WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020                                                                      3:22 P.M.



                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE HOUSE WILL COME

                    TO ORDER.

                                 IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF

                    SILENCE.

                                 (WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

                                 VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE

                    OF ALLEGIANCE.

                                 (WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY LED VISITORS AND

                    MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

                                 A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

                    JOURNAL OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE

                                          1



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    THAT WE DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF JANUARY THE

                    21ST AND ASK THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  WITHOUT OBJECTION,

                    SO ORDERED.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  THANK YOU, MR.

                    SPEAKER.  I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE TODAY OUR DAILY QUOTE FROM, AGAIN,

                    THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AS WE CELEBRATE THE AWESOME

                    LEGACY HE HAS LEFT US AS A PEOPLE, AS A COUNTRY AND AS A WORLD.  THESE

                    WORDS ARE FROM DR. KING.  IT SAYS "I LOOK TO A DAY WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT

                    BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR

                    CHARACTER."  AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS FROM THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING.  I ALSO NOTE THAT MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A MAIN

                    CALENDAR, AND AFTER THERE ARE ANY INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR HOUSEKEEPING

                    THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK WILL BE DONE FROM THIS CALENDAR INCLUDING

                    CONTINUING OUR CONSENT WHERE WE LEFT OFF YESTERDAY.  THAT WOULD BE

                    CALENDAR NO. 143 AND THAT'S ON PAGE 26.  AT THE CONCLUSION OF TODAY,

                    WE WILL TAKE UP A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY

                    OF DR. -- REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, MR. SPEAKER, AND THAT IS

                    SORT OF KIND OF A GENERAL OUTLINE.  IF THERE ARE ANY INTRODUCTIONS OR ANY

                    OTHER HOUSEKEEPING, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  WE DO HAVE SOME

                    HOUSEKEEPING AT THE MOMENT, MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                 ON A MOTION BY MS. RICHARDSON, PAGE 15, CALENDAR

                    NO. 76, BILL NO. A.1510-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

                                          2



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                                 ON A MOTION BY MS. FAHY, PAGE 21, CALENDAR NO.

                    113, BILL NO. 2549-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

                                 ON A MOTION BY MRS. GUNTHER, PAGE 28, CALENDAR NO.

                    152, BILL NO. A.3705-A, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

                                 FOR THE PURPOSE --

                                 ON A MOTION BY MRS. GUNTHER, PAGE 48, CALENDAR NO.

                    259, BILL NO. A.7172, AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED AND ADOPTED.

                                 FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MS. SIMOTAS.

                                 MS. SIMOTAS:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  ON BEHALF

                    OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN JEAN-PIERRE AND MYSELF, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO

                    INTRODUCE VOTE MAMA'S FOUNDER, THE TRAILBLAZING LIUBA GRECHEN

                    SHIRLEY, AND THEIR DYNAMIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SARAH ROWEN.  LIUBA

                    HAS SPENT HER CAREER FIGHTING TO EMPOWER WORKING FAMILIES AND TO

                    ADVANCE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICIES AT HOME AND ABROAD.  LAST YEAR

                    LIUBA RAN FOR CONGRESS WHILE JUGGLING HER CAMPAIGN WITH RAISING HER

                    ONE-YEAR-OLD SON AND THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.  LIUBA BECAME THE FIRST

                    CANDIDATE IN HISTORY TO RECEIVE FEC APPROVAL TO USE CAMPAIGN FUNDS ON

                    CHILDCARE, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

                    RUNNING FOR OFFICE.  AND REALLY, MOTHERS AND FATHERS.  PARENTS.

                    FOLLOWING THE FEC'S RULING, NINE FEDERAL CANDIDATES USED CAMPAIGN

                    FUNDS FOR THEIR CHILDCARE COSTS, AND WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY

                    BEGAN PETITIONING THEIR STATES AND CITIES TO DO THE SAME.  RECOGNIZING

                    THE NEED FOR GREATER REPRESENTATION FOR MOTHERS AT ALL LEVELS OF

                    GOVERNMENT, LIUBA LAUNCHED VOTE MAMA TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT,

                    MENTORSHIP, NETWORKING AND ENDORSEMENTS TO HELP CANDIDATES

                                          3



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    OVERCOME THE UNIQUE STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL OBSTACLES FACING MOMS

                    WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.  LIUBA, ALONG WITH HER

                    PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -- DIRECTOR SARAH ROWEN,

                    HAVE WORKED TO LEAD 22 MOTHERS TO VICTORY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

                                 MR. SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME THEM TODAY AND OFFER ALL

                    OF THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.  THANK YOU.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  ON BEHALF

                    OF MS. SIMOTAS, MS. JEAN-PIERRE, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

                    WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, THE PEOPLE'S

                    HOUSE.  WE EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND CERTAINLY OUR

                    APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO ENHANCE THE

                    LIVES OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND MEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.  THANK YOU SO

                    VERY MUCH.  CONTINUE THAT GREAT WORK.

                                 (APPLAUSE)

                                 MR. PALUMBO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

                                 MR. PALUMBO:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

                    ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

                    INTRODUCTION.  I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED IN THE CHAMBER TODAY BY DAVID

                    GABLE.  DAVID'S FAMILY HAS KNOWN MY FAMILY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

                    HE LIVES IN MR. GARBARINO'S DISTRICT, AND HE JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED THE

                    UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AND IS LOOKING

                    FORWARD TO A CAREER POSSIBLY IN POLITICS.  BUT HE'S CERTAINLY HERE TO

                    WATCH THE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

                                 SO IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND AS TO OFFER MR. GABLE THE

                    CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE AND ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.  THANK

                                          4



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    YOU.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  ON BEHALF

                    OF MR. PALUMBO, MR. GARBARINO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, SIR,

                    WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU

                    THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.  OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR COMPLETION OF

                    YOUR EDUCATION.  WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK THAT IS

                    IN YOUR FUTURE.  OBVIOUSLY, MR. PALUMBO BELIEVES YOU HAVE A PLACE TO

                    BE.  WE HOPE THAT MAYBE ONE DAY IT'LL BE HERE, BUT NOT TOO SOON.  THANK

                    YOU SO VERY MUCH.  WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR GREAT LIFE.  THANK

                    YOU.

                                 (APPLAUSE)

                                 MR. GOODELL.

                                 MR. GOODELL:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.

                    SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE A FORMER MEMBER OF OURS WHO

                    ALMOST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, WHO SPENT ALMOST HER ENTIRE ADULT LIFE IN

                    SERVICE AS A LEGISLATOR IN CLINTON COUNTY, THEN THE TREASURER.  AND FOR

                    TEN YEARS, FROM 2006 TO 2016, AS ONE OF OUR MEMBERS.  AND ON BEHALF

                    OF BILLY JONES AND ALL THE RESIDENTS IN CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES

                    AND PART OF ST. LAWRENCE THAT WERE REPRESENTED, IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR US

                    TO HAVE JANET DUPREY WITH US.  AND I'M REMINDED OF WHAT DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING SAID WHEN HE SAID "LIFE'S MOST PERSISTENT AND URGENT

                    QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS?"  AND FORMER

                    ASSEMBLYWOMAN JANET DUPREY MADE IT HER LIFE WORK TO REPRESENT AND

                    SERVE OTHERS.  SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR US TO HAVE HER HERE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  ON BEHALF

                                          5



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    OF MR. GOODELL, MR. JONES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

                    WELCOME YOU BACK HERE, HOME.  YOU ARE A FORMER MEMBER, YOU ALWAYS

                    HAVE THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

                    EVERY YEAR YOU SHINE AND BRIGHTEN US UP.  AND YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY

                    OLDER.  GOODNESS GRACIOUS.  RETIREMENT MUST HAVE SOMETHING IN IT.

                    THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, AND WELCOME.

                                 (APPLAUSE)

                                 FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION, MS. DAVILA.

                                 MS. DAVILA:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

                    ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS.  SO, I WOULD LIKE TO TODAY

                    INTRODUCE A WONDERFUL COALITION THAT HAS DONE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF

                    WORK.  THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION, ALSO CALLED NYIC, IS AN

                    UMBRELLA POLICY AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS OVER 200

                    IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS GROUPS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK.  THE NEW

                    YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION ADVOCATES FOR LAWS AND POLICIES TO

                    IMPROVE THE LIVES OF IMMIGRANTS AND ALL NEW YORKERS, PARTICULARLY

                    THOSE THAT LIVE IN LOWER-INCOME COMMUNITIES.  NEW YORK IMMIGRATION

                    COALITION PROVIDES MULTILINGUAL INFORMATION MATERIALS ON IMMIGRATION

                    LAW CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS, SCHOOL REGISTRATION, HEALTHCARE ACCESS

                    AND VOTING RIGHTS.  WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

                    STEVEN CHOI.  LAST YEAR THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PASSAGE OF GREEN

                    LIGHT LAW, JOSE PERALTA DREAM ACT, FARM WORKERS LABOR ACT.  THE

                    NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING LIBERTY

                    DEFENSE FUND [SIC] IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.  TO DATE, THE LIBERTY DEFENSE

                    PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 30,000 VITAL LEGAL SERVICES TO

                                          6



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE

                    BEEN TARGETED BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS INCLUDING

                    THOSE IN DEFERRED ACTION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ARRIVE -- ARRIVALS, DACA,

                    AND TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, TPS.  THE -- THE LDP PROVIDES

