Assemblywoman Galef - New Session and Budget

New York State Assembly Albany, New York 12248

A message from

Assemblywoman
SANDY
GALEF

New Session & Budget

e-mail: galefs@assembly.state.ny.us

Town Meeting Schedule

March 6th

10 - noon. Peekskill City Hall
(Council Chambers) 840 Main St., Peekskill.
7 - 9pm. Cortlandt Town Hall
(Supervisor’s Conference Room) 1 Heady St., Cortlandt Manor.

March 8th

10 - noon. Kent Free Library
264 Rte. 52, Carmel.

March 13th

3 - 7pm. Office of Assemblywoman Galef
2 Church St., Ossining.

March 15th

9 - 11am. Putnam Valley Town Hall
265 Oscawana Lake Rd., Putnam Valley.
12 - 2pm. Julia Butterfield Memorial Library
10 Morris Ave., Cold Spring.

For directions, more information call Sandy Galef’s office at 914-941-1111.

Dear Constituent:

Our new legislative session has begun in Albany with many challenges facing us all. I hope to exchange ideas and get input from you in a series of town meetings scheduled for March throughout my newly redrawn district that includes the towns of Cortlandt, Kent, Ossining, Philipstown, Putnam Valley, and the city of Peekskill. By now you are aware of the proposed state budget. We have some difficult choices to make. There is an $11.5 billion state deficit between now and 2004. We must decide where to cut and where to spend scarce state dollars.

I am pleased that the budget continues the STAR school property tax relief program, along with a 7% increase for homeland security. The latter is of special interest to all of us who live near the Indian Point nuclear reactors in Buchanan. The extra dollars will also go to securing other areas of our state infrastructure. On the other hand, I am particularly concerned about the budget proposal to cut $1.2 billion in state education aid and its effect on local taxpayers who may be asked to make up the difference.

As a longtime, firm advocate of an on-time budget, these uncertain times make it even more important to meet our April 1st fiscal deadline to allow schools and other agencies who receive state funding sufficient time to deal with the impact the deficit will have on their own budgets and operations.

Heading into this year’s budget process, I am receiving letters from many constituencies on their priorities. It is important that I receive your input. Please answer the questionnaire on the back of this newsletter and offer your input on what is important to you in the 2003-04 state budget.

Town Meetings

Another way to hear from you is in person at the town meetings in March scheduled in your communities. Stop by to discuss state, local, or other issues and priorities. Also on hand will be a representative of the office of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to explain how his office can help with your insurance companies and HMOs, how to prevent identity theft, scams aimed at senior citizens, and how to improve the way Wall Street does business to make investing fair for everyone. Please call my office at 914-941-1111 for directions or more information. I am here to help. See you at my March town meetings.

Sincerely,
signature

Sandy Galef
Member of the Assembly

Photo courtesy of Putnam County News and Recorder

Sandy sworn in by Philipstown Justice Alan Steiner, along with members of her family. Galef’s redrawn 90th Assembly District now includes the towns of Kent, Philipstown, and Putnam Valley, along with the towns of Cortlandt, Ossining, and the city of Peekskill. Sandy is the new chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Educational Technology, Chairs the Subcommittee on Rural Health, and was elected Vice-Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus.

Sandy interviews Westchester County Legislator George Oros and Putnam County Legislator Sam Oliverio about state and county cooperation, priorities, and funding issues for her half-hour cable television program "Speakout with Sandy Galef" seen on local access channels.

Interns Nket Anyane-Yeboh, Yorktown, Sarah Seitz, Cornwall, and Dara Scheier, Putnam Valley, with Assemblywoman Sandy Galef. Sandy is seeking more interns to work on constituent issues, research, and legislation at her district office in Ossining. High school, college students, and adult volunteers please call the Assemblywoman at 914-941-1111.

On the Air, Online with Sandy Galef

"Speakout with Sandy Galef"

Wednesdays 6:30pm — Cablevision Ch 15
Peekskill, Ossining, Cortlandt, part of Philipstown.

