Thursday, March 14, 2013

SENATOR BRESLIN:Mr. President.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Senator Breslin.

SENATOR BRESLIN:On behalf of Senator Espaillat, I move that the following bill be discharged from its respective committee and be recommitted with instructions to strike the enacting clause: Senate Number 4079.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:So ordered.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.

On behalf of Senator Marcellino, Mr. President, on page 15 I offer the following amendments to Calendar Number 156, Senate Print 3046A, and ask that said bill please retain its place on the Third Reading Calendar.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:So ordered.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:May we please adopt the Resolution Calendar, with the exception of Resolutions 840 and 848.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:All in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, with the exception of Resolutions 840 and 848, signify by saying aye.

(Response of "Aye.")

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Opposed, nay.

(No response.)

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:The Resolution Calendar is adopted.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.

I believe there's a resolution by Senator Golden, Number 848, at the desk. I ask that it be read in its entirety, I believe we would call on Senator Golden, and then we would move for its adoption.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:The Secretary will read.

THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 848, by Senator Golden, mourning the death of Louis J. Cotrona, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community.

"WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of New York; and

"WHEREAS, Louis J. Cotrona of North Greenbush, New York, died on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at the age of 76; and

"WHEREAS, Born in Troy, New York, the son of the late Rocco and Mary Centanni Cotrona, Louis J. Cotrona was a 1954 graduate of Catholic Central High School. He continued his education and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and social studies from Siena College, and then attained a master's degree in public administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy; and

"WHEREAS, Louis J. Cotrona distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of his community; and

"WHEREAS, Louis Cotrona's service in state and local government was filled with an extensive record of accomplishments. He maintained a reputation predicated on honesty, high ethical standards, and commitment to excellence; and

"WHEREAS, On March 23, 1964, Louis J. Cotrona began his illustrious career in public service as an intern with the State Division of the Budget. After serving in various positions for numerous political leaders, he became the administrative director of the Senate Finance Committee for the Senate Minority Conference; and

"WHEREAS, Subsequently, Louis J. Cotrona became the legislative liaison officer to Governor Carey. He then accepted the position of deputy appointments officer to the Governor; and

"WHEREAS, Later, Louis J. Cotrona served as the executive deputy commissioner for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. At the end of his dedicated public service career, he became the second executive director for the Temporary State Commission on Lobbying; and

"WHEREAS, It was at that same time that Louis J. Cotrona served on the executive committee of the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws, a national organization that focused on developing best practices and processes for all matters related to lobbying, elections, and ethics; and

"WHEREAS, In 1992, Louis J. Cotrona cofounded Capitol Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in identifying government contracting opportunities for leading technology companies and private education institutions and colleges; and

"WHEREAS, Notably, he spearheaded the development of Quick Draw. With a passion for policy, driving change, and for participating in public service, Louis J. Cotrona most recently volunteered his time to local initiatives for the Town of North Greenbush; and

"WHEREAS, He was an active member of the Assessment Board of Review and served as a liaison to the Town Board; and

"WHEREAS, Louis J. Cotrona's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charitable and civic endeavors; and

"WHEREAS, Louis J. Cotrona is survived by his two children, Mary Robyn Cotrona and Christopher Cotrona; his sisters, Rose (Louis) Bonelli and Grace (the late Ed) Corina; brother, Frank (Dorothy) Cotrona; and his former wives, Cynthia Cotrona and Barbara Cotrona; as well as several nieces and nephews; and

"WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Louis J. Cotrona leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore be it

"RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Louis J. Cotrona, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further

"RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Louis J. Cotrona."

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Senator Golden.

SENATOR GOLDEN:Thank you, Mr. President.

"I Love New York" is a slogan that is known to all of us. It was born during Governor Hugh Carey's administration. And I can say that Lou Cotrona epitomized that slogan.

Lou loved New York. He served the people of New York State for 28 years, volunteering his time to local initiatives for the Town of North Greenbush. Lou's career in public service began with a telegram inviting him to be an intern with the Division of the Budget. He then went on to serve the members of the Legislature. And because of Lou's reputation for honesty and commitment to excellence, he earned the opportunity to serve as Governor Carey's legislative liaison officer and later the deputy appointments officer.

