Regular Session - June 3, 2022
5509
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
5
6
7
8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 June 3, 2022
11 1:45 a.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
15
16
17
18 SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President
19 ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary
20
21
22
23
24
25
5510
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask everyone present to please
5 rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
6 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
7 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: In the
9 absence of clergy, I will give us a prayer.
10 Lord, continue to bless us.
11 Continue to bless the members departing us. May
12 their travels be safe and their paths be lit.
13 May the tenacity that they've had in this chamber
14 continue to follow them throughout the rest of
15 their professional endeavors, and personal.
16 May we all be blessed, regardless of
17 who we worship, when we worship or how we
18 worship. After we leave this chamber, in this
19 building, may we be blessed with traveling
20 mercies to return to the places and the people
21 that we love in our hometowns, districts,
22 offices -- most importantly, our families.
23 In the name of Jesus, in the name of
24 whoever we pray to, amen.
25 Reading of the Journal.
5511
1 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
2 Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Senate met pursuant
3 to adjournment. The Journal of Wednesday,
4 June 1, 2022, was read and approved. On motion,
5 the Senate adjourned.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Without
7 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
8 Presentation of petitions.
9 Messages from the Assembly.
10 Messages from the Governor.
11 Reports of standing committees.
12 Reports of select committees.
13 Communications and reports from
14 state officers.
15 Motions and resolutions.
16 Senator Gianaris.
17 SENATOR GIANARIS: Thank you,
18 Mr. President.
19 I move to adopt the Resolution
20 Calendar.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: All those
22 in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar
23 please signify by saying aye.
24 (Response of "Aye.")
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Opposed,
5512
1 nay.
2 (No response.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
4 Resolution Calendar is adopted.
5 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President, I
6 believe there are several privileged resolutions
7 at the desk. Can we take them up in order and
8 read their titles.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There are
10 several privileged resolutions at the desk.
11 The Secretary will read.
12 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
13 2857, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
14 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
15 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
16 state fiscal year for services and expenses.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 question is on the resolution.
19 The Secretary will call the roll.
20 (The Secretary called the roll.)
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
22 the results.
23 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
25 resolution is adopted.
5513
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senate
2 Resolution 2858, by Senator Stewart-Cousins,
3 establishing a plan setting forth an itemized
4 list of grantees for certain appropriations for
5 the 2022-2023 state fiscal year for the
6 Division of Criminal Justice Services and
7 Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 question is on the resolution.
10 The Secretary will call the roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
16 resolution is adopted.
17 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
18 2859, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
19 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
20 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
21 state fiscal year additional grants-in-aid to
22 certain not-for-profit arts and cultural
23 organizations.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
25 question is on the resolution.
5514
1 The Secretary will call the roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
7 resolution is adopted.
8 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
9 2860, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
10 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
11 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
12 state fiscal year for additional grants-in-aid to
13 certain environmental conservation initiatives.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 question is on the resolution.
16 The Secretary will call the roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 resolution is adopted.
23 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
24 2861, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
25 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
5515
1 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
2 state fiscal year for grants-in-aid to certain
3 agricultural organizations.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
5 question is on the resolution.
6 The Secretary will call the roll.
7 (The Secretary called the roll.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
9 the results.
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
12 resolution is adopted.
13 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
14 2862, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
15 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
16 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
17 state fiscal year services and expenses of Senate
18 priorities for housing initiatives.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
20 question is on the resolution.
21 The Secretary will call the roll.
22 (The Secretary called the roll.)
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
24 the results.
25 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
5516
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 resolution is adopted.
3 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
4 2863, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
5 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
6 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
7 state fiscal year for services and expenses or
8 reimbursement of expenses incurred by local
9 government agencies.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
11 question is on the resolution.
12 The Secretary will call the roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
15 the results.
16 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
18 resolution is adopted.
19 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
20 2864, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
21 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
22 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
23 state fiscal year for services and expenses of
24 economic development and community services
25 organizations.
5517
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
2 question is on the resolution.
3 The Secretary will call the roll.
4 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
6 the results.
