Regular Session - May 3, 2017
2300
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 May 3, 2017
11 11:08 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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25
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1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask all present to please rise
5 and join with me as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Today's
10 invocation will be offered by Chaplain Matthew
11 Pawlikowski, the Catholic Community Chaplain at
12 the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel in
13 West Point, New York.
14 Chaplain.
15 CHAPLAIN PAWLIKOWSKI: "Duty,
16 honor, country" is not just a way to look at
17 certain things, but a certain way to look at all
18 things.
19 And so, Almighty and Ever-Living
20 God, in Whose hand lies every human heart, and
21 from Whose hand comes the rights of all people,
22 look with favor, we pray, on those who govern
23 with authority, and bless them.
24 Graciously receive the prayers that
25 we pour out to You for this State of New York
2302
1 and for our entire nation, that through the
2 honest, hard work of its leaders and the
3 integrity and intelligence of our citizens,
4 harmony and justice may be achieved and lasting
5 prosperity may come through Your peace.
6 Amen.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Members
8 may be seated.
9 It is a very special day here in
10 the chamber, and it is a distinct privilege and
11 personal honor to present to you the
12 Superintendent of the United States Military
13 Academy at West Point, Lieutenant General Robert
14 Caslen.
15 LIEUTENANT GENERAL CASLEN: Thank
16 you very much, sir. I was taking pictures and
17 almost didn't hear the introduction.
18 But when you follow the chaplain,
19 sometimes there's no need to say anything
20 anymore. Thank you very much, Chaplain.
21 Well, Senator Flanagan and
22 Senator Larkin and members of this distinguished
23 Senate, good morning and thank you for having us
24 here today.
25 It's an honor to address you this
2303
1 morning. And on behalf of the entire staff and
2 faculty and the Corps of Cadets of the
3 United States Military Academy, we thank you
4 very much for this recognition.
5 I am pleased to be here
6 representing the academy, along with Command
7 Sergeant Major Tim Guden, Cadet Hugh McConnell,
8 who is our First Captain of the Corps of Cadets,
9 and 11 cadets from across New York State. And
10 they represent the more than 4,000 members of
11 the Corps of Cadets, 263 of them who call the
12 Empire State home.
13 I'm also proud to stand before you
14 as the first superintendent in 15 years to
15 preside with a victory over Navy in football.
16 (Laughter; applause.)
17 LIEUTENANT GENERAL CASLEN: Since
18 the days of the American Revolution, the United
19 States Army has had a strong presence in
20 New York, to include West Point in its early
21 days as the strategic garrison in the fight
22 against the British and in the defense of
23 American colonies.
24 New York State enjoys a rich
25 history of military service, with many
2304
1 New Yorkers serving throughout our nation's
2 history with valor and distinction, and some
3 making the ultimate sacrifice.
4 Our mission at West Point is to
5 develop leaders of character who are prepared to
6 fight and win our nation's wars. We couldn't do
7 this without the tremendous support of the
8 New York State Legislature and our neighboring
9 communities. And on behalf of the West Point
10 community, we greatly appreciate that support.
11 We are committed to be good
12 neighbors with these towns and communities, and
13 we're always looking for ways to connect and to
14 build relationships and partner together on
15 opportunities that will not only enhance the
16 cadet development at West Point, but also benefit
17 the community as well.
18 These young men and women that are
19 with me today represent what's been referred to
20 as the 9/11 generation, and they represent the
21 very best of America. They are a generation that
22 saw their nation attacked, and yet they
23 volunteered to serve, knowing full well that they
24 would be sent into harm's way. They desire to
25 serve something bigger than themselves -- and in
2305
1 this case, our nation. That desire to serve
2 echoes the actions of those who served before
3 them. They understand service, and they
4 understand sacrifice.
5 Our core values of West Point are
6 duty and honor and country. And I would submit
7 to you that these cadets have already
8 internalized duty and service to country even
9 before they come to West Point.
10 President Reagan once said that
11 America's best days are yet to come, our proud
12 moments are yet to be, our most glorious
13 achievements are just ahead. Well, I truly
14 believe that, because of these incredible young
15 men and women of this generation who wear the
16 cloth of our nation and say, every day, "Send
17 me." And I'm proud of them, and I know you are
18 as well.
19 I think that if the average American
20 wanted to see what's right with America, they
21 only need to be here today, in Albany, New York,
22 to hang around the cadets from New York State.
23 I'm also proud to lead the
24 incredible team of professionals, both soldier
25 and civilian, and many from our local area, who
2306
1 have committed themselves to the honor, duty, and
2 privilege of developing leaders of character for
3 our nation in their service at West Point.
4 If you haven't been to West Point
5 lately, or if you've never been there, please
6 come down and visit us and see your academy.
7 Please talk to our staff and our faculty, and
8 please talk with our cadets. I promise they will
9 inspire you as they inspire me each and every
10 day.
11 Thank you very much for honoring all
12 of us here today. Go Army, and beat Navy!
13 Thank you.
14 (Laughter; standing ovation.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 reading of the Journal.
17 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Tuesday,
18 May 2nd, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment.
19 The Journal of Monday, May 1st, was read and
20 approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
22 objection, the Journal will stand approved as
23 read.
24 Presentation of petitions.
25 Messages from the Assembly.
2307
1 The Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: On page 40, Senator
3 Murphy moves to discharge, from the Committee on
4 Transportation, Assembly Bill Number 580 and
5 substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
6 Number 4936, Third Reading Calendar 540.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
8 substitution is so ordered.
9 Messages from the Governor.
10 Reports of standing committees.
11 Reports of select committees.
12 Communications and reports of state
13 officers.
14 Motions and resolutions.
15 Senator DeFrancisco.
16 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:
17 Mr. President, on page 34 I offer the following
18 amendments to Calendar 478, Senate Print 4614, by
19 Senator Helming, and ask that said bill retain
20 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: It is so
22 ordered. The amendments are received, and the
23 bill shall retain its place on third reading.
24 Senator DeFrancisco.
25 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: On behalf of
2308
1 Senator Phillips, please place a sponsor star on
2 Calendar 627.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: A star is
4 so directed and ordered.
5 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Thank you.
6 Now can we take up previously
7 adopted Resolution 1802, read it in its entirety,
8 and then call on Senator Larkin and then
9 Senator Flanagan to speak, please.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
13 Resolution Number 1802, by Senator Larkin,
14 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
15 proclaim May 3, 2017, as West Point Day in the
16 State of New York.
17 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is
18 justly proud to celebrate the establishment of
19 the United States Military Academy at West Point
20 and to call upon Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
21 proclaim May 3, 2017, as West Point Day in the
22 State of New York; and
23 "WHEREAS, By an act of Congress, on
24 March 16, 1802, the United States Military
25 Academy was established within the borders of
2309
1 New York State, on the banks of the Hudson River;
2 and
3 "WHEREAS, The academy and its
4 graduates are an integral part of the proud
5 history of this state and nation; and
6 "WHEREAS, The leadership and
7 sacrifices of the members of the Long Gray Line
8 have helped this country withstand countless
9 threats to our cherished democratic way of life;
10 and
11 "WHEREAS, The alumni have excelled
12 not only on the battlefield but in many fields of
13 endeavor; and
14 "WHEREAS, The academy continues to
15 provide our country with able and dedicated
16 future leaders; and
17 "WHEREAS, Its scenic campus is a
18 mecca each year for thousands of visitors from
19 across our state, continent and other countries;