Mondays 6:30pm — Cablevision Ch 21
Cold Spring, part of Philipstown.

Mondays 6:00pm — Cablevision Ch 22
Mohegan Lake, Lake Peekskill, Putnam Valley.

To be announced — RCN Cable Ch 8
Town of Kent.

"Dear Sandy"

Fridays 9:00pm — Cablevision Ch 15.
Tuesdays 6:30pm — Cablevision Ch 21.
Fridays 5:30pm — Cablevision Ch 22.
To be announced — RCN Cable Ch 8.

New Laws in 2003

Women’s Health and Wellness Act

As of January 1st, 2003 insurance now covers the costs of annual screenings for breast cancer for women 40 or older. The prior threshold was 50. Also, coverage includes contraceptives and screenings for bone disease to give preventive care for millions of New York women.

Pedestrian Right of Way

The pedestrian right of way was expanded in January. Drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks even if the motorist and pedestrian are not in the same lane. Drivers must now yield when a pedestrian approaches closely from the opposite half of the roadway. The change should save lives and millions of dollars each year.

Lower DWI Standard

As of November 1st, 2003 the blood alcohol standard for drivers is lowered from .10 to .08 percent (four drinks in an hour for an average sized person). This should save about 40 lives per year in New York. The .08 standard adopted by 31 other states makes New York eligible for over $3 million in federal highway safety funds.

Proposed Laws for 2003

Change Rockefeller Drug Laws

Allows judges to send some non-violent, lower level offenders to effective treatment programs as an alternative to prison. The measure also seeks to improve the delivery of drug treatment services in the state’s correctional facilities, provides the resources to make drug-law reform work, targets drug traffickers and drug dealers who prey on children, and increases penalties for those who mix drugs and guns.

Allow Sunday Liquor Sales

Allows retail liquor stores to open on Sundays to sell wine and liquor. Current law allows for the sale of beer in markets every day, but does not allow liquor stores to be open on Sunday. Bill sponsors say this prevents those who observe Saturday Sabbath from having a weekend purchasing opportunity. Many other states allow Sunday liquor sales, putting New York at an economic disadvantage.

Junk Food, Drinks in Schools

I am drafting a bill dealing with the sale of non-nutritious foods in school vending machines and advertising these products on school property. My concern is that the increase of sugary foods and saturated fat in children’s diets has led to an explosion of diabetes and hypertension in youth. A life of poor health and medical complications awaits these youngsters and will overburden our health care system. To join my newly formed committee on children’s nutrition, call me at 914-941-1111.

Energy Saving Tip— Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that last up to 10 times longer (4.5 years) than incandescents and use 75% less energy. Unlike regular fluorescent bulbs, CFLs have better color and can directly replace incandescent light bulbs. Dimmer models available at hardware stores, home supply centers, specialty lighting retailers or online at www.bulbs.com and www.nolico.com.

Constituent Survey Results Your answers to questions in my last newsletter:
How should we fund public schools, by state income taxes or local property taxes?	State tax	83%	Local tax	17%
Should non-nutritious foods and drinks be eliminated from schools?	Yes	95%	No	5%
Should there be penalities for drowsy driving as the cause of an accident?	Yes	62%	No	38%
Should there be a state law banning smoking in the workplace?	Yes	78%	No	22%

Questionnaire

Please tell me your views on these issues. There is space for two people to answer.

***Click here for printable view.***

Supermarkets now sell beer. Should they also be allowed to sell wine?

	Yes		No

	Yes		No

	Yes		No

	Yes		No

	Yes		No

	Yes		No

Should liquor stores be allowed to open on Sundays?

Should the Rockefeller Drug Laws be repealed to allow judges to send some non-violent, lower level offenders to drug treatment programs as an alternative to prison?

Please give me your comments on the state of New York’s economy, proposed state budget allocations, and the direction you believe we should be taking.

Fill in your name and address. Mail page back to me.

Name

Address

Zip

Assemblywoman Sandra Galef
2 Church Street
Ossining, NY 10562-4802

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