7 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
9 resolution is adopted.
10 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
11 2865, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, amending
12 Senate Resolution 1248 of 2021 establishing a
13 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
14 for the New York State Economic Development
15 Assistance Program.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
17 question is on the resolution.
18 The Secretary will call the roll.
19 (The Secretary called the roll.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
21 the results.
22 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 resolution is adopted.
25 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
5518
1 2866, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
2 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
3 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
4 state fiscal year for services and expenses of
5 human services and veterans community services
6 organizations.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
8 question is on the resolution.
9 The Secretary will call the roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 resolution is adopted.
16 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
17 2867, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
18 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
19 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
20 state fiscal year for services and expenses or
21 reimbursement of expenses incurred by local
22 government agencies.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
24 question is on the resolution.
25 The Secretary will call the roll.
5519
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
6 resolution is adopted.
7 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
8 2868, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
9 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
10 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
11 state fiscal year for services and expenses of
12 human services and veterans community services
13 organizations.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
15 question is on the resolution.
16 The Secretary will call the roll.
17 (The Secretary called the roll.)
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
19 the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
22 resolution is adopted.
23 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
24 2869, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
25 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
5520
1 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
2 state fiscal year for additional grants-in-aid to
3 certain school districts, public libraries, and
4 not-for-profit institutions.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY. The
6 question is on the resolution.
7 The Secretary will call the roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
13 resolution is adopted.
14 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
15 2870, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, establishing a
16 plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees
17 for a certain appropriation for the 2022-2023
18 state fiscal year for purposes of providing
19 additional funding for school districts which
20 have experienced a significant financial
21 hardship.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
23 question is on the resolution.
24 The Secretary will call the roll.
25 (The Secretary called the roll.)
5521
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
2 the results.
3 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
5 resolution is adopted.
6 THE SECRETARY: Senate Resolution
7 2871, by Senator Stewart-Cousins, Concurrent
8 Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing
9 to establish the Joint Legislative Task Force on
10 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Tolerance, and
11 providing for such task force's powers and
12 duties.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
14 question is on the resolution.
15 The Secretary will call the roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
21 resolution is adopted.
22 Senator Gianaris.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: Can we now
24 please take up the calendar.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The
5522
1 Secretary will read.
2 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
3 1056, Senate Print 6551D, by Senator Gallivan, an
4 act to amend the Highway Law.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
6 last section.
7 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
8 act shall take effect immediately.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
10 roll.
11 (The Secretary called the roll.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
13 the results.
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
16 is passed.
17 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
18 1281, Senate Print 8927A, by Senator Brooks, an
19 act to amend the Highway Law.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
21 last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
5523
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
5 Calendar Number 1281, voting in the negative:
6 Senator Brisport.
7 Ayes, 62. Nays, 1.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
9 is passed.
10 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
11 1573, Senate Print 8743B, by Senator O'Mara, an
12 act authorizing the City of Elmira, County of
13 Chemung, to alienate certain parklands.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
15 a home-rule message at the desk.
16 Read the last section.
17 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
18 act shall take effect immediately.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
20 roll.
21 (The Secretary called the roll.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
23 the results.
24 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
25 Calendar Number 1573, voting in the negative:
5524
1 Senator Skoufis.
2 Ayes, 62. Nays, 1.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
4 is passed.
5 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
6 1595, Senate Print 9145A, by Senator Weik, an act
7 in relation to authorizing the Town of
8 Brookhaven, County of Suffolk assessor to accept
9 an application for a real property tax exemption.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
18 the results.
19 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
20 Calendar 1595, voting in the negative are
21 Senators Akshar and O'Mara.
22 Ayes, 61. Nays, 2.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5525
1 1886, Senate Print 9470, by Senator Cooney, an
2 act to amend the Real Property Actions and
3 Proceedings Law.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
5 last section.
6 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
7 act shall take effect immediately.
8 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
9 roll.
10 (The Secretary called the roll.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
12 the results.
13 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
15 is passed.
