I am extremely pleased that marriage equality is now a reality in New York. After the Assembly passed the Marriage Equality Act four times, the Senate finally passed the bill in a truly historic session on June 24, with support from members of both parties. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law shortly thereafter.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this landmark legislation and to have spoken on the floor of the Assembly in support of the bill (A.8354). I firmly believe it promotes stronger families and equal rights. Equal treatment under the law is a basic tenet of our democracy, and now all committed couples have the same access to the benefits, protections, and responsibilities of marriage.

The road to true equality for all has been a long and bumpy one in this country. The Marriage Equality Law is truly a major step forward.

Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed five bills I sponsored into law. Several of the bills addressed senior citizen issues that I fought for as the former Chair of the Committee on Aging. I am very pleased these important bills are now law in New York, and I thank Governor Cuomo for helping me to address the needs of senior citizens by signing them.

These bills will positively impact the lives of many seniors throughout New York State. One will bring programs to senior centers for the prevention of domestic violence and elder abuse (A.6736). Another will ensure that our senior military veterans have access to high-quality programs that serve their needs (A.544). And another will strengthen the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) supportive service program (A.395A).

Now that I’ve been appointed Chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, my tenure as Chair of the Aging Committee has ended, but my commitment to fighting for the needs of seniors will never waver.

I have sponsored legislation that would finally give law enforcement a tool to track down vehicle wheel thieves. Jeffrey Klein is sponsoring the bill in the State Senate. The bill (A.7646/S.5414) would require that vehicle identification numbers (VINs) be engraved on the wheels of all motor vehicles sold in New York.

With VINs engraved on the wheels, citizens can report their wheels stolen, and law enforcement can identify the stolen goods and return them to their owners. Currently, this is nearly impossible due to the lack of identification on vehicle wheels. This bill, crafted in direct consultation with the New York City Police Department, will give law enforcement another weapon in its arsenal of crime-fighting laws, help deter one of the most common crimes in New York, and save money and grief for thousands of people.

I joined Verizon strikers picketing outside the Verizon Wireless store on Fordham Road in August. 45,000 workers from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) went on strike around the nation to protest Verizon’s efforts to take away benefits won over the course of decades. Verizon wants to strip their workers of their retirement, health care, and job security, reduce paid sick leave days, and cut benefits for workers injured on the job. This is happening while Verizon pays its top executive millions of dollars, makes billions of dollars in profits, and continues to outsource countless jobs to non-union contractors and low-wage countries.

The unions and Verizon are back at the negotiating table, and I am hopeful they will reach an agreement that does not hurt our middle class workers, their families, and our communities. Efforts to break unions and tear down the middle class must be fought at every step, and I applaud the hardworking men and women who stood up for their rights and for their families.

The Kingsbridge community is on the verge of a major renewal. Three new apartment buildings have risen, all market-rate condos within a block of West 231st Street. The beautiful new Kingsbridge Public Library has recently opened. The old Stella D’Oro site was recently purchased and will be the location of a new shopping center. Just a few years ago two new apartment buildings containing affordable housing opened on Putnam Avenue.

And now at long last the development of the lot at West 230th Street and Broadway is within sight. I have advocated for 10 years for the construction of a shopping mall at this location. I believe that bringing top-notch stores into our community would not only provide new jobs and shopping, but would bring additional shoppers to the area, giving a shot-in-the-arm to the existing stores along Broadway. While some have advocated for constructing housing on this site, I find it hard to believe that housing located between the Major Deegan Expressway and the Broadway elevated subway makes any sense at all.

Commercial development will provide the best possible use of this land for our neighborhood, and I am excited this may soon become a reality. I see a future where this area will become a major shopping destination for the northwest Bronx and beyond.

I am pleased to announce that a Greenstreet at the intersection of Van Cortlandt Park East, Kepler Avenue, and East 239th Street will be completed very soon. I included this site in my proposal to the City to add more green spaces to my Assembly district.

I have long been an advocate for greening our communities, and this Greenstreet will further beautify the Woodlawn neighborhood. I am thankful to both the Parks Department and the Department of Transportation for their assistance with this project, and I will continue to advocate for additional Greenstreets to be installed throughout my district.

I have requested that the Department of Parks & Recreation complete the renovations that are long overdue in the Williamsbridge Oval, our beloved neighborhood park in Norwood. Last month I set up a meeting with Council Member Oliver Koppell, Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, and the Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval to express our desire to see the outstanding projects completed. Those projects include the recreation center, the basketball courts, and the dog run, among many others. I am glad to say that work in the park has resumed and these projects should be completed shortly. It is only right that the residents of Norwood get the necessary amenities in their park that they deserve!

I have also requested that the Parks Department plant more trees in the Williamsbridge Oval. I recently walked through the park with local activists and estimated that approximately one hundred more trees can and should be planted! I hope the Parks Department heeds this request because more trees will only enhance the beauty of the Oval.