Quarterly Report
New York State Assemblyman
Mark J.F. Schroeder
Mark J.F. Schroeder
145th District - Fall 2009
When carbon monoxide poisoning took 16 year-old Amanda Hansen’s life, her parents sat down with New York State Assemblyman Mark Schroeder to try to prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again.
“We wanted something positive to result from what happened to Amanda,” said the West Seneca teenager’s father, Ken Hansen.
Amanda’s Law, the legislation Schroeder introduced that requires carbon monoxide detectors in all homes in New York State, passed the Assembly and Senate before being signed by Governor Paterson in late August.
“This is a major step in protecting all New Yorkers from the dangers of carbon monoxide,” said Schroeder. “This silent killer can’t be seen or smelled – that is why it is so important that all homes in New York have a carbon monoxide detector.”
In January, Amanda Hansen died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a defective boiler while at a sleepover at her friend’s house.
Amanda’s parents have also started a scholarship fund in her honor and are asking the town to name Briarhill Park, one of Amanda’s favorite hangouts, after her.
“Ken and Kim Hansen have dedicated themselves to honoring Amanda’s memory and protecting others from carbon monoxide,” said Schroeder. “They deserve a great deal of credit for their courageous efforts in such extremely difficult circumstances.”
The law takes effect on February 21, 2010, the 180th day after August 26, the day it was signed into law by the governor.
“Now that carbon monoxide detectors will be required by law, the next step is to raise awareness and educate people on why they need them,” said Schroeder. “The goal is to get a carbon monoxide detector in every single home, so we can prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again. Amanda’s Law is a major step in achieving that goal.”
New York State Assemblyman Mark Schroeder has introduced legislation that puts the task of redistricting in the hands of an independent panel, emulating Iowa’s redistricting process, which has been widely hailed as being fair and non-political.
The four criteria used, in descending order of importance, are population equality, contiguity, unity of counties and cities, and compactness. It specifically forbids the use of political affiliation, previous election results, the addresses of incumbents, or any demographic information other than population in creating the redistricting proposals.
“We need comprehensive reform that will take the politics out of the redistricting process once and for all,” said Schroeder.
“An independent panel should be drawing up these district lines, not the state Legislature.”
At the beginning of each decade, it is required that the state Assembly, Senate, and Congressional districts be redrawn to reflect changes in population in the previous ten years. The districts must be equal in population, based on the statistics from the United States Census Bureau.
“Taking the job of drawing the boundaries out of the hands of the officials that will run for re-election in those districts is an effective way to make races more competitive and strike a blow to the culture of self-preservation in Albany,” said Schroeder. “We need to make this change now. We cannot risk putting this off another ten years.”
Schroeder pointed out certain districts that pay less attention to geography and communities, and instead focus on party affiliation and demographics.
“It is preposterous that you can live in one part of the City of Buffalo and your congressman is from Buffalo, but your neighbor across the street is represented by someone from Rochester. Yet, at the same time, if you live in Angola on the shore of Lake Erie, you are in the same state Senate district as someone from the City of Canandaigua, a two-hour drive away.”
“The appointees must have an understanding of the natural boundaries of the state and ignore party enrollment statistics,” said Schroeder.
“An independent panel will provide a better environment for redistricting than the politically charged state Legislature.”
In the Iowa process, enacted in 1980, the non-partisan Legislative Services Bureau develops up to three plans that can be accepted or rejected by the legislature. The Iowa Legislature has been generally quick to enact the Bureau’s plans.
“Iowa’s redistricting policy is a great example for New York to follow, and we need the same non-partisan, non-political redistricting in our state as well,” Schroeder said.
The battlefield can often leave wounds invisible to the naked eye, but just as devastating. Mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder, often plague our veterans after their service has ended.
The brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our nation deserve top-notch counseling and treatment when they come home.
That is why I am teaming up with the Mental Health Association for the “Give an Hour” program, to urge mental health professionals to donate some of their time to veterans in need.
“In addition to the physical injuries sustained by veterans in Afghanistan and Iraq, countless servicemen and servicewomen have experienced psychological symptoms directly related to their deployment,” said Thomas P. McNulty, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association.
“Spouses, children, parents, siblings, and unmarried partners of military personnel are all being adversely affected by the stress and strain of the current military campaign. We want to be able to offer additional support not only to the veteran but will extend our services to include their families.”
In the “Give an Hour” program, the Mental Health Association links veterans who fought in Afghanistan or Iraq with mental health professionals who will volunteer their time to counsel. Family members as well as children and adolescents are also eligible to participate in this program.
“Give An Hour” is a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 2005 by Dr. Barbara V. Romberg, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C. area.
Over 1.6 million troops have been deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf since 2001. Nearly 550,000 of these troops have been deployed more than once.
As many as one out of ten soldiers evacuated to the Army’s biggest hospital in Europe has been sent there for mental health problems.
At the same time, it was determined that as many as 17 percent of troops are suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
The Mental Health Association is eager to work with area mental health professionals who will volunteer their time and work with a veteran, family member, child or adolescent. The national “Give an Hour” program will screen mental health professionals who are interested in volunteering. This will ensure they have the necessary experience in treating military issues.
