Dear Neighbor,

Please enjoy this special six month edition of my newsletter which highlights key
actions taken and shares details from my first legislative session. This was arguably
one of the most productive legislative sessions in New York history, and it is an honor
to be able to serve our community. I take seriously my responsibility to report back
regularly to you, and I hope you will find the information in this newsletter useful.

At this critical juncture in my term, I hope to hear from you: How do you think this
session went? What do you think of the legislation that passed, or the budget process?
Have you joined us at a community event yet? If so, what was your experience? I can
only do my job well if I hear from you, so please be in touch. You can reply directly to
this email or give us a call at (718) 238-6044.

Here’s a quick look “by the numbers” at my first six months in office:

Bills introduced as a prime sponsor: 147

Bills introduced, co-sponsored: 279

Bills passed both houses, sponsored & co-sponsored: 127

Bills passed, sponsored & co-sponsored: 8 so far, with more to come

Events held in district: 18

Meetings taken: 407

But it’s not just about the numbers--because the numbers alone cannot capture the love
I have for this community and this job, and the honor I feel at the opportunity to
represent our community’s interests and values in Albany.

Hope to see you soon,

Andrew

The Big Issues

Traffic safety: I am especially proud that my bill to expand the number of speed
cameras in school zones was signed into law. This program is proven to reduce
fatalities and collisions, and its expansion will protect our drivers, pedestrians and
cyclists alike. No one should live in fear of crossing the street and no family should ever
lose a member because of a preventable collision. This legislation will save lives, plain
and simple.

Read more about it in the New York Times.

Tenants’ rights: The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act represents the
strongest protections for tenants in New York’s history, and will be a big step forward in
addressing skyrocketing housing costs and homelessness. For the tens of thousands of
working-class and middle-class families in our district who are renters, these tenant
protections will provide much-needed relief. I look forward to working with both tenants
and landlords in the district to ensure they understand the effects of this legislation and
their rights under the new rules.
Read about the reforms in the Home Reporter.

Climate change: We passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act,
putting New York at the forefront of the global solution to prevent more extreme and
devastating weather events like Superstorm Sandy by mandating an 85% reduction in
greenhouse gas use by 2050 and setting a target of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Those of us in coastal communities know firsthand how urgently we must act to meet
this historic challenge.

9/11 first responders' press conference in Albany

9/11 Heroes Bills: I sponsored a package of three 9/11 heroes bills to support our first
responders, which ultimately passed the legislature. These bills are designed to close
gaps in services for our first responders. For many who ran into the debris to serve their
fellow New Yorkers that day, their struggles continue, and it is our responsibility to be
there for them as they were for us.

Read more in The Daily News or watch on News10 Albany.

Anti-sexual harassment legislation: We changed rules that have protected

perpetrators and denied survivors justice for far too long. New York’s ‘severe or
pervasive’ standard was outdated, arbitrary and entirely subjective. Our broken system
previously failed to find behavior such as sexual gestures, touching and ‘grinding’
against an employee’s body as failing to rise to the level of offensive and actionable
behavior. We lowered the impossibly high burden of proof, a critical reform to our legal
system. I want to thank my colleagues who have worked hard for change, and the fierce
advocates and survivors who fought tirelessly to channel their lived experiences into
action to transform the law and protect millions of New Yorkers.

Opioid crisis: The opioid epidemic has devastated our communities. We lost 359
Brooklynites to drug overdoses in 2017, and no neighborhood has been spared this
tragedy. The vast majority of us know someone whose life has been turned upside
down by addiction—their own, a friend’s or a family member’s. We passed bills to
expand access to Medication Assisted Treatment and opioid antagonists, which has
been shown to save lives.

Violence against children: This session, we passed the Child Victims Act and
reformed New York State’s outdated statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. This
long-stalled piece of legislation allows victims of child abuse to seek civil justice against
their abusers regardless of how long ago the crimes occurred. This bill delivers on our
promise to protect and defend all New Yorkers and give voice to the voiceless.

Press conference on my bill to increase subway accessibility

Fix the MTA: The battle to fix the broken MTA is only beginning, but we took some
steps this year that will help New Yorkers’ commutes in the years to come. The changes
include an independent, thorough forensic audit of the MTA and increased investments
in our public transit system. More to come on this issue, so please stay tuned.