16 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
17 1901, Senate Print 8449B, by Senator Sanders, an
18 act establishing a commission to determine what
19 benefits a public bank or a network of public
20 banks owned by the State of New York can provide.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 5. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
5526
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
4 the results.
5 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
6 Calendar 1901, those Senators voting in the
7 negative are Senators Akshar, Borrello, Boyle,
8 Brisport, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Jordan,
9 Lanza, Martucci, Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara,
10 Ortt, Palumbo, Rath, Ritchie, Serino, Stec and
11 Weik.
12 Ayes, 43. Nays, 20.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
14 is passed.
15 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
16 1908, Senate Print Number 9059A, by
17 Senator Reichlin-Melnick, an act to amend the
18 Tax Law.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
20 a home-rule message at the desk.
21 Read the last section.
22 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
23 act shall take effect immediately.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
25 roll.
5527
1 (The Secretary called the roll.)
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
3 the results.
4 Will those members voting in the
5 negative please indicate accordingly once again,
6 please.
7 Announce the results.
8 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
9 Calendar 1908, those Senators voting in the
10 negative are Senators Akshar, Brooks, Comrie,
11 Felder, Gallivan, Gaughran, Griffo, Helming,
12 Hinchey, Jordan, Kaplan, Kennedy, Lanza, Mannion,
13 Martucci, Mattera, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt,
14 Palumbo, Rath, Ritchie, Serino, Skoufis and Weik.
15 Ayes, 38. Nays, 25.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
17 is passed.
18 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
19 1919, Senate Print 9469, by Senator Hinchey, an
20 act to amend the Public Service Law.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
22 last section.
23 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
24 act shall take effect immediately.
25 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
5528
1 roll.
2 (The Secretary called the roll.)
3 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
4 Hinchey to explain her vote.
5 SENATOR HINCHEY: Thank you,
6 Mr. President.
7 Last summer I was alerted to a
8 phenomenon happening not just in my district but
9 across the state, but specifically to people
10 across Ulster County. And that was the fact that
11 people were being billed by their utility
12 companies -- actual meter readings, they owed
13 about $120, and the next month they would receive
14 an estimated meter reading and they would owe
15 about $2,000. Those numbers would fluctuate, but
16 the discrepancies and the extreme discrepancies
17 were not changing.
18 People who had autopay had their
19 accounts overdrafted. We were seeing lives
20 ruined, people in financial despair, all because
21 our utility provider, the one that is meant to
22 keep people safe by providing heat in the winter,
23 which we had a very cold winter, providing
24 air-conditioning and electricity throughout the
25 summer, we were seeing their lives ruined because
5529
1 astronomical bills that they did not owe were
2 coming to the forefront.
3 This bill seeks to ban estimated
4 billing, making sure that people are only paying
5 what they owe when it comes to their utility
6 bills. I'm incredibly proud of this bill. I
7 wanted to thank Tyrone Wilson, the human rights
8 commissioner for Ulster County, for bringing this
9 to our attention.
10 I want to thank the Majority Leader
11 for bringing this to the floor today and all of
12 our colleagues for voting in support of this
13 bill, because this is a commonsense bill that
14 will change lives and help people the day it is
15 passed and signed into law.
16 For that, I vote aye. Thank you.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
18 Hinchey to be recorded in the affirmative.
19 Announce the results.
20 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
22 is passed.
23 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
24 1920, Senate Print 9471, by Senator Kavanagh, an
25 act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
5530
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Read the
2 last section.
3 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
4 act shall take effect on the same date and the
5 same manner as a chapter of the Laws of 2022.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Call the
7 roll.
8 (The Secretary called the roll.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Announce
10 the results.
11 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 63.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: The bill
13 is passed.
14 Senator Gianaris, that completes the
15 reading of the supplemental calendar.
16 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
17 can you please recognize Senator Ortt.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
19 Ortt.
20 SENATOR ORTT: Yes, Senator O'Mara,
21 I'll be brief.
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR ORTT: Well, we can all
24 agree on one thing: We're all happy to be here
25 at this moment. And I mean that in a lot of
5531
1 ways, right?
