This week, the Assembly proposed, and I cosponsored, the Fair Elections Actlegislation to reform campaign finance and level the playing ground for candidates in New York State. The act will establish optional public financing for candidates for state office, increase enforcement, and expand disclosure requirements to increase the public’s trust in the system. I recently spoke at the University at Albany about the need for fair elections to allow for a more democratic election process and to reduce the power of money on our politics.

The New York State Fair Pay Act was passed this week in the Assembly and will address and enforce pay equity. This includes broadening equal pay protections to include equivalent jobs, making it unlawful for an employer to discriminate between employees on the basis of gender, race or national origin, and ensuring that traditional female and minority jobs are not undervalued.

Below are more community highlights and upcoming events that may be of interest:

• Albany High School’s terrific theatre ensemble is presenting ‘West Side Story’ this weekend (and I am a proud parent of a student playing in the pit orchestra). You have three opportunities to watch this wonderful production: 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow (April 19 and 20), and a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 21. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for seniors and students. Additional information and details can be found at the Albany School District Web site.
• Kudos to local author and past president of the Albany Public Library, Dennis Gaffney, on his newly published article on the History News Network about how Thomas Jefferson whittled away the large federal budget deficit he inherited.
• The Town of Bethlehem will host its first community cleanup event this Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. at Town Hall. This will be the first of four scheduled for the year – volunteers are needed. This is an excellent way to help clean up the town for the start of spring. More information can be found here.
• Senator Breslin, Assemblyman Steck, and I will be participating in a “Meet the Legislators” night hosted by the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany’s uptown campus (Campus Center Rm. 375) on Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. The event is open to all and light refreshments will be served.
• The Plumeri Sports Complex is running a series of free after school camps from mid-May to early June. The camps are open to kids 6 to 12 (limited to 20 participants per camp). You can register your child for any combination of camps. For more information, contact Justin Ramson at (518) 542-9112.
  • Camp 1: May 13 to 16 (soccer for boys and girls)
  • Camp 2: May 20 to 23 (softball for girls)
  • Camp 3: May 28 to 31 (baseball for boys)
  • Camp 4: June 3 to 6 (volleyball for boys and girls)

Please join me on Friday, May 17 in biking to our next “Community Coffee” event in Albany at the Hudson River Coffee House (227 Quail Street, Albany), which is also National Bike to Work Day. These events are an outstanding way for me to interact with you in your respective neighborhoods. More information can be found here.