20 and
21 "WHEREAS, The United States Military
22 Academy is in the forefront of our state's
23 outstanding institutions of higher learning; and
24 "WHEREAS, Sixty-five years ago, the
25 late James T. McNamara, then a member of the
2310
1 New York State Assembly, and a member of the
2 academy's class of 1939, was the author of the
3 State Legislature's first West Point Day
4 resolution; and
5 "WHEREAS, For decades, our nation
6 has enjoyed the legacy of freedom and the
7 United States Military Academy at West Point has
8 played a vitally significant role in the
9 maintenance of peace and freedom; and
10 "WHEREAS, The members of this
11 Legislative Body are proud to commemorate this
12 event, marking May 3, 2017, as West Point Day in
13 New York State; now, therefore, be it
14 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
15 Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate the
16 establishment of the United States Military
17 Academy at West Point and to memorialize Governor
18 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 3, 2017, as
19 West Point Day in New York State; and be it
20 further
21 "RESOLVED, That a copy of this
22 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
23 the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the
24 State of New York."
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
2311
1 Larkin.
2 SENATOR LARKIN: Good morning,
3 Mr. President. What a great day. We have
4 America's future right here in the palm of our
5 hand.
6 Please, cadets, stand up and let
7 everybody thank you.
8 (Standing ovation.)
9 SENATOR LARKIN: Boy, you can't
10 beat that, can you?
11 You know, from an old mustang, one
12 of those guys that started out as a private, in
13 23 years I never once served with, lead, or
14 followed a leader from the United States Military
15 Academy that didn't -- they always remembered
16 what the chaplain said: Duty, honor, and
17 country.
18 What you've given up to be first
19 class in leading our nation. You know, a lot of
20 your friends, they graduated from high school,
21 they went to college, and they called you up and
22 said, I'm coming home Friday, "Let's go out and
23 have a few beers." And you say to them, "You
24 know, I have an M16 that wants me to clean her up
25 a little bit, so I guess I'd better stay here."
2312
1 Your commitment.
2 You know, think about how many
3 started with your class and how many are here
4 today -- because we will only graduate the best
5 of America. You are driven by your desire to
6 serve your country.
7 You know, I tell everybody there
8 really is a Larkin in the Class of '52, John
9 Larkin. And he used to say to me, after we
10 finally met, he said, "You know how much buckets
11 of water I carried for you?" I said, "Yeah, but
12 you know how many days I walked in your shoes?"
13 Ladies and gentlemen, we're lucky
14 here today. You know, two days in a row, the
15 United States military came here to the Capitol.
16 Yesterday, Patty Ritchie did one super, super
17 deal for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain. Today,
18 the superintendent of the United States Military
19 Academy.
20 And you notice he has a little badge
21 on here, the Tropic Lightning. When I was with
22 them, we used to say "Nijigo" {ph}. Twenty-fifth
23 Infantry Division.
24 He's a leader. Just look at him.
25 See where he's been. And that's the kind of a
2313
1 man that these troops look to.
2 Everything that our country has
3 done, members of the Long Gray Line have been
4 there. Why? Because they made a commitment: I
5 will represent this country, and I will defend
6 it. Why? Because I'm proud to be an American,
7 and I will always live by the code "duty, honor
8 and country."
9 God bless you each and every one of
10 you.
11 (Standing ovation.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 Flanagan.
14 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Order,
17 please, in the house.
18 SENATOR FLANAGAN: It is not easy
19 to ever follow Senator Colonel Larkin.
20 Now, I see our cadets. Lieutenant
21 Governor, welcome to you and your staff. And I
22 see a lot of young people seated up here in our
23 balcony. You're witnessing democracy in action,
24 and this is your government. This is your State
25 Capitol, this is one of the finest military
2314
1 institutions in the world, not just here in
2 New York State.
3 Now, for you young whippersnappers,
4 as we may say, I want to tell you that our
5 colleague here, Senator Larkin, is 89 years
6 young. Come on, give him a round of applause
7 just for that.
8 (Applause.)
9 SENATOR FLANAGAN: Sharp as a tack,
10 full of vim and vigor, and a leader. And a
11 leader in so many different ways. You want to
12 sit down someday and talk to him about the Purple
13 Heart Hall of Fame, which resides in his
14 district? It is a fabulous, fabulous
15 institution.
16 So I want to -- as a backdrop, we
17 have a number of our colleagues who have actually
18 served on active duty. I see Senator Ortt here,
19 who has served with distinction. Betty Little
20 beams and glows when she can talk about her son,
21 who has had a very lengthy, exemplary career in
22 the military. Pam Helming just reminded me that
23 her son is a 2011 graduate of West Point. So we
24 have a lot of people who have an affinity. Neil
25 Breslin, his brother is a graduate and he wears
2315
1 that as a badge of honor on behalf of his family.
2 But I want to tell you a quick
3 story. When I first got elected, I was
4 25 years old, and I was working with one of my
5 Democratic Congress members at the time, his name
6 was Bob Mrazek. So Congressman Mrazek had the
7 opportunity to help make appointments -- don't
8 get mad at me -- but he had the opportunity to
9 make appointments to the Naval Academy. And I
10 sat in on probably 300 interviews over the course
11 of four or five years. I was in awe, I was in
12 absolute awe of the caliber of the people that we
13 were interviewing.
14 Now remember, I said I got elected
15 when I was 25, and I'm interviewing some of those
16 young men and women and thinking, I was a
17 complete slacker in high school compared to what
18 these young men and women had accomplished.
19 But, you know, I looked at -- took a
20 quick look -- Senator Murphy enlightened me, I
21 saw that we have a colleague, I want to make sure
22 I'm getting the names correctly, First Captain
23 Hugh McConnell, who is from Kansas. And Captain,
24 like they say, you're not in Kansas anymore,
25 you're here in New York. And we welcome your
2316
1 presence.
2 But I look at the backgrounds.
3 Extracurricular activities, McConnell is -- they
4 have strength training. I thought everybody did
5 strength training. You must be a maniac if
6 that's the kind of stuff you have in your
7 background. CS track and cross-country, another
8 member with strength training, somebody who's a
9 major in economics and Chinese, another with a
10 Spanish minor and speech -- the diversity of
11 what's here. Floor hockey, boxing, women's
12 rugby. Society of Women Engineers, American
13 Chemical Society, major in chemistry. And who's
14 the guy that plays water polo? Cavotti. Yeah,
15 you look -- we're going to bring you to the bar
16 the next time we go out. We could use somebody
17 like you there.
18 (Laughter.)
19 SENATOR FLANAGAN: But let me close
20 with this. I read -- and we all get notes.
21 Colonel Larkin could probably describe this in
22 his sleep.
23 I want to thank you, Lieutenant
24 General, for your leadership. I find when I meet
25 somebody of your caliber, frankly I welcome the
2317
1 opportunity to work with you and be a subordinate
2 to you in terms of what you advocate on behalf of
3 our country. And I know you have a great crop of
4 leaders here. So thank you for your leadership.
5 And to all these young men and
6 women, the West Point mission, simple but
7 profound: To educate, train and inspire the
8 Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a
9 commissioned leader of character committed to the
10 values of duty, honor, country and prepared for a
11 career of professional excellence and service to
12 the nation as an officer in the United States
13 Army.
14 Ladies and gentlemen, God bless you
15 and thank you for who you are, what you're doing,
16 and what you will do to protect our democracy
17 here in the great United States of America.
18 Mr. President, thank you.
19 (Applause.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
21 you, Senator Flanagan.