2 We're all blessed to be able to
3 represent our constituents. We're all blessed to
4 be able to come here and do the people's
5 business, to debate very important issues -- not
6 only issues that are being debated here in
7 New York, but issues that are being debated
8 across the country.
9 And -- but we're certainly also
10 blessed to be at the end of session and to be
11 able to go home and hopefully spend some time
12 with our families, with loved ones, in our
13 districts, with our constituents, the people we
14 work for.
15 I did want to mention a few folks in
16 our Republican Senate family. Certainly before I
17 do, I want to recognize some of my colleagues
18 across the way who I'm sure my colleague the
19 Majority Leader will mention.
20 But, you know, I know Senator
21 Savino, we will miss your candor -- I certainly
22 will -- wherever it was directed. But I know
23 that really was the truth and how you felt, and
24 that's why you kept coming back, because your
25 constituents also knew that.
5532
1 And so I thank you for your service
2 to the people of New York State. And I know you
3 will continue to serve the people of New York
4 City going forward. So thank you for all that
5 you've done.
6 To Senator Jim Gaughran, thank you
7 for your service. Didn't get to know Senator
8 Gaughran as much in the time that we were here.
9 COVID certainly made some of those interactions
10 more difficult. But in the times I did get to
11 know Senator Gaughran or saw him out or was able
12 to converse with him, always a gentleman, civil.
13 And I know our colleagues on Long Island share
14 that view of you as well, and they know you far
15 better than I do. So thank you for your service.
16 Do we have anyone else?
17 Senator Kaminsky.
18 Senator Kaminsky, thank you for your
19 service to the state. Certainly on environmental
20 issues, as the chair, never shy about putting
21 forward those issues even when we disagreed. And
22 was certainly an articulate defender of not only
23 those issues, but Long Island. And I wish you
24 well in your next endeavor as well, Senator. So
25 thank you.
5533
1 Senator Biaggi is leaving, but she's
2 not here, so she's already left.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR ORTT: So I do want to
5 mention, on our side, Senator Boyle, another --
6 the whole island is leaving, it looks like.
7 Senator Boyle, who is someone who
8 has served -- is it 28 years total, between the
9 Assembly and the Senate? He is someone who I
10 have come to regard as a personal friend.
11 Certainly was a dean for our Long Island
12 delegation, particularly in Suffolk, and someone
13 who I think all of you would recognize very much
14 a bipartisan legislator, someone who liked to
15 work bipartisan where he could.
16 And we used to -- I always enjoyed
17 teasing him, but someone who we will miss in our
18 conference. And I know the people of his
19 district will miss his service. And I know he'll
20 continue, you know, to do that in the next
21 chapter of his life.
22 But, Senator, we will miss you in
23 this chamber, and I wish you well. And I know
24 we'll still stay in touch.
25 We have, obviously, Senator
5534
1 Martucci. I was disappointed that
2 Senator Martucci is leaving, but a young family
3 at home. He's been a great member of our
4 conference. I know he will continue to serve the
5 people of Orange County and his district. A
6 successful businessperson.
7 So the people in New York will miss
8 your service, we'll miss you here in our
9 conference, but I know you'll -- we haven't seen
10 the last of Mike Martucci out there.
11 So I wish you success and well in
12 the next chapter of your life.
13 Senator Ritchie is not here? She's
14 also left. Senator Ritchie, from the
15 North Country. As some of you know, no shrinking
16 violet when it came to defending her constituents
17 in the North Country, the Adirondacks.
18 I think her great legacy was
19 Fort Drum Day. She was a big driver on Fort Drum
20 Day, and I certainly hope that will continue.
21 But that was very important to her. And I wish
22 her well.
23 And of course Senator Akshar also
24 I'm sure on his way back to his two-year-old
25 little boy. But Senator Akshar, defender of
5535
1 law enforcement, public safety, on to another
2 potential elected office serving the people of
3 Broome County. We'll see what happens there.
4 But we wish him a lot of success,
5 and we will miss him as well.
