Regular Session - March 28, 2017
1422
1 NEW YORK STATE SENATE
2
3
4 THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
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6
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8
9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 March 28, 2017
11 3:13 p.m.
12
13
14 REGULAR SESSION
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17
18 SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
19 FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
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1423
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Senate will come to order.
4 I ask all present to please rise
5 with me and join as we recite the Pledge of
6 Allegiance to our Flag.
7 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited
8 the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Today's
10 invocation will be offered by Mashhud Iqbal,
11 Imam, North Bronx Islamic Center & Jame Masjid,
12 Bronx.
13 IMAM IQBAL: Assalamu Alaikum.
14 All praise and thanks to Almighty
15 Allah, the Sustainer of the world, and also
16 sending peace and blessings upon our beloved
17 Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaho Alaihe Wassalam
18 (peace be upon him).
19 Today we are gathered here in the
20 Capitol of New York State, in Albany, with
21 thanks to all our guests and especially to all
22 the respectful, distinguished guests and
23 community leaders of the United States. Also we
24 thank our organizers and coordinators. And
25 thanks to our brothers and sisters, those who
1424
1 gather here with us.
2 I will try to recite only one
3 simple verse from the Holy Quran, which are
4 related with human aim of their life, service of
5 life.
6 Almighty Allah is saying, in the
7 Quran, in Surah Anbiya {chanting in Arabic}: I
8 want the safety of Almighty Allah from evil, and
9 also I want Allah's help and mercy, by the name
10 of Allah, who is All Wise and All Merciful.
11 {Chanting in Arabic.} Almighty
12 Allah is saying: Verily this nation of yours is
13 a single nation, and I am your Sustainer and
14 Cherisher. Therefore, serve your duty to Me,
15 for Me.
16 {Chanting in Arabic.} And human
17 beings by their own ways have divided
18 themselves. But in the end, all will return to
19 Me.
20 We remember the 26th of the month
21 of March. It is very important in the history
22 of Bangladesh because the 26th of March, 1971,
23 was independence in Bangladesh. The 26th of
24 March is celebrated as the Independence Day of
25 Bangladesh. We achieved victory after prolonged
1425
1 struggle and the loss of 3 million people, and
2 at the sacrifice of virginity of thousands of
3 moms and sisters and children.
4 We remember them. We are praying
5 for them. Today is a national holiday in
6 Bangladesh.
7 Bangladesh is a glorious,
8 wonderful, and peaceful country in the world.
9 Thank you to all of you {in
10 Arabic}.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
12 reading of the Journal.
13 THE SECRETARY: In Senate, Monday,
14 March 27th, the Senate met pursuant to
15 adjournment. The Journal of Sunday, March 26th,
16 was read and approved. On motion, Senate
17 adjourned.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Without
19 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
20 Presentation of petitions.
21 Messages from the Assembly.
22 The Secretary will read.
23 THE SECRETARY: On page 31,
24 Senator Young moves to discharge, from the
25 Committee on Finance, Assembly Bill Number 3002A
1426
1 and substitute it for the identical Senate Bill
2 2002A, Third Reading Calendar 438.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
4 substitution is so ordered.
5 Messages from the Governor.
6 Reports of standing committees.
7 Reports of select committees.
8 Communications and reports of state
9 officers.
10 Motions and resolutions.
11 May I have some order in the house.
12 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO:
13 Mr. President, I move that the following bill,
14 5423, by Senator Young, be discharged from its
15 respective committee and be recommitted with
16 instructions to strike the enacting clause.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: It is so
18 ordered.
19 Senator DeFrancisco.
20 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, I move
21 to adopt the Resolution Calendar, with the
22 exception of Resolution 1179.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: All in
24 favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar before
25 you, with the exception of Resolution Number
1427
1 1179, signify by saying aye.
2 (Response of "Aye.")
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
4 (No response.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
6 Resolution Calendar is adopted as indicated.
7 Senator DeFrancisco.
8 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Would you now
9 take up previously adopted Resolution 1046, by
10 Senator Díaz, read it in its entirety, and call
11 on Senator Díaz to speak, please.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
13 Secretary will read.
14 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
15 Resolution Number 1046, by Senator Díaz,
16 celebrating March 28, 2017, as Bangladesh Day.
