing. I tried to play baseball in my younger
14 years, and I tried to catch just for one game --
15 got hit by a foul tip, and went right back to
16 third base.
17 (Laughter.)
18 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: It's not an
19 easy position to play. It's a tough position to
20 play. It's very demanding on the body.
21 Great defensive catcher, great arm,
22 great behind-the-plate power hitter, great
23 baseball player. Although he's a Met, he
24 deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He went to
25 the Subway Series; we all know how that ended.
910
1 (Laughter.)
2 SENATOR ESPAILLAT: But we're happy
3 to have you here -- we're happy to have you here.
4 You deserve to be here. You deserve to be in
5 Cooperstown. And when you go back to the DR,
6 we'll welcome you as a Tigres del Licey. Thank
7 you so much.
8 (Applause.)
9 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Latimer.
10 SENATOR LATIMER: Thank you, Madam
11 President.
12 Mike, the first time I heard your
13 name was in Pennsylvania. I was living and
14 working in King of Prussia, and a friend of mine
15 lived in a town called Phoenixville, it's a few
16 miles away from the Valley Forge area. And we
17 were talking, and he mentioned there was this
18 high school kid who was a terrific athlete. I
19 had no idea who Mike Piazza was at the time or
20 who he was going to turn out to be.
21 And while he's taking
22 congratulations from our colleagues, as a
23 long-time Met fan, I started as a Met fan when
24 they were the worst team that ever got on the
25 field of play, in 1962. And we've had some good
911
1 years as Met fans; we've had a lot of losing.
2 And what it's like when you follow a
3 team that loses consistently, is by the middle of
4 July or the middle of August, you're listening to
5 games and you've given up hope, but you're still
6 listening nonetheless. When you're winning by a
7 couple of runs, you still wind up losing, or
8 losing in extra innings, and then when you play
9 other games, the other team has got a big lead on
10 you and it's a hopeless game to begin with.
11 And that's where the Mets were when
12 a friend of mine said, "Did you hear that we got
13 Mike Piazza?" And I said, "Are you kidding me?
14 How did we get Mike Piazza?" He had a brief cup
15 of coffee in Miami, from L.A., and all of a
16 sudden he's a Met, all of a sudden we have
17 credibility. And all of a sudden throughout the
18 summers of '99 and 2000, the team mattered. And
19 other players came to that team because Mike
20 Piazza was on that team.
21 So for the summers of '99 and 2000
22 and 2001 and 2002, when a person who was
23 accustomed to listening to a team lose got to
24 listen to a team that was winning, thank you,
25 Mike. Thank you very much.
912
1 (Applause.)
2 THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Floor Leader.
3 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Senator
4 Peralta has offered this resolution for
5 cosponsorship to Mets and Yankee fans alike. If
6 you don't want to be a cosponsor, go to the desk.
7 But woe be to that person.
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: It's my
10 understanding that there is a -- I know everybody
11 wants to meet the Hall of Famer. The Senate
12 members will be allowed into, with the Lieutenant
13 Governor's permission, the Lieutenant Governor's
14 office to meet Mr. Piazza. We can't do it for
15 all the staff. But we will be in there right
16 after session.
17 And we have just one other order of
18 business.
19 It's my understanding that Senators
20 Comrie and Sanders have a school group here that
21 they would like to just recognize.
22 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Comrie.
23 SENATOR COMRIE: Thank you, Madam
24 President.
25 I just want to take a moment to
913
1 recognize young people that are from our
2 districts, consecutively, from the President's
3 Councils of 28 and 29. I want to just welcome
4 them to Albany and offer them the services of the
5 house.
6 And as they looking at a Hall of
7 Famer today, I hope to one day be able to
8 celebrate you down here in this hall for your
9 successes. And I hope that you will also have
10 your commitment to excellence as Mike Piazza
11 has also.
12 I'll turn it over to Senator
13 Sanders.
14 SENATOR SANDERS: We have our own
15 hometown heroes here, and they are from PS/MS 147
16 in Queens, Queens United Middle School,
17 Preparatory Academy for Writers, PS 37, Cambria
18 Heights Academy, Queens High School of Teaching,
19 Hillcrest High School, Benjamin Franklin High
20 School, IS 59, PS 132, IS 109, PS/MS 138.
21 Our next heroes. Thank you for
22 being here, our scholars.
23 (Applause.)
24 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:
25 Mr. President, is there anything further at the
914
1 desk?
2 ACTING PRESIDENT CROCI: One
3 further item. Senator Peralta, the resolution,
4 he has opened for cosponsorship. If you do not
5 wish to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
6 And there is no further business
7 before the house.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Okay. That
9 was already taken care of, Mr. President. But
10 thank you, it's an important announcement.
11 I move to adjourn until Monday,
12 March 14th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being
13 legislative days.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT CROCI: On motion,
15 the Senate stands adjourned until Monday,
16 March 14th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being
17 legislative days.
18 (Whereupon, at 12:57 p.m., the
19 Senate adjourned.)
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