                    PRE-LEGAL CONSULTATION SCREENINGS FOR IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT NEW

                    YORK, DIRECT REPRESENTATION TO IMMIGRANTS IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS,

                    AS WELL AS OTHER CASES, ASSISTANCE WITH OTHER IMMIGRATION LEGAL

                    SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR COMPLEX MATTERS.  NOW YOUR -- KNOW YOUR

                    RIGHTS TRAININGS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE.  ONE-QUARTER

                    OF THE IMMIGRANTS IN -- IN NEW YORK BASE DETENTION PROVIDED WITH

                    DEPORTATION DEFENSE REPRESENTATION UNDER THE LDP HAVE BEEN RELEASED

                    AND REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE

                    BETTER POSITIONED TO RECEIVE CONTINUED LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PREPARE THEIR

                    CASES, AND THE HOPES OF FINDING LONG-TERM RELIEF.  THIS YEAR THEY WILL

                    CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ISSUES INCLUDING ADDITIONAL LIBERTY DEFENSE

                    FUND [SIC], IMMIGRANT ACCESS TO VITAL HEALTH SERVICES, IMMIGRATION

                    ENFORCEMENT AND INCARCERATION REFORM, STRENGTHENING IMMIGRATION

                    LANGUAGE ACCESS, IMMIGRANT WORKERS' RIGHTS.  IMMIGRANTS ARE UNDER

                    ATTACK --

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  MS. DAVILA, YOU'VE

                    EXPENDED --

                                 MS. DAVILA:  SORRY.  WE WILL -- I'M -- I'M DONE.

                    I'M SORRY.  MR. SPEAKER, PLEASE WELCOME THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION

                    COALITION TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME.

                    BECAUSE LIKE MYSELF AND -- AND MY FAMILY AND MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES,

                                          7



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    AT SOME POINT WE WERE ALL IMMIGRANTS HERE.  THANK YOU.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  ON BEHALF

                    OF MS. DAVILA, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU HERE

                    TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY, EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

                    FLOOR.  OUR THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL

                    REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE HERE, OTHER THAN NATIVE AMERICANS, WERE

                    IMMIGRANTS AT ONE TIME IN THEIR LIVES, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE ARRIVED,

                    HOWEVER WE HAVE ARRIVED, THAT WE ARE DUE THE RIGHTS OF ALL HUMAN

                    BEINGS.  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.  CONTINUE THAT WORK, AND WE DO

                    APPRECIATE YOU.  THANK YOU.

                                 (APPLAUSE)

                                 WE WILL NOW GO TO CONSENT, PAGE 26, CALENDAR NO.

                    143.

                                 THE CLERK WILL READ.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03408-A, CALENDAR

                    NO. 143, ZEBROWSKI, KIM, RODRIGUEZ, WEPRIN, NIOU, PERRY,

                    MONTESANO, WRIGHT, DARLING.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE FINANCIAL SERVICES

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO STUDENT DEBT CONSULTANTS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  READ THE LAST SECTION.

                                 THE CLERK:  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

                    DAY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE CLERK WILL

                    RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                          8



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  THANK YOU, MR.

                    SPEAKER.  I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND COLLEAGUES THAT THIS

                    IS THE FIRST VOTE OF OUR THIRD WEEK OF THE 243RD LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

                    MEMBERS THAT ARE IN AND AROUND THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  MEMBERS,

                    IF YOU ARE IN YOUR CHAIRS PLEASE VOTE NOW.  IF YOU ARE IN THE SOUND OF

                    THE VOICE, COME TO THE CHAMBER AND CAST YOUR VOTE.  THANK YOU.

                                 ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES?  ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS PASSED.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03462, CALENDAR NO.

                    144, LENTOL, MOSLEY, QUART, SIMON.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL

                    PROCEDURE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE RIGHT OF A DEFENDANT WHO HAS ENTERED

                    A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY TO AN INFORMATION WHICH CHARGES A MISDEMEANOR TO

                    A JURY TRIAL.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03534, CALENDAR NO.

                    145, DINOWITZ, M. G. MILLER, ABINANTI, WEPRIN, COLTON.  AN ACT TO

                    AMEND THE JUDICIARY LAW AND THE LABOR LAW, IN RELATION TO CREATING

                    ADDITIONAL REMEDIES FOR UNLAWFUL DISCHARGE, PENALTY OR DISCRIMINATION

                    ON ACCOUNT OF THE EXERCISE OF A JUROR'S RIGHT TO BE ABSENT FROM

                    EMPLOYMENT FOR JURY DUTY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03556, CALENDAR NO.

                    147, DINOWITZ, WRIGHT.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW,

                                          9



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    IN RELATION TO MANIPULATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03564, CALENDAR NO.

                    148, CUSICK.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE TRANSPORTATION LAW, IN RELATION TO

                    THE ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO CARRIERS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

                    BY MOTOR VEHICLES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  READ THE LAST SECTION.

                                 THE CLERK:  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 60TH

                    DAY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE CLERK WILL

                    RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES?  ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS PASSED.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03654, CALENDAR NO.

                    149, PRETLOW, ABINANTI.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN

                    RELATION TO PROHIBITING APPROVED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHILD HEALTH

                    INSURANCE PLAN FROM LIMITING THE PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE

                    PROVIDERS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03658, CALENDAR NO.

                    150, ENGLEBRIGHT, THIELE, MOSLEY, GALEF, ORTIZ, L. ROSENTHAL, WALKER,

                    GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, DE LA ROSA, WILLIAMS, JAFFEE, GLICK, D'URSO,

                    GRIFFIN, OTIS, LIFTON, NIOU, FAHY, WEPRIN, RAMOS, COLTON, SIMON,

                                         10



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    BURKE, CARROLL, STERN, STECK, REYES, PAULIN, PERRY, D. ROSENTHAL,

                    BARRON, JONES, EPSTEIN, MCDONALD, QUART, PEOPLES-STOKES, MCMAHON,

                    SEAWRIGHT, ROZIC.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO FRESHWATER WETLANDS AND REPEALING SECTION 24-1305

                    OF SUCH LAW RELATING THERETO.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03673, CALENDAR NO.

                    151, ENGLEBRIGHT, L. ROSENTHAL, GLICK, COLTON, D'URSO, GOTTFRIED,

                    SCHMITT, HEVESI, EPSTEIN.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL

                    CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS

                    AUTHORIZING THE USE OF WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03801, CALENDAR NO.

                    153, ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, ABINANTI, MAGNARELLI, BUCHWALD, WEPRIN,

                    MCDONOUGH.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE UNIFORM JUSTICE COURT ACT, IN

                    RELATION TO ESTABLISHING MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF CERTAIN

                    TOWN AND VILLAGE JUSTICES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03832, CALENDAR NO.

                    154, MCDONALD, GALEF, STIRPE, FAHY, STECK, MONTESANO, CRESPO,

                    SIMON, CAHILL, M.G. MILLER, COLTON, BLAKE, GOTTFRIED, MORINELLO,

                    ASHBY, PICHARDO, ARROYO, LUPARDO.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC

                    BUILDINGS LAW, IN RELATION TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF

                    GENERAL SERVICES TO LEASE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

                                         11



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03838, CALENDAR NO.

                    155, DICKENS, TAYLOR, JEAN-PIERRE, ORTIZ, SAYEGH, AUBRY, RICHARDSON,

                    DARLING, STECK.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, IN RELATION

                    TO PROVIDING NOTICE TO APPLICANTS OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR PUBLIC

                    ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03923, CALENDAR NO.

                    156, WEPRIN, CUSICK, BENEDETTO, ABINANTI, MOSLEY, SEAWRIGHT, STERN,

                    REYES, BUTTENSCHON, OTIS, SANTABARBARA, FALL.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING COUNTIES TO MAINTAIN A

                    CONFIDENTIAL REGISTRY OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES FOR

                    EVACUATION AND SHELTERING DURING DISASTERS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03972, CALENDAR NO.

                    157, AUBRY, JAFFEE, BRONSON, WEPRIN, DE LA ROSA.  AN ACT TO AMEND

                    THE EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO MAKE A

                    CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT BEFORE INQUIRING ABOUT ANY CRIMINAL

                    CONVICTIONS OF A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A03993, CALENDAR NO.

                    158, WEPRIN, O'DONNELL, AUBRY, WALKER, BLAKE.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    CORRECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATES OF RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04061, CALENDAR NO.

                    159, ENGLEBRIGHT, PEOPLES-STOKES, GLICK, GALEF, ABINANTI, SEAWRIGHT,

                                         12



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    LUPARDO.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, IN RELATION TO

                    DEFINING THE TERMS "RETIREE" AND "BENEFICIARY" WITHIN THE FREEDOM OF

                    INFORMATION LAW.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04234, CALENDAR NO.

                    160, WEPRIN, O'DONNELL, DE LA ROSA, GOTTFRIED.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROCEDURES FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE WORK

                    OF THE STATE BOARD OF PAROLE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04235, CALENDAR NO.

                    161, WEPRIN, O'DONNELL, AUBRY, GOTTFRIED, BLAKE, WALKER.  AN ACT TO

                    AMEND THE EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO MEDICAL PAROLE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04253-A, CALENDAR

                    NO. 162, WEPRIN, O'DONNELL, COLTON.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE CORRECTION

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO CONFIDENTIAL HEARING RECORDS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04259, CALENDAR NO.