17 "WHEREAS, March 26th is the national
18 independence day of Bangladesh; this day is
19 celebrated in Bangladesh and also all around the
20 world in honor of its country's Declaration of
21 Independence from Pakistan in the late hours of
22 March 25, 1971, and the start of the Bangladesh
23 Liberation War; and
24 "WHEREAS, This day is also a
25 memorial to the deaths of thousands of students,
1428
1 civilians, political leaders, and unarmed Bengali
2 people; the Bangladesh Liberation War started
3 between West and East Pakistan; and
4 "WHEREAS, West Pakistan believed
5 they were far superior to those in East Pakistan;
6 they gave East Pakistan no privileges; they had a
7 bad economy, and no rights; and
8 "WHEREAS, The first election in the
9 history of Pakistan was held on December 7, 1970;
10 there were 300 seats in the parliament;
11 East Pakistan won 160 seats, and West Pakistan
12 won 81 seats; instead of handing over the power
13 to the winning party, they imposed martial law on
14 East Pakistan; and
15 "WHEREAS, East Pakistani leader
16 Mr. Bongu Bondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman urged the
17 Bengali people to turn their homes into resisting
18 forts; he said, "Our struggle is for our freedom.
19 Our struggle is for our independence"; this
20 speech is what mainly inspired the nation to
21 fight for freedom; and
22 "WHEREAS, The West Pakistani Army
23 sent a military plan known as Operation
24 Searchlight; it was planned to curb the Bengalis'
25 movement by taking control of major cities, and
1429
1 eliminating all opposition, political or
2 military; and
3 "WHEREAS, At that time, Ziaur Rahman
4 broadcasted a message that the Independent
5 People's Republic of Bangladesh had been
6 established; and
7 "WHEREAS, At this point, March 26,
8 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation War had broken
9 out in the whole country; this was the day the
10 Bengali people stood up to the Pakistani Army;
11 and
12 "WHEREAS, After a nine-month-long
13 war, the Pakistani Army finally surrendered
14 unconditionally; many lives were lost, but
15 Bangladesh, as a country, gained its freedom, its
16 independence; and
17 "WHEREAS, It is the sense of this
18 Legislative Body to recognize the great
19 contributions which the Bangladesh community have
20 brought to our state and nation; and
21 "WHEREAS, Many Bangladesh people
22 have made New York their home, and this
23 Legislative Body, representing the people of the
24 State of New York, is pleased to thank the
25 Bangladesh people for their contributions to this
1430
1 great Empire State; and
2 "WHEREAS, It is the custom of this
3 Legislative Body that those who enhance the
4 well-being and vitality of their community and
5 have shown a long and sustained commitment to
6 excellence certainly have earned the recognition
7 and applause of all the citizens of this great
8 Empire State; now, therefore, be it
9 "RESOLVED, That this Legislative
10 Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate
11 March 28, 2017, as Bangladesh Day."
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
13 Díaz.
14 SENATOR DÍAZ: Thank you,
15 Mr. President.
16 Ladies and gentlemen, good
17 afternoon. Today, ladies and gentlemen,
18 Mr. President, you should know that today I take
19 this opportunity to express my appreciation and
20 thanks to the leaders of this chamber -- Senator
21 John Flanagan, the leader of the Republican
22 Conference; Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the
23 leader of the Democratic Conference; Mr. Frank
24 Patience, the Secretary of the Senate -- and to
25 all my colleagues, the members of the Senate, for
1431
1 granting me this opportunity to introduce this
2 resolution.
3 It is important for you to know,
4 ladies and gentlemen, that today this
5 Puerto Rican is proud to be here one more time to
6 introduce and recognize the contributions of the
7 Bangladesh community in the State of New York and
8 the City of New York.
9 As you remember, ladies and
10 gentlemen, just last week on Tuesday, March 21st,
11 I brought and introduced more than 50 members of
12 the Garifuna community to celebrate the
13 Garifuna-American Heritage Month in this chamber.
14 And today, ladies and gentlemen, this proud
15 Puerto Rican, from a town called Bayamón, is
16 proud to be able to sponsor this resolution
17 celebrating Bangladesh Heritage Month for the
18 sixth consecutive year in this chamber.
19 As you can see, Mr. President and my
20 fellow colleagues, today we are joined in the
21 Senate gallery -- not only that side, but also on
22 this side -- by more than 150 members of the
23 Bangladesh community from the City of New York
24 who came here to witness this special day.
