Gaveled in 11:22 AM · Albany, New York · 2015–16 session
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD
ALBANY, NEW YORK
February 3, 2015
11:22 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION
SENATOR JOSEPH GRIFFO, Acting President
FRANCIS W. PATIENCE, Secretary
P R O C E E D I N G SACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Senate will come to order.
I ask all present to please rise and join with me as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.
(Whereupon, the assemblage recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Today's invocation will be offered by Pastor Duke Hergatt, from Temple Baptist Church in Waterford.
Pastor?
PASTOR HERGATT:It's a great honor for me to be here today.
May we pray.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. O Lord, You know I prayed to these words 10,000 times and was clueless to what they really meant. Forgive us of any outward show and our inward ignorance.
You became our Father when we by faith chose to believe in Your gospel and bowed our hearts to the Savior of the world You gave so graciously that first Christmas night.
Hallowed be Thy name, as John the Baptist prayed. O Lord, You must increase, we must decrease. Be glorified at our expense. We are here to serve You. Let he that be great among us be servants, You said. And we ask not that You would serve us.
Please forgive us our selfish ambitions. May we never forget Your kingdom is coming and Your will will be done on that day when all wrongs will be righted and every knee will bow. Injustice will be over, and the meek shall inherit the earth. And the lion will lie down with the lamb. Your will be done on earth today, right here, right now in this chamber of the New York State Senate. May Your will, not public opinion or political correctness, prevail.
We thank You today for our daily bread and the abundance that all we in this chamber so enjoy. And we pray for those less fortunate than us. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Forgive our unbelief which keeps us from Your blessings. Forgive our pride and our self-centeredness. Convict and cleanse our representatives of all fraud, corruption and self-will.
Help us to forgive the fallen and those who have sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, which is so especially powerful here in this place. May our representatives say no to bribes and dishonest and secret financial gain. Please, Father, deliver them from this evil.
We pray for those who have fallen to be exposed, to confess, to repent. We pray for them to be restored to Your grace and their family's love.
May we be reminded again this morning that all glory is Thine, both now and forever, and even so come Lord Jesus. Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry us home. Thou art worthy. Be glorified today in the convocation of the New York State Senate. And I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The reading of the Journal.
THE SECRETARY:In Senate, Monday, February 2nd, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment. The Journal of Friday, January 30th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate adjourned.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Without objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
Presentation of petitions.
Messages from the Assembly.
Messages from the Governor.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of select committees.
Communications and reports from state officers.
Motions and resolutions.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, may we have the adoption of the Resolution Calendar, with the exception of Resolutions 276, 348, 378 and 415.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:On motion, all in favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, with the exceptions of Resolution Numbers 276, 348, 378, and 415, all in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Resolution Calendar is adopted as indicated.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, at this time may we take up Resolution Number 348, by Senator Murphy. May we have the title read only.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 348, by Senator Murphy, honoring Officer Paul DeSousa of the Westchester County Police Department in recognition of his heroic action in saving a young pedestrian from serious injury.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Murphy.
I'd ask for some order in the house, please. If you can take your conversations outside the chamber.
Senator Murphy.
SENATOR MURPHY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I'd just like to recognize a true hero in my community, Officer Paul DeSousa.
Paul was a graduate of Yorktown High School in 2005. He served our community as being a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He also served our country in the armed forces, in Afghanistan and Iraq. And he continues to serve the people of Westchester County as a Westchester County police officer.
On January 6th, during our first snowstorm down in Westchester, while Officer DeSousa was on patrol on the Saw Mill River Parkway, there was a 15-year-old boy walking across, and he stopped the car to make sure that the young boy was brought to safety. While doing so, a car slipped out of control, and Officer DeSousa hoisted the boy to the hood of his car while being hit.
He is okay, I'd like to report. And I'd just like to acknowledge his heroic efforts in saving a 15-year-old boy in the community.
Thank you, Paul.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Murphy.
The question is on the resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution is adopted.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, at this time may we take up Resolution Number 276, by Senator Skelos. May we have it read in its entirety.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Again, I'm going to ask for some order in the chamber, please.
And the Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 276, by Senators Skelos, Klein, Stewart-Cousins and Krueger, celebrating the life and career of former New York State Governor Mario M. Cuomo, and expressing sincerest sorrow upon the occasion of his death.
"WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend those individuals of distinguished purpose whose lives have been committed to public service in the pursuit of excellence in the conduct of the legislative process in this great Empire State; and
"WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo, three-term governor, died on Thursday, January 1, 2015, in Manhattan, at the age of 82; and
"WHEREAS, Born in Queens on June 15, 1932, Mario Matthew Cuomo was the fourth child of Andrea and Immaculata Cuomo; unable to speak English, they came to the United States from the province of Salerno, south of Naples, settling at first in Jersey City, New Jersey; and
"WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo grew up in the Queens neighborhood of South Jamaica; as a young boy, he worked alongside his family members at the grocery store which they owned and operated; and
"WHEREAS, In 1949, after graduating from St. John's Preparatory School in Queens, Mario M. Cuomo pursued his love of baseball and played on the freshman baseball team at St. John's University; three years later, at the age of 19, he signed a contract to play center field for the Class D Brunswick Pirates in Georgia; and
"WHEREAS, Due to an injury doing what he loved best, his baseball career was short-lived, and Mario M. Cuomo returned to his studies and graduated in 1953 from St. John's University, where he majored in Latin American studies, English and philosophy; and
"WHEREAS, The recipient of a scholarship, Mario M. Cuomo enrolled in St. John's Law School; it was at this time he met his future wife, Matilda N. Raffa, a fellow student; Mario and Matilda proudly raised five children; and
"WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo's first position as a lawyer was serving as the confidential assistant to Judge Adrian P. Burke of the New York State Court of Appeals, which he would reshape 30 years later by appointing all seven members, including Judith S. Kaye, the first woman to serve as chief judge; and
"WHEREAS, Mario M. Cuomo joined a Brooklyn law firm, Corner, Weisbrod, Froeb & Charles, in 1963, and the following year began his distinguished service to the public; and
"WHEREAS, 1974 was the year Mario M. Cuomo entered politics and was named Secretary of State; in this capacity, he was responsible for numerous tasks, some of which included settling strikes as well as mediating land disputes; and
"WHEREAS, Four years later, Hugh L. Carey was reelected Governor of the State of New York, and Mario M. Cuomo was elected as Lieutenant Governor; and
"WHEREAS, On November 2, 1982, at age 50, Mario M. Cuomo became the 52nd man to be elected New York's governor, defeating businessman Lewis E. Lehrman by approximately 180,000 votes; and
"WHEREAS, A resolute leader and renowned orator, Mario M. Cuomo delivered the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, the speech which was the high-water mark of his national political career; and
"WHEREAS, Deciding not to run for President of the United States, Mario M. Cuomo focused his political energies to the citizens of the State of New York and, together with the Legislature, established a new ethics code which governed state and local officials and state employees; he proclaimed 1988 the beginning of the Decade of the Child, 1989 the Year to Fight Drug Abuse, and when he won his third term as Governor in 1990, the Year of the Environment; and
"WHEREAS, Following his extraordinary career in public office, Mario M. Cuomo returned to Manhattan to work for the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, write books and give speeches; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Matilda N. Cuomo, Mario M. Cuomo is survived by his five children, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Dr. Margaret I. Cuomo, Maria Cuomo Cole, Madeline Cuomo O'Donohue, and Christopher Cuomo, as well as 14 grandchildren; and
"WHEREAS, Every citizen in New York State has most certainly benefited, in one way or another, from the deep dedication and caring concern Mario M. Cuomo brought to his work as their Governor, a leader and selfless public servant; now, therefore, be it
"RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations in a moment of silent tribute to Mario M. Cuomo, whose generous and thoughtful concern for the welfare of others enhanced the lives of those so fortunate to have called him family, colleague and friend, and to express its deepest condolences to his family; and be it further
"RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Mario M. Cuomo."
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Skelos.
SENATOR SKELOS:Thank you, Mr. President.
Today we really celebrate the life of Mario Cuomo, a life well-lived -- well-lived in his own personal life and well-lived as Governor and an elected official.
I think the most important part of Governor Cuomo's life was his family, his love of his wife Matilda, 60 years of marriage, and certainly all of his children and grandchildren. That was his priority.
His religion, a person of deep faith who sometimes was challenged on that deep faith but always felt that he was doing the right thing. And whether we agree with an elected official or anybody as to what they believe in, as long as it is from their heart and from their brain, we have to respect that. And that's where Mario Cuomo's always was.
And certainly as Governor. I had the opportunity to serve with him when I was first elected to the Senate in '84 and then starting to serve in 1985. What I learned very quickly as a young Senator, when you had the opportunity to meet with him on legislation -- at that time I was chair of the Aging Committee -- you had to know your facts. You had to be well-prepared. Because even if he agreed with you, he had to challenge you a little bit, an intellectual challenge.
And certainly it was a tough task. Because Mario Cuomo could take -- and I say this most respectfully -- both sides of the issue. But when he took both sides of the issue, it was trying to find a consensus as to what was the right thing to do. And that's really what our jobs are, finding consensus, finding that middle ground so that we can govern well and we can do what's right for the people of the State of New York.