                    163, DENDEKKER, SEAWRIGHT, D. ROSENTHAL, D'URSO, DESTEFANO,

                    MORINELLO, ASHBY, DARLING.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING THAT ADVERTISEMENTS WHICH INCLUDE A

                    DISCOUNT OR REBATE IN THE ADVERTISED PRICE ALSO INCLUDE THE ACTUAL SELLING

                    PRICE PRIOR TO ANY DEDUCTIONS IN THE SAME FONT AND SIZE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04275, CALENDAR NO.

                                         13



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    164, DENDEKKER, WALLACE, BARRON, D. ROSENTHAL, BLAKE, SAYEGH,

                    COLTON, REYES, WRIGHT, DARLING, SEAWRIGHT, STECK.  AN ACT AUTHORIZING

                    THE STUDY OF FEES AND CHARGES ASSESSED TO RESIDENTS OF ASSISTED LIVING

                    FACILITIES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  READ THE LAST SECTION.

                                 THE CLERK:  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE CLERK WILL

                    RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES?  ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS PASSED.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04310, CALENDAR NO.

                    165, AUBRY.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE CORRECTION LAW AND THE PUBLIC

                    HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR INMATES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04350-A, CALENDAR

                    NO. 166, ZEBROWSKI, MCDONALD, STIRPE, WALLACE, BENEDETTO, COLTON.

                    AN ACT TO AMEND THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE

                    REQUIREMENT FOR POLICYHOLDERS TO PROVIDE 30 DAYS NOTICE TO WITHDRAW

                    FROM THE STATE INSURANCE FUND.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  READ THE LAST SECTION.

                                 THE CLERK:  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 90TH

                    DAY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE CLERK WILL

                                         14



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES?  ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS PASSED.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04438, CALENDAR NO.

                    167, DENDEKKER, BRONSON, HAWLEY, BRABENEC, MCDONALD, D'URSO,

                    WALCZYK.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, IN RELATION TO

                    THE DISPLAY OF AMBER AND BLUE LIGHTS ON CERTAIN HAZARD VEHICLES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04454, CALENDAR NO.

                    168, CUSICK, L. ROSENTHAL, ENGLEBRIGHT, ABINANTI, LUPARDO, OTIS,

                    D'URSO, MALLIOTAKIS.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL

                    CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING NOTICE TO ADJACENT

                    LANDOWNERS WHERE CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED IN WETLANDS IN A

                    CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04470-A, CALENDAR

                    169, ZEBROWSKI, PAULIN, GALEF, WILLIAMS, GUNTHER, COOK, DINOWITZ,

                    MOSLEY, ORTIZ, JAFFEE, BUCHWALD, BLAKE, GOTTFRIED, VANEL, WALSH,

                    FINCH, MONTESANO.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, IN

                    RELATION TO MISSING OR NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04507, CALENDAR NO.

                    170, AUBRY, WEPRIN, DE LA ROSA.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE CORRECTION

                                         15



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO INMATES WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04508-A, CALENDAR

                    NO. 171, CRESPO, BICHOTTE, DE LA ROSA, EPSTEIN, SIMON, ORTIZ,

                    PICHARDO, HYNDMAN, WILLIAMS, RIVERA, ARROYO, GRIFFIN, HUNTER,

                    COLTON, TAYLOR, D'URSO, SAYEGH, MCDONOUGH, PALUMBO, REYES,

                    FRONTUS, FERNANDEZ, JACOBSON, CRUZ, BARRON, SEAWRIGHT.  AN ACT TO

                    AMEND THE PENAL LAW, IN RELATION TO CRIMES INVOLVING THE DEATH OR

                    INJURY OF A WORKER.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04516, CALENDAR NO.

                    172, GLICK, COLTON, L. ROSENTHAL, BUCHWALD.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO PROHIBITING CLAUSES IN LEASES

                    REQUIRING THE DECLAWING OF ANIMALS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04568, CALENDAR NO.

                    173, ENGLEBRIGHT, THIELE, D'URSO, COLTON, WEPRIN, RAMOS,

                    L. ROSENTHAL, ABINANTI, GOTTFRIED, GLICK, ROMEO, RYAN, EPSTEIN,

                    GRIFFIN, BYRNE, STECK, JAFFEE, JACOBSON, CARROLL, SEAWRIGHT.  AN ACT TO

                    AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE SALE OR

                    USE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04574, CALENDAR NO.

                    174, JEAN-PIERRE, D'URSO, STECK, GOTTFRIED, THIELE, SEAWRIGHT,

                    MONTESANO, WALKER, VANEL, RA, OTIS, EPSTEIN, REYES.  AN ACT TO AMEND

                                         16



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING UTILITY COMPANIES TO

                    INCLUDE A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS CONCERNING RATE INCREASES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04604, CALENDAR NO.

                    175, BLAKE, DICKENS, ARROYO, COOK, SAYEGH, JACOBSON.  AN ACT TO

                    AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE TIME ELECTION DAY WORKERS

                    MUST BE AT POLL SITES TO PREPARE FOR THE OPENING OF POLLS, INCLUDING

                    RECEIVING VOTING SYSTEM KEYS AND OTHER ANCILLARY ELECTION DAY

                    SUPPLIES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04615, CALENDAR NO.

                    176, BICHOTTE, GANTT, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, BLAKE, WALKER, COOK, PERRY,

                    PRETLOW, ORTIZ, DINOWITZ, LIFTON, PEOPLES-STOKES, HEVESI,

                    L. ROSENTHAL, REYES, ZEBROWSKI, BARRETT, WRIGHT.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    EXECUTIVE LAW, IN RELATION TO ETHNIC OR RACIAL PROFILING.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04620, CALENDAR NO.

                    177, ENGLEBRIGHT, GUNTHER, JOYNER, ARROYO, DAVILA.  AN ACT TO AMEND

                    THE TAX LAW AND THE STATE FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO PROVIDING FOR

                    TAXPAYER GIFTS FOR DIABETES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AND ESTABLISHING THE

                    DIABETES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04666, CALENDAR NO.

                    178, RYAN, ORTIZ, JAFFEE, ENGLEBRIGHT, GUNTHER, BURKE, FAHY, LIFTON,

                    D'URSO, MCDONALD, NIOU, REYES, WEPRIN, GLICK, MOSLEY, THIELE,

                                         17



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    COLTON, SIMON, GOTTFRIED, L. ROSENTHAL, RAMOS, GALEF, EPSTEIN, STECK,

                    GRIFFIN, SEAWRIGHT, ROZIC, DICKENS.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE PROTECTION OF

                    CERTAIN STREAMS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04739-B, CALENDAR

                    NO. 179, FAHY, THIELE, GOTTFRIED, L. ROSENTHAL, EPSTEIN, ORTIZ, GALEF,

                    STIRPE, JAFFEE, DINOWITZ, MAGNARELLI, ROMEO, LIFTON, CARROLL, COLTON,

                    STERN, D'URSO, MOSLEY, PAULIN, REYES, PERRY, STECK, WALLACE, GRIFFIN,

                    ABINANTI, JONES, BUCHWALD, BARRON, QUART, SIMON, ZEBROWSKI,

                    FERNANDEZ, PEOPLES-STOKES, DAVILA, BARRETT, MCDONALD, WOERNER,

                    RYAN, HEVESI, M.G. MILLER, SAYEGH, GLICK, LIPETRI, MCMAHON,

                    SIMOTAS, ROZIC, RODRIGUEZ, SOLAGES, WEPRIN, SANTABARBARA, GUNTHER,

                    HUNTER, WALKER, O'DONNELL, BURKE, FRONTUS, VANEL, RIVERA, OTIS, KIM,

                    D. ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, ENGLEBRIGHT, SCHMITT, COOK, NIOU, BARNWELL,

                    ASHBY, JACOBSON.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

                    LAW, IN RELATION TO THE USE OF PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL

                    SUBSTANCES IN FOOD PACKAGING.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04746, CALENDAR NO.

                    180, L. ROSENTHAL.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION

                    TO REQUIRING PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF PROHIBITED

                    PROCEDURES TO PATIENTS.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY NO. A04752-C, CALENDAR

                                         18



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    NO. 181, ZEBROWSKI, WOERNER, GALEF, BRABENEC.  AN ACT TO AMEND THE

                    REAL PROPERTY LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING ASSESSORS USING THE

                    COMPARABLE SALES, INCOME CAPITALIZATION OR COST METHOD FOR

                    ASSESSMENTS TO CONSIDER CERTAIN COMPARABLE PROPERTIES IN FORMULATING

                    THE ASSESSMENT.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  READ THE LAST SECTION.

                                 THE CLERK:  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  THE CLERK WILL

                    RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES?  ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS PASSED.

                                 MR. GOODELL FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

                                 MR. GOODELL:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.

                    SPEAKER.  IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE ALEXIS WEIK.  MS. WEIK IS THE

                    TOWN OF ISLIP RECEIVER OF TAXES, AND SHE'S BEEN -- ISLIP -- AND SHE'S

                    BEEN IN THAT ROLE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND WAS JUST REELECTED FOR

                    ANOTHER TERM, WHICH SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HER AND THE JOB SHE DOES AS

                    RECEIVER OF TAXES.  AND ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT

                    IS TO COLLECT AND PROPERLY RECORD ALL THE TAXES SO THAT ALL OF US HAVE AN

                    OPPORTUNITY TO WISELY SPEND IT.