25 Eight leaders of the Bangladeshi
1432
1 delegation are joining me here in the Senate
2 chamber. They are the Consul General of
3 Bangladesh here in New York, the Honorable
4 Shameem Ahsan, and his spouse, Mrs. Guley
5 Ferdousi Forhad. Also joining us in the chamber
6 are Islam Mamun, Shamim Miah, Rexona Mujumder,
7 Shahed Ahamed, Abdur Rod Dola Miah, and Imam
8 Muhammad Mashhud Iqbal, who gave the invocation.
9 Thank you for being with us here
10 today, ladies and gentlemen.
11 It is important -- you might be
12 seated now -- it is important for you to know,
13 ladies and gentlemen, that March 26th is the
14 Bangladesh National Independence Day. This day
15 is celebrated in Bangladesh and also around the
16 world in honor of the country's declaration of
17 independence from Pakistan.
18 Mr. President, my friend, how are
19 you doing? Mr. President and my fellow Senators,
20 ladies and gentlemen, it is important also for
21 you to know that today we commemorate and
22 remember the thousands of people who lost their
23 lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War, a war
24 that started on March 26, 1971. This was the day
25 that the Bengali people stood up to the Pakistani
1433
1 Army.
2 Another important moment in the
3 history of the Bangladesh community is that the
4 first election in the history of Pakistan was
5 held on December 7, 1970. December 7th is a very
6 special and important day for me. On December 7,
7 1941, the United States of America was attacked
8 by the Imperial Forces of Japan at Pearl Harbor.
9 On December 7, 1954, my mother passed away. And
10 on December 7, 1970, Pakistan held its first
11 election.
12 Mr. President and ladies and
13 gentlemen, on that election that took place in
14 Pakistan on December 7th, there were 300 seats in
15 the parliament. East Pakistan won 160 seats, and
16 West Pakistan won only 81 seats. But instead of
17 handing over power to the winning party, they
18 imposed martial law on East Pakistan.
19 The leader of East Pakistan,
20 Mr. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, urged the Bengali
21 people to turn their homes into resisting forts.
22 He inspired the nation to fight for freedom with
23 the following words: "Our struggle is for our
24 freedom. Our struggle is for our independence."
25 You must also know that on this
1434
1 important occasion, Ziaur Rahman proclaimed to
2 all the Bangladeshi people that the Independent
3 People's Republic of Bangladesh had been
4 established.
5 Ladies and gentlemen, you should
6 know also that after nine long months of war, the
7 Pakistani Army finally surrendered
8 unconditionally. And while many lives were lost,
9 Bangladesh as a country gained its freedom and
10 independence. And that is why we are all here
11 today, to remember the suffering of the heroes
12 and heroines.
13 To conclude, Mr. President, once
14 again, I want to acknowledge the delegation and
15 express my appreciation to the Bangladesh
16 community that came all the way from the City of
17 New York today.
18 Also I would like to note that some
19 of the leaders, many of the Bangladesh leaders of
20 the community from Queens, from the Bronx,
21 they're here today. And from the Bronx we have
22 Mr. Mohammed Mujumder, he's in the gallery; we
23 have Mr. Muhobob Alom, Farida Yeasmin, and
24 many other leaders of the Bangladesh community.
25 To all of you, ladies and gentlemen,
1435
1 on this side and on the other side, I would like
2 to express my appreciation. Thank you very much
3 for being here today. This chamber today is
4 Bangladeshi. We honor you, and we welcome you
5 today. And I say As-salamu Alaikum!
6 Dhanno-baad!
7 This is Senator Díaz, Mr. President,
8 and this is what you should know. Thank you very
9 much.
10 (Applause from gallery.)
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Bailey.
13 SENATOR BAILEY: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 A tough act to follow. Reverend
16 Díaz, thank you for introducing this resolution
17 to honor the Bengali people. {In Bangla;
18 response from gallery.}
19 SENATOR BAILEY: Absolutely.
20 (Laughter.)
21 SENATOR BAILEY: The Bengali
22 community is relatively new to me. Throughout my
23 travels and my quest to become the State Senator,
24 I ventured to the western portion of my district,
25 which I'm not an inhabitant of. There I have a
1436
1 thriving Bengali population -- store owners,
2 business owners, homeowners, voters. Most
3 importantly, people -- the fabric of our
4 community.