In the meantime, please take my transit survey so I can effectively represent our
community’s concerns in Albany.

Green Light Bill: I voted in favor of the Green Light bill as a common-sense approach
to public safety. States that have passed this legislation have fewer hit-and-runs, fewer
uninsured drivers and more qualified drivers on the road. The bill provides access to
identification for residents who already live here, work here and contribute to our
economy, and helps keep families together. By protecting all drivers, pedestrians and
cyclists on our roads, we will also allow families to earn their livelihoods, take their
children to school and strengthen their ties to their communities.

Read more about it in The New York Times.

Gun Safety: New York State passed the first substantial gun safety reforms since
Sandy Hook, banning bump stocks, increasing the waiting period for those who do not
pass a background check, banning teachers from carrying guns in schools and
implementing the “red flag” rule to prevent those deemed in danger of hurting
themselves or others from using a firearm.
LGBTQIA rights: We made valuable progress in the long road to equal rights for
LGBTQIA New Yorkers, including ending the discriminatory ‘gay panic’ defense and
finally passing the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act, prohibiting discrimination
based on gender identity. Though we still have a long ways to go to combat
discrimination, the legislation that passed the New York Senate this year is a
meaningful step.

Reproductive Health Act: New York State acted to codify Roe v. Wade and protect
womens’ health care. This was essential to protect a woman’s right to choose,
economic security, and autonomy over her own body, and it's important that we were
able to enshrine this protection into law.

Election Reform: New York has long been one of the worst states in the nation when it
comes to voter turnout and registration. This year, we mandated that state and federal
primaries be held on the same day to increase turnout, expanded early voting and
created other fundamental reforms that will improve turnout and engagement across our
state.

Bills Sponsored
This session, I was the prime sponsor for 147 bills. Here are a few highlights:

At the Verrazzano Bridge Press Conference with colleagues Senator Savino, Councilman
Brannan and Assemblymember Frontus

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Toll Rebate: I introduced a bill that would provide

Brooklyn residents who make at least 10 trips across the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge
per month the same discount currently extended to Staten Island residents. New York
City should be known for pizza, bagels, and baseball--not the most expensive toll bridge
in the country. While this bill passed the State Senate, it did not pass in the Assembly.
Nonetheless, I am strongly committed to pursue this legislation and leveling the playing
field for southern Brooklyn commuters.

MTA Accessibility bills: While I'm encouraged by the attention that the new leadership
at the MTA has given to accessibility issues, we can and must do more. This legislation
will codify the ambitious goals of the Fast Forward plan and ensure that no New Yorker
is deprived access to our mass transit system because of a lack of access.

Read more in The Daily News and AmNY.

Rider Representation on the MTA Board: I introduced a bill to add rider
representation to the MTA board to give commuters a voice in our own transit system.
The people who travel by bus and subway daily must have a say in the future of our
transportation network. As riders well know, the MTA is in critical need of improvement,
and this bill would improve accountability, transparency and decision-making.

NY Health Act: I co-sponsored the New York Health Act to guarantee access to
healthcare, so no New Yorker has to sell cupcakes to pay for cancer treatment.

You can read more of my reflections on the NY Health Act here.

Community Events, Outreach & Advocacy

This session, I held over 400 meetings and put on 18 events throughout the district.
Here are a few highlights:

3 for Community Service Day Kick Off at Marine Park

Three For Community Kick Off:

In April, I launched my 3 for Community public service initiative, inviting my neighbors to

join me in committing to 3 acts of service or kindness each week. Our kick off events
included clean ups and painting in Marine Park and Shore Road Park and a storytime
reading at the Dyker Heights Library. More than 150 volunteers joined me from all
corners of the district in just one day. Together we scraped and painted 14 benches,
pruned 25 shrubs, and raked and bagged more than 100 bags of garbage and leaf litter.

Following the launch, I commenced seven days of service, volunteering or performing

an act of kindness every day for a week, including helping pack meals in Gravesend
and deliver them in Bay Ridge and bringing coffee and donuts to FDNY Engine 254 /
Ladder 153. Since then, neighbors who have taken the 3 for Community pledge have
logged more than 2,000 good deeds and the program has made contact with every
public school and library in the district.

