Regular Session - March 13, 2018
1020
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 March 13, 2018
11 4:00 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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16
17
18 SENATOR ELAINE PHILLIPS, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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25
1021
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and repeat with me the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Rabbi
9 Ya'akov Trump is with us today to give the
10 invocation. He is the Associate Rabbi of
11 Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, New York.
12 RABBI TRUMP: I'd like to recite a
13 prayer which has been said and is said every
14 Sabbath in synagogues across the country and in
15 Jewish history for over 800 years.
16 He that gives salvation to kings and
17 dominion to lords, He that he delivered His
18 servant David from the sword of the enemy, He
19 that made a way in the sea and a path in the
20 strong waters, bless and keep, preserve and
21 rescue, exalt and magnify, and lift up higher and
22 higher John J. Flanagan, Andrea Stewart-Cousins,
23 Jeffrey D. Klein, and all officials of this great
24 chamber.
25 King of Kings, defend them in His
1022
1 mercy, make them joyful and free them from all
2 dangers and distress.
3 On a personal note, to someone who
4 grew up from outside the United States of
5 America, I feel a great, deep sense of
6 appreciation every day for the system of
7 democracy, governmental transparency and
8 accountability, for it is together that we
9 succeed, together that we thrive. Our diversity
10 is our greatest success, but our unity the only
11 way to preserve it.
12 May God grant us the ability to work
13 together, the insight to stand our ground while
14 finding the ample common ground between us. May
15 He allow us to harness the collective wisdom of
16 this chamber to achieve far more than the sum of
17 the parts.
18 And let us say amen.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
20 you, Rabbi Trump.
21 The reading of the Journal.
22 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
23 March 12th, the Senate met pursuant to
24 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, March 11th,
25 was read and approved. On motion, Senate
1023
1 adjourned.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Without
3 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
4 Presentation of petitions.
5 Messages from the Assembly.
6 Messages from the Governor.
7 Reports of standing committees.
8 Reports of select committees.
9 Communications and reports from
10 state officers.
11 Motions and resolutions.
12 Senator DeFrancisco.
13 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I move to
14 adopt the Resolution Calendar, with the exception
15 of Resolutions 4108, 4084, 4060, 4061, 4062, 4063
16 and 4065.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: All in
18 favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, with
19 the exception of Resolutions 4108, 4084, 4060,
20 4061, 4062, 4063 and 4065, signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
23 Opposed, nay.
24 (No response.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
1024
1 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
2 Senator DeFrancisco.
3 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I now have a
4 motion. On page 29, I offer the following
5 amendments to Calendar 313, Senate Print 6853, by
6 me, and ask that said bill retain its place on
7 the Third Reading Calendar.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
9 amendments are received, and the bill will retain
10 its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
11 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Can we now go
12 to the reading of the noncontroversial calendar,
13 please.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
15 Secretary will read.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 216, by Senator Robach, Senate Print 7341, an act
18 to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
20 the last section.
21 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
22 act shall take effect immediately.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
24 the roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
1025
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
2 Announce the result.
3 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
4 Calendar 216, those recorded in the negative are
5 Senators Avella, Bailey, Brooks, Gianaris,
6 Hamilton, Hoylman, Kavanagh, Kennedy, Krueger,
7 Peralta, Persaud, Rivera, Sanders and Serrano.
8 Ayes, 39. Nays, 14.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
10 bill is passed.
11 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
12 357, by Senator Murphy, Senate Print 965, an act
13 to amend the Public Officers Law.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
15 the last section.
16 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
17 act shall take effect on the 45th day.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
19 the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
23 bill is passed.
24 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
25 365, by Senator Murphy, Senate Print 7431, an act
1026
1 to amend the Public Officers Law.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
3 the last section.
4 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
5 act shall take effect on the first of January.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
7 the roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
10 Announce the result.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
13 bill is passed.
14 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
15 395, by Senator Lanza, Senate Print 3537, an act
16 to amend the Real Property Law.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
18 the last section.
19 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
20 act shall take effect immediately.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
22 the roll.
23 (The Secretary called the roll.)