So I had the deepest respect for Governor Cuomo. He was a good person. As I said, number one, a good family person, a man of God. And certainly when he governed in the various capacities that he had, and certainly as Governor of the State of New York, it came with his heart and it came with his brain.
So to the entire Cuomo family, we all had a deepest respect for Governor Cuomo. And certainly today, rather than saying we mourn his loss, which we do, but we really celebrate his life.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Skelos.
Senator Stewart-Cousins.
SENATOR STEWART-COUSINS:Yes, thank you.
And thank you to my colleagues and Senator Skelos, Senator Klein and Senator Krueger in terms of making sure that we spend this moment celebrating the life of Mario Cuomo, Governor Mario Cuomo.
And certainly I offer condolences to his family, as we have done since his death at the beginning of January.
I did not have the privilege of serving with Governor Mario Cuomo, but I had the privilege of knowing him outside of the formal atmosphere of the Governor, where he would explain to me the origin of my name -- because in Italian, Andreas means "manly," and mine is the feminine.
And we would talk about, you know, the origins and the respect that he had not only for how he grew up and how he lived, but what he saw as the vision for our state and our country, which we all know how well he articulated.
He was a great orator. He was a great Governor. He was a great public servant. And one of the things that I learned about him is what we received in the little booklet after his funeral, where there were these different excerpts of speeches. And one of the things that he said he wanted on his tombstone is this simple two-word legacy: "He tried."
He tried. But not only did he try, he did. He created opportunities for people who would not have opportunities, because he understood how it was being that person outside of what society would normally have inside. And he spent a life dedicated to breaking barriers, and he did that on our Court of Appeals. He did name the first two female judges. He named the first African-American judge, the first Hispanic judges. He was that person who not only said what he meant, but did what he said.
And obviously we all know the legacy of his vetoing the death penalty seven times. A man of principle. He talked the talk, he walked the walk. He removed barriers. He elevated people who would not normally be elevated. He was indeed an exemplary public servant, and someone that we do owe a debt of gratitude to.
So again, it is a celebration of his life, of his legacy and his history that we should embrace and follow.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Stewart-Cousins.
Senator Valesky.
SENATOR VALESKY:Thank you, Mr. President.
And on behalf of Senator Klein and certainly all of the members of the Independent Democratic Conference, I want to acknowledge the tremendous loss that our Governor and his family have endured these past few weeks. We again extend our deepest condolences, our sympathies and our prayers to Matilda Cuomo, to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the entire Cuomo family as they endure this challenging time.
Certainly the pain of losing a loved one never goes away, especially a parent. In many cases they are our anchors, the strong, dependable force that keeps us safe during the storms and steady during rough waters.
As we pay our respects to former Governor Mario Cuomo today, we acknowledge that not only was he a man of deep faith and commitment to family, but an honorable man devoted and dedicated to the people of the great State of New York. He dedicated his life to a career in public service, and that career was one of unparalleled success and of the highest regard.
As a New York Democrat interested in public civil service some 25 years ago, Governor Mario Cuomo was for me and many of us a Democratic touchstone. His eloquence, authenticity, candor and intellect were a constant inspiration and stellar example to those of us learning how we too could make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers.
Witnessing firsthand not just his political finesse but his common sense and powerful insight into what the citizens of New York State needed and deserved was truly something remarkable to watch. And the lessons I learned and many of us here learned from him have stayed with me and have stayed with us during our careers here in public service.
His grand presence will be sorely missed. And perhaps one of the greatest tributes we can offer is to remain committed to his spirit of commonsense governing, of getting the job done and doing what is right for the many, not the few.
While former Governor Mario Cuomo may no longer be with us, his spirit, his presence and his legacy will surround us always.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Valesky.
Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Thank you, Mr. President.
Much has been said about the life of Mario Cuomo in the last month and indeed here in this chamber. And I don't want to be redundant, but I do want to add my personal remembrances, because he was a leader not just in New York but in this country for a very particular demographic.
And as the son of immigrants, parents from Queens myself, as Mario Cuomo was, he was someone who showed the way, of how to come to this country in the first or second generation and take one's place in government, take one's place as a leader in one's community.
And I was privileged to have my first job in government be for then-Governor Cuomo over 20 years ago, representing him in the County of Queens, and learned so much about the values one should bring to government.
It's easy to -- as I think our opening prayer said today, it's easy to be tempted, it's easy to lose sight of what's important on a day-to-day basis in these positions that we hold. But he was one who never lost sight of the important things, the important values of caring for others, of giving voice to the voiceless.
