Raymond Park in Cheektowaga is one of countless communities in WNY that borders a rail line, where companies like Norfolk Southern often carry hazardous materials. Unfortunately, as we saw in East Palestine, Ohio, the rail companies are putting profits over people and refusing to take measures to prevent disastrous derailments.
That’s why I joined my colleagues to call for rail safety and transparency measures, including more effective ECP brakes and disclosure of all hazardous materials on trains to nearby communities.

I had a blast at the Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo St. Joseph’s Day fundraiser over the weekend.

Thank you for all that you do to preserve and promote our Italian culture.

Thank you to NYSUT for the opportunity to speak at your Committee of 100 event.
Our educators are vital to the success of our young people, our economy, and our future.
It’s my privilege to advocate for the needs of our teachers and our schools.

Thank you to the amazing students at Cheektowaga Central School District who took the time to make valentines for our veterans at VFW Post 7275 in Lancaster.
The cards are adorable, and it was a very sweet gesture for those who risked everything for our country.
And as always, thank you to all the brave men and women who served in our armed forces. We are forever grateful.

The Cheektowaga Highway Department, Town of Lancaster Highway Department, Village of Lancaster DPW and Village of Depew DPW worked incredibly hard - and under dangerous conditions - throughout the Blizzard of ’22.
It was my pleasure to deliver lunch and show my appreciation.

In January 2023, I announced the signature of my legislation to expand requirements for fitness centers to carry an AED. AEDs save lives. We all saw that with Damar Hamlin, but his is only one story of many.

We had an informative and productive conversation today at my round table on legislation to address the nursing shortage in New York.
This legislation would permit nursing programs to count simulation-based training as part of the clinical training nurses must satisfy to graduate.
Thank you to everyone who participated and to Assemblymember Donna Lupardo for introducing this vital legislation.

It was my pleasure to join the Lancaster Fire Department for their dinner and awards and to recognize Clifford “Tip” Kryman, Jr. for an incredible 50 years of service with LFD.
Thank you to Tip and all his fellow firefighters for protecting and serving the people of our community.

It was my pleasure to teach the amazing kids at Cleveland Hill Middle School what it means to be an Assemblymember and how the legislative process works for National Civics Day.
I hope they use this knowledge to get involved and make a positive difference in our community.

Motion Project Foundation does truly lifesaving work. They are one of few organizations that help people who suffered spinal cord injuries regain some mobility, stay healthy, and improve their quality of life.
Thank you to Natalie and Mary Lynn for taking the time to show me around your facility and teach me about your work with helping and advocating for people with disabilities.

A WNY winter is brutal enough. No one, especially kids, should have to endure it without adequately warm attire.
It was my pleasure to collect hats and gloves for the Cheektowaga Boys & Girls Club, alongside my partners in local government County Legislator Tim Meyers and Cheektowaga Supervisor Diane Benczkowski.

As a proud SUNY alum, faculty member, and parent to two SUNY students, I know just how important our public universities are. They provide host communities with investments and jobs and provide students with the knowledge needed to live productive and successful lives.
We must commit to funding levels that maintain the quality and affordability of our excellent public university system. Thank you to United University Professions for advocating for the resources that SUNY needs.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is investing $7 million to expand the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve Education Center.
This 7,000 square foot expansion will allow for more programs for area youth and better accessibility for visitors with disabilities.
Happy to join the Commissioner Seggos, Senator Timothy Kennedy, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Assemblywoman Karen McMahon, and the Friends of Reinstein Woods for this special announcement.

I was thrilled to welcome the new Metro Bus/Metro Rail line to the Amazon sorting center in Lancaster.
This partnership between the NFTA and Amazon will help folks without private cars get to work and will help Amazon recruit the workers it needs to run its business.

Congratulations to the Cheektowaga Senior Center on celebrating its 40th anniversary. Thank you to the hard-working staff and volunteers for four decades of serving the seniors of our community.

Thank you to IUOE Local 17 and all the labor unions and public agencies that came out for the 14th annual WNY Construction Career Days.
This was a great opportunity for local high schoolers to learn about the good jobs in the labor trades through (supervised and safe) hands-on experience.
Happy to see Lancaster Schools and Cleveland Hill students here to consider good-paying careers.

