The fiscal update provided on Thursday shows our tax revenues are close to the numbers projected in our budget. There was also a lot of discussion of the new Federal budget and its potential impact on the state and our county. A lot of the local fiscal impacts will depend on how much of the burden Dutchess County is asked to share. But millions of dollars are at stake.

We have not yet received the Q2 EMS data we were promised. As you might recall, we approved $2M to help reduce ambulance response times. So far, the results have been disappointing for our area, but hopefully, the second quarter numbers will have some good news for us.

If you want to attend Monday’s full board meeting, it begins at 6:30 pm on Monday at 22 Market St, 6th floor.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out anytime.

As I prepare for our July meetings, I thought I’d flag a couple of interesting items on the agenda.

Aside from the usual appointments to various volunteer committees and routine paperwork, we have the Dutchess Community College (DCC) budget, a fiscal update from the county, and, hopefully, a breakdown of the Q2 EMS numbers.

The DCC budget is expected to be approved, and the county’s contribution (~$17.5M) will remain flat year-over-year as rising enrollments (up 12%) and residence hall commitments (up 20%) have helped buoy the college’s fiscal position. Tuition will rise 5% to $5,250, which is still lower than the surrounding counties.

Thursday night, we will receive a fiscal update from the county administration detailing how our sales tax receipts and expenditures are matching up against our budget and tax projections. At last look, sales tax was lagging a bit behind what the administration had projected. And with the disastrous Federal budget that was just passed by Trump and the GOP, we can expect harsh budget seas ahead.

We have also been told to expect a first look at the Q2 EMS data. As you might recall, we approved $2M to help reduce ambulance response times. So far, the results have been disappointing for our area but hopefully the second quarter numbers have some good news for us.

If you want to attend the committee meetings, they begin at 5:30 pm on Thursday at 22 Market St, 6th floor. The full board meeting begins at 6:30 pm on Monday.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out anytime.

I want to thank everyone who came out to support me, those who contributed to the campaign, and those who gave their time to share our message and help get out the vote. There are too many to name here, and many will not want public recognition, but thank you.

I’m honored that the voters have chosen me to represent them on the Democratic line this November. I’m looking forward to taking some time off to relax and recharge before the general election campaign begins.

And, of course, continuing to represent our community in the Dutchess County Legislature.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, is a significant holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the date in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, it was not enforced in many Confederate states still in rebellion. Texas, remote and less monitored by Union forces, remained largely untouched until Major General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston and issued General Order No. 3. This order declared the end of slavery and affirmed the equality of the formerly enslaved and slaveholders under the law.

The first Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 and quickly became a tradition among African American communities, particularly in Texas. These events often included prayer services, family gatherings, music, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over the decades, Juneteenth evolved into a broader celebration of African American culture, resilience, and progress.

Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States in 2021, a long-overdue acknowledgment of its historical and cultural importance. Today, it serves as a moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery, celebrate Black freedom and achievements, and renew the commitment to justice and equality for all.

Once again, our nation is shaken by political violence with the shootings in Minnesota.

We live in an environment where President Trump pardoned violent insurrectionists: people who attacked and injured law enforcement officers while storming the Capitol on January 6. This can create a permission structure for others to act, thinking they will be rewarded.

As a public official, I am no stranger to threats, both veiled and explicit. But those who choose a life of public service must continue their work and not reward those who resort to violence.

My heart goes out to those injured and the families of all those affected.

One of the best parts of being a county legislator is helping people.

You may have received one of my small refrigerator magnets over the years – I’ve mailed out thousands and handed out thousands more. Perhaps you got one in the mail when you moved to the district or registered to vote.

I receive calls and texts every month from people with a variety of concerns, ranging from speeding on county roads to how close to the property line one can place a shed, to Central Hudson billing issues, to problems with Medicaid. If it’s not a county issue, I can usually direct you to someone who can help and leverage my established relationships with other elected officials to expedite the process.

One of the more common questions I get is about cell service dead zones—specifically, the dead zone between Red Hook and Rhinebeck. The county doesn’t control the location of commercial cell towers, but I recently created this video about a new development that may be the end of that dead zone between the towns:

My endorsements are from true progressives, my colleagues, unions, and the Working Families Party.

Excited to announce two more union endorsements: CWA 1120 (Communication Workers of America) and NYSNA (the New York State Nurses Association)

Yesterday, I joined members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and other supporters for a rally at the Rhinebeck Post Office. The Republicans want to sell off our postal system and privatize it. “Don’t believe the lies… Don’t let them privatize!”

Pride Month is a powerful celebration of love, identity, and the ongoing struggle for equality. Each June, communities around the world come together to honor the LGBTQ+ individuals who have fought and continue to fight for visibility, rights, and dignity. It is a time to remember the bravery of activists at Stonewall, the resilience of those who lived through discrimination and silence, and the triumphs of today’s leaders, artists, and everyday heroes who proudly live as their authentic selves.

Pride is more than parades and rainbows; it is a call to action. It reminds us that equal rights are not guaranteed; they are earned through courage, advocacy, and solidarity. Pride Month is an invitation to educate, to listen, and to stand with our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and neighbors not only in celebration but in continued commitment to justice and inclusion.

I am proud to have been one of the many advocates and supporters of LGBTQ+ rights. Please consider joining in or attending one of the many celebrations of Pride Month in our area.

I work for you. And whenever I am at a meeting or an event, I take that opportunity to connect with others who can help us here in Red Hook, Tivoli, Rhinebeck, and Dutchess County.

I attended an event yesterday, which allowed me to discuss Medicaid payments with three Hudson Valley state legislators: Assemblymembers Didi Barrett and Jonathan Jacobson and our own State Senator Michelle Hinchey. I’ve worked with Didi and Jonathan for years and frequently consult with them and Senator Hinchey to determine the real reason legislation is stalled and whether we can work together to move it forward.

As part of my constituent service, I’ve been working with residents at ArchCare Ferncliff Nursing Home and Rehab Center in Rhinebeck to push for an increase in the personal needs allowance (PNA) from the $50/month set in the 1990s to something more reasonable. I spoke with Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha about this last session, and she is a co-sponsor of the current bill.

However, the state is bracing for the deep cuts in Medicaid in the proposed federal budget. Those cuts will result in hospital closures and deep cuts, Jacobson said, making it impossible to increase benefits like the PNA. Those closures will hurt all of us, not just those on Medicaid.

It would be up to the governor to make a PNA increase a priority for the state budget, and I’ll keep pushing for the increase just the same.

As a Town (not County) issue, I don’t have a vote, but I have recommended from the start that both sides sit down in good faith and work out a favorable resolution for all concerned. A lot of people feel strongly about this issue, but unfortunately, we are now seeing the escalation of personal attacks and real threats of violence against people and their families. This is wrong and not what I think most of us want. I urge everyone to acknowledge that, working together, we have accomplished a great deal in this town, and together we can find a solution to this issue.

I’ve spoken to a lot of people on both sides of this issue, and almost everyone I speak with would love to have public waterfront access somewhere.

However, I am not in favor of using eminent domain to make the Boat Club a public park. The town should reach out and seek a public-private partnership.