📲 California has banned the use of masks for ICE agents. Now, New York State must follow suit and pass my MELT Act to defend the U.S. Constitution. See below for our joint statement. ⬇

Two NYS lawmakers - @patriciafahy46.bsky.social & @amromero109.bsky.social - joined protestors in a driving rain Wednesday to protest outside the Nexstar Media-owned ABC affiliate in Albany.

Wishing our Jewish neighbors and friends a year filled with health, and happiness as they observe the beginning of Rosh Hashanah this evening! May this New Year bring joy, hope, and blessings to you and your loved ones.

🇺🇸 September 11th, 2001, was a day of profound pain, anguish, and loss for all Americans and New Yorkers. At a time when it seems that what divides us is more pronounced than ever, today, we come together as one people and as New Yorkers, united, to say: #NeverForget.

📝 18% premium increases for UnitedHealthcare Medicare supplemental plans at a time when New York seniors are struggling to afford groceries, mortgages, and their prescriptions is wrong. These increases are a direct result of the Trump administration's reckless tariffs.

📜 Albany’s history runs deep, is diverse, and helps bind our community together. I joined the Historic Albany Foundation (HAF) to unveil a marker commemorating James C. Matthew’s home on Clinton Avenue.

Social security is under attack at the federal level, but I know that this is an earned benefit you’ve paid into your entire lives, and one you expect to be there during retirement. I joined the local chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans to discuss the challenges ahead for seniors.

Welcome back to school, Capital Region students, parents, and teachers! As the first days of school begin, I wanted to share three reminders: 🥗 Every Capital Region student, regardless of school district, will receive at least one free, fresh school meal every day.

🍎 For the first time, starting this school year, every student in New York State will receive one free meal every day at school. Whether you pack, buy, or make a lunch, school lunch costs are up, but now students will have a hot, fresh meal waiting for them at school each day, helping reduce costs.

NYers are united in wanting to keep our communities safe from Trump's lawless secret police. Tell Hochul (518-474-8390), Heastie (518-455-3791), and Stewart-Cousins (518-455-2585) to pass the #MELT Act now! Thank you @tonysimone.bsky.social ‪and @patriciafahy46.bsky.social for leading the way.

In the State Senate, I will always fight like hell for our unions, workers, and their families. This #LaborDay, workers are under attack. Here in the Capital Region, I have your back, and will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the hardworking men, women, and workers who keep our state moving.

🤝 Proud to secure $50,000 for RISSE as they continue to provide english language learning, legal assistance, and afterschool programming for our community, and immigrant and refugee neighbors. Thank you for all that you do! To learn more about RISSE, visit: risse-albany.org

🎙 On the newest episode of Chat with Pat, I sat down with John Sumpter, Director of Outreach for Creative Connections Clubhouse- Amsterdam, NY, to discuss how we create meaningful opportunities and programming for our young people. Full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

🛩️ Thrilled to announce I was able to secure $30,000 for the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville! This grant will help the Museum expand youth programming, STEM programs, and assist with insurance costs for new exhibits.

Please see below for my statement on the approval of the Big 'Beautiful' Bill—the largest wealth transfer in American history from working families to the billionaire class.

Struggling to afford your utility bills? Bad news: the Big Beautiful Betrayal raises electricity and energy costs at a time when utility bills are skyrocketing.

July is Disability Pride Month, which recognizes the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. While we continue to make progress on the quality and accessibility of care for New Yorkers living with disabilities, we have work to do.

I toured Grassroot Givers’ location on Washington Ave. in Albany to view their space, expansion progress, and growing capability to serve our community.

🇵🇭 We celebrated Filipino Day and Araw ng Kasarinlán (Independence Day) yesterday in Washington Park! In 1898, the Philippines gained independence from Spain, but would not be fully independent until 1946.

✂️ Thrilled to join the Grand Indian Kitchen’s ribbon cutting in Amsterdam! Congratulations to Benny, Anne, and their team on this new chapter. Thank you for serving our community!

✅ Coming Fall 2025: Washington Park's new playground! Thrilled to have provided $250,000 in state funding through my office to help get it done for the thousands of families and kids who will enjoy it.

The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration’s deportation of immigrants to countries not of their origin like South Sudan is another example of how it’s sewing fear within our communities.

🧑‍💻 Thank you to everyone who attended our Senior Fraud & Scam Prevention Forum yesterday in #Glenmont! Senior fraud costs consumers millions of dollars every year and is only on the rise post-COVID.

🗳️ Beat the heat and cast my ballot in this year’s Primary Election. It’s hot out there, but more important than ever that you make your voice heard this year. There are races across our district—check your polling places and ballots out here: voterlookup.elections.ny.gov

💸 NEW: I’m introducing legislation to shine a light on dark money in our state elections and political process, by requiring that the top three donors of any super PAC list their identities on campaign ads and mailers.