5 I began to learn so many things
6 about your community. Most importantly, a member
7 of your community actually reminded me of what my
8 name meant in Arabic. And, you know, my parents
9 named me aptly, you know -- so my wife believes.
10 Jamaal means "handsome" in Arabic. Some people
11 are laughing.
12 (Laughter.)
13 SENATOR BAILEY: I hope, if my wife
14 is watching, she's not.
15 But these are things that were
16 instructional, things about your community --
17 your cohesion, your togetherness. Things that
18 I've learned from your community. My first
19 interview on television was on Time TV, a Bengali
20 TV station. So your commitment to me is
21 important, and thus it should be returned to you
22 threefold and tenfold.
23 So I want to thank you all for
24 coming up today. I want to encourage you all to
25 continue to come up and make your voices be heard
1437
1 here in the Capitol.
2 And again, I thank Senator Díaz for
3 bringing this resolution, and Dhanno-baad!
4 (Applause from gallery.)
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
6 Hamilton.
7 SENATOR HAMILTON: Thank you,
8 Mr. President.
9 I rise for the resolution of Senator
10 Díaz, the father of Bronx politics, for doing a
11 phenomenal job. And I want to thank the brothers
12 and sisters from the Bangladesh community for
13 coming here today to the State Capitol. So I'm
14 going to say {in Bengali; response from gallery}.
15 And the State of New York wants to
16 recognize the Bangladeshi community for being a
17 hardworking people -- store owners, construction,
18 retail. Many own small businesses in the
19 community -- as far as Dunkin' Donuts, which I go
20 to frequently.
21 I want to say to the delegation that
22 is here today, I want to say Dhanno-baad,
23 Dhanno-baad, for coming here and letting us
24 people know that we are a diverse state, a
25 diverse people, and we must respect each other's
1438
1 cultures, we must respect each other's religions,
2 to make this state the best state in the country.
3 So what we're seeing here is the
4 melting pot of America. We're seeing the melting
5 pot of New York State. And when we have
6 troubling times, we must come together as people
7 and fight as one.
8 And so I say to you, thank you for
9 coming here today. I want to say I hope
10 everything is going well, kibhalo, everything is
11 going well for you, and I want to say
12 Dhanno-baad.
13 Thank you so much. God bless you
14 all.
15 (Applause.)
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
17 Serrano.
18 SENATOR SERRANO: Thank you very
19 much, Mr. President.
20 And I too would like to thank
21 Senator Reverend Díaz for once again bringing
22 diversity, color, and good cheer to this chamber
23 with the Bengali community and Bengali Heritage
24 Day.
25 And it really is, I believe, very
1439
1 important that now more than ever, when we hear
2 so much unfortunate intolerance throughout our
3 nation, that we remind ourselves that communities
4 like the Bengali community, many other immigrant
5 communities, made the United States what it is.
6 This country would be nothing without a strong
7 immigrant community. We are built on the backs
8 of immigrants.
9 You have a perfect example in the
10 Bengali community of folks who came to this
11 country with their skills, with their hard work,
12 and with their determination and with their love,
13 to create a country like no other in the world.
14 One in which we celebrate the diversity, the
15 multiculturalism, the different foods, the
16 different sights, the different sounds. This is
17 what makes the fabric of our society so unique,
18 different than any other country in the world.
19 So it is, I think, important that we
20 take a step back and be grateful and thankful to
21 live in a nation like this where we have this
22 level of diversity, and celebrate that
23 diversity -- not merely tolerate it, but
24 celebrate it for what it is. And it is a gift,
25 and it is something that makes America so great.
1440
1 So thank you, Reverend Díaz. Thank
2 you to the Bengali community for being here.
3 (Applause from the gallery.)
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
5 Alcantara.
6 SENATOR ALCANTARA: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 Thank you, Reverend Díaz. Every
9 week you bring different New Yorkers to our
10 chambers, people like the Garifuna, now the
11 Bengali community, who otherwise would not have
12 the opportunity to be here in these chambers in
13 the State of New York.
