PRIORITIES
PROBLEM SOLVING
With a strong focus on constituent services, Chris’s office has already helped resolve hundreds of issues, including those involving state and federal agencies and programs.
In the depths of the pandemic, Chris and his office helped residents cut through red tape involving emergency rental assistance, unemployment, and issues with the DMV and FEMA.
The office also worked to secure COVID-19 vaccination and testing appointments for constituents, when such appointments were scarce.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
As Chair of the Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities, Chris pushed for and got hearings on the barriers and issues with programs to provide employment.
From those hearings Chris has authored legislation to remove barriers to employment and improve state agency programs and performance intended to help.
FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS
Chris helped secure in the state budget the highest level of education funds ever for our communities’ schools.
Every school district in the nine municipalities making up the Assembly District is receiving significant increases in support, helping to provide for excellence in education for our children while also holding down property taxes.
CUTTING TAXES
Chris strongly advocated and joined colleagues for full implementation of the Middle-Class Tax cuts which bringing the lowest middle class tax rates in 70 years.
He also supported the property tax circuit breaker for low income homeowners trying to stay in their homes.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Chris has a 100% rating from the New York League of Conservation Voters. He has secured state funds for wastewater treatment while helping to get funds for flood mitigation and clean water projects.
He has authored legislation to protect wetlands that are key to clean water and flood control. He is cosponsoring legislation to enable the environmental bond act to move ahead with a voter referendum slated for this November’s ballot.
He is joining colleagues to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the funding necessary to make it work and bring more good paying Green Jobs to the district.
CREATING MORE HOUSING
Long an advocate of affordable housing, Chris joined his colleagues for calling for a new five-year capital plan and, as a member of the Housing Committee, pressed with colleagues for an increase in the total funding which will support the creation of 100,000 affordable housing units, 10,000 of which will be for supportive housing including for those with special needs.
PANDEMIC RECOVERY FUNDING
Chris continues to focus on the health and safety of those he represents and joined his colleagues to secure robust funding for pandemic recovery, including emergency rental assistance, support for small landlords and small businesses, support for the visual and performing arts which are a great job creator in his district and funding for essential works not covered by other pandemic relief.
SECURING FUNDS FOR THE DISTRICT
He also helped to secure over grants to municipalities and community-based organizations serving his district. Chris takes pride in working in a nonpartisan manner with every community and its elected leaders, to help them secure vital grant funding and needed state authorizations and approvals.
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$1.1 million in grants to the district municipalities, including to help fund inclusive and accessible playgrounds, park facilities upgrades, green space enhancements, train station security and safer sidewalks and parking lots.
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$225,000 in much-needed funding for local nonprofits including: The Community Center of Northern Westchester, Hope’s Door, Neighbor’s Link, Girl’s Inc., LOFT: The LGBTQ+ Center, Friends of Karen, Latino U College Access, and the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.
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Successfully advocated for additional funding that enabled Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to expand their Veterans legal services into Westchester.
Joined his colleagues to secure $1 million for ArtsWestchester, helping to fund their Restart the Arts initiative
FIXING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
With his grounding in local government, Chris understands their needs and helped secure increased funding for municipalities for local road paving, capital funds for local libraries, higher budgets for the NYS Department of Transportation to provide needed funds for upkeep of state roads running through the district.
He also is joining local elected officials to implement the recommendations from the DOT’s engineering report on ways to unsnarl I-684 and prevent traffic taking to local roads.
HEALTHCARE
Chris has supported higher funding levels for healthcare including for substance abuse programs, suicide prevention, mental health counseling and for the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities.
He is cosponsoring legislation and budget requests to increase pay for home health care workers so critical to our seniors and people with disabilities.
VETERANS
Serving on the Veterans Affairs Committee, he is cosponsoring legislation to elevate the state Division of Veterans Services to a full cabinet level department to provide one-stop shopping to the state’s more than 800,000 veterans rather than hunting down services scattered among many state agencies.