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
25 Announce the result.
1027
1 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
3 bill is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 407, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 1030A, an
6 act to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
8 the last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect immediately.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
12 the roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
15 Announce the result.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 53.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
18 bill is passed.
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 439, by Senator Savino, Senate Print 5696, an act
21 to amend the Labor Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
23 the last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
1028
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
2 the roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
5 Savino.
6 SENATOR SAVINO: Thank you, Madam
7 President.
8 I rise in support of this piece of
9 legislation. And some of you may remember in
10 2014 this house enacted a bill that I introduced,
11 Senate 5696, Chapter 551 of the Laws of 2014,
12 that would create a mold remediation and
13 abatement license in the State of New York.
14 After Superstorm Sandy, we found
15 that many people were selling their services as
16 mold remediation specialists to beleaguered
17 homeowners when in fact they had no idea what
18 they were doing, leaving people with no
19 remediation of the mold and a severe financial
20 loss. So the Legislature took action, and we
21 created a mold licensing requirement.
22 At the very end of that year, the
23 New York City Housing Authority appealed to the
24 Governor's office and asked that the housing
25 authority be exempted from the mold remediation
1029
1 licensing requirement in the State of New York.
2 They gave their word to myself, to
3 the Governor and other members of the
4 Legislature -- and I believe Senator Kaminsky, he
5 was a brand-new Assemblymember, it was the first
6 bill he passed that year. We agreed to a chapter
7 amendment to exempt the New York City Housing
8 Authority in exchange for their agreement that
9 they would create a standard and a training
10 protocol and curriculum that would be approved by
11 the Department of Labor that would mirror the
12 licensing standard for every other property owner
13 in the State of New York. To date, they have
14 done nothing.
15 They are under a consent decree from
16 the federal government after tenants sued them on
17 the deplorable conditions and the mold violations
18 in public housing.
19 Just last week, the IDC released
20 another report chronicling the prevalence of mold
21 and horrible conditions that people are living
22 in. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed
23 reported they had mold in their apartment;
24 56 percent said it took more than two weeks for
25 NYCHA to even answer them; 24 percent responded
1030
1 that it took management more than a month to
2 remove the mold; 24 percent responded that
3 someone in their home suffers from asthma;
4 52 percent responded they have had leaking roofs,
5 windows or pipes that have caused water to leak
6 into their apartment for years -- not days, not
7 weeks, years.
8 We know the effects of deadly mold
9 on people. We've given NYCHA enough time. The
10 time is up, it is time for them to be included in
11 the mold remediation licensing requirement that
12 every other homeowner in the State of New York is
13 required to abide by.
14 I urge my colleagues to join me and
15 support this legislation. The people who live in
16 public housing suffer enough.
17 And finally, for those of you who
18 have been following the case of an 85-year-old
19 woman in the Bronx, the New York Post has been
20 writing about her for the past week, and the
21 conditions that she's been living in are
22 absolutely deplorable, mold being one of them.
23 So thank you, Madam President, and I
24 urge all my colleagues to please support me in
25 this legislation.
1031
1 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
2 Savino recorded in the affirmative.
3 Senator Sanders to explain his vote.
4 SENATOR SANDERS: With a heavy
5 heart, I rise to speak on this issue.
6 I have many, many residents of NYCHA
7 in my district and the conditions of some of my
8 residents are conditions that no one should be
9 forced to deal with, no one should be forced to
10 handle. We cannot sit idle in this situation.
11 We certainly -- and I applaud the
12 author of this; it's one of the moves that we
13 must make. Another move, of course, is that we
14 need to put real money -- it's not enough to say,
15 and I'm sure that that's not what she's saying,
16 but it would not be enough to say, "Okay, we're
17 going to go back to another system." We have to
18 find some money to do the lead and the mold
19 remediation.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
21 Sanders, excuse me.
22 Could we have a little decorum in
23 the Senate chamber, please. Thank you.
24 Excuse me, sir.
25 SENATOR SANDERS: So I am going to
1032
1 go with my colleague on this one, but I believe
2 that this should be the opening move, the very
3 beginning of what needs to happen. And I applaud
4 the author, and I ask my colleagues, all, that we
5 have to go beyond just laws, we're going to have
6 to put our money where our mouth is on this
7 issue.
