Honor Mario Cilento Day

Senate Resolution No. 1616 BY: Senator ADDABBO COMMENDING Mario Cilento upon the occasion of being selected as an honoree for this year's Italian American Day on June 3, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend the efforts of those individuals who distinguish themselves in service to the cause of working men and women in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Mario Cilento upon the occasion of being selected as an honoree for this year's Italian American Day to be celebrated on Monday, June 3,

2019; and WHEREAS, After earning his Bachelors of Science degree from Fordham University in 1990, Mario Cilento joined the Newspaper Guild-CWA; two years later, he began his long and distinguished career with the New York State AFL-CIO, serving as Public Relations Director from 1992-1999; and WHEREAS, Mario Cilento then held the position of Chief of Staff; in this capacity, he coordinated the day to day and long-term political, legislative, communications and grassroots strategies of the organization, as well as the overall policy and development of the organization's staff departments; he was also responsible for outreach, initiatives and strategies concerning the State Federation's Executive Board and affiliates; and WHEREAS, In 2011, Mario Cilento was elected to the esteemed title of President of the New York State AFL-CIO; throughout his tenure, he has focused on transforming the way people see the labor movement to ensure New Yorkers understand unions are made up of people who work, and we are all connected by work; and WHEREAS, Mario Cilento has also concentrated on educating the union's 2.5 million members on issues which impact their well-being, and then translating that knowledge into grassroots advocacy in their respective communities; and WHEREAS, Mario Cilento's renewed focus on membership engagement combined with new communication strategies has been instrumental in the enactment of progressive legislation, which has a real impact on the lives of working families across the state; and WHEREAS, Some of the most recent improvements include reform which will require Industrial Development Agencies (IDA) to have transparency and accountability standards when public money is used for economic development; in 2013, he created the Making New York Work campaign which uses the perspective of hard-working New Yorkers to make valuable changes throughout the State; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Mario Cilento, the New York State AFL-CIO also helped pass the Veterans' Service Credit bill, the Paid Family Leave benefit, the $15 per hour minimum wage, the reauthorization of the World Trade Center Health Program and extension of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and the first increase in unemployment benefits in 14 years, as well as a 50 percent boost in the minimum workers' compensation benefit; and WHEREAS, In addition, New York State AFL-CIO coordinated a successful multi-union effort to revolutionize the delivery of health care in New York, and The Safe Patient Handling Act; and WHEREAS, Mario Cilento has also served as a Commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund and on the Executive Boards of the Workforce Development Institute and the Working Theater; currently, he is a member of the Cornell University Board of Trustees and the New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell ILR Board; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Mario Cilento upon the occasion of being selected as an honoree for this year's Italian American Day on June 3, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Mario Cilento.