We have a phrase that you hear a lot today, speaking truth to power. Well, Mario Cuomo was the ultimate example of speaking truth to power before anyone had uttered that phrase for the first time.
And so for me, he had a profound impact on my life. He is responsible for my getting into public service, even to the point where he was kind enough to host one of my first fundraisers when I ran for the Assembly some 15 years ago.
I will certainly never forget the impact he had on my life, and I think the same can be said for all New Yorkers.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Gianaris.
Senator Farley.
SENATOR FARLEY:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to pay tribute to not only a great person but a great Governor. Mario Cuomo and I, our careers actually paralleled each other. And I've known him since he's been a Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor and Governor, and considered him a very close personal friend.
Incidentally, when he was Lieutenant Governor he used to spend a lot of time in this chamber presiding and was very much a part of the Senate.
Mario Cuomo has been -- so much has been mentioned about him. But I'll tell you, he used to call me at all times -- I think I was on speed dial -- early in the morning and this and that. He was always very kind to my family, calling my aunt when she had her 100th birthday, and doing various personal things.
And Mario Cuomo was a person that his family came first. I think one of the greatest love affairs that I've ever seen is between he and Matilda. He was absolutely devoted to her. And what a remarkable woman she is.
As I saw her at the Mansion and she told me about his last few days, he was such a strong person. But particularly later in life with his heart problem, which was almost incurable, he suffered a lot.
Mario Cuomo was devoted to the State of New York and to his family, but he was always an underdog rooter. He was always for the underdog. And, you know, as competitive as anybody that I ever knew. Anybody that competed against him in basketball, it was mentioned at his funeral, or any other place, he was very aggressive.
But he also had a very kind and gentle nature about him. He was a remarkable man, a remarkable Governor. And my very best to his family at this great loss, because it was a terrible loss to his remarkable family and he does have a beautiful family.
And Mario Cuomo, the State of New York has been better off because of your service.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Farley.
Senator Hassell-Thompson.
SENATOR SKELOS:Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise too to pay my tribute to Governor Mario Cuomo, who I knew to be a tremendous gentleman who epitomized the American dream. And as we all know, he was the son of an immigrant, but he saw firsthand the value of hard work. And these are early lessons that he continued to follow throughout his life. And everything he set out to do, he accomplished, and he did so with conviction and with courage.
Governor Cuomo was an outstanding orator who inspired many people to choose public service. His impassioned keynote speech during the 1984 Democratic National Convention was historic, and he was destined for greatness. But he didn't choose greatness.
I first met him when he was Secretary of State in 1976. At that time I was president of the Westchester Childcare Association's directors and we had come to Albany to demonstrate for more childcare slots and nearly got ourselves arrested for protesting and chanting by Mr. Cuomo himself.
So how ironic that during his 1988 State of the State address he declared the next ten years as the Decade of the Child. And his most dramatic proposal called for the establishment of a universal pre-K program for 4-year-olds by 1993. Universal pre-K once started out as a radical notion. How far we have come. And for this we must give credit to Mario Cuomo.
On so many critical issues Mario Cuomo, as you've heard, was the first. He was the first to appoint two female judges as well as the first African-American and Hispanic judges to the Court of Appeals. And I think that requires repeating over and over again.
He created the Division of Minority and Women Business Development. This office was designed to ensure that minority and female entrepreneurs had an opportunity and had access to capital and were able to compete fairly for state contracts. I was proud to serve on this committee, appointed by him, as well as two other boards during his administration.
We're still working to fulfill the potential of many of his policies. While we have much ahead of us, it is because of Mario Cuomo that we have accomplished much. So we must keep up our efforts and continue to blaze the trail, in his memory as well as in his legacy.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Hassell-Thompson.
Senator Savino.
SENATOR SAVINO:Thank you, Mr. President.
The passing of Mario Cuomo truly was a tremendous loss to the family of New Yorkers. I did not have the privilege of ever having worked with Mario Cuomo. I didn't get to actually know him until much later in his life when he was out of office. But I want to talk a bit about what he meant to people like me.
Like Mario Cuomo and his family, and Senator Gianaris, I grew up in Queens. I grew up in Astoria. At a time when Italian-Americans were often referred to in a derogatory way as "white outer-borough ethnics," our -- we were probably more victimized by stereotypes than any other group.
And Mario Cuomo, for us in the Italian-American community, was the living example of the American dream: A child of immigrants, like many of us were, whose parents barely spoke English or didn't speak English at all, and managed to achieve the ability to run for Governor for the State of New York.
He was an inspiration to many of us. And as a student at St. John's when he was elected as Governor, it was not only a point of tremendous pride for the St. John's University community, but for Italian-Americans everywhere. Because for once we had someone that we could look up to, someone who was the yardstick by Italian-Americans could be judged by.