Lou went on to become the executive deputy commissioner for the Division of Criminal Justice Services and finally became the second director of the Temporary Commission on Lobbying and helped transform a paper tiger into a legislative vision for that commission.

After Lou retired, he cofounded Capital Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in identifying government contracting opportunities for leading technology companies and private education institutions and colleges.

Lou's first endeavor as a consultant became a legacy for the youth of our state. The endeavor was Quick Draw, which provided just this past year, for 2011-2012, $155 million for the education of our children.

Lou's most endearing quality was that he treated everybody with respect. He truly lived the Golden Rule: He treated people the way he wanted to be treated. It didn't matter if you were a janitor or the governor; he always had time for everyone and would always help anyone who needed it.

Individuals like Lou Cotrona are rare, and he will surely be missed. His daughter presently works for me, and she's in the balcony with her brother Chris.

We will truly miss a great man as we have seen his great service to our state. He is equal to none for his great commitment, and we thank him and we thank you for the continued commitment to our state.

And our prayers go out to the family and our prayers for his true greatness, that it will epitomize the many other people that will come forward and they will follow in his steps to be able to do good things for our state and to make good things happen for the future of this great state.

We thank you. We thank him. And may God bless him and his family. He was truly a great, great man.

Thank you.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Golden.

Senator Breslin.

SENATOR BRESLIN:Thank you, Mr. President.

It's very difficult to follow the eloquent words of Senator Golden, but he really captured the essence of Lou Cotrona.

I've known Lou Cotrona for several decades -- and it's interesting, long before I ever thought of running for elective office. And through the decades of knowing Lou, I just really never knew whether he was a Democrat or a Republican. I didn't know about his service with Governor Carey or in the Senate. I just knew him as a very bright guy with a background of graduating from Catholic High, Siena College, Rockefeller, and being a major player in the Capital District -- but a major player in a very easy, apolitical way, where he helped Republicans and Democrats and had that rare quality of never looking at someone and saying: You are one or the other. He was there to help, there to assist, there to make government better.

And as Senator Golden said, from Quick Draw and working backwards to his work on the Lobbying Commission to his appointments job, back to his Senate Finance job, it was always him trying to make the State of New York better.

We will all truly miss Lou. As I know, there's probably more people on the Republican side that knew Lou as a friend than on the democratic side, but he left a wonderful legacy. And his daughter Robyn, who works for Senator Golden, and his son Chris.

And so we mourn Lou Cotrona today as one of the outstanding people that this state has had involved in public policy and government. But he leaves that legacy that will follow his wonderful work.

Thank you, Mr. President.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Breslin.

Senator Farley.

SENATOR FARLEY:Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable state person in Lou Cotrona.

You know, for the 37 years that I've been here, along with Senator LaValle, Lou Cotrona has always been a large part of the state. You know, this was a person that everybody that dealt with him liked. The remarkable career that he had in state government was truly incredible. He served in so many ways. And his scholarship and his brilliance was very evident in the vast difference that he did throughout his career.

You know, but I have to pay tribute to his greatest legacy, and those are the two people that are sitting in the gallery. I didn't realize that Robyn Cotrona had -- that her first name was Mary. But anyway, Mary Robyn, who not only is a great lawyer but has a postdoctoral degree in taxation, an LLM, one of the few. As a law professor, I'm very impressed. I don't have such a thing, even though my son does. And of course Chris, who is following in his father's footstep and has a remarkable career.

You know, and the thing that both of these children of Lou are going on and enhancing what this family has done throughout his entire life. You know, it is remarkable that somebody that has a career in state government also has two children that also are blazing a trail.

But Lou Cotrona was a remarkable guy, and somebody that had a vast career in state government and served us well, and he'll be sorely missed.

And my very best wishes go out to the family. And the loss and the sad ending that their father had and -- but you can be very proud of the legacy that he left to the State of New York. And my very best wishes to you and your entire family.

Thank you, Mr. President.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Farley.

Senator Nozzolio.

SENATOR NOZZOLIO:Mr. President, my colleagues, it is with a heavy heart that I rise as we discuss the resolution mourning the death and celebrating the life of Lou Cotrona.

I was very honored that I got to know Lou later in his life, during his retirement, not like Senator Breslin and Senator Farley, who knew him during his active role in prior administrations and being involved in the central part of government.

