Gantt’s bill (A.480) to end the practice of excluding homes and autos from insurance coverage based on geographical location, age or market value overwhelmingly passed the Assembly.

The legislation would put a stop to the discriminatory and costly way some insurers push homeowners and drivers into risk pools and residual markets for coverage. This discriminatory practice is also called "redlining." Under current law, policy holders in certain areas and with certain cars and homes can wind up paying more than three times more than they otherwise would. A study conducted in Rochester revealed that redlining was a significant problem for residents in the city.

Gantt seeks to level the playing field with his bill by requiring each insurer to hold all its applicants and policyholders to the same standards based on actuarially sound statistical data. Gantt’s bill is aimed at prohibiting the unfair practice of redlining and keeping policy holders from wasting their hard earned dollars on sub-standard insurance policies.

Gantt Welcomes Homeowners Property Tax Relief

Monroe County homeowners can expect property tax relief from the State this year in the form of STAR property tax rebates. The property tax relief package was passed by the State legislature and signed into law in June. For Monroe County homeowners in the Basic STAR program, the average rebate check will be $201. For seniors in Enhanced STAR, the average rebate check will be $327. Additionally, seniors may save up to $148 in cost of living adjustments. The rebates should be received in the fall.

"Since we ended the year with a multibillion-dollar surplus, our state can afford to provide some much-needed tax relief to property owners," Gantt said. "This tax relief will help put money directly back into the pockets of working families and seniors who need it the most."

I believe it is extremely important that students, when learning of the history of the United States, understand that the histories of its entire people are important. With this understanding in mind, students must also be made aware of the fact that many different heritages have found home in the United States and that together we have a shared history. It is also important that students understand not only the facts and dates that make American history, but also how history has impacted the lives of African-Americans.

Along with my staff, we congratulate Jennifer Dao, Jordan Lane and Jeilah Jenkins as our 2006 Black History Month Essay Contest Winners. Jennifer Dao is a 6th grade student in Mr. Macaluso’s class at School #17. Jennifer wrote her essay on the activist Shirley Chisholm. Jordan Lane is a 5th grade student in Mrs. Antonio’s class at School #16. He wrote his essay on the artist William H. Johnson. Jeilah Jenkins is a 4th grade student in Ms. Lewis’s class at School #2 and she wrote her essay on Abraham Lincoln.

These students are to be admired for their efforts in recognizing many of the influential leaders of the past and of today. These students mirror the qualities of fortitude and consistency which define the essence of the Black experience in America. These are the students that will undoubtedly be future leaders of their communities. Again, on behalf of my staff and me, we salute you and congratulate you and your families on your efforts. Through your shared and sustained commitment to Black History, Jennifer Dao, Jordan Lane, and Jeilah Jenkins have unselfishly advanced the spirit of the African American experience.

Gantt Congratulates Anthony Short For Being Named Youth Of The Year at the Rochester Boys and Girls Club

I am delighted to inform you that the Boys and Girls Club has cut the ribbon on the new Playground that I helped fund. The playground was dedicated to the memory of the late Forrest Cummings Jr. a great friend and colleague.

The Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

Anthony, a ninth grader at East High School, has been a club member for a number of years. As a member of the Boys & Girls club, Anthony has learned the importance of diversity, academic excellence, and service to the club and community. Anthony possesses the drive and determination to be successful, making him a role model to young people, particularly teen boys who may doubt the many abilities they have yet to enhance.

Anthony is President of the Bank of America Tutoring Center Honor Club, a member of the Keystone Club Teen Leadership group, and he participates on several sport teams. At the Boys and Girls Club he helps fundraise and organize skill building techniques. Anthony is interested in pursuing a degree in business management and will become an entrepreneur by opening up his own business.

Last year marked the first on-time State budget in 20 years. This year we continue to move forward with not just another on-time budget, but a budget that provides increased local funding. In addition to a State funded property tax rebate program that will be rolled out later this year, residents in Rochester and Gates will see their tax dollars come back home to improve programs and services ranging from transportation and economic development to health and human services to education.

The City of Rochester and the Town of Gates and the local school districts will get increases in municipal and school aid from the State this year. The increases range from 5 to 33 percent. Rochester will receive $72 million in municipal aid. Rochester City School District will get over $350 million in school aid. Gates municipal aid is $200,000, a 10% increase over last year. School aid for the Gates-Chili School District will be $24 million.

Gantt’s commitment to the residents of his district is evident based on the outstanding work he’s done bringing our tax dollars back home where they are needed!

In New York State, more than 143,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren, and over 400,000 children live in households headed by a grandparent or other relative. These grandparents often face a myriad of legal and social service barriers that make it difficult to meet the basic needs of the grandchildren in their care.

Grandparents raising grandchildren and other kin caregivers in New York State can now benefit from three new state laws that significantly reduce the barriers they face in caring for children. These include the Grandparent Caregivers Act, which helps grandparents receive custody or become foster parents of a grandchild; the Designated Caregiver Law, which gives grandparents who do not have legal custody or guardianship of a grandchild the ability to make important day-to-day decisions that affect the health and educational activities of the grandchild; and the Foster Care Law, which helps children who were removed from their home stand a better chance of being cared for by relatives.

New York State has a wealth of resources available for families in kinship care arrangements. There are many organizations and resources available across the state that can help grandparents understand laws as well as assist them with the many legal, social and financial difficulties that kin caregivers continue to encounter. Here are just a few:

AARP Grandparent Information Center
1-800-424-3410
www.aarp.org/grandparents

Catholic Family Center of Rochester-Kinship Care Resource Network
585 - 262 -7078
www.parentsagain.com

National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights
1-866-624-9900
www.grandparentsforchildren.org

New York State Office for the Aging
1-800-342-9871
www.aging.state.ny.us

Last year, the Civil Legal Service providers along with the Monroe County Bar Foundation embarked on a project that is 1st in the Nation. Volunteer Legal Services Project, Empire Justice Center, Legal Aid, Monroe County Legal Assistance Center and the Monroe County Bar Association relocated to One West Main Street where they work together to provide civil legal services to the low income and under-served community. Throughout his legislative career, Gantt has understood and supported monetarily these civil legal service providers. Gantt said, "Many of my constituents are taken advantage of because they just don’t understand the legal system. Not for profit legal organizations provide a service to those individuals in the interest of justice."

When Gantt was approached to provide funding for the co-location campaign he moved quickly to secure $150,000 in support of the project. "Many people find the legal system to be intimidating but when a person can go to one building and get all the services that these organizations provide it is not something that should be taken lightly. I thought about my elderly constituent that has been taken advantage of by a predatory lending company - and her thinking that she needs to go to the Legal Aid Society for legal advice because she is about to lose her house - and them telling her she is in the wrong building that she actually has to go down the street and around the block to the Empire Justice Center. I understood that my elderly constituent probably would never make it to the Empire Justice Center because she got lost or just gave up. It didn’t take me long to figure out that these organizations were on to something. I knew that it would bring a smile to my constituents’ faces to know that they where in the right building but on the wrong floor. That’s why I gave Campaign for Equal Justice the money," Gantt said.

Gantt salutes the Monroe County Bar Association and the four legal service providers’ executive directors for having the vision and direction to bring this new endeavor to fruition. He is also delighted to know that the building that is the new home of the Civil Legal Service Groups will now be named the Honorable Michael Telesca Center for Justice. Judge Telesca is a great, honorable man who has served the Monroe County legal community for many years. Gantt said, "Knowing that this building is being named in honor of Judge Telesca makes the gift of $150,000 even more significant."