6 On the staff, Dawn Harrington. Of
7 course, we surprised her with a resolution -- was
8 it last week? But all of you on the Democratic
9 side, certainly many of you know Dawn, know she's
10 a true professional. She's a credit to our
11 conference, a credit to the Senate, a credit to
12 the people of New York.
13 And she's had a long career. You
14 wouldn't know it. She had a long career in the
15 Senate. And I'm glad she's going to be able to
16 retire and hopefully enjoy not being here till
17 all hours of the evening, you know, at various
18 times.
19 So Dawn, thank you for your service,
20 not only to us but to the people of New York for
21 sure.
22 A couple of weddings I want to
23 mention. You know, Ali Beck is married, now
24 she's Ali Rimkunas. Melissa Nooney, Brooke
25 Amedore, Jeff DeGeronimo and Michael Kracker all
5536
1 got married this year.
2 Our Senate family grew. Mike
3 Ellison, Brittany Volpe, Stephanie Demers, Ben
4 Kosinski and Kevin Crumb all welcomed babies into
5 the world this session. It's amazing we were
6 still able to keep the trains running with all
7 these babies coming out.
8 But it was wonderful to -- it's
9 always wonderful to see people welcome children.
10 And I think that changes you, obviously, in ways
11 that it's hard to explain. But they -- you know,
12 you really get an appreciation for someone who's
13 got a little child at home and still is able to
14 come here and do all that we ask of them. It's
15 certainly much easier when you don't. But I want
16 to thank them for that.
17 I want to thank my colleagues across
18 the aisle. I want to thank, first, Senator
19 Gianaris who, you know, runs the floor. It's
20 certainly not an easy job. He's stuck here with
21 Senator Lanza for all hours of the day and --
22 (Laughter.)
23 SENATOR ORTT: There's a reason I
24 don't come out here all too often and sit here.
25 But, you know, Senator Gianaris, I
5537
1 want to thank you for your service, your work,
2 your civility, your cordialness in working with
3 our conference and being amenable as we go
4 through the end of the budget or the end of
5 session.
6 I want to thank my colleague Senator
7 Stewart-Cousins for your leadership, for your
8 collegiality, for keeping the dialogue going, and
9 for respecting the institution that is the
10 New York State Senate.
11 I do want to thank my colleague
12 Senator Lanza, also a friend, who spends a lot of
13 time in this chair and certainly, you know, runs
14 the floor from our side.
15 So I'll just close. Lookit, there
16 was a lot of things that happened this session.
17 It has been a long session, a tumultuous session
18 in a lot of ways. There were things we did,
19 there were things we didn't do.
20 From our conference's perspective,
21 we certainly wanted to see more done on public
22 safety. We do not believe that there was enough
23 done to address -- we hear about gun violence.
24 We certainly believe there's a direct correlation
25 to laws that are passed here and public safety
5538
1 and gun violence across our state.
2 Affordability. Every single one of
3 our constituents -- Democrat, Republican,
4 Brooklyn all the way to the Adirondacks and
5 everyone in between -- are dealing right now with
6 affordability concerns, whether they're at a gas
7 station or in a grocery store. These are real
8 issues.
9 And I don't believe -- obviously
10 there's different levels of government that have
11 to address these, but I don't think we did
12 enough. And I am concerned, more I guess to the
13 point, that we do things that exacerbate these
14 challenges and might even make them worse and
15 contribute to the exodus out of New York State,
16 which for a lot of our districts -- not all.
17 There's people in this room that their districts
18 grew exponentially over the last 10 years.
19 But there's people certainly in our
20 conference that represent districts that have not
21 grown, that really feel that exodus. And so
22 those issues are maybe a little more acute for
23 some of our members because we see these folks
24 leaving, and that's a real concern going forward.
25 And you see we lose a seat in the
5539
1 U.S. House of Representatives, and that affects
2 all of us when we lose clout in Washington, D.C.