3 for Community asks a straightforward question: who have I helped today? I hope
you’ll help me answer it: www.3forcommunity.org/pledge

SHSAT Forum: I hosted an SHSAT and Diversity Forum with State Senator John Liu
on June 7th, one of a series of similar forums held throughout the five boroughs. It was
great to hear directly from parents and students about their stance on this important
issue. The quality of a child’s education is of profound importance to any family, and
every student deserves the best. We need a comprehensive approach to ensure
diversity in public schools and address the fundamental disparities in our education
system, rather than simply eliminating the SHSAT and targeting our first- and second-
generation immigrant families.

Shredding, rain barrels, compost & e-waste: Along with the Department of
Environmental Protection, my office hosted two Shredding, Rain Barrel, Compost and
E-Waste events, one in Marine Park and one in Bay Ridge. It is deeply important to care
for our planet on a community-by-community level, and recycling, collecting rainwater,
and composting is a great start. We handed out hundreds of free rain barrels at this
event!

Pedestrian Safety Task Force & Student Task Force: In order to gain a better
understanding of the dangerous areas in our neighborhoods and create practical
solutions, I created the Southern Brooklyn Pedestrian Safety Task Force. We gather
regularly to collaborate on driver accountability and education initiatives, law
enforcement coordination, and to strategize legislative action. In addition, I also started
the Pedestrian Safety Youth Task Force to hear from students across the district on
potential initiatives regarding street safety, because these problems affect our dedicated
young people equally.

Watch more on News12.

 First Annual Community Iftar in Owl's Head Park

Iftar: On May 11th, I hosted a community Iftar dinner at Owl’s Head Park. Ramadan is a
time when the Muslim community comes together and participates in fasting from
sunrise to sunset. This event was open to all members of the community, regardless of
faith, and dinner was donated by local restaurants to all that arrived and celebrated the
breaking of the fast. This was the first community event of its kind hosted by elected
officials within our district. I am excited to continue with this tradition in our
neighborhood!

Transit & MTA Outreach: Fixing our broken transit system is one of my top priorities,
and I’ve been meeting with stakeholders, experts and community members in order to
understand and address the problems with the MTA. As a member of the Better Buses
Advisory Board, run by the Department of Transportation Commissioner, I also work
with various stakeholders such as the MTA, the DOT and community groups such as
Riders Alliance and Transportation Alternatives, to build a better bus system.
Additionally, I've met with Andy Byford, the president of the New York City Transit
Authority, to discuss upgrades to bus fleets and the plans for redesigning bus routes.

Finally, you may see me one morning at your bus stop or subway station, speaking with
southern Brooklynites and distributing transit surveys. It is important that I directly hear
from you about concerns, recommendations and questions so that I can continue to
advocate for you at all future meetings I attend on behalf of our community and in
Albany.

Take the transit survey online.

Budget Town Hall: On March 7th, I hosted a Town Hall on the New York State
Budget.The Chief Economist from the Fiscal Policy Institute, Dr Jonas Shaende,
presented a timeline for the budget. He also explained how funds were being allocated
for different areas such as education, transportation, and healthcare for the state
overall, as well as specifically for our district. Representatives from the DOT, the
Department for the Aging, the Department of Housing, the Department of Consumer
Affairs, and the MTA were also present.

Parent Town Hall: On May 2nd, I hosted a Parent Town Hall. This event was an
opportunity for parents to address their concerns, such as school safety, the SHSAT
exam, bullying, and pedestrian safety. Parents shared their perspectives, what they’re
most concerned about, and offered suggestions about what we can be doing better in
our district. Attendees submitted questions and got answers in real time. I am looking
forward to hosting more events like this in the future across the district so that I can
continue to hear directly from the community. I also have a survey to help me as a
policymaker understand the issues that are confronting our community.

Take the survey online.

PTA Roundtable: On April 5th, Presidents and heads of public, private, parochial
and parent organizations were invited to a PTA Roundtable to discuss the current state
of education, parental engagement, and local issues in our community. Pedestrian
safety in school zones, the need for bilingual education, and the skills based learning
were just a few of the topics explored at this roundtable.