He became everything we always knew we could be if we just had opportunity. And for that, he probably inspired more young Italian-Americans to go into public service than anyone had ever done before.
Both he and his wife have been committed to improving the circumstances for all New Yorkers and Americans everywhere. You've heard some of the accomplishment that they made.
During the time that I was the president of the Italian-Americans Legislators Conference, Matilda Cuomo and her daughter and Mario worked with me to protect Italian language studies both at the Board of Regents and also at AP Italian courses. They believed in preservation of our heritage not just for ourselves, but that we wanted to expand it to other people.
They've never forgotten who they were. When they got out of public office, they didn't walk away from their commitment. That's the kind of people the Cuomos are. That's why his loss is such a tremendous one -- not just for the people of the State of New York, but for the people of this country.
We are going to long remember and reflect upon the accomplishments of Mario Cuomo. And hopefully some of us will be reinspired and replicate some of his commitments. And some of the things that Senator Hassell-Thompson talked about that we haven't accomplished yet, maybe we can do it together in his name.
So while it's a sad moment, Mario Cuomo is going to continue to inspire people like me, people like you in this chamber, and people all over the State of New York.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Savino.
Senator Stavisky.
SENATOR STAVISKY:Thank you, Mr. President.
Last month when we sat in the Convention Center listening to Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State speech, I closed my eyes and I could swear I was in San Francisco in 1984. I was a delegate there when Mario Cuomo gave his famous keynote address. They sound so much alike.
That was a remarkable convention, because nominated for vice president was the daughter of immigrants, Italian immigrants, a woman who grew up in Astoria, lived in Forest Hills, Geraldine Ferraro. And delivering the keynote address was Mario Cuomo, son of Italian immigrants, who grew up in South Jamaica and lived in Holliswood.
And it's that immigrant experience, which I think we're seeing a resurgence today -- but it's that Queens aspect, I think, that shaped both his career and his life. The fighting for the underdog, the people who face discrimination, the poor, the immigrant. And I think that's what shaped his life. He spoke for people who had no voice.
He described himself, I think, in wonderful terms. He said he was the original ethnic from Queens. He said "My face, my voice, my inflections." And that was demonstrated, whether it be negotiating for the 69 families in Corona whose homes were about to be seized to make way for a school, or the Forest Hills housing issue, which is in my district, and which resulted in an outstanding housing complex, a cooperative.
But he was also, I think, a study in contradictions. He was a liberal who voted against -- who vetoed the death penalty seven times despite tremendous political pressure. That was the big issue at that time, the death penalty. And yet at the same time, as Governor, he built more prisons than any other recent Governor.
He supported social programs that have been described here today. And yet he cut the most progressive tax, the income tax. Another study in a contradiction.
And to me one of the most interesting examples is the fact that he was an observant practicing Catholic, a person who personally opposed abortion but believed that a woman should have the right to choose what happens in her own life, and in fact delivered a major speech at Notre Dame on that subject. A liberal who understood government as well as religion.
It's been mentioned that he was an eloquent speaker. I used to love to listen to his arguments, his Socratic questioning which he himself answered. These were conversations he used to have with himself during the speeches. And he would ask a question and then he would answer it, in the true Greek method of teaching.
Lastly, let me mention one other aspect, because while I knew him fairly well, my husband knew him very well. Leonard, who served in this chamber for quite a while, was the ranking Democrat on Higher Ed. And one morning in 1989, at 7:30 -- he loved, Mario Cuomo loved the 7:30 a.m. calls. He called Leonard one day, he said, "I'm going to do my town hall budget meeting at the CUNY Law School in your district. Would you moderate it?" And Leonard said "Sure." And thus began the 7:30 in the morning calls.
We set it up, he came to the CUNY Law School and at the law school publicly stated that he wished that tuition would return to the days when CUNY and SUNY were free. Later on the budget was negotiated in 1989, and it contained an increase in tuition. And on the Senate floor Leonard passionately argued against increasing tuition at CUNY, because he was a graduate of City College and he could never have gone to college without free tuition in those days.
And a few days later -- and the budget passed -- the Governor calls again, 7:30 in the morning. He said: "Leonard, I read your comments on the floor, and I've decided to veto the increase." Unheard-of.
A couple of years later the tuition was increased, because we had to face the realities of the budget problems.
But he spoke for the people who needed someone to speak for them. And yes, his voice has been silenced, but the principles and the eloquence and the legacy will certainly continue. He was a proud, proud son of Queens County.
