On a recent Friday, Senator Jack M. Martins took a tour of the East Side Access Project, where he saw first-hand the progress being made on the massive capital project that entails excavating and building tunnels that will bring the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) into Grand Central.
First, Senator Martins and LIRR President Helena Williams toured the progress being made on the Queens side as new tunnels are being constructed from the LIRR mainline tracks connecting to the existing 63rd Street tunnel just beyond Northern Boulevard. Then, Senator Martins traveled to Manhattan, where he saw the progress being made approximately 90 feet underneath Grand Central as tunnels are being excavated for the purpose of allowing LIRR train service into the terminal, which is located on 42nd Street and Park Avenue.
It is estimated that the project will be completed in 2019. The main goals of the project are to provide a direct and faster trip between Long Island and East Midtown Manhattan. Customers will have a choice whether to take a train from their home station into Penn or Grand Central. LIRR officials believe the project will improve service while easing overcrowding in Penn Station.
“The scope of the project is certainly impressive,” said Senator Martins.”I want to thank LIRR President Helena Williams for arranging this tour. It’s important to see what progress is being made on a project that will impact our residents who commute into Manhattan.”
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to authorizing a municipal corporation to provide a real property tax exemption for improvements to real property meeting certification standards for green buildings
An act in relation to a proposed electric generating facility in the county of Suffolk; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
An act to amend the local finance law, in relation to providing for a period of probable usefulness to the payment for a separation incentive program by the town of Southampton
An act to amend chapter 326 of the laws of 2006, amending the tax law relating to authorizing the county of Hamilton to impose a county recording tax on obligations secured by mortgages on real property, in relation to extending the expiration thereof
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax from the Calvary Tabernacle for a certain parcel of land located in the town of Hempstead
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax from the Academy Charter School for a certain parcel of land located in the town of Hempstead
An act to amend the village law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirements for the position of constable in the incorporated village of West Hampton Dunes, county of Suffolk to allow for the retention of current constables and enhance recruitment efforts for future personnel
An act validating certain findings and determinations with respect to bond anticipation notes issued by the village of Webster, in the town of Webster, county of Monroe, and to legalize and authorize the issuance of obligations of such notes
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax for the Locust Valley water district for a certain parcel of land located in the town of Oyster Bay
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax from the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, Inc. for a certain parcel of land located in the town of Hempstead
An act to authorize the assessor of the city of Schenectady to accept an application for a real property tax exemption for certain property in the city of Schenectady, county of Schenectady
An act to amend chapter 97 of the laws of 2001, establishing two public library districts, in relation to changing the poll hours for the Hyde Park library district
An act in relation to authorizing certain individuals to take the competitive civil service examination and be placed on the eligible list for appointment as a part-time police officer for the town of Elmira, county of Chemung
Two sets of twins – same family – double doses of double trouble. That was life for my mom and dad: two sets of twins and another child just to stir things up. How they actually survived, especially mom, I’ll never know. But having a weekly column I think it’s high time I offer some reflection on and praise for the woman who so selflessly raised us. So I apologize in advance if this week’s column sounds like I’m being sentimental about her. It’s only because I absolutely am.
A great thing about a weekly column is it gives opportunity to spotlight groups whose work goes overlooked or underappreciated. I’d say that as a whole, moms pretty much head up those categories. My mom’s a perfect example and I think her life is one that many can relate to. Hers was a typical immigrant story. She and my dad came to this country in the early ‘60s, and determined to make it in the construction trade, my father dedicated many long hours to growing his business. Mom understood that and supported him - or at least that’s how it always appeared to us. With us kids and a full-time job, her hands were more than full, but like most kids, we never even noticed. Late for practice? Mom got you there. Argument with a friend? She was ready to listen. Hungry? Mom was cooking. Fall off your bike and scrape a knee? She had ointment. Fall of your bike doing wheelies and break an arm? Yes, she was fuming but there she was in the emergency room. The author Ann Lindbergh wrote that mothers “are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class.”
As I look back, what’s amazing is that mom went about raising our sizeable family, quietly and stoically, without any fanfare. In a million, little, untold ways, she was the glue that kept us together. We gathered around her as a family would a hearth. She was, and still is, thank goodness, the center of it all - our rock and our strength. I know that many of you feel the same about women in your lives, so on behalf of all of us I offer all of them a most sincere and heartfelt “thank you.”
