State Senator Toby Stavisky hosts a roundtable discussion in her Flushing office. Photo by Debbie Cohen
With the legislative session complete, state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) hosted a community roundtable discussion Friday in her Flushing district office to chat over the wins and losses of 2013-2014.
Stavisky said some of the biggest items that successfully made it into the April 1, 2014, $142 billion budget included an increase in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), an increase for Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE), the Queens Library reform bill and the Compassionate Care Act- establishing the nation’s safest program for distributing medical marijuana. The senator also championed major budget approvals, including those for universal pre-kindergarten, additional speed cameras citywide.
But there were still a few important legislative bills that did not pass, Stavisky said. In the roundtable discussion, she discussed issues like campaign finance and immigration reform as some of the hot-button issues she wished had made it through the state Legislature successfully.
“The Campaign Finance Reform Bill and the Child Safe Products Act, along with placing a ban on hydrofracking and the DREAM Act did not pass,” Stavisky said. “I have also been proposing an increase in the minimum wage in New York to $9 or $10 per hour. As the cost of living goes up, so should the minimum wage. People who work pay their taxes and don’t commit crimes.”
Stavisky said she has high hopes that the DREAM Act will pass soon because it enables young people to obtain temporary legal status before eventually working towards permanent U.S. citizenship, granting them access to perks like financial aid for college.
“This will be good for the economy and have more young people shop locally and will allow an opportunity for undocumented students to attend college,” Stavisky said. “Jobs and a good education are very important.”
She touched upon the importance of the state Senate passing the safe distribution of medical marijuana, which should 18 months to implement. According to the lawmaker, it will avoid drug addiction and help people suffering from debilitating illnesses like cancer.
Stavisky said the passage of universal pre-kindergarten classes was also crucial to the state because it will make more children ready for school and enhance their learning ability. The state budget provided $1.5 billion to fund a five-year plan. In Queens alone, over 1,000 seats will be created, Stavisky said.
“This has been, overall a very productive year and we also hope to pass soon a more aggressive tax budget that helps small businesses, along with the Dream Act and a ban on hydrofracking,” Stavisky said.
By Debbie Cohen
