It was a pleasure to attend Monday’s topping-out ceremony celebrating an important milestone for the NanoFab Reflection and the broader NY CREATES Albany NanoTech Complex. NY continues to invest in the future of the semiconductor industry, strengthening our position as a national leader

Governor Hochul has announced 19 new nominations to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, including Cohoes housing sites. Cohoes Nominations: • Dr. Jay McDonald Towers • Roulier Heights Historic District www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo...

A new statewide survey shows that NY’s bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions are already delivering significant benefits for students and teachers. The Governor’s Office received more than 350 responses from schools that implemented the distraction-free policy. www.governor.ny.gov/news/new-sur...

Happy that Gov Hochul has signed legislation I sponsored along with Senator Nathalia Fernandez - S.3416D/A.5892 into law, expanding access to medication that supports individuals beginning maintenance or detoxification treatment for substance use disorder. pubfiles.nysenate.gov/crm/fernande...

Earlier this week Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to establish a New York State memorial at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany to recognize victims and survivors of the Holocaust. www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo...

Today, we celebrate the 10th work anniversary of our Comms Director, Tess. Tess is an invaluable member of Team McDonald and everyone knows how wonderful she is to work with. We appreciate all that she does for our team & the 108th District. Feel free to share a special message.

Too many New Yorkers have been stuck paying for costly, unwanted subscriptions because companies make it difficult or confusing to cancel. The new “Click to Cancel” law I helped pass is now in effect requiring businesses to provide simple, clear instructions on how to end automatic renewals

Honored to attend this morning’s Albany County Honor-A-Vet ceremony in Green Island, where we recognized two remarkable brothers, Frank and Joseph Lazzaro for their service to our nation.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now open for applications! The easiest way to apply is through mybenefits.ny.gov/mybenefits/b... Learn more about the program here: otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

Grateful to spend part of the day working with the Regional Food Bank to deliver Thanksgiving meals to seniors at Cayuga Plaza in Cohoes. It’s always inspiring to see the kindness and generosity that goes into making sure our neighbors have what they need, especially during the holidays.

November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it is a difficult time and there are many considerations for next steps.

I was honored to speak and stand in support with the Ukrainian American Community at the annual Holodomor Memorial Remembrance in Cohoes this past weekend. This annual memorial gathers members and friend of the Ukrainian community throughout our Capital Region as we remember and pray for

If you know a Veteran without nearby family or who could use a warm meal and good company, Albany County Veterans Service Agency is hosting a free Thanksgiving Dinner at Lynn’s Uptown Tavern on Thursday, November 27, from 3–6 PM.

AI is transforming health care, but big questions remain. I joined the latest State of Play episode to talk about the promise, the risks, and why the human element still matters. Watch the full discussion here: www.ncsl.org/state-legisl... @ncslorg.bsky.social

Congrats to the outstanding arts and cultural orgs in our community that have been awarded funding through the NYS Council on the Arts latest grant cycle. These investments help fuel local economies, expand access to the arts, and strengthen the creative spirit that defines communities like ours.

Join the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) for their Reconnect the Empire State Plaza project’s second public workshop! As part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s $400-million Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) Initiative, OGS is exploring ways to shape the Empire State Plaza into a space

Sheriff Craig Apple and his team are creating new kennel space at the Albany County Correctional Facility to help care for dogs rescued from abuse cases easing the burden on our local shelters and offering work opportunities to individuals staying at the facility’s temporary housing program.

As federal funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) remains on hold due to the government shutdown, Governor Hochul announced steps to ensure New Yorkers continue to receive support with energy costs this winter.

The NYS Department of Labor offers a wide range of support to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce, including: • Job search assistance and career counseling • Resume help and interview coaching • Translation of military experience to civilian jobs

On Veterans Day, we remember those who stood up to serve our nation and protect our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifice, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to our country and our communities.

Great to see this investment in the Albany International Airport through the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. These new amenities are designed to improve the customer experience and are thoughtful additions that keep in mind the needs of the consumers

Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Civil Service have announced that nearly 800 state job titles will now accept relevant work experience as an alternative to a college degree. Learn more about state job opportunities here: www.cs.ny.gov

Today is Election Day! This year’s ballot includes one statewide proposal related to the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County. Learn more here: elections.ny.gov/2025-statewi... Be sure to confirm your polling place here: voterlookup.elections.ny.gov

It is anticipated that November SNAP benefits will be delayed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown otda.ny.gov/programs/sna... Below we have linked a list of some food resources: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

It’s not often that prosecutors and public defenders agree on policy, but both sides have united behind a bill soon to be considered by Gov. Kathy Hochul that would expand access to the state’s mental health courts.