And the last time I saw Mario Cuomo he spoke at the funeral of one of our colleagues, Manny Gold. And you saw the same voice and the same oratorical skills in the eulogy that he would use in his public speeches.
So to the Cuomo family, you can be very proud of what your dad and husband did. And let us resolve to continue the principles that Mario Cuomo stood for.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Stavisky.
Senator LaValle.
SENATOR LaVALLE: Thank you, Mr. President.
Mario Cuomo and I were very, very proud to be Italian-Americans. And everyone knows his story and his legacy. But for whatever reason, he and I followed one another in getting or being recognized by different Italian-American organizations.
And he and I had a very, very unique relationship. When I was first elected, I was in a boiling cauldron on an issue called the Shoreham Nuclear Plant. It was a plant that the opposition kept trying to beat back from day one. And the utility at the time, Long Island Lighting Company, they were moving ahead. They were not to be denied.
And the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC, just kept approving and allowing them to build and build and build a plant that the majority, 70-plus percent, opposed at a given time. Because they kept hearing these stories about people putting in -- the workers putting something in and then ripping it out, putting it in, ripping it out. And those stories by the workers who said once the plant went online, they were moving off of Long Island.
Mario Cuomo took, as he did throughout his career, a position based on analysis and based on what was the right thing for the people. And so on many of his trips to Long Island he listened, which he was very, very good at. He was a good listener. And he took the position that was very bold and brave to say, We can't move forward with this nuclear plant.
And so he and I had an opportunity to talk about the development, developments, and develop strategies and so forth. So when you have an issue with any governor, you build a relationship and you get to know one another. It's a shame it takes a crisis in your district, but it really allows you to get to know one another.
As many of you in this chamber know, I've always been interested in education. And Mario Cuomo, that was a key thing, education, because it was the ticket and the pathway for individuals who had a dream and who wanted to move forward to do so.
I enjoyed very much the calls that were made to my home regardless of the time of day or whether it was a holiday or not. And there's one call that I remember -- because everyone knows that Mario Cuomo worked 24/7, 365. I would often say: "Governor, take a vacation." He prided himself, he prided himself in just his passion and his thirst for working and achieving certain goals.
So he called me one day on Mother's Day, and we chatted about whatever the issue was, and then we kind of chuckled that each of us met our responsibilities to our mothers. And just before he hung up, I said, "Now, Governor, you make sure that you follow through on what you just said, and deal with your mother and put aside the affairs of state for the day."
You know, everyone talks about he was a wonderful extemporaneous orator. And you know, it's the one thing that every time I mentioned a speech or whatever, he made a gesture and -- he didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to talk about his oratorical skills that he had.
He was so at ease and natural about it, and he made speeches -- his Notre Dame speech, which is one that is recalled -- you know, here or -- he could make a speech on the death penalty. His speeches were grounded in deep principle that he believed in, and he could deliver that speech to an audience that maybe opposed those views and ended up applauding him. But it was not something that he wanted to be a braggadocio about all the time that I would say, "That was a great speech" or "How do you do that extemporaneously?"
So we know -- and it's a shame that sometimes we have to pass before people recognize that we were a deeply principled person, that we had visions and goals that we wanted to achieve, that we worked hard.
And just in closing, what we all know, he was a man who believed in his family, family was first, very proud of his family. And he and I got to share a very proud day: Our daughters graduated on the same day from SUNY Albany, and we both got to speak.
So our paths crossed in many, many ways, not only in a political way, in a governmental way, but in a personal way.
And I know that New Yorkers by and large are extremely proud to have had Mario Cuomo as their Governor for three terms.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator LaValle.
Senator Squadron.
SENATOR SQUADRON:Thank you, Mr. President.
Just to add another brief recollection to the ones that have been shared today, and a much smaller one. And for such a great man with such an enormous impact, certainly there's no way that I could sum up his life or his extraordinary qualities. Many of my colleagues have done so eloquently.
But I did want to add just a brief memory of him, and this is for a kid who grew up in New York who at a much too young age was probably more excited than I should have been -- certainly than many of my peers were -- by his extraordinary oratory. A little young for the speech in '84, but certainly the memories of it as soon as '88 or '90, when I was still a child, were significant and inspiring on a level with the great oratory in our country's history, from the Declaration of Independence through Kennedy and King.
And so in 2002, my first job ever in politics, I found myself in Buffalo. And I was working for a gubernatorial campaign that summer in Buffalo. A guy named Andrew Cuomo was running. And I was just up there for a brief period, I had agreed to go up and help out for a couple of weeks. And I was then supposed to go back, I had another semester before I finished college.