                                 BUT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE WELCOME ALEXIS WEIK FROM

                    THE TOWN OF ISLIP, RECEIVER OF TAXES.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  CERTAINLY.  ON BEHALF

                                         19



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    OF MR. SMITH, MR. GARBARINO, MR. FITZPATRICK AND MR. LIPETRI, THE

                    SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS -- I TAKE -- I TAKE INSTRUCTIONS WELL, MR.

                    LIPETRI -- WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.  WE

                    EXTEND TO YOU THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR.  OUR THANKS FOR THE PUBLIC

                    SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR -- YOUR COMMUNITY.  CONTINUE TO DO THAT,

                    AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REELECTION.  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

                    ALWAYS WELCOME.

                                 (APPLAUSE)

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  MR. SPEAKER, DO YOU

                    HAVE ANY FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  WE CERTAINLY DO.

                                 ON BEHALF OF MS. JAFFEE, BILL NO. A.570, ASSEMBLY

                    BILL RECALLED FROM THE SENATE.  THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL.

                                 THE CLERK:  AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOCIAL SERVICES

                    LAW.

                                 ACTING SPEAKER AUBRY:  MOTION TO RECONSIDER

                    THE VOTE BY WHICH THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.

                                 THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

                                 (THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

                                 THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.

                                 (THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

                                 THE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE AND THE BILL IS STARRED.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  THANK YOU, MR.

                                         20



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    SPEAKER.  IF MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE CHAMBERS COULD TAKE YOUR SEATS,

                    WE ARE ABOUT TO PROCEED WITH THE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE

                    AND LEGACY OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE

                    OF THE RESOLUTION.


                                 THE CLERK:  ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 686, MR.

                    HEASTIE.

                                 LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE

                    OBSERVANCE OF THE 35TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY IN THE

                    STATE OF NEW YORK ON JANUARY 20, 2020.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  SO ON THIS -- WHENEVER WE

                    COME TO READING THIS RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING DR. MARTIN LUTHER

                    KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY, IT ALWAYS HAS A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR ME.  BECAUSE IF

                    YOU REMEMBER, FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN WE FINALLY GOT TO -- EVEN THOUGH IT

                    WAS ALMOST THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER HIS -- THE CELEBRATION OF HIS BIRTHDAY,

                    THE FIRST READING OF THIS RESOLUTION HAPPENED ON THE DAY THAT ALL OF YOU

                    GAVE ME THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ELECTED SPEAKER.  SO IT'S ALWAYS A

                    SPECIAL MOMENT FOR ME WHEN I READ THIS RESOLUTION AND WE PRESENT THIS

                    RESOLUTION.  AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE WEEKEND AS I WENT TO DIFFERENT

                    EVENTS COMMEMORATING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WHAT IS JUST -- THE

                    THING THAT JUST SAT MOST WITH ME IS JUST OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT --

                    AND IF YOU REMEMBER MY OPENING COMMENTS DURING THE SESSION, WAS TO

                    CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON -- ON DR. KING'S COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL

                    JUSTICE.  WE'RE -- WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE WHEN HE WAS

                                         21



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    ASSASSINATED.  I, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS ONLY ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS OLD WHEN

                    HE WAS -- HE WAS ASSASSINATED, BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL MUCH MORE WORK

                    TO DO.  STILL -- AS LONG AS WE STILL HAVE INCOME INEQUALITY, AS LONG AS WE

                    STILL HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE, AS LONG AS WE STILL HAVE MASS INCARCERATION,

                    AS LONG AS WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET, AS

                    LONG AS WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE NOT HAVING SUITABLE PLACES TO LIVE, I THINK

                    IT'S A REMINDER.  AND IT SHOULD BE A CONSTANT REMINDER TO US EVERY DAY

                    THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, I THINK DR. KING WOULD SAY TO

                    US, WE STILL HAVE MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE WORK TO

                    DO.

                                 THANK YOU.

                                 MR. BARRON ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MR. BARRON:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  I ALWAYS TRY

                    TO RISE TO HAVE YOU SEE ANOTHER SIDE OF DR. KING.  A SIDE THAT IS NOT

                    OFTEN DEPICTED IN THE MEDIA.  A SIDE THAT IS NOT AS COMFORTABLE AS

                    PEOPLE WOULD WANT IT TO BE.  SO WHEN HE SAYS THINGS LIKE, JUDGE PEOPLE

                    BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER, WELL, THAT'S VERY COMFORTABLE FOR

                    PEOPLE TO SAY.  AND WHEN HE SAYS THINGS LIKE, WE SHOULD JUDGE

                    EVERYBODY AND HAVE A RAINBOW COALITION, THAT'S VERY COMFORTABLE.

                    BUT WHEN HE BEGINS TO TALK AGAINST CAPITALISM AND SAY THAT I AM MORE

                    OF A SOCIALIST THAN A CAPITALIST, IT GETS UNCOMFORTABLE.  AND WHEN HE

                    BEGINS TO SAY IN '63 HE BELIEVED IN INTEGRATION, HE BELIEVED IN A SYSTEM

                    THAT WOULD BE JUST FOR EVERYBODY, BUT BY THE TIME '68 CAME WHEN HIS "I

                    HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH THAT'S PLAYED OVER AND OVER, HIS DREAM BECAME

                    A NIGHTMARE AND HE SAID, PERHAPS I'M TRYING TO INTEGRATE INTO A BURNING

                                         22



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    HOUSE, AND MAYBE AMERICA NEEDS TO LOOK TOWARDS MOVING TOWARDS A

                    DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, THEN PEOPLE GET UNCOMFORTABLE.  DID YOU KNOW

                    THAT DR. KING WAS FOR REPARATIONS?  ALL OF YOU WHO LOVE DR. KING, VOTE

                    FOR MY REPARATIONS BILL.  HE WAS FOR REPARATIONS.  SAID WE SHOULD GET

                    PAID OVER $800 BILLION IN DEBT.  DR. KING.  DID YOU KNOW WHAT DR.

                    KING, WHO HE -- WHAT HE SAID ABOUT BLACK POWER?  OH, THIS IS WHAT DR.

                    KING SAID ABOUT BLACK POWER.  NOT MY WORDS, HIS WORDS.  "BLACK

                    POWER IN ITS BROAD AND POSITIVE MEANING IS A CALL TO BLACK PEOPLE TO

                    AMASS THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH TO ACHIEVE THEIR LEGITIMATE

                    GOALS.  NO ONE CAN DENY THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF THIS KIND

                    OF LEGITIMATE POWER.  INDEED, ONE OF THE GREAT PROBLEMS THAT BLACK

                    PEOPLE CONFRONT IS THEIR LACK OF POWER."  DR. KING.  HE WASN'T AGAINST

                    BLACK POWER.  HE MET WITH THE HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, LEADER

                    OF THE NATION OF ISLAM.  THEY HAD A CORDIAL, WONDERFUL MEETING.  HE

                    MET WITH MALCOLM X UP IN CONGRESS.  BOTH OF THEM WERE FIGHTING FOR

                    HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS.  MATTER OF FACT, MANY OF US BELIEVED THAT

                    THEY WERE COMING TOGETHER.  AND THEIR ASSASSINATIONS, BOTH OF US --

                    MANY OF US BELIEVED HAD A LOT TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT INPUT, REGARDLESS

                    OF WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER.  AND THEY BOTH DIED AT THE AGE OF 39.  JUST 39

                    YEARS OLD.  SO DR. KING WAS CALLING FOR US TO HAVE BLACK POWER.  HE

                    WAS NOT AGAINST IT.  AND DR. KING WAS ALSO CALLING FOR US TO UNITE AND

                    COME TOGETHER AS BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS AND BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE

                    WHITE POWER STRUCTURE.  THIS IS WHAT DR. KING SAID.  NOT CHARLES

                    BARRON, DR. KING.  "THE MAJORITY OF BLACK POLITICAL LEADERS DO NOT

                    ASCEND TO PROMINENCE ON THE SHOULDERS OF MASS SUPPORT.  MOST ARE

                                         23



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    SELECTED BY WHITE LEADERSHIP, ELEVATED TO POSITION, SUPPLIED WITH

                    RESOURCES, AND INEVITABLY SUBJECTED TO WHITE CONTROL.  THE MASS OF

                    BLACKS NURTURES A HEALTHY SUSPICION TOWARDS THESE MANUFACTURED

                    LEADERS."  DR. KING.  WE GOT SOME MANUFACTURED LEADERS STILL RUNNING

                    AROUND HERE TODAY.  BUT DR. KING SPOKE OF THESE THINGS, AND NOBODY

                    WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT.  WHEN THEY ASKED DR. KING TO CONDEMN THE

                    SO-CALLED RIOTERS - WE CALL THEM UPRISINGS AND REBELLIONS - HE SAID THIS:

                    "I WILL NOT CONDEMN THE RIOT UNTIL I FIRST CONDEMN THE CONDITIONS THAT

                    CAUSED THEM TO RIOT IN THE FIRST PLACE."  AND THEN HE SAID, "A RIOT IS THE

                    VOICE OF THE UNHEARD."

                                 SO AS WE MOVE THROUGH DR. KING'S CELEBRATION AND

                    HONOR HIM, HONOR ALL ASPECTS OF HIM.  HE EVOLVED IN '68 TO A RADICAL, A

                    REVOLUTIONARY, A SOCIALIST, AN ANTI-CAPITALIST, ANTI-IMPERIALISM BY '68.