14 I want to congratulate the Bengali
15 community. You are adding to the fabric of what
16 New York is. Thank you for choosing New York as
17 your home. As an immigrant, I appreciate the
18 contributions that you make to the State of
19 New York. I love that we had an imam here
20 preaching and teaching all of us that this is
21 what makes New York, and that Islam is peace,
22 Islam is love.
23 Thank you, Senator Díaz, for
24 bringing us here. And you as a Christian
25 minister is very symbolic that you bring members
1441
1 of our community that are Muslim-American to
2 show the rest of us that this is what makes
3 New York so great, this is what makes New York so
4 fantastic.
5 Thank you again to the Bengali
6 community for choosing New York as your home, for
7 adding more to make our city more diverse.
8 Because of immigrants like yourself is that
9 people want to come to New York. And thank you
10 for choosing the United States as your home.
11 Thank you so much, and happy
12 Independence Day.
13 (Applause from gallery.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
15 resolution was adopted on March 21st of this
16 year.
17 We extend the courtesies and the
18 welcome of the Senate to the consul general, the
19 delegation from Bangladesh, and the Bengali
20 community. Welcome.
21 (Standing ovation.)
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
23 sponsor has requested that the resolution be
24 opened for cosponsorship. Should you choose to
25 be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
1442
1 Senator DeFrancisco.
2 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: The next
3 resolution is a privileged resolution by Senator
4 Jacobs. Read the title only, and please call on
5 Senator Jacobs to speak.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
9 Resolution by Senator Jacobs, mourning the death
10 of Colonel Patrick J. Cunningham, distinguished
11 citizen, meritorious veteran, and devoted member
12 of his community.
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
14 Jacobs.
15 SENATOR JACOBS: Thank you,
16 Mr. President.
17 I rise today in tribute to the
18 passing of an individual who served his country
19 and his community with great honor and
20 distinction, Retired Army Colonel Patrick J.
21 Cunningham. For the last 26 years, Colonel
22 Cunningham served as the executive director of
23 the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military
24 Park, taking what was once a noble idea and a
25 fledging organization and, with his leadership,
1443
1 transforming it into a park that proudly lives up
2 to its mission of honoring veterans and inspiring
3 citizens.
4 Through his vision, the Buffalo and
5 Erie County Naval & Military Park has become a
6 major tourist attraction on Buffalo's waterfront,
7 a jewel of the community that attracts 80,000
8 visitors annually.
9 Sadly, Colonel Cunningham passed
10 away one day before the park's official opening
11 for this season on Buffalo's waterfront,
12 succumbing to an illness attributed in part to
13 his exposure to Agent Orange during the
14 Vietnam War.
15 So great was Colonel Cunningham's
16 dedication to the park that in lean times he
17 would loan the park money to meet payroll,
18 without telling anyone or expecting any thanks in
19 return. With his vast knowledge and military
20 experience, Colonel Cunningham was a major figure
21 in the military community of Western New York and
22 a tremendous advocate to fellow veterans. Our
23 country, all of Buffalo, and those in Western
24 New York owe Colonel Cunningham a great debt of
25 gratitude.
1444
1 Thank you for the opportunity to
2 present this resolution.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
4 you, Senator Jacobs.
5 Senator Kennedy on the resolution.
6 SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you,
7 Mr. President.
8 First of all, let me thank our
9 colleague Senator Jacobs for bringing this
10 privileged resolution to the floor today to honor
11 a true hero in our community in Western New York,
12 in our state, and in our great nation.
13 Last Saturday I attended the Buffalo
14 and Erie County Naval & Military Park season
15 opening, a yearly tradition often marked with
16 celebration. But this year when we gathered
17 together, we were without one of the visionaries
18 who led the park for nearly a quarter of a
19 century. As mentioned, on the eve of the season
20 opening, we lost Colonel Patrick Cunningham, the
21 park's executive director.
22 Colonel Cunningham devoted his life
23 to serving his country and community, first in
24 active military service for 30 years, later
25 serving Buffalo and Western New York through his
1445
1 dedication to the Buffalo Naval Park, the Boy
2 Scouts of America, the Greater Niagara Frontier
3 Council, and youth football and basketball.
4 Colonel Cunningham served our
5 country in Vietnam, and for his service was
6 awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the
7 Meritorious Medal, and the Army Commendation
8 Medal.
9 After Vietnam, Colonel Cunningham
10 supervised the Army's budget while assigned to
11 the Pentagon, before returning home to Western
12 New York.
13 And when he became executive
14 director of the Naval Park in 1993, he was taking
15 on an immense challenge. The City of Buffalo was
16 a much different place than it is today. There
17 was little reason to visit the waterfront of
18 Buffalo. Attendance was low, and interest was
19 waning.