Lately the media has bombarded us with Presidential elections and various “attacks on women” and “attacks on motherhood.” I try not to pay it too much mind because it’s exceptionally offensive when politics starts messing around with the sacred. Call me overly cautious, but I think it’s still best to abide by playground rules in this matter. Mothers and motherhood are strictly off-limits. No matter our politics, it seems people too easily lose sight of the fact that mothers are the building blocks of civil society. Learn it from a sociology book, national study or just from common sense, but more than any other influence, mothers are largely responsible for the character of children. Their hands shape the men and women who shape our communities, nation and of course, our world. Be it George Washington or Picasso, everyone gives credit to mom.
So of course, on Mother’s Day, we honor the special women in our lives with flowers, dinner and the love in our hearts. But I think we might also try honoring motherhood in general throughout the year. Maybe it’s helping the single mom you know by watching her kids for a spell, or something as simple as running some errands for the harried mom with twins. Any help, courtesy, or kindness we show a mom actually reverberates for generations to come. In that light, make it a happy Mother’s Day every day!
An act to amend the town law, in relation to authorizing certain towns in the Peconic Bay region to establish community housing opportunity funds, provided that such towns adopt a housing plan adhering to smart growth principles in conjunction with the creation of such community housing opportunity fund
An act to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, in relation to the expansion of coverage to include cancer of the digestive, hematological, lymphatic, urinary, prostate, neurological, breast and reproductive systems; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax for the American Legion Post ;.lbs;958 for a certain parcel of land located in the town of Hempstead
An act creating the LaGrange public library district in the town of LaGrange, New York; and to amend chapter 672 of the laws of 1993 amending the public authorities law relating to the construction and financing for certain public libraries, in relation to providing for financing through the dormitory authority
An act to authorize the assessor of the county of Nassau to accept an application for exemption from real property tax from the Nassau Land Trust, Inc. for a certain parcel of land located in the town of North Hempstead
An act to authorize Muslims on Long Island, Inc. to retroactively apply for real property tax exemptions for certain properties in Bethpage, town of Oyster Bay, county of Nassau
An act creating the Grinnell public library district; and to amend chapter 672 of the laws of 1993 amending the public authorities law relating to the construction and financing for certain public libraries, in relation to providing for financing through the dormitory authority
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the eligibility of persons residing in property owned by a limited partnership to seek small claims assessment review; and to repeal subdivision 9 of section 730 of the real property tax law relating thereto
Senator Jack M. Martins recently attended an Eagle Court of Honor to congratulate Neil Daniel Duggan of Boy Scout Troop 298 of New Hyde Park for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank a scout can achieve. Senator Martins presented Neil Daniel Duggan with the resolution that was passed on the floor of the Senate on April 19.,
The resolution read, “Whereas, Neil Duggan's perseverance in rising through the ranks to Eagle Scout is a strong indication of his ability to master difficult tasks; his accomplishment will enable him to emerge as a leader, fully equipped to meet the challenges of today's complex society; and, whereas this new Eagle Scout is a credit to his family, his school, his community, his State and his Nation, and no doubt his future will be filled with accomplishments of equal importance.”
For his Eagle Scout project, Neil restored the foundation, handrails, exterior window frames and doors of the New Hyde Park Village Hall with the assistance of fellow scouts and adult leaders.
In the latest edition of 'Your Voice' from Albany, Senator Jack M. Martins discussed his tour of the progress being made on the East Side Access Project, the Sewanhaka Central High School District Model UN, a visit from Sergeant Frame of Albertson during West Point Day in the Senate Chamber as well as a bill to help catering halls.
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Senator Martins Discusses Local Happenings on 'Your Voice' In the latest edition of 'Your Voice' from Albany, Senator Jack M. Martins discussed his tour of the progress being made on the East Side Access Project, the Sewanhaka Central High School District Model UN, a visit from Sergeant Frame of Albertson during West Point Day in the Senate Chamber as well as a bill to help catering halls.
Senator Jack M. Martins was honored to attend the groundbreaking for the new fire station or the Roslyn Highlands Fire Department in East Hills.