22 Senator Bonacic.
23 SENATOR BONACIC: Thank you,
24 Mr. President.
25 Let me start by thanking
2318
1 Senator Larkin for keeping up the West Point
2 tradition. But he does much more than that.
3 Every day when he's in Albany, he teaches about
4 patriotism and courage and sacrifice. And that's
5 all the qualities that you embody.
6 I would like to start by introducing
7 a cadet from my district. Jared Rivera, would
8 you please stand up? Jared is from Goshen, in
9 Orange County. He speaks Persian and Russian.
10 He'll graduate in 2019. And he's prepared to go
11 on any mission where they send him to defend our
12 freedoms and our way of life.
13 And I want to thank all of you for
14 that, and may the Lord always keep you safe.
15 Thank you, Mr. President.
16 (Applause.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
18 Breslin.
19 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you very
20 much, Mr. President.
21 And I too salute you, Colonel
22 Larkin. I salute you for what you do each and
23 every day to bring to our attention not only our
24 duty to respond to national crises, but pointing
25 out that the U.S. Military Academy is a very,
2319
1 very special place.
2 And I spend this one day a year --
3 there's rivalries in families, and I come from a
4 very big Irish family and we tend not to
5 acknowledge the accomplishments of any of our
6 siblings, nor do they -- well, maybe I haven't
7 had any.
8 (Laughter.)
9 SENATOR BRESLIN: But my brother
10 Michael, I always single this one day out. He's
11 class of 1961, a Vietnam veteran who went from
12 West Point to jump school, ranger school, jungle
13 warfare school, air transportation school, jump
14 master school, and achieved the rank of major at
15 27 in the Airborne Infantry, received a
16 Bronze Star and other medals in Vietnam, and came
17 back and taught counterinsurgency in Panama to
18 South American officers in Spanish -- and while I
19 was home enjoying four years of leisurely college
20 and not thinking of any of my major
21 responsibilities.
22 So on this one day -- and without
23 his knowledge, I will pass along that each and
24 every day I look up to my brother for what he's
25 done. And he's just one representative of a
2320
1 tremendous class at West Point each and every
2 year.
3 And I have -- I have a special new
4 friend from my district. Preston, would you
5 stand up, please? Preston Butler, who's in his
6 first year. But when you read Preston's
7 accomplishments throughout high school -- you
8 know, Senator Flanagan, you pointed out -- and
9 I'm just as self-conscious about what I did in
10 high school when I read what Preston did. How he
11 could have accomplished straight A's while
12 playing lacrosse, boxing, participating in
13 student activities, and then kind of being casual
14 about them when you talk to him.
15 And Preston, I am sure, after our
16 conversations, that you are on the precipice of
17 being one of those cadets that's very special.
18 And you've been blessed with a special
19 personality, with real quality parts of you that
20 will make you a superlative officer in the
21 United States Army, as your fellow cadets will do
22 the same.
23 I salute you. I thank you for your
24 service. I thank Colonel Larkin for continually
25 bringing it to our attention. And this is a very
2321
1 special West Point Day.
2 And I'm happy to talk about my
3 brother, because he's not here and I don't want
4 him to know what I said about him.
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR BRESLIN: Thank you very
7 much.
8 (Applause.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
10 Addabbo.
11 SENATOR ADDABBO: Thank you,
12 Mr. President.
13 Good morning. As a ranking member
14 of the Senate Veterans Committee, working with
15 our good chairman, Senator Tom Croci, I want to
16 welcome our cadets and graduates from West Point.
17 Two hundred fifteen years ago, 215 years ago the
18 Long Gray Line was created and began at
19 West Point, which leads us -- every year, that
20 Long Gray Line leads here to our chambers in
21 Albany. We welcome them.
22 And so much has changed in 215
23 years. Right? So much has changed in 215 years
24 except those values. Duty, honor and country has
25 never changed. It remains the same for those
2322
1 cadets and the graduates before them. And those
2 graduates before them, we know their names.
3 Right? Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, and of
4 course General Schwarzkopf.
5 And I would be remiss and probably
6 in big trouble with my mother if I don't
7 acknowledge a classmate of General Schwarzkopf
8 who is here with us today, Class of 1956, Army
9 Brigadier General -- and my Uncle Leo -- Luciano
10 Salamone. Uncle Leo.
11 (Applause.)
12 SENATOR ADDABBO: I want to thank
13 our special graduate of West Point, Senator
14 Colonel Bill Larkin. Senator Larkin, thank you
15 so much for not only for your commitment and
16 dedication to our entire state, but to our
17 country. Thank you so much.
18 To all the cadets, thank you for the
19 path that you have chosen. God bless you. Thank
20 you so much.
21 Thank you, Mr. President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
23 you, Senator Addabbo.
24 Senator LaValle.
25 SENATOR LaVALLE: Thank you,
2323
1 Mr. President.
2 I want to start off by thanking
3 Senator Colonel Bill Larkin, who makes sure that
4 this event goes on every year, that it's done
5 properly, that the cadets are center stage.
6 And cadets, Senator Larkin makes
7 sure that West Point, in whatever way we can
8 serve it, makes sure that it gets everything that
9 it should get and that you as cadets are really
10 appreciated each and every day.
11 He's a remarkable individual. You
12 should look up his bio, because he really --
13 there's someone there that can be a role model.
14 I also want to acknowledge James
15 Murphy, who comes from the great Village of Port
16 Jefferson, where I live. And I am standing here,
17 James, on behalf of all 8800 Port Jefferson
18 residents to say we are very proud of your
19 achievements thus far. And just remember each
20 and every day, make sure that you are serving
21 yourself, your family, and the great community
22 that you were brought up in. Good luck.
23 (Applause.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
25 Amedore.
2324
1 SENATOR AMEDORE: Thank you,
2 Mr. President.
3 And I too want to thank Colonel
4 Larkin. Senator Larkin lives, eats, drinks,
5 sleeps, breathes West Point every day of his life
6 here. And he reminds us of this important day.
7 And I thank him for carrying on this
8 tradition, because I think this is very important
9 for all of us who are in the State Senate and
10 government, to really connect with those men and
11 women who are our future leaders, who have
12 dedicated their entire future lives -- to put
13 yourself in harm's way, or not, you have our
14 backs. And we're supposed to have yours. So I
15 want to thank Senator Larkin.
16 But I also want to call out a
17 particular individual that I'm proud to welcome
18 and to introduce today, because this individual,
19 this cadet, Cadet Benjamin Denn, is part of a
20 family tradition of West Point, but it's also in
21 his family because he is the third brother of his
22 family who will graduate and has graduated from
23 West Point -- his brother Will, who will be going
24 off to Afghanistan, and his brother Dan, who is
25 already in South Korea. And imagine what his
2325
1 folks -- their folks -- are going through, the
2 prayers and the thoughts that are with them.
3 And I want to introduce someone
4 who's equally as special, and that's Cadet Denn's
5 father. If you could please rise, Bill, too.
6 And we want to thank you for raising --
7 (Applause.)
8 SENATOR AMEDORE: -- raising your
9 sons to be part of that Long Gray Line of our
10 rich history of this country, leaders.
11 So to Cadet Denn, you are a Yuk
12 right now, but you will be moving on shortly.
13 And I want to thank you for your sacrifice, your
14 determination, and your leadership, and believing
15 that God has truly blessed us in this nation with
16 our freedoms and liberties because we believe in
17 duty, honor, and country.
