Every year I hold my Annual Senior Health and Wellness Fair. The event provides free glaucoma, hearing loss, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, and features many vendors who provide valuable information for seniors. This year’s Health and Wellness Fair will be held Thursday, August 19 in the Eastridge High School Freshman Gym from 9am to 12pm. More details will be available on the Fair’s invitations, which will be mailed in early August. I look forward to seeing you there!

Every year the New York State Assembly provides grants to support community organizations and help fulfill their important duties. I am pleased to direct support to these worthy organizations, and know that this grant money will greatly enhance our community. Here are a few of the projects that I have secured grant money for this year.

KINGS HIGHWAY COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND

$5,000 was secured to help build a comprehensive community playground at Christ the King School. The playground will be available to students of Christ the King school, as well as all children living in the surrounding community.

BRIGHTON LITTLE LEAGUE

Senator Joseph Robach and I secured $60,000 to provide lighting on one of the fields at the baseball complex to allow games to be played at night.

EAST IRONDEQUOIT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

I secured $10,000 for this community organization that provides summer athletic camps and interscholastic sports programs. The grant will provide equipment and uniforms needed to improve athletic performance.

LIFESPAN

I secured a $50,000 grant to assist Lifespan in providing needed services to older adults in Rochester. The money will go towards purchasing a van for Lifespan’s Home-Safe-Home Service, which provides safety assessments and home modifications to prevent falls in the home.

ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER

I secured $50,000 towards a project to create a new exhibition at the museum that will enable visitors to explore the region’s environment. The exhibition will include interactive experiences such as a walk-through glacier and a simulated mastodon dig. The first phase of the exhibit is slated for a late 2005 opening.

PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

Thirty years ago the Division of Human Rights was created to serve as an alternative to the court system for resolving discrimination cases for all New Yorkers. However, today the Division is not adequately fulfilling its mission, and needs to achieve greater accountability, quality and institute oversight mechanisms. It is high time that we address this egregious flaw in our state human rights policy, and I have introduced legislation to remedy this situation. A.11229 requires adequate oversight of employees, increased accountability, an appeals process for denied claims, checks and balances to the system, the creation of an advisory council, staff training and adequate staffing and caseloads.

UPHOLDING ETHICAL STANDARDS

I have introduced legislation, A.1029, which would prohibit the naming of a building after a current New York State public official that obtained public funding for the building. When an elected official secures public funding for a building project, the taxpayers foot the bill. The naming of a building should not have the potential to be used as a vehicle to obtain taxpayer dollars for a project.

Photo: Assemblyman Morelle meets with the winning fourth graders in Albany.

EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

I have sponsored legislation, along with Assemblyman Bill Reilich, that would designate the lilac bush as the official state bush. The bill is a result of a contest that was held to encourage students to take a hands-on approach to the lawmaking process. Fourth grade students from Kirk Road Elementary School won the contest, and their idea to make the lilac bush the official New York State bush is now a bill that has been introduced in the Legislature.

PROTECTING BOATER SAFETY

I recently passed a bill, A.10841-B, that would require passengers aboard small vessels to wear a life jacket during the months of the year when water temperatures are at their coldest. Every year, there are recreational boating fatalities that occur because the victim was not wearing a life jacket. Studies have estimated that 80% of these fatalities that occur during the winter months could have been prevented if the victim had worn a life jacket. The bill would require that people on a recreational vessel less than 21 feet long wear a life jacket from November 1 to April 30. It is my hope that this bill encourages New Yorkers to practice safe boating skills and wear a life jacket.

Assemblyman Morelle attends a press conference to mark the opening of the 2003 High Falls Film Festival.

SUPPORTING THE HIGH FALLS FILM FESTIVAL

The High Falls Film Festival features the accomplishments of women in film, and is quickly gaining prestige, both in Rochester and around the world. I secured a $75,000 grant from the State of New York to help with operating costs of the festival. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development, I recognize the economic impact that tourism can have on a community, as well as the importance of art in creating a vibrant region. The 2003 festival was a great success, doubling its attendance from the previous year, and attracted visitors from 13 countries and 20 states.

ATTRACTING FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION TO NEW YORK STATE

In recent years, there have been less and less film and television productions shot in New York State, due in part to the high tax burden placed on filmmakers. Productions provide thousands of jobs and an economic benefit to New York. My bill, A.11595, would lower the cost of producing films by providing a tax credit, which would allow the New York film industry to utilize its competitive advantages in talent and locale to attract major productions.

INCREASING FUNDING FOR TOURISM MARKETING

New York State annually spends less than $17 million on tourism marketing. This year, the Governor has proposed to spend only $11.2 million on tourism promotion. However, tourism generates more than $7 billion dollars in tax revenue for the state, produces a substantial revenue return for every dollar spent on tourism marketing, and employs millions of people in New York.

In light of these facts, I have introduced a bill that would provide a steady source of revenue for the state’s “I Love NY” promotion program. A.11657 would take a portion of the revenue sent to the state from casinos and dedicate it to the “I Love NY” program. It is estimated this fund could provide over $40 million dollars in tourism promotion funding for New York State. In addition, the fund would not take away money from any other portion of the state budget, such as education or health care. A.11657 would provide a guaranteed stream of revenue for tourism promotion so that New York can continue to be a leader in the tourism industry.

As you know, New York State’s budget process is broken. This is an unacceptable situation, and I have sponsored budget reform bills for several years. This year, the Assembly and Senate have reached an agreement to enact budget reform to prevent any further late state budgets. The budget reform plan includes these measures:

• A contingency budget will go into effect automatically, if there is no budget, and appropriations would be the same as the preceding year. The contingency budget will remain in effect until both houses pass a single, multiple-appropriation bill. The fiscal year would begin on May 1.
• School aid will be appropriated every 2 years, instead of every year. This will provide school districts with a predictable and stable amount of aid every year.
• An independent budget office will be created, which will provide objective revenue predictions for the upcoming budget year.

Because the reform plan changes the New York State Constitution, the measure needs to be approved by two consecutive Legislatures. If the proposal is signed by the Governor this year, and passed next year, the voters of New York State then must approve the reform plan. If all goes as planned, the referendum would take place in November 2005. I was proud to vote for the reform plan, and will continue to support substantive budget reform.