I have an Op-Ed in this Friday’s Times Union with Michael Castellana calling for the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) to be re-imagined as a world-class children’s museum in Albany. Out of a crisis for CMOST comes an enormous opportunity for the Capital Region. As the Capital Region grows into the hub of New York’s burgeoning “Tech Valley,” engaging Tech Valley families is critical to attracting and retaining its workers. Dynamic, interactive children’s museums are often a top family destination and can be true urban revitalization drivers – as well as help grow and inspire the next generation of workers in science, technology, art, engineering, and math.

Assemblymember Weinstein Named First Woman Chair of Ways of Means Committee. Congratulations to my colleague Helene Weinstein, who earlier in the week was named the Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Helene is the longest-serving woman in the Assembly and will be the first woman to ever hold this high-ranking post!

Federal Healthcare Cuts Loom, serious Implications for NYS. Millions in NYS could be seriously impacted by the federal “Cassidy-Graham” bill to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act and replace it with federal block grants. New York could potentially face up to $2.6 billion in cuts in aid to the hospitals serving the needy. The bill punishes states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA by redistributing those funds amongst the states as grants. The bill would also allow states to obtain waivers to allow insurance companies to charge those with pre-existing conditions more for medical treatment. I strongly oppose this proposal and am glad that our federal representatives are working hard in opposition.

Community Updates

Plans for Old Convention Center Site. The 8-acre former convention center site in downtown Albany may be getting a facelift soon. Developing mixed-used properties near the site of the former Trailways Station would spur economic investment in this long-beleaguered area of downtown. (https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2017/09/14/ideas-for-downtown-albany-land-include-apartments.html) The now closed former Trailways Station is an outstanding example of mid-century art deco architecture that should be repurposed, possibly as a multi-modal transit hub.

Survey on Potential Albany Gondola. A new organization, Capital Gondola LLC, is exploring opportunities to construct a gondola from downtown Albany to the Amtrak Station in Rensselaer. This interesting proposal would be primarily privately funded, a rarity for these kinds of large infrastructure projects. Take an opinion survey at gondolasurvey.com using the code “cap” to share your thoughts on this project and to be entered to win $100.

Egg to Receive New Roof. Albany’s iconic Egg Performing Arts Center will be getting a new shell next year. Preliminary work on the project started this week and will include extensive repairs to the snowmelt system the building uses to protect itself during the winter. The full replacement project is slated to begin next May.

Fall Festival at Thacher Park. Visit John Boyd Thacher State Park on Saturday September 30th for a day of family fun and festivities including hayrides, live birds of prey, face painting, archery, old-fashioned games, children's crafts, local artisans selling quality handcrafted items, farm fresh veggies, and flowers, live music, as well as food vendors. Entrance fee is $6 per car.

Event on Women’s Rights in Syria. Syria is constantly in the headlines. Ever wonder what truly happens in the peace talks involving world powers you read about in the news? Or what it is like to represent women’s rights for the first time ever in such negotiations? Come meet the woman responsible for leading this task and hear her insider’s view of the tragic Syrian civil war and the delicate diplomacy. On Tuesday, October 3rd at 4:00 PM in Humanities 354 on the UAlbany Main Campus, UAlbany will be hosting Nawal Yazeji who is the Chair of the Women’s Advisory Board for the UN Office of the Special Envoy to Syria. The event is free and open to the public, attendees are asked to RSVP to govrelations@albany.edu.

Film: “Birthright: A War Story” Screening. On Thursday, September 28th at 6:30 PM Capital Women will be hosting a screening of Birthright: A War Story at Madison Theater in Albany. This new documentary has parallels to 'The Handmaid's Tale.' A group discussion led by author and activist Barbara Smith and Professor Donna Young of Albany Law School will follow the screening, with resources for those interested in learning how they can participate in the fight to protect women's reproductive rights.

Enlightening Vietnam War Docu-Series. I’m not one to recommend much television, but a true exception is Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s series ‘Vietnam War,’ which is airing on PBS. The 18-hour docu-series, which took more than a decade to produce, is informative and enlightening. While most documentarians opt to cover one part of this tragic chapter in our history, they set out to cover all aspects of the war, no small feat. This series comes at a time where the lessons of Vietnam ought not to be forgotten, and we should all reflect on our history when considering America’s role in the world.

Job Opportunities: New York State has set up a new job portal entitled Jobs Express, where thousands of private and public sector jobs are listed. Visit jobs.ny.gov for more information on how to apply for these opportunities.

As always, for the latest news or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note.