18 God bless you all. Thank you.
19 (Applause.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
21 Latimer.
22 SENATOR LATIMER: Thank you,
23 Mr. President.
24 As with all of us in the Senate, we
25 begin by complimenting Colonel Larkin, to thank
2326
1 him for his lifelong commitment to American
2 values and the leadership and the service that
3 you've shown to America. Every member of this
4 chamber, Bill, respects you and loves you for
5 that commitment that you've made.
6 We are here as well to recognize, in
7 my case, two individuals who live in Westchester
8 County, both from my district.
9 I first ask Cadet Jenny Wang to
10 stand. And Jenny is the very proud daughter of
11 Tony Wang and Erin Li in the town of Mamaroneck.
12 Her resume is extremely impressive. A graduate
13 of Horace Mann School, she has an academic major
14 in life science and law and her activities are
15 Premed Society, Soldiers for Civilians. My
16 activities were shooting hoop with my friends.
17 Jenny is a disciplined and wonderful example of
18 what we have graduating and serving as a cadet.
19 She is in the Class of 2020 and has great respect
20 from all who know her.
21 Congratulations, Cadet Wang, for
22 being with us today. Thank you for your service.
23 (Applause.)
24 SENATOR LATIMER: Mr. President, I
25 have the added honor of asking Cadet Jordan
2327
1 Johnson to stand. A resident of Katonah, Jordan
2 is the proud daughter of Bradley and Sandra
3 Johnson. She is a member of the graduating class
4 of 2018, a graduate of John Jay Cross River High
5 School. Her major is chemistry. And she has
6 been active in her extracurricular activities in
7 the American Chemical Society and the Society of
8 Women Engineers. Once again, both academic and
9 all other types of pursuits that show the fine
10 young American that she is and will be as a
11 member of the armed services.
12 Cadet Johnson, you also have our
13 respect and our appreciation for your service.
14 Thank you, Mr. President.
15 (Applause.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
17 Little.
18 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 And I just want to briefly thank you
21 very much for all the effort that you've put into
22 getting an appointment to West Point as well as
23 the difficulties and your achievement in the
24 rigorous academic parts of West Point. But you
25 will end up with an absolutely wonderful
2328
1 education, not only academically but in
2 leadership roles as well.
3 I am a proud Navy mom, but I was
4 even happy to see Army win for once, so --
5 (Laughter.)
6 SENATOR LITTLE: Just for once,
7 though. We'll go along with that.
8 But I know how proud I am of my son
9 for his 27 years as a naval aviator. And your
10 families I am sure are so proud of you, as we are
11 to host West Point in New York State.
12 So thank you for all you have done
13 so far, and thank you for the service that you
14 are going to be giving to our country. You will
15 be in our thoughts and prayers.
16 (Applause.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: I thought
18 you were going to end that with "Go Army,"
19 Senator Little.
20 SENATOR LITTLE: Never.
21 (Laughter.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Jacobs.
24 SENATOR JACOBS: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
2329
1 It is a tremendous privilege and
2 honor for New York State to be the home of the
3 nation's first military academy, the
4 United States Military Academy at West Point.
5 The leaders and statesmen that have been trained
6 at West Point since its establishment in 1802 are
7 as legendary as their accomplishments and their
8 impact on the history and the course of our great
9 nation.
10 True to their motto "duty, honor,
11 country," that tradition of educating the very
12 best and brightest of young Americans and
13 training and preparing them to lead our country
14 and our troops in a very challenging and complex
15 world that continues on today.
16 One of those best and brightest is a
17 constituent of mine from Buffalo who is here
18 today. I would like to recognize Cadet Morgan
19 Aiken of the Class of 2019. Cadet, if you would
20 stand.
21 (Applause.)
22 SENATOR JACOBS: Cadet Aiken is
23 from the Kenmore-Tonawanda area in my district.
24 She's a graduate of Buffalo Seminary, which is
25 about a block away from my home. She's majoring
2330
1 now in law, with a minor in Spanish. In part of
2 her extracurricular activities, she is active in
3 the Corbin Forum at West Point. The mission of
4 the Corbin Forum is to educate, empower and
5 inspire the Corps of Cadets to serve as
6 commissioned leaders of character by facilitating
7 discussion of gender-specific issues with the
8 Corps, the Army, and by providing opportunities
9 for education, mentoring, and networking in
10 support of cadet, staff and faculty.
11 Cadet Aiken, I want to congratulate
12 you and all your fellow cadets on the wonderful
13 accomplishment of being selected to West Point,
14 and thank you for the great commitment that you
15 will be making to our country and our nation.
16 Thank you very much.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Serino.
20 SENATOR SERINO: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 I would just like to take a quick
23 moment to thank my constituent, Cadet Matt
24 Anderson. Matt, please rise. Thank you.
25 Matt hails from Poughkeepsie, in
2331
1 Dutchess County.
2 And just talking to you for the
3 brief amount of time that we had, I know you have
4 an amazingly bright future ahead of you. And
5 thank you so much for protecting our country and
6 our community.
7 So thank you for your service for
8 all of the cadets.
9 And I'd also especially like to
10 thank our Colonel Larkin. You know, we call this
11 West Point Day. I call it Colonel Larkin's Day.
12 When you hear him speak, you hear his heart and
13 his passion for protecting our country. And I
14 just want to say God bless you, and God bless you
15 to our cadets.
16 Thank you so much.
17 (Applause.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
19 Marchione.
20 SENATOR MARCHIONE: Thank you,
21 Mr. President.
22 I too want to add my voice and my
23 congratulations and thanks to the cadets. I
24 don't have a cadet here who lives within my
25 district, but each and every one of you are
2332
1 representative of everyone here, and every
2 American, and I just wanted to stand up and say
3 thank you.
4 Thank you, Colonel, as well for
5 doing this. You are an inspiration to all of us.
6 But I do have someone up front that
7 I would like to ask to stand, and that's
8 Chris Bast. Chris and I have been friends for
9 many, many years. I had no idea that he was a
10 1964 graduate of West Point.
11 And when we talk about leaders with
12 character and we talk about good neighbors and we
13 talk about tremendous partners and we talk people
14 who inspire us, Chris Bast would be the person
15 who would come to mind for me. An exceptional
16 businessman, a man who cares about his community.
17 So not only do these cadets go
18 forward and protect us in harm's way, but when
19 they get out, they continue to serve their
20 community and be the leaders that we look up to.
21 Thank you so very much for what
22 you're doing, what you will be doing for us. And
23 Chris, thank you so much for being the good
24 partner and neighbor that you have been in my
25 district.
2333
1 Thank you, Mr. President.
2 (Applause.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
4 Tedisco.
5 SENATOR TEDISCO: I too first of
6 all want to thank Senator and Colonel Larkin for
7 your service to the United States of America and
8 for your service to the constituents of New York
9 State and this great Senate body, and your
10 leadership.
11 I simply want to say personally to
12 the cadets, thank you for being a part of and for
13 being willing to believe a part of the best, the
14 brightest, the most courageous, the most
15 compassionate fighting force in the whole world,
16 the United States military forces, the armed
17 forces. God bless you, and stay safe.
18 Thank you, Mr. President.
19 (Applause.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
21 Murphy.
22 SENATOR MURPHY: Thank you,
23 Mr. President.
24 And thank you, Colonel. This is
25 always one of those exceptional days up here at
2334
1 the Capitol.
2 And General Caslen, thank you for
3 your outstanding leadership.
4 I just wanted to add one thing,
5 congratulations on your national championship in
6 boxing this year. You did it. I was up with the
7 Brigades. It was quite an event up there, from
8 the girl's boxing to the heavyweight.
