Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Sen. Shelley Mayer held a Town Hall-style meeting Aug. 15 at Yonkers Riverfront Library to share the achievements and challenges of the 2019 legislative session. Nearly 100 attendees had the opportunity to hear from the leaders about laws passed this year in Albany and how they will impact Westchester communities.
Local residents shared their support of and concerns for a wide range of issues including education, environmental conservation, criminal justice reform, health care, immigrant rights, election law reforms and animal welfare and rights
Despite a busy schedule, Stewart-Cousins said she believes these Town Halls are vital.
“I am honored to represent my Westchester constituents,” she said. “Even with all of the technology increasingly available, there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings with the people whom I’m privileged to serve. My constituents are my number one priority, and I look forward to returning to Albany to fight for our most important shared values.”
Mayer added: “I am glad to co-host a series of Town Halls throughout Westchester with my dear friend and colleague, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The new State Senate Majority Conference led one of the most progressive and productive legislative sessions in state history, and it’s important to meet face to face with my constituents and discuss what we were able to get done and to hear from them about priorities for the upcoming session.”
Together with their colleagues, Stewart-Cousins and Mayer were able to deliver historic reforms that New Yorkers have been demanding for years, including tougher gun laws, affordable housing and tenant protections, voting and ethics reforms, action on climate change, and stronger protections for women’s rights.
Last week’s Yonkers meeting kicked off Stewart-Cousins’ series of Town Halls, the next of which will take place Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Remington Boys & Girls Club in New Rochelle.