The eloquence of Senator Golden in describing a man who had great love for his state, enjoyed every moment that he had in involvement with our state government.

What Senator Breslin said struck me very strongly in that when, Neil, you mentioned that Lou -- you couldn't tell if he was a Republican or a Democrat. To Lou, it didn't matter whether you were a Republican or Democrat. Here is a person that worked in a Democrat administration, but was just such a friend to all.

And I benefited greatly from his, as you can expect -- I know Robyn and Chris know this. I know you've heard him many, many times, but he would regale with me with his war stories about things that he was able to do in government, he was able to achieve and, more importantly, his views about what was happening now.

And Lou's life reminds me of a greater time in Albany, a time when partisanship did not mean that you could not be friends with the other side of the aisle, that you could not socialize, that you could not be involved. Because that's what the essence of Lou Cotrona's life was.

He cared about his state. I enjoyed those conversations, numerous conversations. I enjoyed listening to him almost as much as he enjoyed telling me about those times. And I know Chris and Robyn understand that. He loved to share his thoughts, he loved to share his experiences. And frankly, I fell in love with his chronicles of an Albany gone by and a state government gone by.

Senator Golden said that Lou Cotrona epitomized "I Love New York." He did love New York. He loved, though, the town he was in, the county he was in, he loved the region he was in, he just loved everything.

But there was nothing he loved more than his two children, and he was very proud of both of you, I can tell you that. I can tell you he spoke often about how happy he was in your success in your work and you carrying on his legacy of service and involvement in the public sector.

To Robyn, to Chris, our admiration for your dad, our sympathies to you. His untimely death leaves a hole in all of us. We share your love for Lou.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Nozzolio.

Senator LaValle.

SENATOR LaVALLE: Thank you, Mr. President.

We heard the resolution that was read talked about 28 years, a 28-year career. And we forget sometimes that in a career of 28 years that you're dealing with government at bad times as well as good times.

And Governor Carey appointed Lou as liaison early on because the Governor was dealing with the financial crisis and the Legislature was very, very engaged. Lou was not a person to be disengaged. He came into this chamber many, many times. He would sit to the side where our staff sits, or stand in the back.

For those that didn't know him, when you greeted him, he had this impish little smile. He used his engaging Italian personality because he would always put one arm around you as he shook your hand. And he was just a really nice person who when you spoke to him, you knew he was listening, he was engaged, and he would follow up.

He was, as was mentioned by Senator Golden and others, the second executive director of the Temporary Commission on Lobbying. And at the time the Legislature did that in I think it was 1975, I'm not sure there was an exciting commitment to this pioneer legislation that had been passed. And Lou made sure that the commission continued its deliberations and that there were ethical standards that he spoke about and I think his career was all about.

So sometimes we forget that people are not machines, that they are human beings, they have personalities. And that personality was a very engaging, very wonderful, soft personality.

As was mentioned, he leaves a great legacy in Robyn and Chris. And so now both of you have to carry on, have the burden of carrying on the great legacy of a person who was well-respected not only here in the Legislature and in the halls of the Capitol, but, as was mentioned, within the Capital District and the State of New York.

And those of us who had an opportunity to know Lou certainly will miss him, but he will live through his children.

Thank you.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator LaValle.

Senator Young.

SENATOR YOUNG:Thank you, Mr. President.

I feel so grateful that I also got to know Lou. And he was a person, as has been pointed out, that loved to get involved. He loved to get involved no matter where he was. He wanted to be part of the action, but he wanted to make a difference. And I think that is the essence of who he was, because service was his middle name.

But I just want to say, to Robyn and Chris, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to you. I know how much you love your dad. And as we move forward, though, I hope that you find a great deal of comfort in treasured memories. Because I know you have so many of those and those will sustain you moving forward.

But you do have to focus on the legacy that he left behind. Because as my colleagues have pointed out, it is tremendous, it has helped shape state government, it has helped shape the future of this state. So he has definitely left his imprint.

So our condolences to you. And as my colleagues have said, he truly will be missed.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Young.

Are there any other Senators wishing to be heard?

Seeing none, the question is on the resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.

(Response of "Aye.")

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Opposed, nay.

(No response.)

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:The resolution is adopted.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Mr. President, could we have a moment of silence for our friend.

(Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.