9 And I wish you all the best. Be
10 safe, may God look over you in your endeavors in
11 life. It's just exceptional. The leadership
12 that you provide is going to be outstanding for
13 the United States of America. And may God always
14 look over you.
15 Thank you, Mr. President.
16 (Applause.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Is there
18 any other member that wishes to be recognized?
19 I will now call upon Senator
20 DeFrancisco to close.
21 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, thank
22 you for being here. And more importantly, thank
23 you for being who you are.
24 We've heard a lot of talk about
25 West Point and about your accomplishments and the
2335
1 like. But let me tell you what this day means to
2 me every year. It means to me that there's hope
3 for this country. You can't turn the TV on at
4 any time without seeing examples of bad,
5 ridiculous, horrible behavior by people who have
6 the philosophy "me first, what can you do for me,
7 you're not doing enough for me."
8 To come here to see the sacrifices
9 you're making, and to know that after you
10 graduate the odds are you're going to be in a
11 theater of combat within a year or two, and
12 knowing your young ages -- in fact you're younger
13 than most of my suits.
14 (Laughter.)
15 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: And the fact
16 of the matter is you're showing an example not
17 only for other young people who have taken
18 different avenues to what they consider
19 leadership -- which is not -- that you're giving
20 the example for not only the young people, but
21 for us as well. Because we can pause in our
22 deliberations and realize this country is in
23 great shape and you're going to make sure it's
24 even better.
25 Thank you for your commitment, and
2336
1 thank you for your service.
2 (Applause.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 resolution was previously adopted on May 2nd of
5 2017.
6 Everyone will be listed as a
7 cosponsor. If you choose not to be listed as a
8 cosponsor, please notify the desk.
9 I would like to say that it has been
10 an honor to welcome, host, and extend the
11 privileges of the Senate to the Superintendent,
12 the officers, and the cadets of the United States
13 Military Academy. We extend our sincere
14 gratitude for your bravery, for your sacrifice,
15 and for your service to our nation. We wish you
16 well, and Godspeed.
17 Please stand be and recognized.
18 (Standing ovation.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
20 DeFrancisco.
21 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now
22 take up previously adopted Resolution 1047, by
23 Senator Griffo, read the title only, and call on
24 Senator Savino to speak, please.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
2337
1 Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
3 Resolution Number 1047, by Senator Griffo,
4 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
5 proclaim May 2017 as Lupus Awareness Month in the
6 State of New York.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
8 Savino.
9 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you,
10 Mr. President.
11 I want to thank Senator Griffo for
12 bringing this resolution, as he does every year
13 now, he and I together. And I believe Senator
14 Parker usually joins us in our Lupus awareness
15 activities.
16 We are joined today by members from
17 the six groups, the six lupus agencies of
18 New York State -- they're here in the gallery
19 above me -- from the Lupus and Allied Disease
20 Association, the Lupus Alliance of Upstate
21 New York, the Lupus Alliance of Long Island and
22 Queens, the Lupus Friends and Family Association,
23 the Lupus Foundation of America, and the Lupus
24 Research Alliance.
25 As we know, lupus is a chronic and
2338
1 debilitating autoimmune disease that causes
2 inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every
3 organ system in the body. There is no known
4 cause or cure. It is very difficult to diagnose
5 because it mimics many other diseases.
6 It disproportionately affects women.
7 It disproportionately affects women of color. It
8 takes many years to diagnose. Many women suffer
9 up to four or five years before a doctor is able
10 to pinpoint that they have lupus.
11 Most lupus patients take up to 20
12 different prescription drugs to deal with the
13 chronic pain that they suffer with.
14 Lupus costs the United States of
15 America up to $31 billion every year in
16 healthcare costs.
17 As I said, it's an extremely complex
18 and difficult disease that requires a very high
19 level of intensive research and study. It is so
20 difficult and complex that Congress is actually
21 focusing on it. They have a bipartisan 57-member
22 Congressional caucus on lupus, seven of whom are
23 members of the New York State delegation.
24 Representatives Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey, Sean
25 Patrick Maloney, Greg Meeks, Louise Slaughter,
2339
1 Richard Hanna, and Pete King all belong to that
2 caucus.
3 But there's hope. It is not all bad
4 news. Awareness and education activities are
5 making a difference. Last year, Governor Cuomo
6 finally signed a piece of legislation that this
7 house passed more than once, after the Assembly
8 joined us, my legislation creating the Lupus
9 Education and Outreach Program in the Health
10 Department.
11 We have another bill passed here in
12 the Senate, we included it in our Senate
13 one-house, that would create a lupus research
14 enhancement program and fund, but the Assembly
15 did not see fit this year to join us on that.
16 We're going to continue working on that. We hope
17 to get it done before the end of session.
18 I'm also happy to announce that some
19 good stuff does come out of Washington every now
20 and then; it's not all bad news. In their
21 federal budget extender, they did include
22 $7 million in the Defense Department
23 appropriations for lupus programs, and committed
24 another $34 billion for biomedical research.
25 So I remain confident that all of
2340
1 our work here in this Legislature, the dedication
2 of some of our members -- as I mentioned, Senator
3 Parker has worked on this issue, Senator Griffo
4 and others. We do have colleagues in the
5 Assembly -- Crystal Peoples-Stokes has worked on
6 it -- who are committed to raising lupus
7 awareness, making sure that women understand that
8 this disease exists, to talk to their doctors
9 about it, don't ignore the symptoms, get tested,
10 get treatment, do it early. That is the best way
11 to combat this disease that far too many people
12 are suffering with.
13 I thank you, Mr. President, for the
14 purpose of the opportunity to speak on lupus
15 awareness.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: I thank
17 you, Senator Savino, for your willingness to
18 speak on the issue and to tend to the resolution
19 before the house. It was previously adopted on
20 March 21st of 2017.
21 At this point we'd like to extend
22 our gratitude and recognize all of the
23 organizations who are here today that continue to
24 do good work on behalf of trying to create
25 awareness and to continually deal with the
2341
1 problem of lupus. So please stand and be
2 recognized, and we appreciate your efforts.
3 (Applause.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
5 resolution is open for cosponsorship. If you
6 would like to be a cosponsor, please notify the
7 desk.
8 Senator DeFrancisco.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, could
10 you please recognize Senator Valesky.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Valesky.
13 SENATOR VALESKY: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 On behalf of Senator Alcantara, I
16 move that Senate Bill 5637 be discharged from its
17 respective committee and be recommitted with
18 instructions to strike the enacting clause.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: It is so
20 ordered.
21 Senator DeFrancisco.
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, could
23 you please take up two previously adopted
24 resolutions sponsored by Senator Tedisco, 1206
25 and 1207, read the titles together, and then call
2342
1 on Senator Tedisco to speak on both together.
2 Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 Secretary will read.
5 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
6 Resolution Number 1206, by Senator Tedisco,
7 congratulating scholar-athlete Jillian Shippee
8 upon the occasion of capturing the 2017
9 New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship in the
10 Weight Throw.
11 And Legislative Resolution Number
12 1207, by Senator Tedisco, congratulating the
13 Shenendehowa High School Girls 3200-Meter Relay
14 Team and Coach Robert Cloutier upon the occasion
15 of winning the New York State Championship.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
17 Tedisco.
18 SENATOR TEDISCO: Thank you,
19 Mr. President.
20 I think it's clear from what we've
21 seen today, the individuals who we've already
22 introduced and over this past session, over the
23 many years, from our senatorial districts we're
24 all very proud of individuals, groups and teams
25 who have achieved outstanding goals and
2343
1 successes.
