Keeping you informed on 40th Senate District happenings
HELP ME FIGHT THE PROPOSED NYSEG RATE HIKE
I voiced my strong opposition to NYSEG’s proposed rate increase of 20.4% for electric and 3% for gas, at a recent Public Service Commission hearing in Yorktown, as well as in a direct letter to PSC Commissioner John Rhodes. District 40 NYSEG customers experience frequent power outages, during major and even minor weather events because the utility is woefully unprepared. Help me fight this increase by e-mailing me your comments, by September 30th, to harckham@nysenate.gov. I will bundle them and send them to the PSC. In the subject line, write “NYSEG Rate Increase.”
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN OF SEPTEMBER 11
At the "Rising" 9/11 memorial in Valhalla.
I attended five memorials on September 11th, the 18th anniversary of that tragic day in 2001. Families are still suffering from the impact of that day of horror, including those who lost loved ones when the towers collapsed and those who worked on rescue and cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site, who are now suffering from illnesses related to toxic chemicals they encountered. I will never forget them and will continue to work to help these families.
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN WESTCHESTER, PUTNAM, DUTCHESSS
Public safety is the number one responsibility of government. I recently secured over $500,000 in law enforcement funding for agencies and municipalities in SD40. The funds will be used to help them purchase advanced technology as well as new police vehicles and equipment, to help them patrol and protect our communities. The following agencies received funding: the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County District Attorney’s Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, five municipalities received aid for their law enforcement agencies - Brewster, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Somers, and Yorktown.
HATE HAS NO HOME IN PEEKSKILL AND THE HUDSON VALLEY
Pictured with young Esme Smith-Marantz, Shae Rekeda and Desmund Rekeda.
Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey and many other elected officials and dignitaries from Westchester County joined me recently at a press conference to denounce white supremacist hate stickers that were posted in that city. Thank you to Peekskill’s Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and Rev. Gary Colter for hosting. The turnout was tremendous and the support we have received is inspiring and heartening.
$400,000 FOR MOUNT PLEASANT PUBLIC LIBRARY CHILDREN’S ROOM RENOVATION
Assemblymember Tom Abinanti joined me to announce $400,000 in state funding for the Mount Pleasant Public Library in Pleasantville. The funds will be used to renovate and update the Children’s Room, which is a major resource for the community. Thanks to Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer, Mount Pleasant Supervisor Carl Fugenzi and Library Director John Fearon for joining us to make the announcement.
VISITING NORTH SALEM SENIORS
I enjoyed visiting the residents of the Waterview/Salem Hills Nursing Home in North Salem. They asked me terrific questions and we had great discussions. Special thanks to resident Charlotte “Holly” Timson who invited me to speak.
BREAST MILK AND MOTORCYCLES IN VALHALLA
I recently helped kick off The New York Milk Bank’s motorcycle Milk Caravan to deliver donor breast milk to various depots on the way to their final stop in Buffalo. The organization provides safe donor breast milk for babies in need, including premature infants and those suffering from opioid dependency at birth. I met many members of the Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club, at the kickoff event, before they headed upstate in the Milk Caravan. Earlier that morning, I presented a proclamation to New York Milk Bank Executive Director Julie Bouchet-Horwitz citing the organization’s outstanding, lifesaving work.
HELP REGISTER VOTERS -- EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
We need your help! We are teaming up with the Peekskill NAACP to register voters on Saturday, September 21. Help us register your neighbors to vote by meeting in my office at 11 a.m., 1 Park Place, Suite 302, Peekskill. Newcomers will be trained. To sign up to participate please call 914-241-4600.
READING “ISH” TO PEEKSKILL FIRST GRADERS
I had a great time reading the book “Ish” to first graders in Anilda Eliazar’s class at Woodside Elementary School in Peekskill. I was also given a wonderful tour of the school. Thank you to Principal Rebecca Aviles-Rodriguez and Peekskill Schools Superintendent David Mauricio.
RECOGNIZING J.P DOYLE’S RESTAURANT IN SLEEPY HOLLOW
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and I presented a state proclamation honoring J.P. Doyle's Restaurant in Sleepy Hollow. It's the 20th anniversary of the establishment.
VISITING THE YORKTOWN GRANGE FAIR
In early September, I visited the Yorktown Grange Fair, which each year celebrates the agrarian life of our history and the joy of a day filled with family fun. Thanks to Fair Director Greg Brown and Yorktown Supervisor Ilan Gilbert for the invitation.
SENATOR HARCKHAM’S UPCOMING MOBILE OFFICE HOURS
If you have a comment, question or concern, I invite you to visit our mobile office hours in September where you can communicate in person with a member of my staff. I’ll be stopping by two mobile office hour events this month to meet with constituents – Brewster and Shrub Oak. Please call 914-241-4600 with any questions.
Saturday, September 21, Lewisboro Library Fair, Onatru Farm, 99 Elmwood Rd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, September 30, Brewster Library, (I’ll be there) 79 Main Street, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (I’ll be reading to children from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) Monday, September 30, John C. Hart Memorial Library, 1130 E. Main St, Shrub Oak, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (I’ll be there)
SHED THE MEDS, DROP OFF YOUR UNWANTED MEDICINES
Safely dispose of unused or expired medications at our “Shed the Meds” events: Wednesday, September 18, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at New York Presbyterian – Hudson Valley Hospital, 1980 Crompond Road, Cortlandt Manor. Monday, September 23, 9 a.m. to noon at the Mount Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla.
Albany Office: 812 Legislative Office Bldg
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-3111
District Office: 1 Park Pl, Suite 302
Peekskill, NY 10566
914-241-4600