And a couple of days before I was supposed to leave I got a call, early cellphone, and I answered, and there was that voice that I had listened to and revered. It was former Governor Cuomo on the phone. And certainly that in itself was the sort of dream that you don't even dare dream until it happens. And "Hello, Governor, it's nice to hear from you." He asked if I had a moment to talk. Of course I did, or as many moments as I could possibly get.
And he urged me to stay and told me it was an important thing I was doing. I was learning a great deal, I was really in many ways on my own up there, I was learning a new part of the state, and that it would be a great experience, I wouldn't be sorry if I stayed. And of course that was significant.
And then, before I was even able to answer, he said: "But you have to also promise me that you are going to finish school. Because if staying means that you're not going to go back for your next semester and finish college, you shouldn't stay at all."
And I said, "Well, are you sure? I mean, you know, I want to stay, but ..." He made it clear even in that context, even at a time when certainly his son was involved in something important, that the priority of education, that the understanding that my need as a young person to complete that and to respect that was at least as important as whatever he personally wanted in that moment.
He didn't know me well. He and I had never spoken before. But the way in which he was able to engage on every level with what I was experiencing, as a kid just starting in business in a life that I cared deeply about, has stuck with me to this day and is a small part of who he was as a man. It was a great experience and a great opportunity for me -- which it was -- to be in Buffalo that summer, but an even more important experience for me as a person to get my education and to stay focused on the deeper values that could never, ever be questioned no matter what opportunity was on the table in front of you.
So I thank him for his extraordinary service to the state, for his leadership as Governor, for the words that he has given us that will live on forever and that will hopefully inspire many more young New Yorkers and others as they grow up and think about what public service is, what it means, and what its potential can be.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Squadron.
The question is on the resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution is adopted.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Yes, Mr. President. Senator Skelos would like this resolution to be opened to all members, to put their names on it in the usual manner, that if you don't want your name on it, notify the desk.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution will be open for cosponsorship. If you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
I would now ask all to rise and please observe a moment of silent reflection in honor of the life and times of the former Governor of New York State, Mario M. Cuomo.
(Whereupon, the assemblage respected a moment of silence.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, can we recognize Senator Gianaris to make an introduction.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Gianaris.
SENATOR GIANARIS:Thank you, Mr. President.
We are joined in the chamber today by a great group of young kids from the Growing Up Green Middle School in my district.
That is a school that just opened this past September, and I had the occasion to visit them last week and see all the great work that they're doing there.
I think they're joined on this trip to Albany by a parent leader, Erin Acosta, although I think she stepped out to attend a meeting.
But more importantly, we have the boys and girls from Growing Up Green Middle School here in our balcony. So if you would please extend a welcome to them and all the wishes of the chamber.
Thank you.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:We want to welcome all of you today. Thank you for being here today as the guests of Senator Gianaris. We appreciate your attendance and wish you all very well, and we extend to you the privileges of the chamber.
Please rise and be and be recognized.
(Applause.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, can we take up Resolution Number 378, by Senator Krueger, and have the title read only.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 378, by Senator Krueger, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps on January 27, 2015.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The question is on the resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution is adopted.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Senator Krueger would like that resolution opened for cosponsorship in our usual manner.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution is so open for cosponsorship. If you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify the desk.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:May we now take up Resolution Number 415, by Senator Carlucci, and have it read in its entirety.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read.
THE SECRETARY:Legislative Resolution Number 415, by Senator Carlucci, memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day in the State of New York.
"WHEREAS, New York State has long been committed to meeting the educational needs of all its children; and
"WHEREAS, It is increasingly being recognized that a strong early education helps to provide the educational foundation which is of paramount importance to the health, well-being, and development of children; and
"WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day in the State of New York; and
"WHEREAS, In today's economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, there is a vital need for affordable, high-quality early childhood opportunities; early childhood care and education is not a side issue, or a women's issue, and must become a national priority; and
"WHEREAS, The state's youngest children are more likely than ever to be living in poverty, and it is more urgent now to invest in expanding quality early learning opportunities to keep children learning and parents earning; and
"WHEREAS, Investments in quality pre-kindergarten and child care enable children to learn the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills they need to function as good citizens, good workers, and good parents; and
"WHEREAS, In addition, children who receive a high-quality early childhood education are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college and earn higher wages over their lifetime; and
"WHEREAS, During the first five years of life, the brain is developing at a rapid speed, and the foundation for all of life's learning is established at this time; children require optimal care, education and stimulation to build the brain's capacity to learn throughout the rest of their lives; and
"WHEREAS, It is incumbent that we increase resources that will provide for our youngest citizens, enabling them to grow to create, develop and implement the ideas that will sustain our communities, state, nation and world; and
"WHEREAS, By focusing on the importance of high-quality early childhood education, child care, and parent support programs, facilities and staff, participation in Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day represents a worthy commitment to our children's future and encourages improvement in the quality and availability of programs and services; now, therefore, be it
"RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day in the State of New York; and be it further
"RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, and the Child Care Resources of Rockland, Inc."
