Monthly Newsletter
May 10, 2026

From Mother’s Day to Memorial Day, May is a month that reminds us of what matters most: family, service, sacrifice, and community.

As we celebrate the mothers and grandmothers who do so much for our families, we also pause later this month to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Meanwhile, at the State Capitol, work on the budget continues well past the deadline. Below is an update on the budget, legislation I am advancing, and events and initiatives taking place here at home.

I hope to see you at an upcoming event.

Best wishes, 

Pam
 
Megan Freida Named 2026 Woman of Distinction

As President of Embrace Your Sisters, Megan leads an all-volunteer, privately funded organization that provides direct financial assistance to individuals facing breast cancer.

Since 2006, Embrace Your Sisters has delivered nearly $1 million in support across more than 13 counties in New York. That assistance helps cover essential expenses like rent, mortgages, car payments, insurance, and more during one of life’s hardest moments.

Megan balances a full-time career with volunteer leadership, bringing compassion, dedication, and purpose to this important mission. 
 
WATCH: NYS Budget Update

Our local communities deserve answers, not more uncertainty. During debate on the 10th budget extender, I asked whether this latest measure gives municipalities, schools, and healthcare providers the information they need to plan their budgets.

The answer was no.

It also became clear that the only Aid to Localities funding included was $11 million for the City of Yonkers. I will keep fighting for Upstate. 

Click Here to Watch Debate
 
Shill Family Center
Ontario County's First Family Homeless Shelter

You never know when life can change in an instant. A job loss, illness, family emergency, or devastating weather event can leave a family needing help they never expected. In those moments, Family Promise of Ontario County steps in with support, stability, and a path forward. That is why Ontario County’s first family homeless shelter is so important.

 

Thank you to Executive Director Todd Bernhardt, the entire Family Promise of Ontario County team, and Board President Teresa Pare for helping make this vision a reality. As Molly Shill said, this shelter is a hand up, giving families a safe place to stay and a path forward.

Thank you also to Ed and Molly Shill of the Shill Cares Foundation, former Ontario County Commissioner of Social Services Eileen Tiberio, current Commissioner Phill Personale, and all the sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who made this possible.

I will continue working in Albany and here in the district to make housing more attainable and affordable so people can put down roots and build a stable future in the communities they love.
 
Addressing the Needs of Our Farmers

You want to understand agriculture? Talk to the people doing the work.

I co-hosted the Women in Agriculture Legislative Breakfast, where more than 90 women farmers came together to talk about rising costs, pressure on family farms, and what they need from state government. I will keep fighting through legislation and the budget process for the support our farmers need.
 

Working alongside Mayor McAdoo and Director of Economic Development Kathy Rayburn, we secured $4.5 million in state investment for the Village of Victor through NY Forward.

This funding will help advance key community priorities and support the village’s continued growth and revitalization.
 
Sodus Chamber Awards

The Sodus Chamber of Commerce Awards brought neighbors, friends, and colleagues together to honor the people and organizations who make this community what it is. It was an evening full of well-deserved applause.

I had the privilege of presenting New York State Senate Citations to this year's honorees:

  • Citizens of the Year: Andrea and Wayne Vermeulen — two people who embody the kind of dedication that makes Sodus thrive.

  • Milestone Award: The Alton Fire Department — celebrating 100 years of running toward danger so the rest of us don't have to. A century of service. That's remarkable.

Evenings like this are a good reminder that strong communities don't happen by accident... they're built by people who show up, day after day, year after year. Congratulations to all of this year's honorees and thank you for everything you do.
 
Supporting Local Businesses

Naples is the kind of community that shows you exactly what matters. You see it in the local businesses, the family farms, and the community spaces that bring people together.

A recent visit was a reminder of how much places like Roots Cafe, Schum Acres, and the Naples Library contribute to the strength of this community. Small business owners, farmers, and neighbors are all investing in Naples and in each other. That is how a community stays strong, and I will keep fighting to make sure places like Naples have the support they need to grow and succeed.
 
Goodwill Expands in Chili

Goodwill is about so much more than a store. It is about jobs, opportunity, and the kind of everyday support that helps individuals and families build better lives.

The opening of the new Chili location is a meaningful investment in our community and a reflection of the important work the entire Goodwill team does day after day.

Congratulations to President and CEO Jennifer Lake, Sarah O'Brien, and everyone who helped make this new chapter possible.
 
Bringing Local History to Life

Ontario County’s history just got a whole lot more accessible, and a whole lot more fun.

The new Finger Lakes Virtual Museum is a free app that uses augmented reality and immersive storytelling to bring more than 65 historic markers to life for residents and visitors alike.

This is a creative and meaningful investment in our region’s story and in the tourism economy that helps support local businesses, jobs, and communities. Thank you to Alicia Richie and every partner who helped make it a reality.
 
