Below are the Top 5 items from the month of June.
1. SESSION WRAP UP
Our Legislative session wrapped in in Albany the last week of June, as we finally settled several outstanding items. As you probably know, many significant policy items are now advanced and passed during the state budget process. The rest of the session is now dedicated to passing bills of local significance, and for me advocating for issues that effect the Upstate economy, and for those concerns under review by the Aging Committee which I chair. While I remain disappointed that specific reforms to the state procurement process were not undertaken, I can assure you that this remains a keen interest of mine, ensuring that your tax dollars are well spent on various economic development initiatives. If you’d like to read more about the end of our legislative session, click here for a summary of ten items that I worked on after the budget was completed.
2. HUMANE SOCIETY OPENS NEW FACILITY:
On June 28th, I attended the grand opening of the Broome County Humane Society’s new facility on Conklin Avenue in Binghamton. This was the culmination of a two-year capital campaign and I was happy to be able to secure a $250,000 Assembly Capital Grant to help with the project. The new shelter will allow the Humane Society to care for up to 200 cats and nearly 70 dogs at once; additionally, low-cost grooming and health care services will be available. As the owner of a rescue cat, I know how dedicated the Humane Society is to helping these animals. The best thing we can do for our four-legged friends is to help find them a forever home, but until they are adopted it is important that they have the best care possible; I know they will get that love and attention here.
Assemblywoman Lupardo speaks at the grand opening of the new Broome County Humane Society.On June 6th, in conjunction with Cancer Survivors Day, Sen. Fred Akshar and I passed a resolution proclaiming Sock Out Cancer Day in NYS. Many of our colleagues wore the cause’s signature multi-colored socks to help us raise awareness. This initiative started in the Southern Tier to help families who have been affected by cancer; now we’re challenging our colleagues in state legislatures across the country to bring #SockOutCancer to their communities. Visit https://sockoutcancer.org/ to learn more about the mission and click here to watch a video message about this cause from me and Sen. Akshar.
Assemblywoman Lupardo shows off the signature Sock Out Cancer socks with several colleagues.
4. “HIDDEN FIGURES” INSPIRES U-E STUDENTS:
Working with the National Foundation of Women Legislators, I recently sponsored Google’s Made With Code initiative at Jennie F. Snapp Middle School in Endicott where more than 300 girls participated. This program included a viewing of the Academy Award-winning film Hidden Figures and a hands-on coding activity to get girls interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM careers are growing rapidly across the nation, yet only 24% of those jobs are currently held by women. This program provided young girls with real world examples of women who have helped change the world through STEM careers. If women helped us take a ‘giant leap for mankind’ 50 years ago, it’s exciting to think what a new generation of women could help accomplish in the future. I am looking forward to bringing this initiative to other schools within my district.
Assemblywoman Lupardo talks with students at Jennie F. Snapp during the “Hidden Figures” viewing party she hosted at the school.We are very lucky to have a beautiful natural resource right in our own backyard in the form of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers. However, for too long the rivers have been underutilized. This summer, we’re encouraging residents to rediscover our waterways through Revel on the River, a series of events taking place on and around the Chenango and Susquehanna. The fun began on June 24th as Shakespeare on the River debuted with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Next up are a number of classes – art, yoga, paddle boarding, and boot camp – taking place near the river. I’m very excited to be partnering with the City of Binghamton, the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau, and BingPop for these activities. For more info, visit BingPop.com; we hope to see you at the river!
Shakespeare on the River presents a ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Confluence Park.