Helping our Neighbors

Since I took office, I have helped 1,219 resolve their issues with government or with
other matters. Please be in touch with any issues you might have and my team will be
happy to assist you.
 Intersection of concern: Avenue X and Gerritsen Beach

Mr. T’s Story

Mr. T. reached out with an urgent concern: a work crew had removed the stop signs at
Avenue X and Gerritsen Beach. This is a critical and busy intersection, as it is along the
side of P.S. 277. Once our team was alerted to this dangerous situation, we
immediately contact the Department of Transportation. The signs were replaced before
school opened the following morning.

Staff member from Councilmember Justin Brannan's Office,

the Senator Gounardes Team and the NYC Department of Finance
 Bay Ridge resident and constituent, Helen

Helen’s Story

Thanks to our property tax workshop with Department of Finance and Council Member
Justin Brannan’s office, we were able to serve over 83 people in a single night--like
Helen, a Bay Ridge resident and homeowner (pictured above). My team helped her
apply for programs and exemptions she didn’t know she qualified for, saving her
thousands of dollars on her property tax bill.

New constituent, Mahliah Al Lahabi and her grandson

Mahliah’s Story

We first learned about Mahliah back in March when my constituent, Shamsan Al Lahabi,
came to us. He had applied to be reunited with his mother Mahliah, who was living in
Yemen. Due to the Muslim ban, her petition was denied and she was unable to join her
family here in Brooklyn. My team immediately started to work on his case to appeal the
denial, reunite their family and ensure Mahliah did not remain stuck in a war zone.

Fewer than 6% of people are able to obtain a waiver, but after two months of my team's
tireless efforts, we were able to help Mahliah get a humanitarian waiver to join her
family in Bay Ridge. She arrived a few weeks ago, met her grandchildren for the first
time and is settling in nicely.

If you have an issue or a concern, particularly as it relates to navigating local issues or

state government, do not hesitate to be in touch. We are here to help!
 Budget Success
The 2019-2020 Budget Resolution addressed a number of fundamental issues and
long-standing priorities for the hard working people in southern Brooklyn and across
New York state.

 We reformed our mass transit system by reorganizing the MTA, increasing

accountability and creating dedicated funding streams for desperately needed
improvements.
 We helped assure our citizens access to quality, affordable healthcare with
codification of the Affordable Care Act.
 We advanced our education system with an increase of over $1 billion in
funding.
 Finally, the budget helped return trust to state government by reforming the
electoral system and expanding access to voting.

However, there’s much more to do. I advocated for a pied-a-terre tax on second homes
costing millions of dollars and more resources for our public schools to fully realize the
Campaign for Fiscal Equity. I will keep fighting for these issues in next year’s budget.

Upcoming Events
As always, we have many upcoming events in the district for you to participate in.
Please join us!

Multiple dates: Mammogram Van

I will be hosting free upcoming Mammogram Screenings for women aged 40-79 who
haven't had a mammogram in one year. Be sure to spread the word: early detection
saves lives.

These all take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 11: Bensonhurst, 8711 18th Ave

July 24 and October 30: Marine Park, Ave U parking lot -- 3244 Ave U

October 2: Bay Ridge; Location TBD.

July 15: Blood Drive

Join us at the Bay Ridge Community Blood Drive on July 15th at 8203 Third
Avenue. Please sign up in advance for a time that's convenient for you at
tinyurl.com/yy4zhkrz or call 718-238-6044. The blood collection bus will take
appointments between 2-8 p.m. This is an easy way to be a hero -- you could save a
life!

2019 Summer Concerts in the Park

Summer Fun: Concerts In the Park

Yoga in the Parks

Summer Fun: Yoga in the Park

Gerritsen Beach Mobile Office Hours: Mondays 3-6 p.m. and Thursdays 2-5 p.m.

Join us for mobile hours at Gerritsen Beach Library (2808 Gerritsen Ave). Our incredible
Marine Park/Gerritsen Beach Liaison, Reeves Eisen, has been living, working and
advocating in Marine Park and surrounding communities for over 34 years and is ready
to assist you.
Contact her at reeves@senatorgounardes.nyc with any questions you may have.

Have community events you would like featured in my newsletter? Email me at

gounardes@nysenate.gov!

Albany Office: District Office: Satellite Office:

902 Legislative Office Bldg 8018 5th Ave Gerritsen Beach Library
Albany, NY 12247 Brooklyn, NY 11215 2808 Gerritsen Ave
518-455-3270 Brooklyn, NY 11229
Hours: Mon 3-6pm, Thu 2-5pm