8 Thank you very much, Madam
9 President.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
11 you. Senator Sanders is recorded in the
12 affirmative.
13 Senator Rivera.
14 SENATOR RIVERA: Thank you, Madam
15 President. I want to piggyback onto what my
16 colleagues have been saying.
17 First of all, I certainly thank
18 Senator Savino for bringing this to the floor.
19 And I agree with my colleague Senator Sanders
20 that it should be the first thing that we do. It
21 is necessary. It is a good idea to create a
22 standard -- or to hold NYCHA to the same
23 standards as it refers to mold inspection,
24 assessment and remediation.
25 I want to make sure, however, that
1033
1 we take the extra steps. And I remind my
2 colleagues and other folks who might be hearing
3 that we need to make sure that we commit
4 ourselves also in -- that as our colleagues said,
5 that we put our money where our mouth is.
6 I remind everyone that last year
7 there were $200 million that were assigned to
8 NYCHA that still has not moved. I would ask for
9 those who might be in some sort of, let's say,
10 power struggle to get over that and consider the
11 tenants of NYCHA, who are the ones that we
12 ultimately represent and we should be working
13 for.
14 And I would also remind everyone
15 that the Democratic Conference has for the last
16 couple of years said very clearly that we need
17 more money and has asked the state to commit
18 about $500 million that could be lock-boxed and
19 specifically aimed at solving the structural
20 problems that cause mold to begin with.
21 If we do not actually fix the roofs
22 and if we just focus on certain elements of
23 certain apartments, just fixing this apartment,
24 that apartment, painting here, remediation there,
25 without fixing the larger infrastructure
1034
1 problems, this is just going to continue.
2 So I laud my colleague for bringing
3 this to the floor. I will vote in the
4 affirmative. But I will remind all of us,
5 particularly now that we are so close to getting
6 a budget done, that we have to make sure that we
7 put real money into the budget, that we put real
8 money into NYCHA. That we hold them accountable,
9 certainly, but that we give them the ability to
10 be able to fix the structural problems that are
11 causing this to begin with.
12 I'll be voting in the affirmative.
13 Thank you, Madam President.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
15 Rivera is recorded in the affirmative.
16 Announce the result.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
19 bill is passed.
20 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
21 443, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 4546, an act
22 to amend the Insurance Law.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
24 the last section.
25 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
1035
1 act shall take effect immediately.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
3 the roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
6 Announce the result.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
9 bill is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 528, by Senator Hannon, Senate Print 1870, an act
12 to amend the Social Services Law.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Read
14 the last section.
15 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
16 act shall take effect immediately.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Call
18 the roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
21 Announce the result.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
24 bill is passed.
25 That completes the noncontroversial
1036
1 reading of the calendar.
2 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Madam
3 President, can we now take up Resolution 4108, by
4 Senator Flanagan, read it in its entirety, and
5 call on Senator Little to speak.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