20 But Colonel Cunningham immersed
21 himself in the park's resurgence. In a
22 demonstration of his enormous character and the
23 giant that this gentleman was, he secretly paid
24 other workers' salaries to help ease the park's
25 early financial problems, while often refusing to
1446
1 taking a paycheck himself. He created new
2 displays, updated existing exhibits, and worked
3 to improve the overall experience.
4 He worked to integrate the Naval
5 Park with the redevelopment of Canalside and the
6 waterfront, with full knowledge that doing so
7 would attract more visitors to the park -- and he
8 succeeded. Today the Naval Park attracts over
9 80,000 visitors annually, and it's the largest
10 inland naval park in the United States. Last
11 year alone, the park was visited by people from
12 every single state and from over 100 countries.
13 Fittingly, this season at the
14 Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park is dedicated
15 in Colonel Cunningham's honor.
16 To Colonel Cunningham we owe a debt
17 of gratitude. And to his sons Michael, Sean and
18 Patrick, his daughters Colleen and Kathleen, we
19 truly extend our condolences on your loss.
20 He was an extraordinary man and will
21 be missed, Mr. President. May he rest in peace.
22 Thank you very much.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
24 Croci.
25 SENATOR CROCI: Thank you,
1447
1 Mr. President.
2 And I'd like to thank my colleague
3 Senator Jacobs for bringing this resolution. I
4 had the great privilege, as chairman of Homeland
5 Security, Military and Veterans Affairs, of
6 receiving an invitation from Senator Gallivan to
7 visit the park. I've had the opportunity to meet
8 at the park twice with Colonel Cunningham. I can
9 tell you, he was a dynamic figure.
10 And one of the things that's most
11 impressive is that regardless of his years of
12 service in the military, he decided to come back
13 and pay tribute to another generation of warrior,
14 the Greatest Generation -- and that is our
15 World War II generation -- by preserving and
16 honoring the legacy at the Naval Park.
17 Anyone who has been there knows that
18 there is a famous ship there, the USS The
19 Sullivans. And the colonel, for being an Army
20 guy, took great pride in the naval tradition, but
21 particularly the Greatest Generation, who was
22 honored at that park. He gave of himself, he was
23 a delight to work with, and I'm very sorry.
24 And I'm so glad that Senator Jacobs
25 and Senator Kennedy have brought this resolution.
1448
1 So thank you, Mr. President.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 question is on the resolution. All in favor
4 signify by saying aye.
5 (Response of "Aye.")
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
7 (No response.)
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
9 resolution is adopted.
10 Senator DeFrancisco.
11 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Can we
12 now take up Resolution 1179, by Senator Murphy,
13 read the title only, and call on Senator Murphy
14 to speak.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 Secretary will read.
17 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
18 Resolution Number 1179, by Senator Murphy,
19 mourning the death of David Rockefeller, generous
20 philanthropist, businessman and devoted member of
21 his community.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
23 Murphy.
24 SENATOR MURPHY: Thank you,
25 Mr. President.
1449
1 I rise today to acknowledge the
2 passing of a modern-day titan of both business
3 and development. Last week New York State said
4 farewell to Mr. David Rockefeller.
5 Mr. Rockefeller's contributions to
6 our state in many aspects are unprecedented. He
7 was brother to former New York State Governor
8 Nelson Rockefeller. David was a proud Army
9 veteran serving in Africa and France during
10 World War II. For 20 years, he grew Chase
11 National Bank and was the founder and chairman of
12 Downtown Lower Manhattan Association.
13 Acting as the driving force behind
14 the building of the World Trade Center and a
15 number of iconic landmarks and beyond,
16 Mr. Rockefeller has had a tremendous impact on
17 our great state.
18 I send my best wishes to his
19 children -- David Jr., Richard, Abby, Neva,
20 Margaret, and Eileen, and the entire Rockefeller
21 Center. He will be surely missed.
22 Thank you, Mr. President.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
24 you, Senator Murphy.
25 Senator Hoylman.
1450
1 SENATOR HOYLMAN: Thank you,
2 Mr. President. I wanted to thank my colleague
3 for the resolution on David Rockefeller.