Governor Hochul has announced the launch of the New York State Secure Choice Savings Program, a new state-sponsored retirement savings plan designed to help private-sector employees who do not have access to a workplace retirement plan.

Too many lives have been lost to gun violence. That’s why I helped pass a new law requiring police to remove all firearms in plain sight from a household for at least five days when responding to reports of family violence (Ch. 466 of 2025).

Today, I joined Governor Kathy Hochul as she announced that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will invest more than $600 million in over 180 paving projects across the state to be completed next year. 1/

Governor Hochul announced new improvements to rail service between Albany and New York City: - Metro-North service between Albany–Rensselaer and Grand Central will launch in Spring 2026 - Amtrak will restore one daily round-trip starting December 1

Happy Diwali!

The expansion of the Albany Capital Center is a major win for the Capital Region's economy and for the continued revitalization of downtown Albany. This investment will help attract more visitors and create new opportunities for local businesses.

Great to join the Cohoes Connect Center last week as they celebrated their FoodForward Grant from the Regional Food Bank! This $75K grant is helping expand food access in Cohoes, adding staff, extending pantry hours, and supporting more local families.

This October, as we mark National School Lunch Week, we are celebrating the historic rollout of universal free school meals for all 2.7 million students in NY. Thanks to NYS investment in universal free school meals, every child now has barrier-free access to breakfast and lunch at school.

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced a public open house on the future of the I-787 corridor, to be held Tuesday, October 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center. www.governor.ny.gov/news/governo...

What is important to note is that these surgeon generals served under every President from George HW Bush to current President Trump (Term 1). Their willingness to speak out in bipartisan manner speaks volumes. www.axios.com/2025/10/08/s...

This past week, I joined Senator Fahy at Maria College to celebrate the Caring Gene project, alongside many of the hardworking nonprofit organizations in the Capital Region that care for our most vulnerable populations.

Today marks two years since the tragedy of October 7th. We remember the victims and continue to pray for peace for all people around the world.

Did you know you might have unclaimed money waiting for you? Visit the NYS Comptroller's unclaimed funds website and see if anything’s under your name. You might be pleasantly surprised. www.osc.ny.gov/unclaimed-fu...

Today we recognize Gold Star Families Day, a time to honor and remember the families who have lost a loved one in service to our nation. On this day, we pause to reflect on their courage, their sacrifice, and the families who continue to carry their memory forward.

Today was Bring Your Dad to Work Day! If you see dad around today be sure to wish him a happy 95th birthday! He had the honor of meeting with the Gov and the DOT Commissioner, who presented him with a Distinguished Career Award recognizing his 37 years of service with the DOT.

Governor Hochul announced that up to 8.2 million New York households will automatically receive checks up to $400 this fall — no application needed. - Checks are being mailed now through November. - Eligible filers will receive $150–$400 based on income. Learn more: www.tax.ny.gov/pit/inflatio...

Enjoyed visiting The Pines at Heartwood in Troy for their Fall Festival on the first day of autumn. It’s always a pleasure to connect with constituents in a social setting, many of whom I’ve known for years.

Fall is here in New York! Governor Hochul has announced the start of the 2025 fall foliage season. Weekly foliage reports are back every Wednesday at iloveny.com/foliage From colorful leaves to festivals, apple picking, hikes, and more there’s nothing like fall in New York.

Today I was proud to join local leaders and law enforcement in Cohoes, Watervliet, and Troy to announce more than $500,000 in funding to expand and upgrade citywide security camera systems.

As we mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, may this season bring peace and joy to you and your loved ones. Shana Tova!

Want to avoid construction zones and get real-time traffic updates? Just visit 511ny.org for the most up-to-date travel info!

It was great to participate in The Reconnect the Empire State Plaza Public Workshop earlier this week! Thank you to the New York State Office of General Services for hosting this first public workshop and offering the opportunity for comments through the survey as well.

A pleasure to speak to the hard working DME (Durable Medical Equipment) suppliers across NYS yesterday at the North East Medical Equipment Providers (NEMEP) annual meeting.

Please take a few minutes to watch this video about some thoughts I've had in the interest of achieving the goal of civility: bit.ly/47HGzWi