3 But again, I won't belabor that. I
4 know it's late. I want to thank all the staff
5 for the work that you do on both sides of the
6 aisle. I want to thank all the members for the
7 work that you do. And we're all very lucky to be
8 part of this institution. I look forward to
9 coming back. Maybe I'll see some of you over the
10 summer into the fall. I'm sure some of you hope
11 I don't see you.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR ORTT: And I'm sure the
14 same will be said for some of my members.
15 But it is an honor to serve in this
16 body. It's certainly my honor to be the
17 Republican conference leader, the Minority Leader
18 in the Senate. I don't take that lightly, both
19 on behalf of my constituents and my members and
20 the people of New York State.
21 So through you, Mr. President, thank
22 you for the indulgence. Safe summer. God bless
23 all of you and your families, and thank you for
24 serving alongside me.
25 (Applause.)
5540
1 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
2 Gianaris.
3 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
4 can you now please recognize our distinguished
5 leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Majority
7 Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
8 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Thank
9 you, Mr. President.
10 I won't be brief.
11 (Laughter.)
12 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: But it's
13 the end. And I promised you, I promised you that
14 shaded box was a real thing.
15 And so that's why I'll take a little
16 bit of time. But I guess I want to do exactly,
17 first and foremost, what Senator Ortt did. I
18 want to thank people.
19 And I will start, obviously, with
20 thanking the Governor. You know, I enjoyed our
21 partnership over these few months. I appreciate,
22 even earlier, the distinguished nominees that
23 will have come before us.
24 I certainly appreciate the
25 collegiality and friendship that I have with the
5541
1 Speaker.
2 And also, and most importantly, what
3 happens here with all of you. Certainly, Senator
4 Ortt, it is always -- we try and, you know, keep
5 each other abreast and try not to have too much
6 mystery in what we do. And so it's good, it's
7 good to have an open line of communication.
8 And certainly kudos to Senator Lanza
9 as well, for holding it down.
10 And of course to Senator Gianaris,
11 who again keeps everything moving smoothly and
12 makes sure that we get through, you know, the
13 kinds of agendas that we always know. Again, we
14 try and keep it tight so that when we come to do
15 work, we do our work, and then we're able to get
16 back to our districts and our families.
17 For the staff, so many of you are
18 here. My goodness, it's like old times. Lovely
19 to see you all. Many I've just had a chance to
20 meet on Zoom for most of the time. And even that
21 never -- never kept you from working.
22 But I want to especially acknowledge
23 my chief of staff, Shontell Smith. Say goodbye
24 to Shontell, because --
25 (Standing ovation.)
5542
1 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- years
2 with -- okay, we'll stop.
3 (Laughter.)
4 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: I asked
5 her, I said, Should I say something? Oh, yeah.
6 We love you. And we thank you. We
7 watched you grow up in many ways. I think that's
8 what happens here. You grew up, and you left,
9 you know, an extraordinary example.
10 So let me give a shout out to my
11 counsel, Eric Katz. Finance Secretary Dave
12 Friedfel. Communications Director Mike Murphy.
13 The director of intergovernmental affairs, Loren
14 Amor, who's home with his brand-new baby.
15 In fact, all the people who've had
16 babies since I've been the leader, raise your
17 hands. Let's see. Raise them high. I mean,
18 I've got to say -- come on, catch up.
19 (Laughter.)
20 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: But I
21 want to thank Jonathan Alverenga, who keeps my
22 life moving with all of my staff up there. Thank
23 you so much for making my life so easy.
24 And of course I want to thank the
25 Secretary of the Senate, Ale Paulino, for all the
5543
1 work that she does here in the chamber and
2 beyond.
3 And of course, Big Ben.
4 Everybody -- we've got to give a shout out to
5 Ben.
6 (Applause.)
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: -- and
8 his crew of sergeants-at-arms.
9 It takes a village to get this work
10 done, and each one of you plays such a crucial
11 role in the process.
12 So I want to thank certainly my
13 conference. Every year presents new challenges.
14 We've not had one easy, predictable year. And
15 every year you rise to the occasion, whatever it
16 is. You don't worry about anything but getting
17 the job done for the people that we represent.