4 I wanted to mention something.
5 Rockefeller Center is in my Senate district, and
6 another former constituent of mine, Andy Warhol,
7 once said, "If you're a Rockefeller, New York is
8 really your town."
9 And if you think about David
10 Rockefeller and his life, he gave so much to
11 New York City. In the early 1980s he brought
12 together business and labor leaders to help bring
13 New York City out of fiscal ruin. And he created
14 something called the Partnership for New York
15 City, which is a consortium of chief executives
16 from all boroughs of New York, to work together
17 with organized labor, with nonprofit leaders, to
18 strategize how to make a stronger city.
19 And they have actually established,
20 over the last several decades, a legacy in his
21 name called the David Rockefeller Fellows
22 Program. And since it was begun, 362 business
23 executives aspiring to the levels of civic
24 contribution of David Rockefeller have actually
25 visited places like Albany and City Hall and
1451
1 Rikers Island and learned how the business
2 community can make a contribution to civic life.
3 So I think it's very important, as
4 we remember and commend the Rockefeller family
5 for their contributions to New York, that this is
6 an individual who gave back as much as he
7 received.
8 Thank you.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
10 question is on the resolution. All in favor
11 signify by saying aye.
12 (Response of "Aye.")
13 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Opposed?
14 (No response.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
16 resolution is adopted.
17 Both the previous resolution by
18 Senator Jacobs and this resolution by Senator
19 Murphy have been offered up for cosponsorship.
20 Should you choose to be a cosponsor, please
21 notify the desk.
22 Senator DeFrancisco.
23 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Would you now
24 take up previously adopted Resolution Number
25 1161, by Senator Kaminsky, read it in its
1452
1 entirety, and call on Senator Kaminsky to speak.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
5 Resolution Number 1161, by Senator Kaminsky,
6 commending John Rigazio for his extraordinary
7 efforts --
8 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Excuse
9 me.
10 Senator DeFrancisco, why do you
11 rise?
12 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: You'll want
13 to recognize me. Title only.
14 (Laughter.)
15 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Thank
16 you, Senator DeFrancisco.
17 Secretary will reread.
18 THE SECRETARY: Legislative
19 Resolution Number 1161, by Senator Kaminsky,
20 commending John Rigazio for his extraordinary
21 efforts to support and raise funds for autism
22 awareness and research, on June 10, 2016.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
24 Kaminsky.
25 SENATOR KAMINSKY: Thank you so
1453
1 much, Mr. President.
2 We have in our midst a very special
3 young man and a very special family who really
4 represent the heart and the spirit of the
5 communities that I'm very proud to represent.
6 John Rigazio is a senior in
7 Rockville Centre, in South Side High School, who
8 has decided to take autism awareness and funding
9 for autism awareness and services to an
10 incredible level. He and his father rode on a
11 tandem bike from Battery Park, New York City, to
12 Westhampton, going through about 10 different
13 Senate districts, and really extraordinarily, on
14 his own, raising $40,000 last year.
15 I can't tell you how proud I am of
16 him and how great it's been to get to know the
17 Rigazio family. His father Joe, his mother
18 Jackie, and their family are here today. And
19 John is committed to doing it again this year and
20 raising even more money.
21 You know, autism is such an
22 important cause. And a lot of people talk about
23 it, a lot of people try to commit to it. I have
24 yet to see a commitment like this. And I'm
25 really proud to recognize him here with this
1454
1 resolution today.
2 So, Mr. President, I ask that you
3 kindly welcome the Rigazio family. John, I say
4 to you, you'll be going to college in Connecticut
5 next year, you'll be successful in whatever you
6 try to achieve. I know you'll put your heart
7 into it, and my money is on you.
8 If you would welcome the family,
9 Mr. President, and give them all the cordialities
10 of the Senate, it would be greatly appreciated.
11 Thank you.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
13 resolution was adopted on March 23rd of this
14 year.
15 I would extend a warm welcome and
16 the privileges of the house to John Rigazio and
17 the entire Rigazio family. Please stand and be
18 recognized.
19 (Standing ovation.)
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
21 DeFrancisco.
22 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes, I
23 believe that's also up for cosponsorship.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
25 resolution is open for cosponsorship. Should you
1455
1 choose to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
2 Senator DeFrancisco.
3 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Would you now
4 please take up the noncontroversial reading of
5 the active calendar.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The
7 Secretary will read.
8 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
9 180, by Senator Little, Senate Print 136, an act
10 to amend the Parks, Recreation and Historic
11 Preservation Law.
12 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
13 last section.