                    EVEN CORETTA COT -- SCOTT KING, WHEN SHE GOT THE FIRST LETTER FROM HIM

                    HE WROTE TO HER, "I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY PHILOSOPHY ON

                    ECONOMICS IS CLOSER TO SOCIALISM THAN CAPITALISM."  AND DR. CORNEL

                    WEST WROTE IN HISTORY BOOK THE RADICAL KING AFTER HE SPOKE TO

                    CORETTA, SHE SAID, MAN, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO BE DATING A BLACK

                    SOCIALIST.  THIS IS ANOTHER DR. KING.

                                 SO RIGHT HERE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, BLACK POWER IS

                    UNDER ATTACK.  IT'S UNDER ATTACK THROUGH THE CENSUS UNDERCOUNT THAT

                    ALWAYS HAPPENS.  IT'S UNDER ATTACK THROUGH GENTRIFICATION.  WHITES

                    MOVING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHANGING THE POLITICAL AGENDA IN

                    THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS.  IT'S ATTACKED BY VOTER

                    SUPPRESSION OF THE BLACK VOTE.

                                         24



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. BARRON --

                                 MR. BARRON:  AND IT'S ATTACKED BY

                    REAPPORTIONMENT.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  YOUR TIME IS UP.  SORRY.

                                 MR. BARRON:  REAPPORTIONMENT.  SO, IF WE WANT TO

                    BE LIKE KING AND HONOR KING, THEN HONOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE CALLING

                    FOR BLACK POWER.

                                 REST IN PEACE, DR. KING, FOR A JOB WELL DONE.  BLACK

                    POWER.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. BLAKE ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MR. BLAKE:  IF I WERE STANDING AT THE BEGINNING OF

                    TIME WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING A KIND OF GENERAL AND PANORAMIC

                    VIEW OF THE WHOLE OF HUMAN HISTORY UP TO NOW, AND THE ALMIGHTY SAID

                    TO ME, MARTIN LUTHER KING, WHICH AGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN?  I

                    WOULD TAKE MY MENTAL FLIGHT BY EGYPT AND I WOULD WATCH GOD'S

                    CHILDREN IN THEIR MAGNIFICENT TREK FROM THE DARK DUNGEONS OF EGYPT

                    THROUGH AND ACROSS THE RED SEA.  HE THEN SPOKE OF -- THAT HE WOULD

                    TRAVEL TO GREECE OR MOUNT OLYMPUS AND SPEAK TO PLATO AND ARISTOTLE.

                    OR THE HEYDAY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.  BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE REFLECT

                    ON DR. KING AND REFLECT ON HIS NAME AND HIS BIRTH THAT WE DON'T FORGET

                    THESE WORDS THAT HE SAID THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED.  "I WOULD

                    EVEN GO BY THE WAY THAT THE MAN FOR WHOM I'M NAMED HAD HIS HABITAT,

                    AND I WOULD WATCH MARTIN LUTHER AS HE TACKS HIS 95 THESES ON THE

                    DOOR OF THE CHURCH IN WITTENBURG."  I START THERE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT

                    FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS NOT NAMED THAT AT

                                         25



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    HIS BIRTH.  HE WAS MICHAEL KING.  HIS FATHER, MICHAEL KING, SR., IN

                    1934 HAD WENT TO BERLIN.  AND WHILE TRAVELING WITH OTHER FAITH LEADERS

                    AND MISSIONARIES, HE WAS IMPACTED FOREVER BY SEEING FIRSTHAND THE

                    VISUAL OF 95 THESES THAT HAD BEEN PLACED THERE BY MARTIN LUTHER

                    HIMSELF.  AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT DRIVES US TO TODAY, REPEATEDLY DR.

                    KING SPOKE OF NOT BEING SATISFIED.  WE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WHEN IT

                    COMES TO THE BANK OF JUSTICE BEING BANKRUPT.  WE REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT

                    THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE GREAT VAULT OF OPPORTUNITY IN THIS

                    NATION.  WE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT JUSTICE FOR AS LONG

                    AS THE NEGRO IN NEW YORK BELIEVES FOR HE HAS NOTHING WHICH TO VOTE.

                    NO, WE ARE NOT SATISFIED AND WILL NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS

                    DOWN LIKE WATER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM.  IT'S IMPORTANT

                    FOR US TO REALIZE AND APPRECIATE AS WE CELEBRATE DR. KING, EVEN IN HIS

                    FINAL HOURS HE WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE CONDITION OF

                    THE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK.  SO WE NOT ONLY SAY "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO DR.

                    KING AS WE REALIZE 91 YEARS OF HIS BIRTH THROUGH NOW, IT IS OUR

                    APPRECIATION THAT AS HE SAID OFTEN, TO NOT IGNORE THE SILENCE.  THE LINE

                    THAT ALWAYS STAYS WITH ME ABOUT DR. KING.  "IN THE END WE REMEMBER

                    NOT THE WORDS OF OUR ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS."  SO LET US

                    BE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR WORK, OUR POLICY, OUR

                    RHETORIC AND OUR DUTIES ARE NOT TO BE SILENT FOR THOSE THAT WE REPRESENT.

                                 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. KING.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. WRIGHT ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. WRIGHT:  THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO

                    SPEAK TODAY IN CELEBRATION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE LEGACY OF

                                         26



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.  DR. KING IS ONE OF THE MOT

                    EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS OF OUR TIME.  HE WAS A LEADER AND

                    SPOKESMAN -- SPOKESPERSON IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FROM 1955

                    UNTIL HIS ASSASSINATION IN 1968.  WHILE HE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN

                    THE QUEST FOR EQUALITY IN AMERICA AND HE CAN BE CREDITED WITH LEADING A

                    SUCCESSFUL BUS BOYCOTT, MARCHES AND BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PASSAGE

                    OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, I SUBMIT THAT ONE OF HIS GREATEST

                    ACHIEVEMENTS IS A BODY OF WRITTEN WORK THAT HAS INSPIRED AND CONTINUES

                    TO GUIDE US AS WE STRIVE FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA.  HIS WORDS

                    GUIDE US IN THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR CIVIL, SOCIAL, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC

                    JUSTICE.  I KNOW THAT LOVING MY NEIGHBOR IS IMPORTANT, BUT EQUALLY

                    IMPORTANT IS STOPPING PREDATORY MORTGAGES AND DEED THEFT, REDLINING

                    AND USURY INTEREST.  I REMAIN GUIDED BY DR. KING'S WORDS AS WE HERE IN

                    THE ASSEMBLY TACKLE THE OPPRESSIVE CYCLES OF RACISM AND POVERTY.  AS

                    DR. KING OFTEN STATED, WE HAVE A COMMON DESTINY, AND THAT DESTINY IS

                    INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO OUR ECONOMICS.  SO AS WE HONOR DR. KING'S

                    LEGACY, LET US RECONNECT -- RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR

                    POVERTY IN OUR STATE.  SOLUTIONS WHICH CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH

                    PERSON TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED, PRODUCTIVE AND CREATIVE LIFE.

                                 THANK YOU.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. RIVERA ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MR. RIVERA:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  I WILL

                    ATTEMPT TO RECORD MYSELF FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH MY NEW TOY.  MR.

                    SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.  THE LAST FEW YEARS, ESPECIALLY

                    SINCE YOU BECAME SPEAKER AROUND THIS TIME, WE FELT PART OF MARTIN

                                         27



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    LUTHER KING'S MISSION HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.  YOU'RE SITTING WHERE

                    YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW; IN A SEAT OF POWER WHERE YOU CAN HELP AND

                    YOU CAN HELP US HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME.  I QUITE OFTEN SAY IF

                    I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN

                    MOCKED OR LAUGHED AT BECAUSE I SUPPOSEDLY -- I ONLY SPEAK FLUENT

                    BROKEN ENGLISH, BUT FLUENT BROKEN SPANISH, TOO.  SO I GET IT FROM BOTH

                    SIDES.  BUT SOMEONE LIKE ME WAS ABLE TO GET ELECTED BECAUSE THE CIVIL

                    RIGHTS STRUGGLE MADE THAT POSSIBLE.  ESPECIALLY THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE

                    OF 1965 WHEN TWO YOUNG PERSONS, THE JEWISH, THEY JOINED THE

                    AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS AND TOGETHER THEY WENT SOUTH.  THEY NEVER

                    CAME BACK ALIVE.  ONE OF THEM LIVED IN -- IN -- IN MY FRIEND JEFF

                    DINOWITZ'S DISTRICT.  OKAY?  SO, HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE STRUGGLE, PEOPLE

                    LIKE ME WAS ABLE IN '65 TO JOIN THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE FOR THE RIGHT TO

                    REGISTER IN SPANISH.  AND ANYONE THAT REGISTERS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

                    TODAY, YOU OWE IT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE.  SO HOW CAN I NOT GET UP

                    HERE AND SAY THANK YOU?  THANK YOU FOR HELPING PUERTO RICO IN THE

                    TIME OF NEED.  YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PUERTO RICO

                    RIGHT NOW?  NOT ONLY A HURRICANE WHICH YOU, MR. SPEAKER, MARCOS

                    CRESPO, THE GOVERNOR, ALL OF US CONTRIBUTED TO HELPING THEM.  WE TOLD

                    THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNOR, BE CAREFUL.  THERE'S NOTHING BUT ABUSE OF

                    POWER IN GOVERNMENT AND ABUSE OF POWER BY THE GOVERNOR IN PUERTO

                    RICO.  THE PEOPLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS-STYLE MARCH OF NON-VIOLENCE, THEY

                    OVERTHREW A GOVERNMENT IN PUERTO RICO.  UNHEARD OF.  NOBODY GOT

                    KILLED.  THEY GOT TEAR GASSED.  WELL, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?  THAT'S ALL THE

                    POLICE OFFICER KNOWS HOW TO DO.  SO, MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO THANK YOU

                                         28



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    FOR THOSE EFFORTS.  BUT I WAS THERE THIS WHOLE FIVE, SEVEN DAYS.  THE

