Opinion

ALBANY — State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) took the Oath of Office at the State Capitol last week to begin the 2023-2024 state legislative session representing New York’s 58th Senate District. Following last year’s legislative redistricting process, O’Mara represents the newly redesignated 58th Senate District comprised of Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Yates Counties, and eastern half of Allegany County (the towns of Alfred, Almond, Amity, Andover, Birdsall, Burns, Grove, Independence, Scio, Ward, Wellsville, and Willing).

Amazing stories came out of the Buffalo/Niagara region following the Christmas blizzard. After the pre-Thanksgiving storm in November, it just makes one wonder what might be in store for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Valentine’s Day.

Welcome to the New Year in New York State government. At the top of the list this week, however, let’s first send our collective thoughts toward our neighbors in Western New York where lives have been lost and communities so hard hit by a historically devastating winter storm.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has announced major wins for New York State that she helped secure in the recently-passed $1.7 trillion FY2023 spending package. As part of this funding, Senator Gillibrand fought for 172 New York-based projects, totaling over $269 million in congressionally directed spending spanning the state of New York.

Above all else this week, I hope that this column will find you and your families, friends, and neighbors well and doing your best to have a memorable and meaningful holiday season. Approaching the start of another new year in New York State government, we could focus on looking ahead to the debates that always await the governor and legislators in ordinary times – traditionally difficult challenges on education, economic development, environmental protection, fiscal policies, infrastructure, public safety and security, and so many more.