“The Roslyn Highlands Fire Department has a rich history of providing valuable fire services for the communities it serves. This will enhance the volunteers’ ability to provide service when they respond to calls from residents. I want to commend Chief Robert Duchnowski, 1st Deputy Chief Adam Boll and 2nd Deputy Chief Michael Gannon and all the members of the department for their service,” Senator Martins said.
I think people in neighboring states could hear New Yorkers breathe a collective sigh of relief this past week as we finally began to see the effects of our new tax cap. More than anything else, property taxes have been the overriding issue in New York for many years, especially since they’ve grown on average more than 6 percent a year for ten years, double the rate of inflation. So, after leading the nation in runaway increases for so long, we finally hit the brakes in 2011 with a tax cap that had bi-partisan support in both houses of the legislature. With limited exceptions, it holds increases in school and local property taxes to two percent a year, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
But, and this is an important “but,” a greater increase can still be passed, if necessary, should 60 percent of voters approve it. Taxing districts would have to present a well-informed and obviously persuasive case and then let voters decide. This puts the power of responsible budgeting where it belongs, in the hands of the people paying the bills. Yet I want to stress the word “responsible” because there are undeniable realities that must be addressed. Circumstances are different from community to community and each must decide for itself what its needs are and how it can meet those needs with respect to the cap.
You see, we put that 60 percent safety valve into the legislation because we recognized that it is ultimately a community decision and there may very well be instances where the community would need flexibility in addressing its needs. Hopefully, as the matter is debated and analyzed publicly in the context of the budget, it will actually foster greater understanding of the workings of our local governments and schools.
I think we all understand that there are very few, if any, “one size fits all” solutions in this world – including our tax cap. To be effective, a cap has to have teeth and this one certainly does. Gone are the days of austerity budgets which oftentimes were nearly as high as the budget that was voted down. Now, if a budget vote fails, the result is a 0 percent year-to-year increase. But to be effective, the community itself must also have the ability to bypass the tax cap to address local needs and concerns. The 60 percent threshold allows for that flexibility while keeping the tax cap viable.
That being said, the cap has had great success thus far and I am gratified that it seems to be working for so many. A full 90 percent of schools and 83 percent of local government will be in compliance this year. Not only does that translate into lower and well-controlled taxes, it also means better government because officials are holding their budgets to a higher and more accountable standard. In response, unions have stepped up, finding ways to help those officials keep within the cap without hurting students or services. There have been some growing pains to be sure, but I couldn’t be prouder of the legislation and its effect or the local leaders who have worked to make it happen.
If you are a member of one of those communities looking to pierce the cap, I encourage you to get involved, understand the issues clearly and participate in the discussion. This legislation is about much more than capping taxes, it’s about improving our own citizenry as we take ownership of our communities’ budgets.
Our tax cap is one of those basic yet uncommon pieces of legislation that has the potential to turn New York around in a big way. Simply put, people have always loved living in New York, they just couldn’t afford it. Hopefully, that will change now.
During West Point Day in Albany on April 26, Senator Jack M. Martins recognized a special guest, Sergeant First Class Robert W. Frame of Albertson. Sergeant Frame, a 1998 graduate of Mineola High School, enlisted in the Army in 1998. His proud parents are Walter and Kathleen. Public service runs in the family as Walter is active in the Albertson Fire Department and involved with the Fireman's Association of the State of New York (FASNY).
“Sergeant Frame represents something larger than himself. Those who serve like Sergeant Frame serve on so many different levels. It is that multi-generational commitment to serving others that is the backbone of our communities. It’s an honor to recognize Sergeant Frame and his family,” Senator Martins said on the floor of the Senate.
Appearing on 'Your Voice' in Albany, Senator Jack M. Martins discussed the restoration of train service on the Port Washington line, important crime prevention legislation, the success of the Mineola Junior Fire Department and a visit to Albany from a group from Temple Sinai of Roslyn.
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Senator Martins on 'Your Voice' to Discuss Important Issues in the Community Appearing on 'Your Voice' in Albany, Senator Jack M. Martins discussed the restoration of train service on the Port Washington line, important crime prevention legislation, the success of the Mineola Junior Fire Department and a visit to Albany from a group from Temple Sinai of Roslyn.
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