                    GOVERNOR WENT, MARCOS CRESPO WENT.  THEY DID A GREAT JOB.  WE WENT

                    STRAIGHT TO THE MOUNTAINS.  WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- ANYTHING WE COLLECT

                    WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE, AS WE DID BEFORE, IT DOESN'T GET INTO THE

                    HANDS OF CORRUPTION.  LOOK INTO THE REPORTS COMING OUT.  LOOK INTO THE

                    REPORT.  ONE LIE AFTER ANOTHER.  PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO JAIL.  THIS

                    GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE SHE SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW

                    THAT EVERYTHING THAT WAS BEING SENT TO US FOR THE UNITED STATES,

                    ESPECIALLY NEW YORK, WAS BEING PUT IN A WAREHOUSE WHERE THE OWNER

                    OF THE WAREHOUSE WAS GETTING PAID SOME $30,000 TO USE -- TO LET THEM

                    USE THE WAREHOUSE AND NOT ONE OF THOSE ITEMS WAS EVER DISTRIBUTED.

                    IT'S IN THE NEWSPAPER.  IT'S NOT MY BIG MOUTH SPEAKING.  OKAY?  IT'S IN

                    THE NEWSPAPER.  SO, MR. SPEAKER, YOU KNOW WHAT MADE ME MORE

                    PROUD THAT ON THE DAY THAT WAS SET ASIDE TO CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER

                    KING OFFICIALLY HERE?  THAT'S AN OFFICIAL CELEBRATION IN PUERTO RICO.  SO

                    AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY OTHER LEADER, PHIL RAMOS, TO THE MOUNTAINS TO

                    HELP DISTRIBUTE, TO HELP THE PEOPLE, FOR OVER HALF-AN-HOUR, IT MADE ME

                    VERY PROUD.  WHAT I TRY TO SAY HERE MADE ME VERY PROUD.  I HEARD WHAT

                    I HEARD AND PLUS MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE SAID.  I HEARD IN RADIO IN PUERTO

                    RICO IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, I HEARD OF THE STRUGGLE OF MARTIN LUTHER

                    KING.  AND THE ANNOUNCER SAID AND IT WAS PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK WHO

                    ON THAT DAY IN 1963 JOINED BY THE THOUSAND, OVER 10,000 PUERTO

                    RICANS, TRAVELED WITH -- TO JOIN THE MARCHES IN -- IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

                    OVER 10,000.  AND HE SAID IF NOBODY BELIEVES US, WE HAVE THE PHOTOS

                    TO PROVE IT.  AND THEY NAMED NAMES.  THEY GAVE NAMES OF ONE OF MY

                                         29



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    MENTORS WHO USED TO BE A CITY COUNCIL PERSON.  (INAUDIBLE).  HE

                    PASSED AWAY, BUT HE MADE A CONTRIBUTION.

                                 SO I JUST WANT TO SAY MARTIN LUTHER KING IS A VERY

                    IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF STRUGGLE.  THE HISTORY OF STRUGGLE NOT

                    ONLY HERE, BUT IN PUERTO RICO.  I -- THEY MADE ME PROUD (INAUDIBLE).

                    AND THEN AS (INAUDIBLE) SAID, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE (INAUDIBLE).  RIGHT

                    NOW THERE'S THOUSANDS OF YOUNGSTERS GATHERING TO DEMONSTRATE IN FRONT

                    OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.  GUESS WHAT?  WE DID.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. RIVERA, YOUR --

                                 MR. RIVERA:  (INAUDIBLE).

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR TIME --

                    YOUR TIME IS UP.

                                 MR. RIVERA:  AND IT'S ALL ON VIDEOTAPE.  ONCE

                    AGAIN, MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  THANK YOU, MR. RIVERA.

                                 MR. RIVERA:  MARTIN LUTHER KING, THANK YOU VERY

                    MUCH.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. JAFFEE ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. JAFFEE:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  IT IS REALLY

                    AN HONOR TO BE JOINING YOU AND MY COLLEAGUES IN COMMEMORATING THE

                    OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN -- OF THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIN LUTHER

                    KING, JR. DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AND

                    LEGACY, BRINGING US TOGETHER IN REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION.  DR.

                    KING'S CAUSE WAS FIRMLY ROOTED IN HIS TRUE CALLING.  THAT OF AN

                    UNYIELDING FAITH NOT ONLY IN MATTERS SPIRITUAL, BUT IN THE INHERENT

                                         30



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    DECENCY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS FELLOW MAN.  A HUMANITARIAN, HE

                    DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO BATTLING SOCIAL INJUSTICE.  AND ONE OF THE MOST

                    INFLUENTIAL FORCES BEHIND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING IN THE 1950S AND '60S.  DR. KING ONCE SAID, AND I QUOTE,

                    "WE ARE NOW FACED WITH THE FACT THAT TOMORROW IS TODAY.  WE ARE

                    CONFRONTED WITH THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW.  IN THIS UNFOLDING

                    CONUNDRUM OF LIFE AND HISTORY, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS BEING TOO LATE."

                    END OF QUOTE.  BY THE TIME OF HIS TRAGIC ASSASSINATION IN 1968, HE HAD

                    BEEN AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND HAD LED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN

                    A NON-VIOLENT MOVEMENT THAT SHATTERED FOREVER THE SOUTHERN SYSTEM OF

                    SEGREGATION OF THE RACES.  HIS ELOQUENT, PASSIONATE ADVOCACY OF CIVIL

                    AND HUMAN RIGHTS ROOTED IN THE TECHNIQUES OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION

                    BROUGHT A NEW DIMENSION OF DIGNITY TO PEOPLE'S LIVES AND A NEW HOPE

                    FOR FREEDOM.  ALAN WOLF FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD SAID, AND I

                    QUOTE, "AMERICA WAS LIFTED UP BECAUSE KING WOULD NOT LAY HIS BURDEN

                    DOWN."  END OF QUOTE.  DR. KING'S WORDS COMMUNICATED HIS VISION, HIS

                    PASSION AND HIS FAITH, AND THEY DEMONSTRATED HIS GIFT TO INSPIRE OTHERS

                    TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD.  HE ASKED TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE DRUM MAJOR FOR

                    JUSTICE, AND HE IS THE DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE.  ALWAYS INSPIRED ME AND

                    SO MANY OTHERS.  THE MESSAGE HIS WORDS CONVEY ARE AS INSPIRING AND

                    FUNDAMENTAL TODAY AS IT EVER WAS DURING HIS LIFETIME.  AS A NATION AND

                    A STATE, WE MUST BRING RENEWED COMMITMENT TO CONFRONTING AND

                    ADDRESSING AND RECTIFYING INEQUALITIES IN OUR COUNTRY.  IN OUR STATE.  IN

                    OUR COMMUNITIES.  FOR OUR YOUTH, FOR THEIR FUTURE.  WE MUST NOT IGNORE

                    THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AND LEFT BEHIND IN OUR ECONOMY,

                                         31



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    ESPECIALLY IN THE CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC AND SOMETIMES

                    POLITICAL TIMES.  WE MUST TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE TO CLOSE THE GAPS THAT

                    STILL EXIST IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, IN OUR

                    EMPLOYMENT, IN OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.  AND WE HAVE STARTED THE

                    PATH IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.  WE MUST AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT

                    QUALITY EDUCATION, QUALITY STRONG EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD, FOR EVERY

                    ONE OF OUR ADOLESCENTS AND OUR OLDER ADULTS.  STRENGTHEN OUR CIVIL

                    LIBERTIES AND ASSURE SOCIAL JUSTICE.  THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER

                    KING, JR. LIVES WITHIN EACH OF US, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PROMOTE,

                    TEACH AND LIVE THE TRUE AMERICAN DREAM.  AS DR. KING SAID, AND I

                    QUOTE, "HUMAN PROGRESS IS NEITHER AUTOMATIC NOR INEVITABLE.  THIS IS NO

                    TIME FOR APATHY OR COMPLACENCY.  THIS IS A TIME FOR VIGOROUS AND

                    POSITIVE ACTION."  HE HAS INSPIRED ME FOR YEARS.

                                 THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

                    THANK YOU.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. WALKER ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. WALKER:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

                    ALLOWING ME TO PAUSE IN COMMEMORATION OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING, JR.  DR. KING WAS A BAPTIST PREACHER.  SO WHEN I THINK OF

                    THE DNA IN TERMS OF THE MAKE UP OF A MAN, THE MAN, I AM REMINDED OF

                    THE BIBLE MYSELF.  AND IN GENESIS 27 IT READS, THERE GOES THAT

                    DREAMER.  LET'S KILL HIM AND SEE WHAT BECOMES OF HIS DREAM.  WELL, WE

                    KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DAY WHEN DR. KING DELIVERED ONE OF HIS MOST

                    FAMOUS SPEECHES.  IT WAS ENTITLED "I HAVE A DREAM."  AND THE END OF

                    THAT SPEECH READS, "FREE AT LAST.  FREE AT LAST.  THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE

                                         32



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    ARE FREE AT LAST."  SO DR. KING WAS A MAN THAT STOOD FOR FREEDOM,

                    JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.  AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, EQUITY.  I AM ALSO

                    REMINDED AGAIN THAT ANOTHER GREAT DOCUMENT THAT WAS WRITTEN IS THE

                    CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  AND THE EIGHTH

                    AMENDMENT REMIND US THAT BAIL SHOULD NOT BE EXCESSIVE.  IT SHOULD NOT

                    BE REQUIRED.  EXCESSIVE FINES SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED.  AND CRUEL AND

                    UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT SHOULD NOT BE INFLICTED.  IT ALSO TELLS US IN THE

                    THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT THAT NEITHER SLAVERY NOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE

                    EXCEPT AS A PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME WHEREOF A PARTY SHALL HAVE BEEN

                    DULY CONVICTED SHALL EXIST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  SO DR.

