Press Releases

DeStefano: Our Loved Ones Deserve Justice

Gov. Cuomo ordered nursing homes to accept patients from hospitals who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25. His actions have resulted in the deaths of approximately 6,000 nursing home residents across New York state. The New York State Legislature...

DeStefano: We Need to Do Better Protecting New Yorkers

On July 10, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined the Assembly Minority Conference and law enforcement officials on a Zoom press conference call to encourage state leaders to tackle the recent increase in violent incidents happening across...

DeStefano: Hate Has No Place Here

“We’re all outraged at what happened to George Floyd. As a state and a nation, we need to do better. I commend everyone who has peacefully protested and spoken out against racism and violence. However, we cannot let the memory of Floyd be tarnished...

DeStefano: In a Changing World, Progressive Majority Are Business as Usual

“As session resumed, the progressive, Majority-controlled Assembly showed us once again where their true priorities lie. Session this week was a disappointment. While it was well-intentioned, there was little action done to help our small businesses...

DeStefano, Minority Conference Call for Financial Aid to Firefighters and EMS Workers

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I, Ref-Medford) and the Minority Conference wrote a letter to federal officials urging for financial relief to volunteer firefighters and EMS workers across the state. The Conference will also be introducing legislation...

Officials, Business Leaders Call on Trump, Cuomo to Declare Coronavirus A Terrorist Act

Local officials and business leaders today called for the declaration of the Coronavirus as an “Act of Terrorism” in order to allow insurance claims based on business disruption to be paid. Speaking at a live-streamed press conference...

What Happened to Democratic Government?

“Closed-door meetings, backroom deals, hidden agendas snuck into the budget: is this what our state government has actually come to? The lack of transparency throughout this whole process is just outrageous - especially while our state and the nation...

Coronavirus Update from Assemblyman Destefano

“As residents are experiencing unprecedented disruptions from the coronavirus, I want to update my constituents on what we’re doing on the state level to fight the contagion and help bring everyone’s lives back to normal as soon as possible....

New Yorkers Deserve Better

“In light of the country and state of New York remaining in states of emergencies, now is not the right time to advocate for policies in our state budget as Majority has previously done. To top it all off, two members of the Assembly have tested...

DeStefano Stands with Highway Officials

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) pictured with local and county highway officials and legislators at the CHIPS rally in Albany on March 4, 2020.
Editor’s note: Click here https://youtu.be/Qzkk2zAGOoA to watch Assemblyman Joe DeStefano’s interview. Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) joined legislators and over 700 highway officials to call for increased funding to the...

DeStefano Condemns Governor’s Power Grab

“Gov. Cuomo is inciting fear of the coronavirus in an attempt to give himself more power, when just the other day he said a case in New York was to be expected. The governor is proposing legislation that would grant him far-reaching authority for...

DeStefano Denounces Cuts To Veterans Programs

“It’s absolutely disheartening that services that benefit our brave veterans are seeing cuts by our governor, yet he spends our taxpayer’s hard-earned money on outlandish proposals like giving illegal immigrants driver’s licenses....

DeStefano Condemns Green Light Law

“The governor’s attempt to restrict DMV database access to our federal law enforcement agencies through the Green Light Law jeopardizes the public safety of our children and families. Information sharing between all levels of law enforcement...

DeStefano Condemns Lack Of Action From The Progressive Senate and Assembly Majority On Bail Reform

“At the public protection joint hearing today, all I heard were attempts by the progressive Senate and Assembly Majority to justify their dangerous actions. But their actions can’t be justified as residents in our communities across the state...

DeStefano Calls For Immediate Bail Reform Repeal

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) pictured with Minority Leader Will Barclay, law enforcement and elected officials at a bail reform rally on February 4, 2020 in Albany, NY.
“Our law enforcement agencies continue to rally against this so-called bail reform. This dangerous legislation needs to be repealed now,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford). “Jordan Randolph, a resident of my district, was...

DeStefano Calls For Immediate Bail Reform Repeal

“Our law enforcement agencies continue to rally against this so-called bail reform. This dangerous legislation needs to be repealed now,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford). “Jordan Randolph, a resident of my district, was...

DeStefano: An Ally For Those With Developmental Disabilities

Today, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the Legislative Disability Awareness Day event in Albany to highlight the many important issues the disability community is advocating for. These issues include increasing funding for direct...

Suffolk Rallies to Restore Sanity to Bail System

As Suffolk residents wake up to the realities of the new state law eliminating bail for almost all misdemeanors and various felonies, dozens of local officials and concerned citizens rallied at the county Corrections Officers Association headquarters...

Destefano Reacts to 2020 State of The State Address

Editor’s note: Click Here https://youtu.be/24fOg7jsh-c to view Assemblyman Joe DeStefano’s interview. “I am disappointed to see that, once again, Gov. Cuomo has ignored our everyday middle-class Long Islander. His State of the State address...

DeStefano Fighting Against Bail Reform Laws

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) is fighting back against the bail reform laws passed by the Majority by co-sponsoring legislation that would repeal these so-called reforms. During the 2019 Legislative Session, Majority politicians passed...