18 And we are, as we've mentioned,
19 getting ready to lose some of our Senators:
20 Senator Kaminsky, Senator Gaughran, Senator
21 Savino, Senator Biaggi, who's you know, going to,
22 as we know, run for congress.
23 But I was watching as you made your
24 remarks, and it was -- I was glad I wasn't out
25 here because it was very emotional for me. All
5544
1 of you have given so much, not only to this body
2 and to the constituents. But, you know, your
3 ability to work -- I mean, with all of our
4 challenges and our diversity and making sure that
5 the responsibility that you had is responsibility
6 that you took incredibly seriously. And you made
7 us all better in every way, working side by side
8 with you.
9 So I wish you all Godspeed, the very
10 best. And thank you so much for again making my
11 job and all of our jobs so much easier.
12 So thank you.
13 (Applause.)
14 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: And to my
15 friends across the aisle, thank you. A lot of
16 you I didn't know until the masks came off, and
17 then I got a chance to actually -- and you know,
18 Senator Borrello, I watched you on TV today and
19 you entertained me today too.
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR BORRELLO: That was my
22 goal.
23 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: You know,
24 thank you. Appreciate it.
25 But I also want to wish well to
5545
1 Senator Akshar and Senator Boyle. Very nice
2 working with you. And my friend Patty Ritchie,
3 who, you know, was just -- they said there
4 weren't a lot of women for a while. We're
5 certainly filling up the ranks. But, you know, I
6 appreciate her and what she brought as far as,
7 you know, again, just being supportive in many
8 ways.
9 So again, I wish you all well. And,
10 you know, I'll get on to what I'm going to tell
11 you about what we did, just in case you forgot.
12 It's really incredible to think how
13 far we've come since 2019 when we took the
14 majority. Since then, we've navigated seismic
15 changes throughout the nation and here in our own
16 state. We led our state through a
17 once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, grappled with
18 unhealed wounds inflicted by systemic racism,
19 rejected authoritarian ideals rearing their ugly
20 head once again.
21 There's never been an easy year, but
22 that's because we're committed to doing the hard
23 work that's required to make progress. Every
24 session we show up to move the needle on core
25 issues affecting our state and our constituents.
5546
1 Our conference believes that protecting people
2 and advancing our common interest starts from the
3 ground up. We've always worked to raise the
4 floor for our most vulnerable, while building
5 systems that serve us in perpetuity.
6 That's why, from the beginning, we
7 went to work to strengthen our public schools,
8 build our economy, stand up for equal rights. We
9 passed the Reproductive Health Act. We bolstered
10 our gun regulations. And we brought New York
11 from worst to first in voter protection.
12 When COVID hit, and persistent
13 inequalities were laid bare, we used it as an
14 opportunity not only to seal the cracks, but to
15 build stronger foundations from which to grow.
16 We finally reversed the previous trends of
17 concentrating wealth at the top and leaving
18 everyday New Yorkers to kind of fend for
19 themselves.
20 Through the Democratic Conference's
21 leadership, New York shored up its most important
22 social programs, improved tenant protections,
23 enacted criminal justice reform, stood up for our
24 brothers and sisters in labor, fought for
25 healthcare workers and our essential workers as
5547
1 we supported our businesses and especially our
2 small businesses.
3 And this year, as we finally reached
4 the end of the long pandemic tunnel, we doubled
5 down on transformative programs that will improve
6 New York for generations to come. We made
7 childcare much more accessible so that working
8 parents no longer have to choose between earning
9 a living and raising their kids.
10 We helped ensure that children have
11 a strong head start with universal pre-K, and we
12 forged a true cradle-to-college pathway to
13 support them in their development.
14 We fully funded our public schools,
15 expanded Foundation Aid, delivered greater
16 resources to SUNY and CUNY, that they may better
17 serve students and secure a brighter future for
18 New York.
19 In our commitment for that brighter
20 future, New York enacted sweeping reforms that
21 help us keep track of our climate goals. In that
22 effort, this week we passed the Build Public
23 Renewables Act to reduce our dependence on fossil
24 fuels.