9 Resolution Number 4108, by Senator Flanagan,
10 commemorating the induction of three new
11 inductees into the New York State Senate's
12 Historical Women of Distinction 2018 exhibit.
13 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
14 Legislative Body to acknowledge and celebrate
15 individuals and events of historic significance
16 which add vitality, sensitivity, understanding
17 and inspiration to the diversity and value of the
18 people of this great Empire State; and
19 "WHEREAS, Women of every economic,
20 ethnic and religious background have made
21 significant contributions that are reflected in
22 our cultural, social, educational, industrial and
23 economic diversity, and have contributed in many
24 ways, including as writers, educators,
25 scientists, heads of state, politicians, civil
1037
1 rights crusaders, artists, entertainers,
2 businesswomen, military personnel, aviators,
3 entrepreneurs, philanthropists, health
4 professionals, engineers, religious leaders,
5 judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel,
6 athletes, mothers, nurturers and the building
7 blocks of our communities; and
8 "WHEREAS, It is the purpose of this
9 Legislative Body to induct three new honorees for
10 the year 2018: educator Sarah J. Smith Tompkins
11 Garnet (1831-1911) of Brooklyn, Chief Justice
12 Judith S. Kaye (1938-2016) of Monticello, and
13 college president and educator Virginia L. Radley
14 (1927-1998) of Marion; and
15 "WHEREAS, Women who have become part
16 of New York's lasting heritage by fighting
17 against stereotypes, prejudice and seemingly
18 insurmountable obstacles, include Sojourner Truth
19 (1797-1883), former slave and famous activist;
20 Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), best-known
21 'conductor' of the Underground Railroad and
22 promoter of black education and women's rights;
23 suffragettes Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and
24 Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902);
25 world-renowned folk artist Grandma Moses
1038
1 (1860-1961); famed reporter Nellie Bly
2 (1867-1922); Sybil Ludington (1761-1839), known
3 as the "female Paul Revere"; Barbara McClintock
4 (1901-1992), Nobel Prize-winning genetic
5 scientist; and 'First Lady of the World,'
6 Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962); and
7 "WHEREAS, New York State has been,
8 and continues to be, the home to many
9 distinguished women who have made their mark in
10 history as the first in their field to succeed;
11 representative of these 'firsts' are
12 contributions by women such as Lady Deborah Moody
13 (1586-1659), first woman grantee for land
14 ownership in the New World; Elizabeth Blackwell
15 (1821-1910), first female physician; America's
16 first trained nurse, Linda Richards (1841-1930);
17 Emma Willard (1787-1870), founder of the first
18 endowed institution of education for women;
19 hairdressing entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker
20 (1867-1919), Harlem leader and first self-made
21 female millionaire in the U.S.; Buffalonian
22 Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856-1913), first
23 professional female architect in the nation;
24 Lucille Ball (1911-1989), actor and president of
25 Desilu Productions, the first woman to lead a
1039
1 major Hollywood production company; Katharine
2 Bement Davis (1860-1935), New York City
3 Correction Commissioner, first woman to head a
4 major city agency; Winifred Edgerton Merrill
5 (1862-1951), the first American woman to receive
6 a Ph.D. in mathematics; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
7 (1832-1919), the first and only woman to be
8 presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor;
9 and Belva Lockwood (1830-1917), the first woman
10 to practice law before the United States Supreme
11 Court; and
12 "WHEREAS, This Legislative Body
13 recognizes that New York State is the home to
14 countless women who are strong and colorful
15 threads, vital to the fabric of our rich
16 heritage, who have contributed, and continue to
17 add to the advancement of our culture through
18 their traditional and non-traditional roles in
19 society; now, therefore, be it
20 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
21 Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate
22 the induction of three new inductees into the
23 New York State Senate's Historical Women of
24 Distinction 2018 exhibit; and be it further
25 "RESOLVED, That copies of this
1040
1 resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to
2 the National Women's Hall of Fame and the
3 New York State Division for Women."
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
5 Little.
6 SENATOR LITTLE: Thank you, Madam
7 President.
8 It is my honor today to talk about
9 these three distinguished women who are being
10 added to the Historic Women of New York State.
11 The first would be Sarah J. Smith Tompkins
12 Garnet, who was born in 1831 and was the first
13 African-American female principal in the New York
14 City school system.
15 In 1863, she was appointed principal
16 of Grammar School No. 4 and Public School No. 80.
17 She also worked tirelessly in her career against
18 racial discrimination against African-American
19 teachers by advocating for equal pay for equal
20 work and by removing racial barriers to teacher
21 assignments.
22 She even came to Albany and
23 testified before the Legislature. She also was
24 an advocate in the suffrage movement, advocating
25 for voting rights for women of color. As a
1041
1 member of the Equal Suffrage Club, Ms. Garnet
2 supported the Niagara Movement, which was a
3 predecessor to the National Association for the
4 Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP.
5 She retired from teaching, being a
6 principal, and died peacefully at home in 1911 at
7 the age of 88.
8 The second woman being inducted is
9 someone that many of us knew, Judge Judith S.
10 Kaye. Born in 1938, Judith Kaye was named to
11 New York State's highest court and the first
12 woman to serve as the state's Chief Judge. She
13 was born in Monticello, graduated from high
14 school at the age of 15, attended Barnard College
15 and took night classes at New York University
16 Law School, graduating in 1962, one of only 10
17 women in a class of 300.