Are we sliding into authoritarianism here? Comptroller Lander’s arrest is an insane overreach on the part of the ICE - an agency more focused on "arrest quotas" and intimidation than the constitutional rights.

🎖 Where the federal government seeks to erase Sgt. Henry Johnson's legacy by renaming Fort Johnson to Fort Polk, the Capital Region will be there to meet them in full force. I'm introducing legislation with AM McDonald to rename the Patroon Island Bridge as the "Sgt. Henry Johnson Memorial Bridge".

Like many of you, I am heartbroken over the assassination of Rep. Hortman and the targeted political violence we saw this past weekend in Minnesota. Please watch for a few of my thoughts on how we move forward.

✅ Proud that another of my bills as Disabilities Chair has passed the Senate.

🌲 In this year’s state budget, we secured $5 million for the Albany Pine Bush to reimagine the Discovery Center, and make it more inviting and modern.

🏭➡️🏘 Thrilled to announce that $1M in Restore NY funding has been awarded to the City of Amsterdam for a new bakery, brewpub, and 150-related jobs at the former Sonoco Paper Mills site.

There is no place for hate, threats, or violence against the Jewish community—here in New York State or across the country. We must continue to condemn antisemitism and attacks on innocents wherever it occurs, and call for peace and dignity for all people.

🚨 400 jobs and 400 kids on a path to employment at the Glenmont Job Corps site—gone in an instant thanks to the Big Beautiful Bomb. Instead of investing in kids and Capital Region workers, we’re giving tax breaks to billionaires. It’s outrageous.

🤳 ICYMI: @msnbc.com covered our SAFE AIR Act, which bans NY from doing business with airlines that deport people without due process and revokes jet fuel subsidies. We need more states to emulate this and tell airlines: uphold the US Constitution, or take your business elsewhere.

Enjoyed joining the Delmar community last night to cut the ribbon on the Adams Street and Albany County Rail Trail rainbow crosswalk! Love is love, and the Capital Region stands with our LGBTQIA+ community.

🧑‍💻 Scams targeting seniors are on the rise in 2025, and cost consumers more than $3B across the U.S. last year. Join me this later month in #Glenmont for my Senior Fraud & Scam Prevention Forum to learn more how to protect yourself online and off.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Happy Pride Month, Capital Region! I’ll always fight for a New York State where everyone can be their true, authentic selves—free from discrimination and hate.

Today at noon, we’ll be showing up at the Capitol with @troyindivisible.bsky.social in support of the proposal by @solagesny.bsky.social and @patriciafahy46.bsky.social to enact the SAFE AIR Act (S.7960 Fahy/A.8188 Solages).

Prices are up, more tariffs loom, and it's hitting people’s pocketbooks and wallets hard. That's why I fought for investments that will help Capital Region families and workers make ends meet in this year's state budget.

I had a wonderful time meeting Ms. Brown's class from Fonda-Fultonville Central School District in the Capitol, and appreciated their insightful questions on everything from AI to climate change. Thank you for visiting—I can't wait to see what you all do in the future!

It was an honor to welcome the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum to the Senate Chamber as part of Fort Drum Day. Thank you for all you do to keep us safe and strengthen our communities in Upstate New York.

Please see a joint statement below from Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero and I on the omission of our effort and legislation to redevelop the Harriman Campus as part of the Wadsworth Labs project in this year’s state budget.

💰 The Capital Region's small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and I've heard from many small business owners about the UI tax and how it's hurt their bottom lines.

🗞 If commercial airlines operating in NYS want to participate in deportations without due process, taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for it. My SAFE AIR Act will ensure that taxpayer funds do not aid and abet deportations without due process and prohibit the state from contracting with them.

Check out these short films on the AMC+ series, Future of Film: AAPI Rising Stars for #AAPIheritagemonth! The first one is mine! Made in NYS! #film #shortfilm #AAPI #Filmsky #MovieSky www.amcplus.com/shows/future...

Happy #AAPIHeritageMonth! The Capital Region is home to so many proud Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, which continue to grow each year. This month, we recognize #AAPI New Yorkers’ heritage and contributions, and embrace our shared history and values.

Scenes from this evening's May Day rally outside Albany Medical Center, as PEF stood in solidarity with nurses there and at the VA down the street! Thanks to @philsteckny.bsky.social, @patriciafahy46.bsky.social and @amromero109.bsky.social for showing up in solidarity as well!

I’ve always believed that our youth and younger generations hold the power to end the gun violence epidemic in this country. I met with young people from @momsdemand.bsky.social to talk about the work they’re doing to advance policy that continues New York’s leadership on reducing gun violence.

🚨NEW: Today, I'm introducing the SAFE AIR Act alongside Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages, which would prohibit New York State from contracting with and providing tax benefits to commercial airlines that transport detainees for ICE without a valid judicial warrant.

Today we’re shouting out @patriciafahy46.bsky.social for the bill she’s sponsoring that would revoke a waiver allowing Tesla to have five dealerships in the state. 🥳 @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/virginia...