2 Myself and Senator Marchione, from
3 the 43rd Senate District, and me from the
4 49th Senate District, have the opportunity to
5 share an outstanding school district, the
6 Shenendehowa School District. And there are five
7 athletes, their coaches and their family members
8 -- an outstanding aunt who actually wrote these
9 resolutions; I'll talk a little bit about that as
10 I go through them -- who are here today that
11 we're passing the resolutions and honoring them.
12 And I'd like to say to you,
13 Mr. President and my colleagues, please welcome
14 the 2017 New York State Public High School
15 Athletic Association Champions and the Federation
16 Champions from Shenendehowa High School, the
17 Girls 3200-Meter Relay Team, and the National
18 Indoor Weight Throw Champion and record-holder in
19 the shot put.
20 The Shenendehowa Girls 3200-Meter
21 Relay Team captured the state championship with
22 an outstanding time of 9 minutes flat, setting a
23 state meet record, a Section 2 record, and a
24 Shenendehowa School District record.
25 After clinching the state title,
2344
1 Shen advanced to the New Balance Nationals Indoor
2 Track and Field Meet, where they had a
3 third-place finish with a remarkable time of
4 9:08:85, granting them All-American status.
5 The indoor track team was coached by
6 Robert Cloutier, and Scott Dochat was the team's
7 head throwing coach. And they're both here today
8 up with the team.
9 And I'm going to try to do the
10 members' names justice here, but I'm going to
11 apologize already before I do have a little bit
12 of difficulty with the pronunciations. I'll do
13 my best. The members of this outstanding team
14 with us today are Jade Dennis -- that's the easy
15 one -- who is a freshman on the team; Julia
16 Zachgo, a senior -- so-so on that one; Olivia
17 Lomascolo, and she is a junior; and Hannah Reale,
18 a junior.
19 Also today with us for the team is
20 Jill Shippee, who captured the 2017 New Balance
21 Nationals Indoor Championship in the Weight
22 Throw. Jill holds the all-time New York State
23 weight throw record with an incredible distance
24 of 65 feet, 6 inches, and the New York State shot
25 put record of 43 feet, 10.5 inches.
2345
1 Now, I told Jill and the group here
2 today that I was a basketball player. I can't
3 even throw a leather basketball as far as she
4 throws those heavy weights. So that's a
5 tremendous feat, and tremendous records.
6 She's a three-time All-American.
7 Jill rates second all-time in the United States
8 for high school weight throw. Jill has a special
9 connection with the Senate, as her aunt, Karen
10 Habel, works in bill drafting and helps write
11 many of the resolutions that we introduce. And
12 Karen of course wrote these two resolutions and
13 did a tremendous job, as she always does. And of
14 course they passed unanimously.
15 Mr. President, please welcome, from
16 a wonderful school district in the 49th Senate
17 District, the Shenendehowa Girls Indoor Track
18 Team and their coaches and their loved ones and
19 their families -- and their aunt, of course --
20 and please extend them all the cordialities of
21 this august chamber.
22 Before you do that, Senator
23 Marchione -- I was the beast, now she's the
24 beauty and the brains, as I told them -- she's
25 going to say a few words about these outstanding
2346
1 student-athletes, who are also part of her Senate
2 district.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
4 Marchione.
5 SENATOR MARCHIONE: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 It's a pleasure to congratulate
8 these girls on their accomplishments.
9 You know, we had an opportunity
10 before we came into chambers to talk with the
11 girls and their parents and their families. What
12 outstanding individuals. You know, when we go
13 and we talk to children and they're younger, we
14 say you're going to be something bigger than
15 yourself, you're going to be part of a team.
16 These girls, these relay teammates, just emanate
17 what a team should be.
18 I told them, you know, when someone
19 comes in and they've won a state championship, it
20 is something we really honor here. It is a huge
21 accomplishment that they will take with them for
22 the rest of their lives. And when Jillian comes
23 in, and she is a national champion -- a national
24 champion here in our chambers -- what a
25 tremendous accomplishment.
2347
1 And you know, I looked at Jillian's
2 record, and she is the president of her class.
3 She's a National Honor Society member. She's
4 just a scholar. And these girls just emanate
5 what our young people are. And we don't
6 recognize how much our young people -- as we just
7 saw with West Point, and now we see with these
8 young ladies -- how much they try and how
9 successful they are. Our future is in good hands
10 with people like them.
11 I want to thank Senator Tedisco. He
12 took the lead on this resolution. So thank you,
13 Senator, for working with me on this one.
14 And congratulations to yourselves,
15 to your families, and to your coaches. You did
16 an outstanding job and are tremendous athletes.
17 Thank you, Mr. President.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
19 you, Senator Marchione and Senator Tedisco.
20 The resolution was previously
21 adopted on March 28th of 2017. It is open for
22 cosponsorship. Should you choose to be a
23 cosponsor, please notify the desk.
24 We'd like to extend our
25 congratulations and best of luck to all of the
2348
1 student-athletes and the coaches of Shenendehowa.
2 We extend the privileges and courtesies of the
3 house. Thanks for being with us today.
4 Let's acknowledge them.
5 (Standing ovation.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
7 DeFrancisco.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now
9 take up previously adopted Resolution 875, read
10 it in its entirety, and call on Senator Hoylman
11 to speak on that.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
13 Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
15 Resolution Number 875 by Senator Hoylman,
16 honoring Jane Schreibman upon the occasion of her
17 designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
18 highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
19 New York State Senate.
20 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
21 Legislative Body to recognize the caring concern
22 and heroic acts of exemplary citizens who take
23 prompt and appropriate action in emergency
24 situations, and in doing so, help others to avert
25 life-threatening danger; and
2349
1 "WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern,
2 and in full accord with its long-standing
3 traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud
4 to honor Jane Schreibman upon the occasion of her
5 designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
6 highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
7 New York State Senate; and
8 "WHEREAS, The New York State Senate
9 Liberty Medal was established by resolution and
10 is awarded to individuals who have merited
11 special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or
12 humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow
13 New Yorkers; and
14 "WHEREAS, On the evening of
15 September 17, 2016, a bomb went off in a dumpster
16 on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues,
17 injuring 29 people and shattering windows in the
18 adjacent VISIONS at Selis Manor, a supportive
19 housing development for blind individuals; and
20 "WHEREAS, Jane Schreibman, who lives
21 four blocks north, received a call warning her of
22 this nearby explosion, and without hesitation or
23 regard for her own safety, headed outside to
24 assess the situation; and
25 "WHEREAS, Once outside, Jane
2350
1 Schreibman noticed a cooking pot arrayed with
2 wires left on her street; she promptly called
3 authorities, who utilized a police robot to
4 safely deactivate and remove the rigged device;
5 and
6 "WHEREAS, A resident on West 27th
7 Street in Chelsea for 36 years, Jane Schreibman's
8 quick thinking was instrumental in the successful
9 diversion of another explosion, saving countless
10 lives; and
11 "WHEREAS, Praised for her brave
12 actions, Jane Schreibman demonstrated her true
13 character and genuine compassion for the welfare
14 of others, personifying, by virtue of her
15 actions, the collective concern of ordinary
16 citizens across the community of the State of
17 New York who voluntarily respond when others are
18 in need; and
19 "WHEREAS, Justly recognized as a
20 hero, Jane Schreibman richly merits the
21 admiration of this Legislative Body and her
22 community for her consummate courage and heroic
23 actions; now, therefore, be it
24 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
25 Body pause in its deliberations to honor
2351
1 Jane Schreibman upon the occasion of her
2 designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
3 highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
4 New York State Senate; and be it further
5 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
6 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
7 Jane Schreibman."
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
9 Hoylman.
10 SENATOR HOYLMAN: Thank you,
11 Mr. President.
12 It is my profound honor to welcome
13 Jane Schreibman to the chamber today.
14 You know, Jane is really an everyday
15 hero living in extraordinary times. As you heard
16 in the resolution, she's a long-time resident of
17 my Senate district in Chelsea, where she lives on
18 27th Street. She's a rent-regulated tenant, and
19 this is her second visit to Albany. The first
20 time was about 30 years ago, when she came up to
21 lobby on the rent regulations. We're still
22 working on that.