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Carlucci.
SENATOR CARLUCCI:Thank you, Mr. President.
I ask all my colleagues to join me in asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day in the great State of New York.
During a child's first five years, their brain is developing at a rapid speed and the foundation of all of life's learning is being established. We know that children need the best care, education and stimulation that will provide them with the basics for all of life's learning.
Study after study shows that investments in early childhood education enables children to learn the social, emotional and physical skills they'll need to be the best students, employees, parents and citizens in this great state.
The White House just released a report on the economics of early childhood investments, and it states that high-quality education would narrow a child's achievement gap, boost their chance of receiving a higher education, increase their earnings over their lifetime, and keep them out of the criminal justice system and avoid the costs associated with remedial learning.
You know, we're so fortunate because we're joined here today by some great advocates for early childhood education in New York. Behind me is Kathy Hallas, Donna Perreca, Lisa Kreisel, and Jane Brown.
And I'd really like to thank you on behalf of all of the work that you do for our children and families throughout the State of New York.
And I encourage all of my colleagues to join with me to memorialize Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 3, 2015, as Early Childhood Education Advocacy Day in the great State of New York.
Thank you, Mr. President.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Carlucci.
Senator Hassell-Thompson.
SENATOR SKELOS:Thank you, Mr. President.
As you heard me say earlier, I came out of the early childhood education world, for many years as a director and one of the first directors outside of New York City to have an infant daycare program for children between the ages of eight weeks and 3 years.
After World War II, the states had discontinued licensing for childcare for infants because of something that was called maternal deprivation. Because during the war when children were in large numbers in nurseries and were being cared for in those settings, they found that the inability of children to be really nurtured, to be hugged, to be loved, had an adverse effect on not only their ability but actually on their sight. Blindness and other kinds of illnesses occurred, you know, as opposed to with the kind of nurturing and the loving blossoming that children normally do during this period.
I learned a great deal about children, but I learned more about families and the importance of those families and the need for them to have good early childhood care. And as you heard me talk about Governor Mario Cuomo, we talked about how important it was that we begin this care as early as possible.
I want to congratulate Andrew Cuomo, not only for continuing the work that was begun by his father, but for a new resurgence in his belief that children should have the best opportunity to learn as early as possible in our society.
And I would like to hope that New York will continue to forge ahead and to ensure that we provide the best quality of care for children, and that we revisit our standards and raise those standards to ensure the safety and true development of children, and that we commit the dollars necessary to ensure that mothers who work have the best places for their children to receive care. But more than that, that we begin the education of children early because we understand the importance and the urgency of beginning this care as early as possible.
Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Senator Carlucci.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Hassell-Thompson.
The question is on the resolution. All in favor signify by saying aye.
(Response of "Aye.")
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Opposed?
(No response.)
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The resolution is adopted.
Senator Marcellino.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, may we have the noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The Secretary will read the noncontroversial reading of the calendar.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 28, by Senator Marchione, Senate Print 1695, an act to amend Chapter 429 of the Laws of 2014.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 55.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 29, by Senator Griffo, Senate Print 1697, an act to amend the General Business Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 55.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
THE SECRETARY:Calendar Number 31, by Senator Seward, Senate Print 1790, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Read the last section.
THE SECRETARY:Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Call the roll.
(The Secretary called the roll.)
THE SECRETARY:Ayes, 55.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The bill is passed.
Senator Marcellino, that completes the noncontroversial reading of today's calendar.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, is there any further business at the desk?
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Senator Marcellino, there is no further business before the desk.
And for the record, we want to again remind everyone that all the resolutions were adopted today by acclamation of the chamber.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:All right. At this time, Mr. President, Senator Skelos hands up the following committee assignments.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:The committee assignments are received and so ordered.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Immediately following session, there will be a Health Committee meeting in Room 124. Immediately following session, if you're a member of the Health Committee, there's a meeting in Room 124.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:There will be an immediate meeting after session of the Health Committee in Room 124.
SENATOR MARCELLINO:Mr. President, at this time I move that we adjourn the Senate until Monday, February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative days.
Drive home safely.
ACTING PRESIDENT GRIFFO:Thank you, Senator Marcellino.
On motion, the Senate stands adjourned until Monday, February 9th, at 3:00 p.m., intervening days being legislative days.
The Senate stands adjourned.
(Whereupon, the Senate adjourned at 12:24 p.m.)
Highest impact first.