Well here we are- The first week of September! For most, Labor Day marks the “last” few days of summer, the last day you can wear those white pants, last day to wear flip-flops, or even the last day you can go to the beach, but for some of us it marks the beginning of a new school year! Parents are you ready?! I know I am! However, when we send our little ones, or in my case a high schooler, off to school we have an expectation they will be safe walking to and from school, but that is not always the case. While we have speed cameras and crossing guards at some locations, it’s not nearly enough to protect the well over one million New York City school children.

This past legislative session Senator Addabbo and I introduced a bill (A9804/S5519A) to mandate that students are protected while going to school by a crossing guard, no matter their age. Specifically, this bill would require the City of New York to place school crossing guards on each and every corner of a city block containing a public or private school serving students enrolled in high school during arrival and dismissal as set forth by the school. We created this legislation to coincide with a bill already introduced in the legislature that would require crossing guards at every elementary and middle school. In our ever changing world with technology, bike lanes, more cars, and even more accidents-the safety of our children should be our number one priority and mandating crossing guards for all schools, not just elementary schools, will provide an enormous boost to overall pedestrian safety throughout our schools here in South Queens and the entire city.

Protecting our children doesn’t end when they get home from school, dangerous items can sometimes make it into our own homes. As Chair of the Child Product Safety Subcommittee, I cosponsored a bill to protect our children and to allow our parents to make informed decisions about the items they are purchasing for their family. The legislation (A.8288) protects children from avoidable illness and toxic exposure by allowing the Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) to regulate, and in cases of significant public health concern, ban the use of dangerous chemicals in products geared towards children. Moreover the bill provides a common sense approach to the practice of getting toxic chemicals out of children’s products.

I am proud to stand with our principals, teachers, parents, and students in demanding the highest quality of safety for our schools, students, and community! I look forward to a great school year! As always, if you feel passionately about an issue call my office at 718-945-9550, email me at amatos@nyassembly.gov, or stop by and say hello: 95-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd Rockaway Beach, Queens.