Dear eNews Reader,
I’m glad that January is behind us. It was very cold and I was sick for most of the month with a respiratory virus that wouldn’t go away. The Legislature reconvened in Albany and we are now in the middle of budget season. It’s more challenging than usual because of federal funding cuts and other complications. As always, I stay focused on the needs of our community… and there are many.
Donna
Budget Season Begins
Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball visited Cornell Cooperative Extension to preview the Governor’s budget proposal, which she revealed in her State of the State and budget addresses. I’m interested in learning more about her proposals for children and youth, including movement toward universal child care, universal school meals, and youth mental health. I’ll need to hear a lot more about stabilizing our healthcare delivery system, school aid, and improvements to Upstate roads and bridges. As always, I stay focused on the basics.
Read highlights of the Executive Budget proposal here.
Town & Country Apartment Renovations Begin
Earlier this month I joined NYSHCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas and Assistant Secretary for Housing Adam Zaranko to announce the long-awaited renovation of Town & Country Apartments in Binghamton. All 22 buildings, with 254 units (half of which are currently vacant), will expand the number of quality, affordable apartments on the North Side, and help the residents of Town & Country enjoy modern and efficient apartments. This is a great team effort working with Vesta Corporation. The entire renovation, supported by state and private funds, is expected to be completed in early 2028.
Community Health Advocates Can Help Navigate Your Health Insurance
Earlier this month, I sponsored a workshop with Senator Webb to publicize the Community Health Advocates program, NY’s official Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program. Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network is our local program administrator and can help residents, at no charge, with four main issues:
- Understanding and using coverage
- Obtaining coverage
- Accessing care
- Cost of care/medical debt/billing
CHA also does important work in helping folks appeal insurance coverage denials. For assistance, contact the statewide helpline at (888) 614-5400 or Mothers & Babies at (607) 772-0517.
BOCES Trades Complex Makes Progress
Construction on the $1.3M Trades Complex at Broome-Tioga BOCES, funded by an Assembly grant, is making progress. The Complex will serve as a training hub for students interested in the trades and heavy equipment operation and will have a training building and a solar training farm for electrical students. A truck has already been purchased and a road built to help train CDL drivers on site. With steel having arrived just a few weeks ago, the Complex is expected to be complete later this Spring and is part of BOCES’ larger capital improvement project.
Agriculture & Food Priorities Discussed at Budget Hearing
The Legislature started holding joint budget hearings (Senate and Assembly) to receive testimony about priorities for the state budget due April 1. The first one focused on Agriculture and Parks. As the Chair of the Agriculture Committee, I asked the witnesses many questions. Some of the topics included: the safety of our food supply chain in light of the concern over bird flu, the loss of federal support for our soil health and climate resiliency efforts, and workforce concerns regarding the many undocumented farm workers in NY.
MLK III Gives Inspiring Talk at Binghamton University
Earlier this week, I attended a fireside chat with Martin Luther King III at Binghamton University. In his talk “Continuing the Legacy: Advancing Social Justice and Equity in the 21st Century”, King spoke about the importance of returning civility to public discourse and his father’s dream to eradicate poverty, racism, and violence. These themes are more important now than ever. It was wonderful to meet him.
Learn more about his work here.