                    KING WAS A PROPONENT OF FREEDOM.  AND WE KNOW THAT THE VERY

                    DOCUMENT THAT SEPARATES PEOPLE, THOSE OF US, THOSE OF OUR ANCESTORS

                    WHO LIVED IN SLAVERY, THE ONE THING THAT SEPARATES ARE THOSE WORDS.

                    AND SO IN THAT REGARD, WE RECOGNIZE THAT OVER 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE

                    NOW INCARCERATED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  IN FACT, 25

                    PERCENT OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED ALL AROUND THE WORLD

                    EXIST RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.  SO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS SOMETHING

                    THAT ALLOWED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THIS

                    COUNTRY, TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY AND

                    GEOGRAPHICALLY CONNECTED AND RELATED TO THE VOTER.  SO I WILL SIT HERE AS

                    A PROPONENT OF DR. KING'S DREAM TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE MY OPPORTUNITY AS

                    A MEMBER OF THIS BODY TO PURPORT AND PUSH FORWARD THE TRUE EQUITIES,

                    RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT NOT ONLY OUR STATE CONSTITUTION HAS,

                    WHO BY THE WAY, DICTATES THAT BAIL SHOULD JUST BE ABOUT RETURNING TO

                    COURT AND NOT PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME, NOTWITHSTANDING THAT -- PURPORT

                                         33



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TENETS OF THE CONSTITUTION ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL OF

                    THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.  SO AGAIN, SINCE DR. KING WAS A MAN WHO

                    STOOD FOR FREEDOM, FOR JUSTICE, FOR ACCESS, I AM HONORED TO STAND ON HIS

                    SHOULDERS AND THE SHOULDERS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD

                    SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH HIM AS WE PURPORTED TO PUSH FORWARD TOWARDS

                    FREEDOM.  TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENJOYING

                    THOSE FREEDOMS NOW AS A RESULT OF BAIL REFORM WHO HAVE GONE BACK TO

                    WORK, WHO'VE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL, WHO'S TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILY

                    MEMBERS, THAT I AM A LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE FACT THAT THE DREAMERS

                    DREAM DID NOT DIE WITH THE DREAMER, BUT THAT I GET TO WALK IN THE

                    FOOTSTEPS OF HIS DREAMS OF FREEDOM.  AND I GET TO STAND EYE-TO-EYE WITH

                    ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND CONTINUE TO STAY FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST.

                    THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST.  AND WHILE IT MAY HAVE TAKEN

                    400 YEARS TO ACHIEVE THOSE FREEDOMS --

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. WALKER --

                                 MS. WALKER:  -- IT WILL -- IT WILL --

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  YOUR TIME IS UP.

                                 MS. WALKER:  -- TAKE AN ETERNITY TO PROTECT.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME THE

                    OPPORTUNITY.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  THANK YOU.

                                 MS. DICKENS ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. DICKENS:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND -- AND

                    THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS RESO IN.  SO IMPORTANT TO HISTORY.  DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING IS OFTEN QUOTED AS SAYING THAT, "THE ARC OF THE MORAL

                                         34



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE."  THIS IS TRUE.  BUT IT

                    ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CARING, COMMITTED PEOPLE PUT THEIR HANDS ON THAT

                    ARC AND PULL IT TOWARDS JUSTICE.  WE MUST BE THOSE PEOPLE.  DR. KING IS

                    NOW RENOWNED IN -- IN -- IN HISTORY, IMMORTALIZED FOREVER IN WORLD

                    HISTORY.  BUT MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT HE WAS CONSIDERED RADICAL

                    BACK IN 1966 AND '65.  TODAY WE SAY HE IS A HERO.  TODAY WE STAND UP

                    AND WE COMMEMORATE HIS WORK AND WHAT HE DID FOR THE WORLD.  BUT

                    THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, NOT THE CASE JUST A FEW DECADES AGO.  A FEW

                    DECADES AGO WE FOUGHT FOR EQUALITY IN PAY.  WE FOUGHT HARD FOR

                    HOUSING.  WE DEMANDED EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.  AND TODAY

                    IN 2020, WE STAND HERE STILL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME EXACT THINGS.  STRIDES

                    HAS [SIC] BEEN MADE.  YES, SUCCESSES HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN HAD, BUT

                    WOEFULLY SLOW AND VERY INADEQUATE.  WE, IN THIS HOUSE, THE PEOPLE'S

                    HOUSE, ARE ELECTED TO STAND TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL THE

                    CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE, AND NOT JUST A FEW.  NOT JUST DOWN IN THE

                    CITY OR THE NORTH COUNTRY.  NOT OUT WEST.  BUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF

                    NEW YORK.  WHEN WE DO THIS, WHEN WE ACTUALLY DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK,

                    WE WILL THEN BE WALKING IN THE SHOES BEHIND THE WORK THAT MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING LAID DOWN HIS LIFE TO GIVE US A MODEL.

                                 I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HIM, FOR

                    GIVING ME THIS TIME, AND HOPEFULLY, THAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DID

                    NOT DIE IN VAIN.  THAT THE WORK THAT HE PUT FORTH, THAT THE ROLE HE LAID

                    OUT FOR US TO FOLLOW IS A PATH THAT EACH OF US WILL WALK AND LAY OUR

                    FOOTPRINTS IN FOR A BETTER WORLD FOR OUR FUTURE, OUR YOUTH.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME

                                         35



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    THE TIME.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. BICHOTTE ON THE

                    RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. BICHOTTE:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR

                    ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE OF DR.

                    MARTIN LUTHER KING, ONE OF THIS WORLD'S GREATEST HERO [SIC].  IN 1963,

                    DR. KING CAME TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN,

                    AND DELIVERED A SERMON CALLED "THE AMERICAN DREAM."  HE WAS

                    WORKING OUT THE THEMES THAT WOULD BECOME HIS "I HAVE A DREAM"

                    SPEECH SIX MONTHS LATER ON WASHINGTON, D.C.  AND IN THIS SERMON, DR.

                    KING PREACHED, WE MUST ALL LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS, OR WE

                    WILL PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS.  TODAY WE CAN SAY WE MUST ALL LIVE

                    TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS OR WE WILL PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS.

                                 THIS DAY WILL ALWAYS BE MEMORABLE TO ME NOT ONLY

                    BECAUSE HE WAS A HUMANITARIAN WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND

                    SOCIOECONOMIC JUSTICE, BUT ALSO ON THIS VERY DAY IT IS WITH HUMILITY THAT

                    I WAS RECENTLY ELECTED TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN COUNTY PARTY LEADER IN

                    BROOKLYN, THE SAME BOROUGH WHERE HE PREACHED IN 1963, "THE

                    AMERICAN DREAM."  I MUST SAY THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT A

                    REVOLUTION THAT HE LED, AND WITHOUT THE RADICAL SPIRIT OF DR. MARTIN

                    LUTHER KING, JR. TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF US.

                                 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,

                    JR.  THANK YOU.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. FALL ON THE RESOLUTION,.

                                 MR. FALL:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  AND A SPECIAL

                                         36



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    THANK YOU FOR THE SPONSOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND INTRODUCING THIS VERY

                    IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.  AS WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND WORK OF REVEREND

                    DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., LET US REFLECT ON HIS LEGACY, ESPECIALLY IN

                    THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FIELD.  YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE FUTURE, AND AS WE

                    HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS OUR YOUTH ROSE UP TO RIGHT THE WRONGS

                    BROUGHT UPON THEM.  WE HAVE SEEN THIS BOTH IN THE MARCH FOR OUR

                    LIVES MOVEMENT AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE MOVEMENTS.  BECAUSE OF DR.

                    KING, THE YOUTH OF THE 1960S AND THE YOUTH TODAY HAVE BECOME MORE

                    WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE THAT THEY WITNESS.  UNFORTUNATELY,

                    MANY OF THE DISPARITIES DR. KING WAS FIGHTING AGAINST STILL EXIST TODAY.

                    WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES ON RACE, RELIGION AND SEXUAL

                    ORIENTATION.  WHILE PEOPLE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS,

                    WE STILL NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB BY TEACHING OUR YOUTH THE VALUES OF

                    TOLERANCE AND DIVERSITY.  WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE

                    HUMAN DIGNITY BY -- AS DR. KING DID BY THE ACTIONS HE TOOK THAT ARE

                    NOW SOLIDIFIED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.  A COUPLE DAYS AGO I HAD A

                    CONVERSATION WITH MY DAUGHTER, MAIMOUNA, WHO'S SIX YEARS OLD AND IS

                    IN FIRST GRADE.  AND I ASKED HER WHAT DID SHE LEARN IN SCHOOL ABOUT DR.

