With nominations open for my 2nd annual Women of Distinction Awards, I'd like to again thank our inaugural winners:Sister Doreen Glynn, CSJ, Margaret Slotnick, Christina Farinacci-Roberts, Deborah Flaherty-Kizer, Dr. Melissa Fiorini, Eileen Satterlee, Wanda Yarbor, Isabella Sementilli.

“Thank you to the Village of Colonie and Mayor Tom Tobin for joining us at our annual American Red Cross Eastern New York Blood Drive at the Colonie Family Recreation Center.”

I will always support our nurses because they are the backbone of our healthcare system.

It was wonderful to be a part of Kasselman Electric's 75th Anniversary celebration this week. This woman-owned business is not only thriving, but also giving back to our community by supporting students at Hudson Valley Community College through a new scholarship program. Congratulations!

It was an honor to speak at the Stop-22 Walk to end veteran suicide. We are so grateful for our incredible service members and we must do all we can to support them.

It is always great to brush up on my skills with Colonie EMS Department. Thank you for everything you do to keep our community safe.

I had a wonderful time at the Menands Fire Department Open House this week. It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new community members, while participating in a lot of fun events. Thank you for a great evening!

Pleased to announce state funding in partnership with my colleague Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara that we secured for a new fire apparatus for the City of Schenectady Fire Department.

I presented a $500k grant to the Town of Niskayuna that will be used to build new bathrooms and a splash pad at River Road Park. The event also celebrated the completion of a new inclusive playground at the park, which was made possible by a $250,000 grant I secured last year. I am always proud to help fund park improvement projects, like the new splash pad and nearby bathrooms, that will allow families to come together and enjoy cost-free activities in our community.

I had a wonderful time at the Agudat Achim Carrot Fest last week with Jewish War Veterans Gary Hoffman and Fred Altman of JWV.

I had the privilege of attending a football game at Army West Point Football at the invitation of a member of the local cadet parents’ organization. The football team, the facility, and the sense of community were very impressive. Go Army!

I had the privilege of honoring the American Red Cross Eastern New York volunteers for their service and commitment to our community. Our local Red Cross volunteers have gone above and beyond in their efforts recently by responding to an unprecedented number of natural disasters. Due to the dedication and selflessness of these volunteers, I was proud to proclaim today as American Red Cross Eastern New York Region Deployed Volunteer Recognition Day in the State of New York. Our state is incredibly grateful for the irreplaceable and invaluable services provided by these incredible volunteers of the American Red Cross.

I had a wonderful evening at the Upper Hudson Library System Expedition Party at the Pruyn House. Libraries are such important community hubs that serve as centers of learning, professional development, healthcare, and so much more. We are incredibly lucky to have such amazing libraries in the Capital Region.

I was proud to join Antonio Delgado and DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos in announcing $600,000 in grants to help implement the goals and objectives for the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda yesterday.

NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joined me today at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to announce $500,000 in capital funding. This funding will be used for general facility improvements. I was incredibly proud to show Speaker Heastie the work our community is doing to ensure our neighbors’ most basic right is always met. Food banks are essential to many of our community members, yet they are facing an increase in demand coupled with high operating costs. The volunteers and employees at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York continue to step up to meet this demand, and I am committed to supporting their work.

Last week I joined the Bring On The Spectrum Young Adult Supper Group and Honest Weight Food Co-op to check out the Life Skills program that my office was able to help provide funding for. It was awesome to be a part of such a great learning and community building event. Thanks for having me!

Sending a HUGE THANK YOU to Tammy Lopez at the Cancer Services Program of the Greater Capital Region, St. Peter’s Cancer Care Center, Dr. Duncan Savage, St. Peter's Crime Victim Services, St. Peter’s Community Health Programs and Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities for joining us at our Health Fair last night at Town of Guilderland Town Hall to share very insightful information on how to live healthy lives. I was proud to partner with Guilderland Supervisor Barber and enjoyed meeting residents.

This week, I attended the 33rd anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at The New York State Executive Mansion. It was a great opportunity to meet with leaders and advocates while celebrating our shared commitment to ensuring the rights of people with disabilities.

I was honored to be a part of the Elks Lodge Teenager of the Year Award ceremony, which celebrates one student from North Colonie Central School District and one from South Colonie Central School District. Congratulations to Jennifer Shafer and Katherine Conjalka!

I had such a wonderful time at the Taiwanese Heritage Celebration and really enjoyed the spectacular performances. Thank you for having me!