23 And Jane, on that evening of
24 September 17, 2016, did an extraordinary thing
25 that benefited all of us. She saw a strange
2352
1 object just outside of her door. She said it
2 looked like a child's experiment. It was a shiny
3 pot with wires sticking out of it and a rectangle
4 with duct tape.
5 And she said, you know, it's
6 New York City, so you see a lot of junk on the
7 street. But she had the wisdom to think back to
8 what happened a couple of years before, a few
9 blocks North on 42nd Street, where some
10 individuals had seen a car packed with objects
11 and immediately called the police and averted
12 tragedy during that instance.
13 And the fourth thing she thought was
14 that slogan that has been emblazoned in our
15 minds, thanks to the MTA: "If you see something,
16 say something." And that's exactly what Jane
17 did. She picked up the phone, and she called
18 911.
19 And it's a lesson to us all. That
20 evening there had been another explosion, earlier
21 that night, on 23rd Street -- which as you heard
22 injured 27 people, some seriously. Who would
23 have thought that there might be another bomb a
24 few blocks away on 27th. What an odd place.
25 And I think some of us remember that
2353
1 the news accounts were such that two men from
2 Egypt, who worked for Egyptian Airlines, had
3 actually seen a suitcase on the street and
4 thought, We'll take that home. They took the
5 bomb out, left it for Jane to discover, and went
6 back to Egypt with the suitcase. Someone else
7 came by, a cyclist, and actually kicked the bomb.
8 Didn't call the police. But it took Jane
9 Schreibman to take that extra step to avert
10 tragedy.
11 So for your heroism, for your
12 conscientiousness, for caring about our
13 neighborhood, I'm so honored to have you here.
14 And, Mr. President, I wish that
15 you'd extend the privileges of our chamber to
16 Jane Schreibman.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
18 you, Senator Hoylman.
19 The resolution was previously
20 adopted on March 7th of 2017.
21 The Senator would like to open the
22 resolution for cosponsorship. Should you choose
23 to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
24 We would like to ask Jane to please
25 stand again. We want to recognize you for your
2354
1 actions and concern for our community.
2 (Standing ovation.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: We thank
4 you for paying attention and taking action.
5 Best of luck.
6 Senator DeFrancisco.
7 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now
8 take up the noncontroversial reading of the
9 calendar.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
13 237, by Senator Carlucci, Senate Print 4081, an
14 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
16 last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
18 act shall take effect on the 120th day.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Carlucci to explain his vote.
24 SENATOR CARLUCCI: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
2355
1 Every bill that I can possibly pay
2 by direct deposit, I try to do. I pay my water
3 bill, my electric bill, I pay my credit card bill
4 through direct deposit, I pay my mortgage. But,
5 Mr. President, the one bill that I can't pay is
6 my property tax bill. Unfortunately, in New York
7 State it's against the law -- outside of New York
8 City -- to pay your property tax bill through
9 direct deposit.
10 So what this legislation does is
11 move us into the 21st century. Really simple.
12 This will make it easier for property taxpayers
13 to pay their bill -- set it, forget it, not have
14 to worry about a late fee.
15 On top of that, we're also making it
16 easier for municipalities to streamline
17 government. Right now in New York State a town
18 can charge up to 1 percent to a school district
19 just for collecting their taxes. One percent.
20 That's big when we're talking about property
21 taxes. I've got three school districts in
22 Rockland County that get charged the full
23 1 percent.
24 So we're got to leave no stone
25 unturned when it comes to ways to lower property
2356
1 taxes in New York State. This sounds simple, but
2 it's something that we have to do. We've got to
3 pass this legislation to make it easy to
4 streamline government, make it easy for residents
5 to pay their property tax bill and lower the cost
6 of government altogether.
7 So, Mr. President, I'm supporting
8 this legislation and I thank my colleagues for
9 doing the same.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
11 Carlucci to be recorded in the affirmative.
12 Announce the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 267, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 3157, an act
18 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
20 last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
24 roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2357
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 1.
2 Senator Avella recorded in the negative.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 371, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2991, an
7 act to amend the Education Law.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2 --
11 SENATOR GIANARIS: Lay it aside.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Lay the
13 bill aside.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 524, by Senator Amedore, Senate Print 2481, an
16 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
18 last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
22 roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
2358
1 is passed.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 528, by Senator Ranzenhofer, Senate Print 5183,
4 an act to amend the Nonprofit Revitalization Act
5 of 2013.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
7 last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 540, substituted earlier by Member of the
18 Assembly Buchwald, Assembly Print 580, an act to
19 amend the Highway Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
25 roll.
2359
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 570, by Senator Tedisco, Senate Print 5393, an
7 act to amend Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
9 last section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
13 roll.
14 (The Secretary called the roll.)
15 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 598, by Senator Ortt, Senate Print 255, an act to
20 amend the Education Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
2360
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
5 is passed.
6 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
7 620, by Senator Ritchie, Senate Print 3652, an
8 act authorizing.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
10 a home-rule message present at the desk.
11 The Secretary will read the last
12 section.
13 THE SECRETARY: Section 6. This
14 act shall take effect immediately.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
16 roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 626, by Senator Little, Senate Print 1317, an act
23 to amend the Real Property Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
25 last section.
2361
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
8 is passed.
9 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
10 686, by Senator Alcantara, Senate Print 806, an
11 act to amend the Public Health Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
20 Alcantara to explain her vote.
21 SENATOR ALCANTARA: Thank you.
22 Thank you, Mr. President.
23 The purpose of this bill is to
24 direct the Department of Health to inform vendors
25 when a vendor's WIC application has been
2362
1 rejected. This is something that affects mostly
2 mom-and-pop small business owners all across the
3 State of New York. When they submit a check for
4 a WIC application, the check is rejected without
5 giving them an explanation.
6 This bill would allow a lot of those
7 mom-and-pop stores -- for the Department of
8 Health to give them an explanation on why their
9 WIC check was rejected.
10 Thank you.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Alcantara will be recorded in the affirmative.
13 Announce the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
16 is passed.
17 Senator DeFrancisco, that completes
18 the noncontroversial reading of today's
19 active-list calendar.
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now
21 take up the controversial reading of the
22 calendar.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
24 Secretary will ring the bell.
25 The Secretary will read.
2363
1 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
2 371, by Senator LaValle, Senate Print 2991, an
3 act to amend the Education Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
5 Krueger.
6 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
7 If the sponsor would please yield
8 for some questions.
9 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
11 LaValle, do you yield?
12 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
14 Senator yields.
15 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
16 The Senator and I did debate this
17 bill last year, but it's back again and I still
18 have, I think, similar concerns.
