Statement from New York State Senator Shelley Mayer 37th District.

Dear Friends: I hope you and your family had an opportunity to commemorate Veterans Day over Veterans Day weekend. I was glad to attend memorable Veterans Day ceremonies in Harrison, Port Chester, Rye, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, and Yonkers. At these events, I heard many moving stories of service and patriotism, and I salute all of those who served our nation in the Armed Forces, past and present. On Veterans Day, Monday, November 11th, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a number of bills sponsored by my colleagues and me to enhance services for Veterans and strengthen protections. One of these bills, S.5184, empowers members of the military to vote in local school district elections. Read more about S.5184 in the section below. Last week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced his proposal to enact a toll on a 1.4 mile stretch of Interstate 684 that passes through Connecticut. This proposal is an inappropriate Connecticut tax on New Yorkers, and my colleagues and I have been vocal about our opposition to the proposal. According to the latest reports, it seems that the Connecticut State Legislature will look for alternative methods to fund their infrastructure goals that will not include a toll on I-684. Read more about this issue in the section below. Over the past few weeks, I hosted several events to celebrate funding for important causes in the district and statewide. On Wednesday, October 30th, I was glad to gather with Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, notable ALS advocate Pat Quinn, and others to celebrate $200,000 in funding for the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. On Thursday, October 31st, Untermyer Gardens celebrated the completion of the Rock & Stream Garden with $125,000 in funding I secured while serving in the Assembly. This coming week, I am pleased to co-host three events with the Office of NYS Attorney General Letitia James in Bedford, Mamaroneck, and White Plains. Smart Seniors: How to Avoid the Most Common Scams will inform seniors on how to identify potential scams before they happen. All three events are free and open to the public. You do not need to be a senior to attend! Find out more about each of these events in the section below. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if there is an issue my office can help with or a community event you would like me to know about. You can call 914-934-5250 or smayer@nysenate.gov. Kind regards,

Shelley B. Mayer