                    KING.  AND BY THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION I WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY

                    SATISFIED BY WHAT I HEARD, BUT ALSO SHOWED HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AS A

                    COUNTRY BY THE SIMPLE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS ABLE TO ARTICULATE

                    WHO DR. KING WAS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR.  AND THAT CONVERSATION ALSO

                    LED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT DOESN'T

                    MEAN STANDING UP TO MOM AND DAD WHEN WE SAY NO TO CANDY.  I WANT

                    TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO HER.

                                         37



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                                 (LAUGHTER)

                                 AS WE HONOR DR. KING ON THIS DAY, LET'S REFLECT ON HIS

                    LEGACY THAT HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND AND THE WORK THAT IS STILL LEFT TO BE

                    DONE.  THAT INCLUDES ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, FOR

                    THE COMMON GOOD OF MANKIND.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. RICHARDSON ON THE

                    RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. RICHARDSON:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  AS

                    WE ELEVATE OUR GAZE, STRETCHING TOWARDS DIVISION, I AM SO HONORED TO

                    BE A MEMBER OF THIS VERY DIVERSE BODY AS WE HONOR -- HONOR THE

                    REVOLUTIONARY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WHO HAD MANY HALLMARKS OF

                    THINGS THAT HE FOUGHT FOR, SUCH AS LOVE, COMMUNITY.  SUCH AS MERCY,

                    VOTING RIGHTS.  BUT I REALLY WANT TO DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO THE POOR

                    PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN WHERE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS LOOKING OUT FOR

                    PEOPLE WHO WERE LESS FORTUNATE.  LOOKING OUT FOR THE EDUCATION OF OUR

                    CHILDREN.  LOOKING OUT FOR THE HOUSING FOR THE POOR.  AND I REALLY WANT

                    TO SEE THAT THIS LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO MOVE IN THAT SPIRIT NOT IN JUST

                    TALK, BUT IN ACTION.  WE HAVE MASS INCARCERATION THAT'S STILL ALIVE TODAY.

                    VOTING RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK TODAY.  AND SO I REALLY AM GRATEFUL THAT I

                    AM HERE IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME, AND THAT I CAN STAND AS A BEACON OF

                    LIGHT NOT ONLY FOR MY DISTRICT, BUT FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, BLACK

                    PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND CITY OF NEW YORK.

                                 THANK YOU.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MR. LAVINE ON THE RESOLUTION.

                                         38



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                                 MR. LAVINE:  THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.

                    DR. KING WAS ONE OF THOUSANDS WHO WERE SACRIFICED IN AN AMERICAN

                    BATTLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE.  I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HEARD

                    HIM SPEAK IN NOVEMBER OF 1965 WHILE A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF

                    WISCONSIN.  THOUSANDS OF US CROWDED INTO A HUGE AUDITORIUM.  AND I

                    CANNOT REMEMBER THE WORDS THAT HE SAID, BUT I CERTAINLY REMEMBER THE

                    SPIRIT.  AND I STILL FEEL THAT SPIRIT.  THAT WAS THE SPIRIT NOT SIMPLY OF DR.

                    KING, THAT WAS THE SPIRIT OF AMOS AND OF ISAIAH, HIS OLD TESTAMENT

                    PROPHETS WHO HE -- WHO HE SO, SO LOVED.  NOW, I HOPE I HAVE TAUGHT

                    MY CHILDREN THE LESSONS I LEARNED THERE -- THERE BACK IN 1965.  BUT HE

                    WAS A CONTROVERSIAL MAN, AND THOSE WERE CERTAINLY CONTROVERSIAL TIMES.

                    I GUESS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE WORLD WE

                    LIVE IN TODAY.  AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE LESSONS OF DR. KING IS - NOT

                    JUST DR. KING, BUT SO MANY OF THE OTHERS WHO WERE MARTYRS TO CIVIL

                    RIGHTS - IS WE CANNOT FEAR CONTROVERSY.  WE CANNOT FEAR DERISION.  WE

                    MUST RISE TO THE OCCASION.  THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES IN OUR NATION.

                    THERE IS AN ATMOSPHERE OF HATRED THAT I HAVE NOT BEFORE SEEN IN MY LIFE.

                    AND I THINK THAT THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN LOVE MUST STAND AND STAND

                    IN THE WAY DR. KING STOOD AND NOT AVOID CONTROVERSY.  AND I WILL

                    SIMPLY QUOTE TWO SHORT QUOTES OF DR. KING THAT ARE ON THE NORTH WALL

                    OF HIS MEMORIAL IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.  AND THE FIRST IS, "TRUE PEACE

                    IS NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF TENSION; IT IS THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE."  LET

                    US RESOLVE TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.  AND FINALLY, GIVEN ALL THE DIVISIVE --

                    DIVISIVE LANGUAGE FROM AMERICAN LEADERS TODAY, LET US FIGHT AGAINST

                    THAT PHILOSOPHY.  AND LET US REMEMBER ANOTHER QUOTE ON THE NORTH

                                         39



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    WALL:  EVERY NATION MUST NOW DEVELOP AN OVERRIDING LOYALTY, A LOYALTY

                    TO MANKIND AS A WHOLE IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE BEST IN OUR INDIVIDUAL

                    SOCIETIES.  WE MUST, MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, WE MUST AT GREAT PERIL

                    STAND TOGETHER.  IF WE DO NOT STAND TOGETHER, OUR NATION WILL FALL APART.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  MS. DARLING ON THE

                    RESOLUTION.

                                 MS. DARLING:  THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.  IN THE

                    SPIRIT OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, MY MOREHOUSE BROTHER, MY

                    MOREHOUSE BROTHER, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ALL NEED TO REMAIN

                    ENCOURAGED AS WE FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                    AND ONE QUOTE THAT I RECENTLY HEARD REALLY KIND OF SUMS UP WHAT WE ALL

                    NEED TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO DO.  "THE

                    TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT."  HE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GOING TO

                    BE EASY.  HE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GOING TO BE CONVENIENT.  BUT IT IS ALWAYS

                    RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

                                 THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  THANK YOU.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES TO CLOSE.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  THANK YOU, MR.

                    SPEAKER.  I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CHAMBERS.  I ACTUALLY

                    SAT HERE AND WATCHED PEOPLE'S EXPRESSIONS AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS

                    PROCESS OF HONORING THE LEGACY OF THIS GREAT MAN.  AND QUITE HONESTLY,

                    IT -- IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SOME OF US EVEN THOUGH MOST OF US

                    HAVE GROWN UP KNOWING THAT NAME.  SOME OF US WERE ALIVE AND LIVING

                                         40



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    WHEN HE WAS KILLED.  SOME OF US WERE ALIVE AND LIVING WHEN HE LIVED

                    THAT LEGACY.  BUT IT WAS -- IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR US.  AND I

                    REALLY WANT TO HONOR YOU ALL FOR SITTING HERE AND LISTENING AS WE HONOR

                    THIS GREAT MAN.  DR. KING DIDN'T JUST GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT DREAMING, HE

                    WAS A DREAMER.  AND IF YOU DON'T DREAM ABOUT THINGS AND VISUALIZE

                    THINGS, THEN SURELY YOU WILL NOT MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN.  HE HAS MADE

                    SOME THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR SOCIETY.  IS IT ENOUGH?  NO.  BUT WE'VE STILL

                    GOT TIME.  WE STILL HAVE LIFE LEFT.  WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

                    ENSURE THAT HIS LEGACY LIVES ON IN A STRONG KIND OF WAY.

                                 MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO END BY SAYING THIS:  I'M

                    RECALLING THE MOMENT WHEN YOU BECAME SPEAKER.  AND IT POPPED INTO

                    MY HEAD DR. KING'S QUOTE THAT I MENTIONED FIRST THING TODAY WHEN WE

                    OPENED SESSION, THAT YOU ARE NOT JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN

                    WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD BE SPEAKER, YOU WERE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT

                    OF YOUR CHARACTER.  AND I HONOR HIM FOR THAT AND I HONOR YOU, AND I

                    HONOR ALL OF YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THIS GREAT

                    MAN.

                                 WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I THANK YOU AND I ASK THAT YOU

                    WOULD NOW ALLOW US TO MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED --

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  I HAVE TO GET THE VOTES ON THE

                    RESOLUTION.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  OH, I'M SORRY.

                    (INAUDIBLE), MR. SPEAKER.

                                 (LAUGHTER)

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HONOR DR.

                                         41



                    NYS ASSEMBLY                                               JANUARY 22, 2020

                    KING, RIGHT?

                                 ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

                    AYE; OPPOSED, NO.  THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  OKAY, NOW I CAN SAY IT.

                    NOW WE MOVE --

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  NO, WE HAVE OTHER FINE

                    RESOLUTIONS.

                                 (LAUGHTER)

                                 WE WILL TAKE THEM UP EN MASSE.

                                 ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED,

                    NAY.  THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

                                 (WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 687-695

                    WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

                                 MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES:  THANK YOU, MR.

                    SPEAKER.  MY APOLOGIES.  I DO NOW MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY STAND

                    ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M., JANUARY THE 23RD.  TOMORROW

                    WILL BE A SESSION DAY.

                                 SPEAKER HEASTIE:  THANK YOU, MRS.

                    PEOPLES-STOKES.  THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

                                 (WHEREUPON, AT 5:19 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

                    UNTIL THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD AT 10:00 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION DAY.)







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