If you are interested in the “Give an Hour” program either as a veteran, a family member of a veteran, or as a mental health professional interested in volunteering your services, please call the Mental Health Association at 716-886-1242. All information will be kept confidential and there is no charge for this program.
The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy is teaming up with Assemblyman Mark Schroeder once again for his fourth annual health fair on November 21.
“We will be offering free blood pressure screening and other wellness tests,” said Assistant Dean Karl Fiebelkorn.
The new state ban on texting while driving needs to be strengthened, said Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, because as a secondary offense, police can only enforce the ban if another violation is being committed.
“Simply making texting while driving against the law is not good enough,” said Schroeder. “We have to give the police the ability to enforce the ban.”
That’s why Schroeder is drafting legislation that would make texting while driving a primary offense, which would allow police to pull a motorist over for texting without an additional offense.
“Our work is not done until we fix this law,” said Kelly Cline, who has been working with Schroeder on a texting ban for nearly two years.
In December of 2007, Cline’s twenty year-old son, A.J. Larsen, was struck and killed by a garbage truck on Clinton Street in West Seneca. Police determined that texting while driving had distracted Larsen, resulting in the accident.
After the accident, Schroeder began working with Cline on a bill that would ban texting while driving. Earlier this year, at the invitation of Schroeder and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who has also pushed for a ban on texting while driving, Kelly Cline and A.J.’s brother Kyle Larsen traveled 300 miles to Albany in order to speak in support of this common-sense measure.
Thanks in part to their efforts, the Assembly passed a different bill that was amended to include a ban on texting while driving.
“Kelly was a major force behind the texting ban,” said Schroeder. “Her efforts were instrumental in making it happen.”
But the law, Schroeder and Cline both agreed, did not go far enough.
“The law needs to be strengthened in order to send a clear message to all motorists - texting and driving don’t mix,” said Schroeder.
Internship opportunities are available at Assemblyman Mark Schroeder’s Buffalo district office, as well as his Albany office in the State Capitol.
“I gained so much real world experience during my internship at Assemblyman Schroeder’s Albany office - things you just can’t learn in the classroom,” said Paul Migliore, Schroeder’s 2009 session intern. “I was given a great deal of responsibility and feeling that I made a difference.”
Course credit and stipends are available. Call 826-0152 today for more information.
Since his first day in public office, one of Assemblyman Mark Schroeder’s top priorities has been the revitalization of the area that was once called “Downtown South Buffalo.” Schroeder teamed up with Congressman Brian Higgins, and Mayor Byron Brown to secure $1.7 million in funding for improvements to Seneca Street.
The street is now adorned with top-of-the-line, custom made spun concrete street lights, with two historic designs unique to Seneca Street.
The Botanical Gardens designed an urban garden for the corner of Seneca and Cazenovia Streets. The garden is complemented by a sandstone bench handcrafted by a Roycroft artisan, as well as a wooden carving of 18th Century Seneca leader and orator, Red Jacket.
Around the corner, a brand new LED message board sign welcomes passersby to the business strip, as well as informing them about upcoming community events.
There are 25 new Roycroft sandstone benches being constructed currently for installation on Seneca Street. New Roycroft waste receptacles are also in the works, and will add beauty to Seneca Street as well as help to keep the strip clean.
Paving has begun this fall and will be finished in the spring. ADA compliant handicap sidewalk ramps, stamped brick crosswalks, new trees, and planters are all set to be completed in or before 2010.
As a result of this progress, private investment on Seneca Street is on the rise. Tops, Tim Horton’s, AmeriCorps, and Depaul Community Services have all opened new locations on the street, and private restaurants and other businesses are popping up as well.
Seneca Street is experiencing a rebirth and Schroeder said that the project will continue to be a major priority with new public and private investment on the way.
When Assemblyman Mark Schroeder found out that the New York Power Authority was looking at the Old First Ward as a potential site for its ice boom, he was determined that if the historic neighborhood was going to store the ice boom, it had better get something significant in return.
“The Old First Ward needs new greenspace and recreational opportunities, especially along the banks of the Buffalo River,” said Schroeder. “I saw the opportunity for the Old First Ward to get something in return for helping NYPA get out of a jam.”
The result is a planned 1.3 acre community waterfront recreation area at South and Hamburg Streets. Plans include a boardwalk promenade, a river overlook, a boat launch with storage facility, and other improvements. The plans also include a decorative wall that will hide the storage area for the ice boom, which prevents chunks of ice from disrupting NYPA’s hydroelectric plant in the Niagara River and causing damage along the waterfront during the winter months.
Schroeder has also secured funding for another riverfront park, downstream at Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue. Spearheaded by the Valley Community Association, construction of what will be known as the Buffalo Riverfest Park will begin before the end of the year.
“We are embracing the neighborhood’s nautical heritage in the design of the park,” said Schroeder. The plans include a canoe launch, an outdoor stage, a lodge, picnic pavilions, a boardwalk, and several gardens and trails.