And I also believe, Senator Golden, you wish to open that resolution for all the members?

SENATOR GOLDEN:Yes, sir.

SENATOR LIBOUS:So as the policy goes, would you please put all the members on the resolution. And if for whatever reason a member wishes not to be, let the desk know.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:The resolution is open for cosponsorship. If you do not wish to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.

I believe there's a previously adopted resolution by Senator Martins, Number 366. And I believe it's at the desk. Could we have the title read and call on Senator Martins.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:The Secretary will read the title.

THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 366, by Senator Martins, honoring Sean Nidermaier upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Boy Scouts of America National medal of Heroism for saving his four-year-old sister.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Senator Martins.

SENATOR MARTINS:Thank you, Mr. President.

My colleagues, let me take the opportunity to introduce you to a very special young man, Sean Nidermaier, who has joined us here today.

And the reason he's a very special young man, besides the fact that he is an 11-year-old in 5th grade at the Notre Dame School in New Hyde Park, and besides the fact that he is an active member of Troop 544, working not only as a Cub Scout but as a Boy Scout, and not only because he completed his aquanauts course with Cub Scouts, where he learned to swim and basic safety around the pool, but also because back in July of 2012, Sean, when his family was up in Connecticut at a hotel and they had left the pool area, happened to notice that his little sister, Braidy Grace, four years old at the time, had jumped in the pool. And they were leaving.

And without missing a beat, Sean sprinted across to where his sister was, jumped in the pool, went to the bottom of the pool and rescued his sister and saved her life.

You'll also notice that Braidy Grace is standing next to Sean as we speak.

(Applause.)

SENATOR MARTINS:So as we celebrate so many things in this chamber, isn't it great that we take the opportunity every once in a while to recognize a special individual.

Now, for his actions Sean received the medal of Heroism from Boy Scouts. In the history of Boy Scouts, that medal of honor has never been issued to a Boy Scout in Nassau County. Let's think about that. That's 90 years. Sean was the first recipient in Nassau County of the Medal of Heroism for having saved someone.

So I take the opportunity today, as we go through our deliberations, just to pause. Because we should, as a body, at a time when we discuss so many different things and sometimes we hear so much about the negativity across our state and the violence across our state and so many of the bad examples across our state, that we should take the opportunity and celebrate that which is great and some of the great opportunities we have and some of the great expectations we should have and hope we should have, in the fact that we have the Sean Nidermaiers of this world and the future leaders of this world.

So again, to my colleagues and Mr. President, I would recommend and suggest to everyone that you take note of Sean, because this is not the last time you will have heard of him, this is not the last time you will hear of him. There are great things in store for this young man and for his family.

And for that, Mr. President, I want to take the opportunity not only to recognize him but also I wanted to point out that with Sean -- again, I already introduced his little sister Braidy Grace, but also his other sisters are here, not only Emma but Cailin as well. His father, Scott; his mother, Katie; and his den leader, Scout leader, Elizabeth Castelli. And Sean's best buddy, Michael Castelli, joins him here today as we celebrate such a great achievement and such a great example in leadership.

So, Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity to recognize this fine young man. And I want to thank my colleagues for the opportunity to share this with you.

Thank you.

(Standing ovation.)

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:Thank you, Senator Martins.

And thank you, Sean. For your heroism and bravery, thank you.

This resolution was previously adopted on February 5th.

Senator Libous.

SENATOR LIBOUS:Thank you, Mr. President.

Certainly it is an honor to have a young man like Sean in the chamber, and certainly it inspires all of us. And he will inspire his peers.

It's a remarkable thing that he did, and it's also nice to know that young people have those kinds of tendencies and talents, that he didn't hesitate, but he jumped in and saved his sister. And as Senator Martins said, he'll do great things and we'll hear more about this young man.

Mr. President, is there any further business at the desk?

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:There is no further business at the desk.

SENATOR LIBOUS:There being no further business, I move that the Senate adjourn until Monday, March 18th, intervening days being legislative days. But we will not adjourn to a certain time, Mr. President, we will adjourn to the call of the Temporary President.

ACTING PRESIDENT CARLUCCI:On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, March 18th, at the call of the Temporary President, intervening days being legislative days.

(Whereupon, at 12:48 p.m., the Senate adjourned.)