18 Governor Mario Cuomo interviewed her
19 twice and appointed her to the bench for a
20 14-year term, making her the first female justice
21 of the New York State Court of Appeals in its
22 150-year history.
23 On September 12, 1983, she became an
24 associate judge, and on February 22, 1993, she
25 was appointed by then-Governor Cuomo as the first
1042
1 female Chief Judge in the State of New York.
2 She also instituted, during her term
3 as Chief Judge, many New York court system
4 reforms, including creating specialized courts to
5 focus on drug addiction, domestic violence, and
6 mental health.
7 She served until 2008, when she
8 reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, and
9 as you know appeared here in our legislative
10 chamber many times to swear us in as we began a
11 new term. Judge Kaye died in 2016.
12 The first woman being inducted is
13 Virginia S. Radley, who made history on March 22,
14 1978, when she became the first woman college
15 president in the SUNY system. She was the eighth
16 president of SUNY Oswego in its 126-year history.
17 She received a bachelor of arts from Russell Sage
18 College, a master's from the University of
19 Rochester, a second master's degree from Syracuse
20 University, as well as her Ph.D. from Syracuse
21 University -- a true New York woman.
22 From 1975 to 1985, she increased the
23 percentage of women employed at SUNY Oswego, as
24 well as doubling those who were on the executive
25 level. Excellence was Dr. Radley's battle cry,
1043
1 and she was known for her commitment to quality
2 throughout her career.
3 She was a tireless advocate for
4 women and received many awards: Trailblazer in
5 Education, Pathfinder Award for Outstanding
6 Contributions to the Advancement of Women in
7 Administration. Dr. Radley retired from the SUNY
8 system in 1992 and died in 1998.
9 These three women will be added to
10 the New York State Senate Historical Women of
11 Distinction. And you'll notice the display over
12 in the Legislative Office Building; their photos
13 and histories will be added to that.
14 So we are grateful for having them
15 in New York State, and it's an honor to recognize
16 them. Thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
18 you, Senator Little.
19 The question is on the resolution.
20 All in favor signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
23 Opposed, nay.
24 (No response.)
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
1044
1 resolution is adopted.
2 Floor Leader.
3 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
4 that resolution is open for cosponsorship. If a
5 member chooses not to be a cosponsor, they should
6 notify the desk.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
8 resolution is open for cosponsorship. If you
9 would like to be a cosponsor, please notify the
10 desk.
11 SENATOR GRIFFO: No, Madam
12 President, if you choose not to be a cosponsor,
13 we would ask that they notify the desk.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Ah. So
15 if you choose not to be a cosponsor, please
16 notify the desk.
17 Thank you. Thank you for the
18 clarification.
19 Senator Griffo.
20 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President, I
21 would like you to recognize Senator Kaminsky for
22 the purposes of an introduction.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
24 Kaminsky for the purpose of an introduction.
25 SENATOR KAMINSKY: Thank you, Madam
1045
1 President. I ask today to recognize Johanna
2 Sofield, a founder of a not-for-profit in
3 Long Beach called the Long Beach Christmas Angel.
4 And I'm joined by hundreds outside who welcome
5 her as well.
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR KAMINSKY: Johanna Sofield
8 started a charity a number of years ago called
9 the Long Beach Christmas Angel with a very simple
10 purpose: Those in our community who had a little
11 less around a very special time of year needed
12 some gifts, needed some help. They should have
13 presents like everybody else too.
14 And what she started as a very kind
15 idea and a very nice gesture soon met a greater
16 challenge with Superstorm Sandy. And many
17 families unable to pay their mortgage, who needed
18 furniture, who were living with mold, who needed
19 a place to stay, were given a helping hand by the
20 Long Beach Christmas Angel. Johanna soon found
21 herself inundated and grew and got bigger. And
22 to this day, she's helped hundreds if not
23 thousands of residents and has helped them obtain
24 hundreds and thousands of dollars that they
25 needed.