Fighting to PROTECT Our Communities 

Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their own community.

That is why I led a press conference with sheriffs from across the state, including Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, Ontario County Sheriff Dave Cirencione, and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, to call for passage of my bill, the PROTECT Act.

This commonsense bill would help keep dangerous and repeat offenders off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. I will keep leading the charge to get it passed.

Click Here to Watch Full Remarks
 
Putting Crime Victims First

Honoring victims means more than words. It means showing up, speaking out, and demanding better.

At the Ontario County District Attorney Crime Victims' Rights Ceremony, we did all three. We recognized victims, survivors, and the community advocates who support them.

We marked the 10-year anniversary of the Ontario County STOP-DWI Memorial Garden. And we heard from guest speaker Sarah Palermo, whose words were a powerful reminder that every tragedy leaves a family forever changed.

I will never stop working with law enforcement, district attorneys, and victim advocates to strengthen protections, ensure accountability, and put public safety first.
 
Thanking Those Who Answer the Call

Firefighter banquet season is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary people who keep our communities safe. Volunteer fire departments across the 54th Senate District are gathering for their annual banquets, and I was proud to be part of those celebrations, including a very special evening with the Alton Fire Company as it marked 100 years of service to the community.

Back in 1926, a small group of neighbors started the Alton Fire Company with no fancy equipment, just heart, courage, and a commitment to serve. One hundred years later, that same spirit of service remains.

The Farmington Volunteer Fire Association’s 78th annual banquet was another meaningful opportunity to recognize the service and sacrifice of those who answer the call.

I was also honored to recognize Fairville Fire Department charter member Gene Weimer for an incredible 70 years of service. Gene has been part of the department since its founding in 1956 and helped build the legacy of service that continues today.

These gatherings are about more than awards. They are about recognizing the firefighters who give so much to keep us safe. To all who serve, thank you.
 
Hometown Heroes

Most veterans never ask to be recognized. They served because they felt it was their duty. Then they came home and kept giving to their communities in quieter ways.

That kind of humility makes moments like the Hometown Heroes Banner Unveiling in Macedon all the more meaningful.

Each banner lining those streets is a permanent, public promise: we see you, we remember, and we are grateful. Not just for the years of service, but for everything that came after.

Thank you to the Macedon Hometown Heroes Banners Project, Dianne Dorfner, and every volunteer who helped make this tribute a reality. You gave our heroes something they would never ask for themselves.
 
WATCH: Recognizing Ft. Drum

Fort Drum and the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division represent the very best of our country. Fort Drum is an important part of our state, both for what it represents and for the men and women who serve there.

It is also one of the largest employers in New York State and contributes more than $2 billion to the local economy.

Most importantly, it is home to extraordinary men and women who serve our nation with courage, discipline, and sacrifice. I was especially proud to recognize Sergeant Andrew Young of Honeoye Falls, a reminder that heroes live right here in our own backyard.
Click Here to Watch My Remarks
 
Creating Career Pathways
Close to Home

The best economic development is the kind that starts in a classroom and leads to opportunity right here at home.

The ribbon cutting for the Kodak Advanced Electrophysiology Lab at SUNY Geneseo is a powerful example of that.

This public-private partnership is creating new pathways for students, helping attract researchers, and sending a clear message to investors and businesses about what is possible in New York State. The work done here will help advance how therapies are developed, improve how products are tested, and bring safe, effective treatments to the people who need them.
 
Honoring Seniors Making
a Difference

Some people spend a lifetime making their community better and never ask for anything in return. Seniorama is a chance to recognize that service.

I joined Director of the Livingston County Office for the Aging, Sue Carlock, and Livingston County Administrator Shannon Hillier in honoring remarkable seniors from across Livingston County, including those whose leadership, service, and military service have made a lasting difference.

To this year’s honorees, thank you. Livingston County is stronger because of you.
 
Recognizing Remarkable Teens

100 students. 17 towns. One powerful reminder that the next generation of leaders is already here.

The Livingston County Teen Recognition Award Ceremony is one of my favorite annual traditions because it celebrates something we do not always say loudly enough: our young people are doing remarkable things.

From leadership to community involvement to perseverance through real challenges, this year's honorees have already proven what they are made of.

Congratulations to every student recognized this year. And thank you to the Livingston County Board of Supervisors and Youth Bureau for making sure their hard work never goes unnoticed.
 
Building the Workforce
of Tomorrow

My visit to FLCC’s Victor Campus with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. highlighted exactly what SUNY Reconnect is delivering for students across our region.

From nursing and allied health to EMT-paramedic training, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing, these programs are helping adult learners prepare for the careers our communities need most. 

President Nye and the entire FLCC team deserve enormous credit for making it happen.