I'm excited to announce my Earth Day Celebration Student Showcase, inviting youth in Senate District 52 to share how they can incorporate Earth Day's principles into their everyday practices.

Learn More & Submit: www.nysenate.gov/earthday

My staff was proud to join the Crime Victims Assistance Center for their Open House to present them with a proclamation celebrating their new facility and highlighting their work. Thank you to CVAC for all that you do to serve our community.

My bill S2050, which would increase the term of office of an election commissioner from two to four years, beginning January first of each odd-numbered year, passed through the Election Committee and is now placed on the first reading calendar.

This week, two of my bills passed through the elections committee. My bill, S2056A, which would enact the "student voter empowerment act,” passed through the Elections Committee and is now reported to the Higher Education Committee.

Happy Earth Day! We all share a responsibility to protect our environment. Clean air and clean water are essential to our health. I am grateful to the environmental advocates, workers, and neighbors who champion environmental issues each day.

Last weekend, my staff joined the India Cultural Centre for their Bengali New Year Celebration. I am wishing everyone a joyful and vibrant Pohela Boishakh filled with new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and meaningful moments.

The Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP) grant is set to close this Friday, April 24th at 5pm.

Learn more about the EHEAP program here: otda.ny.gov/programs/hea...

In the face of ongoing federal rollbacks, the Senate Majority still continues to be a leader in ensuring protections for reproductive rights and care.

My staff joined Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County for their Third Annual Earth Day Festival on the Ithaca Commons. We were able to connect with constituents and organizations and make connections. Thank you to CCE for planning this well-attended event.

I’m looking forward to being at SOMOS in Albany this weekend and co-hosting a panel with Senator Sepúlveda this Saturday. Join us at 9:00 AM for Funding HER Future, a discission on access to capital, bias, and policy solutions to better support women entrepreneurs. I hope to see you there.

My bill requiring Utility Monitoring Programs throughout New York State passed with unanimous bipartisan support. This bill would create an Energy Usage Monitor Program, allowing customers to set their own usage or cost limits so they can be notified when they're close to going over.

Today, I was proud to honor World War II Veteran James (Jim) H. Alexander, Jr. with a Liberty Medal. The New York State Senate Liberty Medal is the highest honor that can be bestowed by a Senator, and includes a resolution voted on by the entire New York State Senate.

I was honored to join the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Annual Conference highlighting women’s leadership. I appreciated the space to share my priorities as Chair of the Senate’s Women’s Issues Committee, and highlight the mentorship and hard work of women across New York State.

Thank you to Tompkins County Whole Health and everyone who joined us for Community Office Hours during Public Health Week. It was great to connect directly with community members, listen to concerns, and highlight the important public health services that support families across our region.

I had a wonderful time visiting Beverly J. Martin School to speak with students about my work as their NYS Senator. I was proud to recognize the GreenKidz, whose leadership in organizing a petition to oppose a proposed data center in their community is truly inspiring.

April 15 is Tax Day! This is a reminder to file your returns today. If you still need to file, there’s time to get it done. You can access free filing options and resources through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make the process easier.

Vacant and neglected properties impact entire neighborhoods, leaving families and communities to deal with the consequences. I am proud that the New York State Senate has passed S2117 to crack down on “zombie” properties and ensure lenders take responsibility.

The Senate Majority Conference started off the year by passing a series of legislation that enhances the integrity of our state’s democratic process. We advanced reforms that shield our elections from foreign influence, crack down on voter deception and protect our election workers from harassment.

Thanks to everyone who participated in my 4th Annual Menstrual Product Drive; we were able to secure over 3,000 menstrual products for our community. These supplies will directly benefit those who need them most throughout Senate District 52.

I joined students, educators, and community members at the 2026 Men of Color Summit hosted by Binghamton University. It was powerful to see so many individuals committed to uplifting and investing in the next generation. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible.

I joined the Black Farmers United New York State Agriculture Conference with NYS Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. When Black farmers have secure access to land and fair markets, we strengthen our food system and honor a legacy of stewardship that benefits the entire nation.

Music is one of the ways we develop community, and Angry Mom Records has been cultivating those connections for years. In celebration of Record Store Day, I was proud to honor them with a New York State Empire Award.

Rootwork Herbals is an initiative dedicated to cultivating wellness through plants and has the Jane Minor BIPOC community medicine garden. I was happy to start my day this morning with a visit to their farm to learn more about the great work they do in our district.

4-H Acres is a cornerstone of youth programming in Tompkins County, and I am proud to deliver $174,500 to support needed improvements to this space. Cornell Cooperative Extension continues to strengthen our community, and this funding will help ensure its work can continue for years to come.

Applications for both the Regular Home Energy Assistance Program (“HEAP”) and the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (“HERR”) grant will close tomorrow/Friday, April 10th at 5pm.

Emergency HEAP will remain open for now.

The Broome County Family Violence Prevention Council hosted their 3rd Annual Come & Play Day event at the Oakdale Commons. My staff was proud to join them in tabling with coloring books, and offering resources to parents and caregivers.

Congratulations to Oscar-winning producer/director Lisa Cortés on her 2026 Emmy Nomination for her documentary series “Murder Has Two Faces”. I had the pleasure of being a part of and partnering with Lisa Cortés for screenings of this docuseries in Albany and throughout Senate District 52.

To meet our state’s climate goals and continue our environmental efforts, the Senate Majority Conference passed legislation that holds large corporations accountable through the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act.

Join me and my colleagues for MWBE Advocacy Day in Albany on Tuesday, April 28. Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises are essential to building a stronger, more equitable New York. I hope to see you there.

I'm excited to announce my Earth Day Celebration Student Showcase, inviting youth in Senate District 52 to share how they can incorporate Earth Day's principles into their everyday practices.

Learn More & Submit: www.nysenate.gov/earthday