State Senator Shelley Mayer Comments on ICE, Universal Pre-K, Con Ed and More

State Senator Shelley Mayer has been representing the 37th district of NYS, including Scarsdale, since 2018. She is now running for re-election and answered questions from Scarsdale10583 below: 

Tell us about your work during the past legislative session. What has been your focus and what were some of your accomplishments?

One of my top priorities has been reigning in utility costs, such as Con Ed rates. Although we didn’t go as far as I would have liked in this year’s budget, the final enacted budget made several changes to the utility rate-making process (most of which are based on bills I sponsored).

Among other things,

• we required utilities to return excess profits to ratepayers, rather than apply them to their next rate application;
• we increased scrutiny of utility executive salaries;
• we established a commission to examine the causes of rate increases and makerecommendations to the legislature; and
• we limited potential rate increases to the rate of inflation and prohibited the recovery of lobbying, political, and public relations expenses from ratepayers.

In addition, as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I have prioritized ensuring all students have access to a quality education. Among other achievements, I

• fought for and achieved at least a 2% increase in Foundation Aid over last year for all of New York’s public schools, including Scarsdale;
• $432.5 million year-to-year increase in universal pre-kindergarten and a requirement that all public schools offer full-day pre-K to 4-year-olds as requested by parents in the next school year;
• the budget adopted my proposal to protect students and schools by prohibiting ICE intervention in schools unless they possess a judicial warrant; and  
• the budget clarifies that under NY law, every child has the right to a public education regardless of immigration status.
• I continue to lead the fight to ensure our schools teach about anti-semitism and hatred, not just about the Holocaust, which is currently required by NY law. We need to do a far better job educating all our children in all schools about anti-semitism, racism, and the increase in acts of hatred throughout our society.

The NYS tax cap puts severe pressure on our schools to maintain increases below the cap, even though state mandated pension and retirement costs go up more than 10% each year and health insurance costs continue to increase. With very limited state aid for districts like Scarsdale, the cap forces very difficult decisions for local school boards. Any thoughts on repealing the cap or providing state aid to close the gap?

There are very challenging circumstances for all school districts, including Scarsdale. As you note, expenses, particularly health care, are far outpacing increases in the property tax levy cap. Yet we have some of the highest property taxes in the nation and cannot continue to put additional pressure on taxpayers. I want to work with districts and the State to find creative solutions to address the health care premium increases school districts face, and I am working with the NYS Council of School Superintendents on this issue. I also believe the funding formula must be updated further to reflect the greatly increased costs of special ed to all districts, including Scarsdale. I remain open to ways to direct additional state aid to any district facing unique challenges with the tax cap.

We hear universal Pre-K has now been mandated statewide. What will that mean for Scarsdale?

We expanded full-day pre-K for 4-year-olds by increasing reimbursement to school districts and requiring them to offer it starting in the 2028-29 school year. This can be accomplished in partnership with community-based organizations and existing providers. To the extent Scarsdale schools indicate this poses unique challenges for the district, of course I will work with them to try to address them.

What are your thoughts on the assault case at Cornell? Given that part of the school is funded by SUNY, does the NYS legislature have the authority to regulate activity there?

Cornell does receive New York State funding, but any changes we require of Cornell and our SUNY institutions ought to be required of all our universities and colleges in New York. The alleged crimes committed by the seven men at Cornell University are horrific and utterly deplorable. We can and must strengthen our laws to protect victims. One immediate action we can take is to remove voluntary intoxication as a defense in sex crimes. This is Senator Nathalia Fernandez’s bill, which has passed the Senate twice but has not passed the Assembly yet. I hope this bill becomes law in the coming session.

Republicans are calling for an end to New York’s restrictions on local law enforcement partnerships with ICE. What are your thoughts?

Local law enforcement needs to have the trust of the local community. Allowing ICE to come into our local communities and partner with local law enforcement, making local police departments agents of the federal government, does not further public safety and diverts resources from the essential work of our police. I believe our local police, like the excellent Scarsdale Police Department, should continue their highly professional work in the Village and beyond, as required, and should cooperate with ICE only when a judicial warrant is presented.

We see that you have been appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the state legislature’s Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research & Reapportionment, known as LATFOR. When will new maps be proposed and what do you hope to see?

The Legislature has adopted the first passage of an amendment authorizing mid-decade redistricting in NYS if adopted by other states, which has now occurred. If the Legislature passes it a second time and voters approve this Constitutional amendment next November, work will begin on new maps thereafter.

Con Edison is in the process of installing a high transmission gas line through the center of Scarsdale Village. The gas is intended primarily for use in Queens. The project has taken far longer than planned, the construction has already damaged private property and now they plan to re-excavate 40 sites to examine the welds. Do you think a large pipeline should run through a residential neighborhood? Has the Public Service
Commission done enough to regulate Con Ed?

I have concerns about the level of oversight and inquiry the Public Service Commission provides to new projects by Con Edison and other investor-owned utility companies. I am concerned that the approval process for this particular pipeline, the damage to private property, and the potential risks that it poses all require far greater scrutiny by the PSC. They need to give this project far greater attention to reassure residents and the entire Scarsdale community.

Anything else you wish to add is welcome.

It is an honor to represent Scarsdale in the NYS Senate. I have worked hard to respond to the needs of individual residents and the Scarsdale community. I have an excellent working relationship with the Mayor and the village Trustees, and we work cooperatively. I am a big fan of the wonderful Scarsdale Public Library and appreciate their partnership on numerous events that I have sponsored. In addition, I have provided funding for motorcycles for the Scarsdale Police Department and cardiac defibrillators for the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps; along with Assemblymember Paulin, I have funded the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Route 22 and Edgewood Road; and I have allocated funding to the Scarsdale, Edgemont Family Counseling Services. I hope to continue representing the people of Scarsdale
and look forward to working together as we move ahead.