14 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
15 act shall take effect immediately.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
17 roll.
18 (The Secretary called the roll.)
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Announce
20 the results.
21 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
22 Calendar 180, those recorded in the negative are
23 Senators Alcantara, Avella, Bailey, Comrie, Díaz,
24 Hoylman, Persaud, Rivera, Serrano and Stavisky.
25 Also Senator LaValle.
1456
1 Ayes, 47. Nays, 11.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
3 is passed.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 263, by Senator Bonacic, Senate Print 1065, an
6 act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
8 last section.
9 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
10 act shall take effect on the first of July.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
12 roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll.)
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Some
15 order in the house, please.
16 Announce the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
18 Calendar 263, those recorded in the negative are
19 Senators Alcantara, Comrie, Díaz, Hoylman,
20 Montgomery, Peralta, Rivera, Serrano, Squadron.
21 Also Senator Bailey.
22 Ayes, 50. Nays, 10.
23 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
24 is passed.
25 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
1457
1 279, by Senator Funke, Senate Print 1443, an act
2 to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
4 last section.
5 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
6 act shall take effect immediately.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
8 roll.
9 (The Secretary called the roll.)
10 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
12 is passed.
13 THE SECRETARY: In relation to
14 Calendar 279: Ayes, 59. Nays, 1. Senator Díaz
15 recorded in the negative.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
17 is still passed.
18 (Laughter.)
19 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
20 285, by Senator Gallivan, Senate Print 1981, an
21 act to amend the Social Services Law.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
23 last section.
24 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
25 act shall take effect immediately.
1458
1 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
2 roll.
3 (The Secretary called the roll.)
4 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 60.
5 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
6 is passed.
7 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
8 438, Assembly Budget Bill, Assembly Print 3002A,
9 an act making appropriations.
10 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
11 last section.
12 THE SECRETARY: Section 2. This
13 act shall take effect immediately.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
15 roll.
16 (The Secretary called the roll.)
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 59. Nays, 1.
18 Senator LaValle recorded in the negative.
19 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
20 is passed.
21 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
22 502, by Senator Avella, Senate Print 1271, an act
23 to amend the Executive Law.
24 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Read the
25 last section.
1459
1 THE SECRETARY: Section 3. This
2 act shall take effect immediately.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Call the
4 roll.
5 (The Secretary called the roll.)
6 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
7 DeFrancisco to explain his vote.
8 Can I have some order, please.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: I'm going to
10 vote no.
11 Not to be overly technical, but I
12 don't think we need a law to determine how to
13 measure a thousand feet. So I vote no.
14 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
15 DeFrancisco to be recorded in the negative.
16 Announce the results.
17 THE SECRETARY: Ayes, 58. Nays, 2.
18 Senators DeFrancisco and Montgomery recorded in
19 the negative.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: The bill
21 is passed.
22 Senator DeFrancisco, that completes
23 the noncontroversial reading of today's
24 active-list calendar.
25 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Yes. Is
1460
1 there any further business at the desk?
2 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There is
3 no further business at the desk.
4 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Well, before
5 we conclude, however, I think Senator Kaminsky
6 would like to say --
7 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Can I
8 have some order, please.
9 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: -- would like
10 to amend his prior statement that was incomplete.
11 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: Senator
12 Kaminsky.
13 SENATOR KAMINSKY: Thank you,
14 Mr. President.
15 In my excitement, I neglected to
16 mention that John Rigazio's mother Jackie joined
17 them halfway in the 100-mile bike ride, rode
18 herself 50 miles. I don't think my mom has ever
19 ridden 50 miles ever, in her life, as much as she
20 loves me.
21 So thank you for raising a great
22 young man, and thank you for your efforts for
23 autism awareness.
24 And thank you, Mr. President.
25 (Applause.)
1461
1 SENATOR DeFRANCISCO: Therefore, I
2 now move to adjourn until Wednesday, March 29th,
3 at 3:00 p.m.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO: There
5 being no further business before the desk, and on
6 motion, the Senate will stand adjourned until
7 Wednesday, March 29th, at 3:00 p.m.
8 The Senate stands adjourned.
9 (Whereupon, at 3:58 p.m., the Senate
10 adjourned.)
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