1046
1 Our not-for-profits play such an
2 important role filling in the gaps in our
3 society. And Johanna has been the angel of the
4 Long Beach Christmas Angel. We honor her here
5 today for her great work. She deserves every bit
6 of that. In our time, when someone needs some
7 help, she's about the first or second call
8 someone gets. She rarely ever turns anyone down
9 and comes through spectacularly.
10 Johanna, you're a star. We're
11 grateful to have here. You were the Long Beach
12 Herald Person of the Year a few years ago for
13 good reason, and today we honor you again for the
14 great work of the Long Beach Christmas Angel.
15 Congratulations, and keep going.
16 (Standing ovation.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
18 Johanna, I want to echo Senator Kaminsky's
19 comments. We have known each other for several
20 years now. Our daughters played lacrosse
21 together.
22 And after the devastation that
23 happened through Superstorm Sandy, I personally
24 got to see her efforts. And her organization is
25 truly named after her as an angel.
1047
1 So Senator Kaminsky, thank you for
2 bringing Johanna up here. I can't think of
3 anyone else that deserves this recognition. So
4 thank you. Thank you very much.
5 Senator Griffo.
6 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President, I
7 would ask that we take up previously adopted
8 Resolution Number 3451, by Senator Hannon, title
9 only, and then call upon Senator Hannon to speak.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
11 Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
13 Resolution Number 3451, by Senator Hannon,
14 memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
15 proclaim March 2018 as Kidney Disease Awareness
16 Month in the State of New York, in conjunction
17 with the observance of National Kidney Month.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
19 Hannon on the resolution.
20 SENATOR HANNON: Thank you, Madam
21 President.
22 I want to take the occasion of using
23 this resolution, which calls on March to be
24 Kidney Awareness Month, to not just talk about
25 the need for addressing renal disease -- which
1048
1 that is the disease when you suffer from kidney
2 problems -- because 10 percent of all Americans
3 have that, but use it as an occasion to talk
4 about something that we've initiated by
5 legislation in regard to live-donor donation of
6 kidneys from one live person to another live
7 person, a relatively new type of transplant
8 adding to use of a kidney from a cadaver. And
9 this allows us to expand the amount of people
10 that we can successfully give extended lives,
11 enriched lives. They don't have to be going
12 through dialysis every week.
13 So this is something to make
14 everybody aware. People are not necessarily
15 aware that you can do this from live donor to
16 live donor. Many of the major hospitals are just
17 now beginning this whole process. So it's there,
18 we're on the cutting edge, and yet it is
19 something that you can absolutely help
20 individuals with the quality of their life in
21 this state.
22 So I commend this to the body for
23 adoption.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
25 you, Senator Hannon.
1049
1 Floor Leader.
2 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
3 that resolution was previously adopted on
4 January 17th of 2018.
5 And it is open for cosponsorship.
6 Should a member choose to be a cosponsor, they
7 should notify the desk.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
9 resolution is opened for cosponsorship. If you
10 would like to be a cosponsor, please notify the
11 desk.
12 Senator Griffo.
13 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President, I
14 would ask now that we take up Resolution Number
15 4084, by Senator Kennedy, title only, and call on
16 Senator Kennedy to speak.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
18 Secretary will read.
19 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
20 Resolution Number 4084, by Senator Kennedy,
21 commending James Sumbrum, Sr., upon the occasion
22 of his designation as Grand Marshal of the 25th
23 Annual Old First Ward St. Patrick's Day Parade.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
25 Kennedy on the resolution.
1050
1 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you, Madam
2 President.
3 Today I rise to honor James Sumbrum,
4 Sr., the Grand Marshal of the 25th Annual "Old
5 Neighborhood" St. Patrick's Day Parade in
6 Buffalo's Old First Ward, coming up this
7 Saturday.
8 Jim is the son of the late Joseph
9 and Mary Ellen Sumbrum, and is a lifelong
10 resident of the Old First Ward, growing up as one
11 of 10 children on Alabama Street.
12 Jim is proud to carry on the family
13 tradition of participating in this great parade.
