Senator O'Mara, Assemblyman Friend holding community meeting in Horseheads later today

Horseheads, N.Y., December 12—New York State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-Big Flats) today reminded area residents that they will hold a community meeting later today in the village of Horseheads (Chemung County).

Today’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Horseheads Village Fire Department (134 N. Main Street).

The local lawmakers said that the meetings are informal and open to the public.  They’re aimed at giving local residents an opportunity to directly share their concerns, opinions and suggestions for better government.  This year’s meetings will also provide a valuable opportunity to assess the local impact of this year’s session of the state Legislature and to look ahead at some of the key regional issues that need to be addressed in the 2012 session beginning in January.

“The best ideas come from individuals at the grassroots level -- residents, small business owners and other employers, local government officials.  So we hope our constituents will take advantage of these community meetings to contribute to the debates over taxes, economic development, health care, budget reform, Medicaid reform and other key issues," O’Mara and Friend said in a joint statement.  “Community meetings offer the kind of direct give-and-take that’s fundamental to effective government.”

The legislators stressed that any local residents unable to attend the December 12th meeting can contact them directly to share specific concerns and suggestions.

O’Mara’s Elmira district office can be contacted at 607-735-9671, and Friend’s district office in Big Flats at 607-562-3602.

They can also be contacted by e-mail: O’Mara at omara@nysenate.gov and Friend at friendc@assembly.state.ny.us.