Assemblywoman Reports to the People

■ District Office: 1126 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY 10461 • 718-409-0109 Spring 2018 ■ Albany Office: Room 530 LOB, Albany, NY 12248 • 518-455-5844 ■ Email: [email protected]

Thank you!

Dear Neighbor,

First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of your for your overwhelming support. As of April 30th, 2018, I was sworn in as your Representative for the 80th Assembly District. I want all of you to know just how much this means to me. However, the road to success is not yet over. Only with our continued joint effort will we be able to make the changes we want to see in our communities.

I would like you all to know that my door is always open, and Assemblywoman Fernandez meets with local business owners. that whatever you need will be answered with the best of my office’s capability. No issue is too small or too large for us to handle.

We may have only entered the Assembly during the last two months of session; however that does not mean that my team and I will not do everything in our power to pass helpful and progressive legislation. It is our job to ensure that we maintain ’s motto of Excelsior: Ever Upward.

I look forward to working alongside each and every one of you to continue the betterment of our communities. Please continue reading as I introduce my wonderful staff and some of the upcoming events we have planned.

Sincerest regards,

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez 80th Assembly District

Assemblywoman Fernandez speaks with community leader Sheikh Hamad. Calendar of Events Fridays with Fernandez • Come join Assemblywoman Fernandez in our office for help with constituent issues 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Rain Barrel Event at Loreto Park. Come receive your free Rain Barrel June 23rd • 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. provided by New York City Department of Environmental Protection! June 23rd • 2 p.m. Allerton/Barnes Block Party July 21st • 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Allerton Food Festival July 28th • 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thwaites Avenue Block Party TBD Job Resource Fair TBD Health Resource Fair TBD Tenant Resource Fair

So Far in District: ■ Brought the Commissioner of OATH, Hon. Fidel F. Del Valle, to Bronx House in order to educate seniors on how to fight summonses and tickets ■ Secured $25,000 for social service programs such as local food pantries and House ■ Worked with the department of sanitation to donate sup- plies to the local Boy Scouts Pack 162 Service Project

Assemblywoman Fernandez working with Friends of Assemblywoman Fernandez with the students from the Bronx High School of Mosholu Parkway to help clean up the environment. Visual Arts on Student Voter Registration Day.

Staff Profile Chief of Staff, Dylan Tragni ■ Dylan is a proud Pace University gradu- Communications Coordinator, Forhad Rahman ■ Forhad is a ate with a degree in Political Science with a minor in American Histo- Bronx local, having been raised in Parkchester before spending most ry. He left Pace as an established cum laude scholar and began his polit- of his adolescent years in Morris Park. He graduated from SUNY ical career as a Government Affairs intern for the former Assemblyman at Albany in May 2016 as a magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in Mark Gjonaj. Having done so well, the Assemblyman brought Dylan English Language. Although politics had not been his field of study, on full-time. He worked up to executive coordinator and eventually Forhad gained a strong appreciation and dedication towards the field becoming the Assemblyman’s Chief of Staff during the 2017 session after a Legislative Assistant internship at the State Assembly. Now period. Dylan plans on carrying his wealth of political experience to that he is back in the Bronx, Forhad is looking forward to working help Assemblywoman Fernandez make her stamp on Albany. with his fellow community members in the betterment of the bor- ough he cares so much about. Community Affairs Director, Odis Guerrero ■ Odis Guerrero is a born and raised Bronxite. She graduated from PS 105, MS 135, The Scheduler, Maria Parubi ■ Maria is a Bronx native who spent most of Albert Einstein program in Clinton High School, and Bronx Com- her in life Morris Park. Maria recently graduated from Pace University munity College. Her introduction to politics began as a volunteer with a degree in Political Science and a business minor. While still in fundraiser. It was during this time where she met Senator Klein, who school, she interned for then Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj as his com- quickly brought her on as a District Representative. There she rep- munity affairs intern and later played a pivotal role as his scheduler. Her resented her community with great aplomb. Her experience working organizational skills and ability to tackle any problem head forward left with and helping community members will lead the way as a strong an impression on now Assemblywoman Fernandez. Maria is eager to Community Affairs Director. work with her constituents help the community move forward. So far in Albany Our office has passed legislation that will: April 30, 2018 ■ Assembly passes measures that would prevent mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy ■ Allow the Medical Review Board of State Commission for minors. of Correction to obtain the clinical records of mental health patients who are inmates of a correctional May 1, 2018 ■ Assembly passes legislation to ensure that all pro- facility (A.10729, Fernandez). fessionals and laborers involved on construction projects that re- ceive public financing or incentives are paid the prevailing wage.

May 1, 2018 ■ Assembly passes legislation that will seek to bring justice to victims of childhood sexual abuse by extending statutes of lim- Our office has introduced or itation for criminal and civil cases. Under this law, the five year limita- co-sponsored legislation that will: tion period for felony sex crime against a minor will be moved from 18 to 23. It will also allow victims to seek legal recourse as adults. ■ Stop pregnant women from being held in jail because of bail (A.10837, Fernandez). May 2, 2018 ■ Assembly passes legislation that will eliminate the ■ mandate that state created or administered tests be used to determine Define and establish a micro-business to help a teacher or principal’s evaluation. This legislation will allow school smaller, local businesses (A.10838, Fernandez). districts and teachers to negotiate an effective and fair evaluation ■ Make all State Agency websites must be mobile system to meet the diverse needs of their students and communities. friendly (A.10839, Fernandez). ■ Require video cameras to be placed on the May 8, 2018 ■ Assembly passes legislation package that will support & protect survivors of domestic violence. These bills will entrance/exits of all facilities run by the office provide tools for rehabilitation, allow for victims of domestic abuse for people with developmental disabilities to terminate cell phone and satellite contracts without penalty, pro- (A.745, Gunther). hibit employers from discriminating against victims, and ensure the ■ Establish the crime of non-consensual protection and justice of all such victims. dissemination of sexually explicit images (A.1641A, Braunstein). May 14, 2018 ■ Assembly passes a package of legislation to pro- ■ tect tenants and strengthen rent regulations. Working families have Provide for a disability benefit for employees suffered from a diminishing number of rent regulated apartments, of the NYC Transit Authority who are disabled and the Assembly is seeking to prevent the further displacement of due to an assault sustained in the course of working class families. employment (A.3278, Joyner). ■ Allow tax exemptions for fire extinguishers and ■ June 12, 2018 Assembly passes legislation that will further re- fire, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms purchased form the criminal justice system, including critical legislation that for residential use (A.9653, Wallace). would end monetary bail in most instances, reduce the overuse of sol- ■ itary confinement, and end discriminatory practices, amongst others. Make the assault of a physician providing direct patient care assault in the second degree, a class June 13, 2018 ■ Assembly passes legislation that will provide D felony (A.10225, Joyner). feminine hygiene products to women in Correctional Facilities.

Assemblywoman Fernandez at the Talitha Cumi Etiquette Assemblywoman Fernandez at the Bronx Day Parade with and Leadership Academy Awards Ceremony. Councilman Gjonaj, Karines Reyes, and two of New York’s finest. Assemblywoman Fernandez reading to kids at the Bronx House. Assemblywoman Fernandez working alongside the The future looks to be in capable hands. Tracey Towers Tenant Association.

New York State Assembly, Albany, New York 12248 PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Albany, New York Permit No. 75

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez Spring 2018 Reports to the People

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez

Assemblywoman Fernandez and a very adorable community member. Assemblywoman Fernandez with the ladies at the St. Clare’s Senior Center.