14 His mother, the late Mary Ellen Kearns Sumbrum,
15 was the 2012 Grand Marshal of the Old
16 Neighborhood St. Patrick's Day parade.
17 As a kid, Jim could be found playing
18 floor hockey at the Valley Community Center.
19 It's here that he would meet the love of his
20 life, Pamela Wasileski Sumbrum. Jim and Pam have
21 been married for 41 years and have two sons,
22 James "Bucky" Sumbrum; and Justin "Buzzy"
23 Sumbrum. They've been blessed with wonderful
24 daughters-in-law, Amy and Courtney, and three
25 happy, healthy grandchildren.
1051
1 Jim worked a number of jobs
2 throughout his life, sometimes a few at a time.
3 Although he made his career as a truck driver for
4 the City of Buffalo, there is no doubt that his
5 time spent with the young people in the Old First
6 Ward and the Valley Community Center is some of
7 his proudest work. He knew that getting kids
8 involved with sports and in the community would
9 help keep them off the streets and instill a
10 sense of camaraderie and leadership in them.
11 Jim was never really off the clock.
12 For years he volunteered as a member of the
13 Valley board of directors, coached Little League,
14 Valley First Ward football, Mariners, Steamers
15 and South Buffalo Tigers, and spearheaded food
16 concessions at Rally in the Valley.
17 Jim launched South Buffalo lacrosse
18 at Father Conway Park, fielding 160 kids in its
19 first year, introducing dozens of young people to
20 a sport that they may have never been exposed to
21 otherwise. What started as a few teams playing
22 in the park became a widely revered league with
23 several students going on to play in college and
24 receiving scholarships.
25 Despite life's curve balls, Jim
1052
1 continues to persevere with an upbeat attitude
2 and a nonstop sense of humor. He is faithful to
3 his neighborhood and committed to his family,
4 especially his granddaughters, Lilly, Maddie, and
5 Adeline, as well as his first grandson, who is
6 due to arrive this May.
7 Jim is most deserving to be honored
8 as Grand Marshal of the 2018 Old Neighborhood
9 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Today I thank Jim for
10 his lifelong commitment to improving our
11 community. He epitomizes what it means to be
12 Irish, an Old First Warder, a Buffalonian, and a
13 New Yorker. We are honored and proud to call him
14 one of our own.
15 We look forward to celebrating Grand
16 Marshal Jim Sumbrum, his family, community and
17 everything he loves, especially the Irish, this
18 upcoming St. Patrick's Day weekend. We
19 congratulate the Grand Marshal, Jim Sumbrum, and
20 look forward to a grand celebration.
21 Thank you, Madam President.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
23 you, Senator Kennedy.
24 And congratulations and thanks to
25 Grand Marshal Jim Sumbrum for his commitment to
1053
1 our community.
2 The question is on the resolution.
3 All in favor signify by saying aye.
4 (Response of "Aye.")
5 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
6 Opposed, nay.
7 (No response.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
9 resolution is adopted.