19 So I would like to ask the sponsor,
20 why would we want to pass legislation allowing
21 certain noncontiguous school districts to form a
22 central high school in Suffolk County?
23 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes. Senator,
24 let me start off by saying that one of the things
25 that I've been trying to do in my district is to
2364
1 do reorganization, whether it's consolidation,
2 centralization, and here, where we're trying to
3 create a central high school district.
4 There are a few central high school
5 districts on the Island. In Nassau County, there
6 are four. And what we're trying to do is to, in
7 the east end of my district -- and I know you
8 know that because you've visited through there on
9 your way to East Hampton. And all of these
10 districts by the way, you would be passing in
11 some way on your trip out to East Hampton.
12 And they are very, very small
13 districts. Some of them have about 400 students.
14 And so we're trying to get them to consolidate.
15 But all of them, as you have
16 indicated -- and what the legislation is trying
17 to do is if you are contiguous, you can make a
18 deal in some sort of reorganization. But here
19 you have districts that are to the east, and
20 those to -- some to the west, so they're not
21 contiguous.
22 So we're saying we want to put on
23 the table a form of reorganization that would be
24 easy for these districts and remove the one thing
25 that some of the districts have used as an excuse
2365
1 because they are not contiguous with suitors or
2 partners into a reorganization scheme -- here, a
3 central high school district.
4 SENATOR KRUEGER: Through you,
5 Mr. President, if the sponsor would continue to
6 yield.
7 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
9 sponsor yields.
10 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
11 So yes, I think -- I appreciate that
12 there are very good reasons to want to allow
13 regional high schools, particularly given the
14 fact that there are very small school districts,
15 as the sponsor explained, within his district.
16 And I have been in his district.
17 I'm not sure of the uniqueness of East Hampton.
18 I also have friends in the North Fork as well as
19 the South Fork, and relatives in the South Fork.
20 So I am --
21 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
22 Krueger, do you have a a question for him?
23 SENATOR KRUEGER: I do.
24 I am somewhat familiar with his
25 district.
2366
1 What I don't understand is why we
2 would need a bill that provides that 17 of these
3 districts would be allowed to participate in a
4 regional high school, but approximately --
5 there's approximately 30-something school
6 districts physically here contiguous, but we're
7 only allowing 17 to participate. Why aren't we
8 allowing any and all to choose to participate
9 rather, than limiting it to some subset of the
10 districts?
11 And when you look at the map of the
12 Senator's district, you see that you're actually
13 skipping over districts right in the middle of
14 districts that would be allowed to participate.
15 That's the part of the bill I'm concerned about.
16 SENATOR LaVALLE: That's --
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
18 LaValle.
19 SENATOR LaVALLE: That's a great
20 question.
21 Presently we have -- and I'm an
22 anomaly for Long Island, because I represent
23 common school districts, which means eight or
24 less teachers. Then we have union free
25 districts, which are eight or more. And then we
2367
1 have actually central districts, where they have
2 their own high school and elementary, junior
3 high.
4 The districts that you're talking
5 about are either union free or central districts.
6 So like Riverhead, Hampton Bays, and so forth.
7 So those districts do not fall into
8 the category of districts that we would earmark
9 as districts for reorganization because they have
10 been centralized, they have been, in one form or
11 another, reorganized.
12 SENATOR KRUEGER: Through you,
13 Mr. President, if the sponsor would yield --
14 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes.
15 SENATOR KRUEGER: -- for one
16 additional question.
17 SENATOR LaVALLE: Sure.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
19 sponsor yields.
20 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
21 So are there specific school
22 districts within your district that have
23 specifically asked for the authority to form a
24 central high school with only these 17 districts
25 listed?
2368
1 SENATOR LaVALLE: Yes. Yes,
2 indeed. We have districts like Tuckahoe,
3 Remsenburg-Speonk.
4 Then we have, for instance, in the
5 memo one of the districts that you're talking
6 about, West Hampton Beach, which is a large
7 district that takes many students from many other
8 districts.
9 We have -- I think I said Tuckahoe.
10 Sagaponack, Senator, is right outside of
11 East Hampton, and it is a common school district.
12 So these are the districts, the
13 common school districts, the smaller districts
14 that want to reorganize but can't because of the
15 law that says that the reorganization, to take
16 place, must be contiguous.
17 What we're really doing is
18 modernizing the law to recognize today's
19 situation that there are districts that are not
20 contiguous, not side by side, that want to
21 reorganize with other districts.
22 SENATOR KRUEGER: Through you,
23 Mr. President, on the bill.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
25 Krueger on the bill.
2369
1 SENATOR KRUEGER: Thank you.
2 I want to thank the sponsor for his
3 answers to my questions and explain why I'm
4 concerned about the precedent with this
5 legislation.
6 I agree we want to allow for
7 regional high schools. I agree we want to
8 modernize and allow the flexibility for school
9 districts to work together to create regional
10 high schools and to provide for both cost
11 efficiencies for their local district, a property
12 tax and school tax base, and also to allow for
13 some of the opportunities that come with a larger
14 regional high school versus small schools that
15 may not have either the resources or the student
16 body to support certain kinds of activities that
17 are important for high school students.
18 My concern with the language in this
19 bill and the way it's being laid out is that it
20 has the potential as a precedent, not just here
21 but in other parts of the state, that because
22 it's not allowing all districts to have the -- if
23 they're in a geographically contiguous area, to
24 have the opportunity to participate. If things
25 change and yesterday they didn't want to, but
2370
1 today they want to participate in a regional high
2 school, it doesn't allow them to.
3 And it puts the situation into law
4 where some group of districts might lock out
5 another district right in their midst, in the
6 middle of them, because for some reason they
7 didn't want children from a specific community,
8 perhaps of a specific background or a different
9 socioeconomic set, to participate in the regional
10 school they have developed.
11 So I think there are ways to do this
12 to address the needs of actually all parts of the
13 State of New York that we have heard from who
14 want to explore the advantages of regional high
15 schools. But I have to say I am not comfortable
16 still with voting for a bill that would allow
17 specific communities to lock out other
18 communities next door from participating in a
19 regional option if that were the story line.
20 Not knowing if that's the story line
21 here, but thinking there's a precedent and a
22 potential problem in having carve-outs of certain
23 communities within a geographic area exploring
24 shared educational participation and shared
25 regional high schools.
2371
1 So I will remain a no vote this
2 year, Mr. President. Thank you.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Seeing
4 and hearing no other Senator that wishes to be
5 heard, debate is closed.
6 The Secretary will ring the bell.
7 Read the last section.
8 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
9 act shall take effect immediately.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
11 roll.
12 (The Secretary called the roll.)
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
14 the results.
15 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
16 Calendar 371, those recorded in the negative are
17 Senators Bailey, Dilan, Hoylman, Krueger,
18 Persaud, Rivera, Serrano and Squadron.
19 Absent from voting: Senator
20 Hamilton.
21 Ayes, 50. Nays, 8.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
23 is passed.
24 Senator Ritchie, that completes the
25 controversial reading of today's active-list
2372
1 calendar.
2 SENATOR RITCHIE: Is there any
3 further business at the desk?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
5 no further business before the desk.
6 SENATOR RITCHIE: Then I move that
7 we adjourn until Monday, May 8th, at 3:00 p.m.,
8 intervening days being legislative days.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: On
10 motion, Senate will stand adjourned until Monday,
11 May 8th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being
12 legislative days.
13 The Senate stands adjourned.
14 (Whereupon, at 12:30 p.m., the
15 Senate adjourned.)
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