I had a great time at the New York State Office of General Services NYS Electric Vehicle Fleet Event. As a proud owner of an all-electric Chevy Bolt, I am a firm believer that electric vehicles are the future of automobiles. As more and more New Yorkers switch from a gasoline car to an electric vehicle, it is vital that our infrastructure keeps up with the demand. My legislation to create a Stock Transfer Tax would allow New York State to invest $2 billion every year in green energy projects, like creating thousands of EV charging stations across the State. Not only would this reduce our carbon footprint, but it would also create hundreds of good paying jobs for the working class.

We are currently facing an existential threat from climate change. By investing in green infrastructure, we are not only combating the climate crisis, but we are able to create good paying jobs for the working class. My legislation to create a Stock Transfer Tax would do exactly this by investing $2 billion every year in renewable energy projects. I was proud to stand with NY Renews last week to call on the Assembly to pass legislation that would make New York State the leader in the green economy.

I was proud to be a part of the New York National Guard Memorial Day ceremony held at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York. This Memorial Day, we’re thankful for those who gave their lives while serving. And we’re thinking of those who have lost someone they love. Thank you for your sacrifice.

Last night we had a great turnout for our Colonie EMS Department CPR Training event at the Crossings. Attendees learned how to perform hands-only CPR, administer Narcan and use an AED in case of an emergency. A huge thank you to all of the amazing EMS professionals that made this such a success, especially Assistant Chief Chris Rench, Deputy Chief Erin Kelly and Colonie Paramedic and Outreach Coordinator, David Plouff.

Yesterday I was so proud to be a part of the ceremonial ribbon cutting event to highlight five new playgrounds at South Colonie schools that my office helped to fund. It was great to see it all come to fruition!

Last night was our 2023 Women of Distinction Awards ceremony at the William K. Sanford Town Library where I was honored to present the following eight women with awards for their dedication to and impact on our community. I am in awe of these amazing women and so grateful for their work. In photo (from left to right): Sister Doreen Glynn, CSJ, Margaret Slotnick, Christina Farinacci-Roberts, Deborah Flaherty-Kizer, Assemblymember Phil Steck, Dr. Melissa Fiorini, Eileen Satterlee, Wanda Yarbor, Isabella Sementilli.

We had the perfect weather this afternoon to celebrate the South Colonie Girls Softball Opening Day! Good luck to all the players and coaches this season!

It was great to be a part of the groundbreaking for The King Thiel II Senior Community, which I helped to generate funding for. Once complete, the affordable independent senior living center will be comprised of 99 apartments for seniors to rent.

I had the pleasure of giving the Woodland Hill Montessori School a behind-the scenes look at our Capitol. I had a wonderful time answering great questions from these very inquisitive students.

In January, I was thrilled to help George T. Jenkins, a 100-year-old Navy veteran of WWII who earned three medals, receive his first government issued photo identification card. Unfortunately, Mr. Jenkins was not issued a birth certificate in 1922, a common scenario for African Americans born in the United States during the 1920’s. Recently, due to the bureaucratic red-tape Mr. Jenkins had difficulty obtaining a photo ID, thereby preventing him from moving into a senior housing complex. With the help of our office and the DMV, Mr. Jenkins now has his first ever government issued ID card and is living comfortably in the same complex as his daughters

On Feb. 7, I discussed the prevention of youth smoking and improving the health of our community with Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities. As the chair of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, I am always looking for ways to improve the health of my constituents through community action and legislation.

I met with the Raise Up New York Coalition to showcase my support for a $21.25 minimum wage that keeps up with rising costs. The bill would give 2.9 million New Yorkers a $3,300 raise to help cover essential expenses like rent, groceries, and part-time childcare.

Thank you to CBS6 Tom Eschen for taking the time to speak with me about the state budget. You can catch the interview now on WRGB CBS 6 News, Albany

Thank you to everyone who participated in my 2023 Blood Drive, especially Jaime Lynn Puccioni Niskayuna Supervisor for allowing us to utilize Niskayuna Town Hall on Friday. It was a huge success and with 37 units of blood collected, we surpassed the American Red Cross’ goal by 148%! One-third of the participants were first time donors and the donations made will save up to 111 lives in the Capital Region.

Over the weekend, I had the distinct honor of speaking at the Four Chaplains event at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady. To learn more about the amazing legacy of the Four Chaplains visit their Web site