10 Floor Leader.
11 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
12 the resolution by Senator Kennedy is open for
13 cosponsorship at the sponsor's request. If a
14 member chooses to be a cosponsor, please come and
15 notify the desk.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
17 resolution is opened for cosponsorship. If you'd
18 like to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
19 Senator Griffo.
20 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
21 I'd now ask that we take up Resolutions Number
22 4060, 4061, 4062, 4063 and 4065, by Senator
23 Montgomery, read the titles only, and call upon
24 Senator Montgomery to speak.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
1054
1 Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
3 Resolution Number 4060, by Senator Montgomery,
4 honoring Sharon Content upon the occasion of
5 being inducted into the Strong Nonprofits for
6 Better New York's Women in Human Services Hall of
7 Fame on March 13, 2018.
8 Resolution Number 4061, by Senator
9 Montgomery, honoring Monique Newkirk upon the
10 occasion of being inducted into the Strong
11 Nonprofits for Better New York's Women in Human
12 Services Hall of Fame on March 13, 2018.
13 Legislative Resolution Number 4062,
14 by Senator Montgomery, honoring Marla Simpson
15 upon the occasion of being inducted into the
16 Strong Nonprofits for Better New York's Women in
17 Human Services Hall of Fame on March 13, 2018.
18 Legislative Resolution Number 4063,
19 by Senator Montgomery, honoring Lillie Marshall
20 upon the occasion of being inducted into the
21 Strong Nonprofits for Better New York's Women in
22 Human Services Hall of Fame on March 13, 2018.
23 And Legislative Resolution Number
24 4065, by Senator Montgomery, honoring Ivy Gamble
25 Cobb upon the occasion of being inducted into the
1055
1 Strong Nonprofits for Better New York's Women in
2 Human Services Hall of Fame on March 13, 2018.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Senator
4 Montgomery.
5 SENATOR MONTGOMERY: Thank you,
6 Madam President.
7 I rise to honor the Strong
8 Nonprofits for Better New York's Hall of Fame
9 organization and the women that they have decided
10 to recognize and place into what they consider
11 their Hall of Fame for the State of New York.
12 Our nonprofit community is on the
13 front lines each and every day in our state,
14 across the state. We as elected officials, as
15 government officials, rely heavily on them to
16 serve some of our most vulnerable populations.
17 And they do so admirably and consistently, year
18 in and year out.
19 I am proud to represent a district
20 that is home to so many strong nonprofit
21 organizations where women hold major leadership
22 positions. Women, as we know, lead our major
23 institutions, run our most effective programming,
24 and advocate for those most in need of a voice in
25 our state.
1056
1 I am so honored that these women,
2 the five women that you mentioned, are from my
3 district and that they're being acknowledged here
4 today in Albany in our own chamber. As a member
5 of the New York State women's suffrage, I am
6 extremely proud to be part of the recognition of
7 these women.
8 The five women that are mentioned
9 here in these resolutions have devoted their
10 time, their energy, and their entire lives to
11 empowering others, and I see firsthand the impact
12 they have on my constituents. I will name them
13 briefly, Madam Chair -- if you don't mind, Madam
14 President.
15 Ivy Gamble Cobb, who is the
16 executive director of The Family Center located
17 in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn.
18 Sharon Content, president and
19 founder of Children of Promise. I see the work
20 that she has done on behalf of children of
21 incarcerated parents.
22 Marla Simpson, who is the executive
23 director of the Brooklyn Community Services,
24 which is an organization that for so many, many
25 years has served children, families, including
1057
1 very young children and their families in the
2 borough of Brooklyn.
3 Monique Newkirk, who is a senior
4 program director of Good Shepherd Services. Good
5 Shepherd Services serves high school students,
6 serves students with special needs, provides
7 support services in high schools in my district,
8 provides the Close to Home programming, provides
9 family services, and most importantly, is poised
10 to be one of the premier Raise the Age
11 institutions in Brooklyn and especially in my
12 district.
13 So we are responsible, as elected
14 officials here, to support these important
15 service providers in our budget, in our
16 recognition of their leaders, and certainly in
17 this month when we recognize women, understanding
18 that women play such an important role in
19 providing services and support to people in our
20 state.
21 So thank you for allowing me to
22 honor those women today, Madam President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: Thank
24 you, Senator Montgomery, for bringing these women
25 to our attention.
1058
1 The question is on the resolutions.
2 All in favor signify by saying aye.
3 (Response of "Aye.")
4 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS:
5 Opposed, nay.
6 (No response.)
7 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
8 resolutions are adopted.
9 Senator Griffo.
10 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
11 at Senator Montgomery's request, the
12 resolutions are open for cosponsorship. If a
13 member chooses to be a cosponsor, they should
14 notify the desk.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: The
16 resolutions are opened for cosponsorship. If
17 you'd like to be a cosponsor, please notify the
18 desk.
19 Senator Griffo.
20 SENATOR GRIFFO: Madam President,
21 is there any further business before the desk?
22 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: There
23 is no further business at the desk.
24 SENATOR GRIFFO: Accordingly,
25 Madam President, I move that we adjourn until
1059
1 Wednesday, March 14th, at 1:00 p.m.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT PHILLIPS: On
3 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until
4 Wednesday, March 14th, at 1:00 p.m.
5 (Whereupon, at 4:42 p.m., the Senate
6 adjourned.)
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