25 Finally, we kept wealth local and
5548
1 communities prosperous by reinvesting in our
2 middle-class families, small businesses owners,
3 and average households who for too long have
4 picked up the tab on the economic downturns. By
5 passing comprehensive tax reform, supporting
6 rebates, cutting the fuel tax -- which is now in
7 effect -- we helped solidify the bedrock of our
8 economy.
9 We've been doing the work to
10 strengthen New York's core and fortify our
11 resources at home. So although the news from
12 these past few months is deeply alarming,
13 New York has been ready. We laid the groundwork
14 to emerge as a leader in this battle against
15 regressive national politics. While too many
16 want to rewind the clock on our rights, we in
17 New York stand as a true bastion of freedom with
18 open arms for those seeking refuge.
19 We continue to serve as a
20 destination state where one can exercise their
21 constitutional rights to an abortion and know
22 their safety will be guaranteed. That's why we
23 passed another slate of reproductive health
24 reforms that build on RHA and shield providers
25 and those seeking care.
5549
1 We've recognized, in the wake of
2 Buffalo and Uvalde and the other 233 mass
3 shootings this year alone, the government wasn't
4 coming for the guns, but the guns are coming for
5 us. And we didn't wait for Congress to act.
6 New York took immediate action to target those
7 shortfalls which enabled these atrocities. We
8 strengthened background checks, restricted who
9 can buy semiautomatic weapons, expanded red flag
10 laws, banned the purchasing of bullet-proof vests
11 by civilians. And as our Republican colleagues
12 across all levels of government have silently
13 chipped away at voting rights, we have
14 consistently passed sweeping electoral reforms
15 that keep the ballot accessible, the process
16 transparent, and our rights secure.
17 This week we led the way once again
18 by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act,
19 the strongest protection of its kind in the
20 nation. It's clear that states are the last line
21 of defense against the dystopian reality being
22 pushed across America. We can no longer count on
23 a gridlocked Congress or an activist Supreme
24 Court to serve our best interests. That's why
25 I'm extremely proud of the legislative blueprint
5550
1 the Senate Majority has laid for the rest of the
2 nation to follow.
3 As we close this year's session, we
4 should be emboldened by the heavy lifting we've
5 accomplished here, not only on behalf of
6 New Yorkers, but for people across America. Let
7 this moment remind us that the hard work starts
8 at home in our communities. We have an
9 obligation to make ourselves strong from the
10 bottom up so we can be prepared to serve others
11 at a moment's notice. Our nation will need us in
12 the days ahead.
13 And I know you will all return to
14 your districts, tend to your constituents, and
15 remember that their interests are in common with
16 the rest of this country. Our freedoms are no
17 more guaranteed here than in Texas or in Florida
18 or elsewhere if we do not continue to fight.
19 I want to thank all of you for this
20 memorable and historic year, for all that you've
21 done to shore up democracy and what we believe
22 in, and I look forward to all of us returning and
23 to continuing to serve the people of New York.
24 I wish you a very happy summer -- a
25 summer of action, of course. I'm sure we will
5551
1 see each other somewhere. But again, Godspeed,
2 and thank you so much for being part of this
3 historic and amazing Senate.
4 And before I go -- sorry,
5 Mike Martucci. You get the last word.
6 (Laughter.)
7 SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS: Great
8 success.
9 And thank you all very, very much.
10 Thank you.
11 (Enthusiastic standing ovation.)
12 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: Senator
13 Gianaris.
14 SENATOR GIANARIS: Mr. President,
15 is there any further business at the desk?
16 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: There is
17 no further business at the desk.
18 SENATOR GIANARIS: I move to
19 recommit the entire calendar to the Committee on
20 Rules.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: It is so
22 ordered.
23 SENATOR GIANARIS: And I move to
24 adjourn to a date and time at the call of the
25 Temporary President of the Senate, intervening
5552
1 days being legislative days.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY: On
3 motion, the Senate stands adjourned until the
4 call of the Temporary President, intervening days
5 being legislative days.
6 (Cheers; applause.)
7 (Whereupon, at 2:28 a.m., the Senate
8 adjourned.)
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