Research shows green is the brightest color light to the human eye, meaning it will be most visible in whiteout conditions. That’s Senator Timothy Kennedy and I passed legislation permitting green lights on municipal plows in order to make our roads safer during snowstorms.
Thank you to the plow drivers who work so hard to keep our roads clear and passable.

Congratulations to Robert Trembowicz on reaching 50 years of service with the Doyle Hose Company No. 2.
That level of dedication to our community is just incredible. Thank you so much to Robert and all our volunteer firefighters for your commitment and service.

The new trail signs are up at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, giving visitors a detailed history of both the park and our region.
I’m also thrilled to see additional improvements make this natural gem more accessible to people with limited mobility or impaired vision.

Fantastic Friends of WNY is an amazing organization that does such vital work for individuals with special needs.
I had a blast taking part in their Saturday morning baking, and I'm thrilled to have secured $20,000 to help continue this wonderful group's classes and programs.

Thank you to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Deputy County Executive Maria Whyte, Dr. Balkin and Meghan Gleason at SUNY Erie Community College, Lou Jean Fleron and her team at Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, and the many childcare providers, workers, students, and advocates who pushed for more investments in childcare. We will keep pushing until childcare is within reach of every family and until providers and workers are paid what they deserve.

For the third year in a row, Lancaster Public Library won first place in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Battle of the Books competition.
Congratulations to this amazing team and coach for their victory and for reading throughout the summer.
It was my pleasure to recognize these amazing kids with official NYS Assembly certificates.

The new dining hall at Villa Maria College is a vibrant, beautiful space where students can study, socialize, and so much more.
Thank you to Russell Salvatore for donating the funds to make this renovation possible, and as always, thank you to Villa Maria for all that you do for our community.

I was proud to recognize our community’s Polish American heritage at the 84th Annual Pulaski Parade in downtown Buffalo.

The Lancaster New York Store has been a fixture in our community for 93 years and was included on the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Historic Business Preservation Registry.
It was my pleasure to recognize co-owner Alan Kurtzman and the rest of his team at the store with an official NYS Assembly proclamation.

Thank you to everyone at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo and Center for Elder Law & Justice for joining me to call on Governor Hochul to sign my legislation to improve access to hospice and palliative care.
This legislation is intended to encourage everyone to talk to their loved ones about their medical care wishes so that, God forbid the need arises, your loved one will know how to honor your wishes.

I was thrilled announce that I have secured $15,000 for the Lancaster Public Library to cover operating costs associated with remaining open on Sundays.
This funding will allow the library to remain open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays through spring 2023, ensuring that school children and everyone else can access the library's internet, computers, and other vital resources any day of the week.

Congratulations to Patty Neal and her entire team at Dance Spectrum on their grand reopening at their new location on Transit Road.
This amazing new space will serve the youth and adult dancers of our community well.

In August, Speaker Carl Heastie and I announced that we have secured $50,000 to study the feasibility of building a five-mile bike trail to connect the Lancaster Heritage Trail to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Rail Trail in Cheektowaga. We have also secured $1 million toward the actual construction of the trail, should the study determine that it's feasible.

Congratulations to Robert Trembowicz on reaching 50 years of service with the Doyle Hose Company No. 2.

That level of dedication to our community is just incredible. Thank you so much to Robert and all our volunteer firefighters for your commitment and service.

The new trail signs are up at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, giving visitors a detailed history of both the park and our region.

I’m also thrilled to see additional improvements make this natural gem more accessible to people with limited mobility or impaired vision.

Thank you to the Friends of Reinstein Woods for all that you do. It’s my honor to support and help improve this incredible park.

Fantastic Friends of WNY is an amazing organization that does such vital work for individuals with special needs.

I had a blast taking part in their Saturday morning baking, and I'm thrilled to have secured $20,000 to help continue this wonderful group's classes and programs.

Thank you to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Deputy County Executvie Maria Whyte, Dr. Balkin and Meghan Gleason at SUNY Erie Community College, Lou Jean Fleron and her team at Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, and the many childcare providers, workers, students, and advocates who pushed for more investments in childcare.We will keep pushing until childcare is within reach of every family and until providers and workers are paid what they deserve.

The new dining hall at Villa Maria College is a vibrant, beautiful space where students can study, socialize, and so much more.

Thank you to Russell Salvatore for donating the funds to make this renovation possible, and as always, thank you to Villa Maria for all that you do for our community.

I was proud to recognize our community’s Polish American heritage at the 84th Annual Pulaski Parade in downtown Buffalo.