YORK S TA W T E E N AROUND THE COMMUNITY prsrt-std STATE SENATE U.S. Postage PAID SE E NYSENATE.GOV NAT New York Senate 2010 TEACHERS OF CELEBRATING THE LUNAR New York State Senate DISTINCTION NEW YEAR IN FLUSHING Albany, NY 12247

New York State Senator Parade Grand Marshall and Flushing Chi- College Point nese Business Association President Peter Senator Padavan with a traditional Albany Office District Office Chu, Councilman Peter Koo, Senator Frank Korean drummer at the Korean American Frank L. Padavan Room 414, State Capitol 89-39 Gettysburg Street Flushing Padavan holding American flags provided Association of ’ Lunar New Year 19th Senate District Albany, NY 12247 Bellerose, NY 11426 by Padavan line up to kick off the Lunar Parade in Flushing on Saturday February Whitestone New Year parade in Flushing New York 20, 2010. Web: Padavan.NYsenate.Gov Tel: (518) 455-3381 Tel: (718) 343-0255 EMAIL: [email protected] Fax: (518) 455-2008 Fax: (718) 343-0354 Summer 2010

Senator Padavan with the 2010 Teachers of Distinction at the Queens Farm Museum PLAY BALL! It has become an annual tradition to honor teachers from LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING DAY throughout our community who go the extra mile in the class- room and embody a strong dedication to our children. Back in May, during National Teacher Appreciation Week, Senator Padavan hosted his fourth annual Teacher of Distinction ceremony where he honored over 35 teachers from both public Medicaid Reform Plan Job Creation and Around the and privates school from throughout Northeast Queens. Will Save Taxpayers Retention Plan Community Inside: DollarS Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 PADAVAN HONORED AT WHITESTONE FAMILY Senator Padavan throws out the ceremonial first pitch to mark start of the College REFORM ALBANY APPRECIATION DAY Point Little League season UPDATE Recently, Senator Padavan The State Legislature must enact common-sense, joined with Councilman fair-minded reforms that will bring about ac- Halloran, the Greater countability and transparency to all our state Whitestone Taxpayers’ government. In keeping with his strong commit- Civic Association, the ment to reform, Senator Padavan signed on to Knights of Columbus and the “Pledge for Change New York” a collabora- the North Queens United tive project of good government groups. Some Group to host the first an- of the proposals lined out in the pledge include: nual Whitestone Family ensuring ethics, lobbying and campaign finance Appreciation Day. The reforms are independent and powerful; provid- event featured activities and ing an independent process for redistricting; and programs all afternoon long. establishing an Independent Budget Office to During the event, Padavan oversee state finances. Senator Padavan with Dick Dadey, Executive Director of the Citizen Union of the City of New York was honored for his mili- tary service and dedication and devoted service to the TERRI POUYMARI Whitestone community. 2010 WOMAN OF FAMILY FUN DAY AT MACNEIL DISTINCTION PARK A BIG SUCCESS The Woman of Distinction Award is bestowed In a partnership with the Poppenhusen Institute, Senator Frank upon women throughout the state who have tire- Top: Senator Padavan is presented with Padavan sponsored the first annual Family Fun Day at MacNeil lessly given of themselves in service to their com- a plaque by Peter Zuccarllo with Coun- Park in College Point. The afternoon long free event, attended munity and have achieved professional and personal cilman at Whitestone by over 600 local residents and children, featured fun, games excellence. This year the prestigious honor for our Family Appreciation Day and educational programs by the Alley Pond Environmental community was presented to life-long Queens resi- Center: Senator Padavan with a local Center, the LI Children Museum, the Fire Department of New dent Terri Pouymari, President of the Auburndale family at the Whitestone Family York and the NYC Coalition of Transportation. Improvement Association. Pouymari spent over 30 Appreciation Day Top: Poppenhusen Institute Executive Director Susan Brustman, Otto the Clown and years teaching history at Newton High School in Bottom: Senator Padavan with Barbara Senator Padavan with a local family at Family Fun Day in MacNeil Park Elmhurst. She resides in Flushing with her husband Ellenberger, Chairperson of the Board Left: Senator Padavan with two local youngsters at the APEC booth during Family John, a former history teacher and school adminis- of the Greater Whitestone Taxpayers’ Fun Day at MacNeil Park Association during the Whitestone Right: Senator Padavan and Susan Brustman with Groupo Latino at MacNeil Park trator. Both are active members of St. Kevin’s Parish Family Appreciation Day for post Family Fun Day community concert Senator Padavan with 2010 Woman of Distinction Honoree Terri Pouymari in Senate Chamber in Auburndale. new york state S enator Frank Padavan • 19 t h senate district • C o l l e g e p oint, Flushing, whitestone • S u m m e r 2 0 1 0 web: PADAVAN.NYSENATE.GOV • email: [email protected] • Tel: (718) 343-0255 / (518) 455-3381 • fax: (718) 343-0354 / (518) 455-2008 CONTROLLING MEDICAID SPENDING PADAVAN, COMMUNITY WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS FIGHT MTA SERVICE CUTS New York’s Medicaid spending has risen to a point that it is simply unsustainable. The facts are astounding. We spend an estimated $1 billion a week on Medicaid for a total of $52 billion annually. Future projections have state spending, your tax dollars, for Medicaid increasing by 37 percent over the next five years adding $5 billion more in spending. When you compare New York to other states the picture becomes even more troubling and stunning its scale and scope. Total spending in New York is 70 percent above the national average and spends more California and Texas combined. The Medicaid system is riddled with fraud, waste and abuse costing New York billions. Senator Padavan has developed a plan that will save New York hundreds of millions in the short-term and billions into the future with some much-needed reforms to the Medicaid program. Some of the provisions in the action plan include: ff Authorizing the referral of all fraud cases to local DA’s to streamline and increase the prosecution of cases and al- The Q79 is a vital bus line for thousands of Northeast low counties to keep a portion of the funds they recover; Queens residents. Families, students and seniors rely on the ff Restoring common sense asset and resource testing as a bus line to travel throughout the borough and to destina- Medicaid eligibility; and tions in Long Island. That is why, Senator Padavan joined ff Eliminating “doctor shopping” by requiring recipients to with local residents and community leaders to fight against choose one primary doctor and one pharmacist. the MTA’s plan to cut the Q79 bus line. PADAVAN HONORS FLUSHING SMALL BUSINESS WEST POINT DAY AT THE Crystal Windows and Doors Systems is an award winning manufacturer of Crystal Window and Door Systems Executive VP Ste- quality, energy-efficient vinyl and aluminum windows and high end fenestration ven Chen, Senator Padavan, Crystal Window and Door STATE CAPITOL Systems President Thomas Chen and Assemblywoman systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The company On Wednesday April 28, New York State Senator Frank Grace Meng (Flushing) mark the 20th Anniversary has grown from a start-up and now employees 800 employees. Additionally, of Crystal Window and Door Systems with a Senate Padavan (Queens), a retired colonel and 30-year veteran of Crystal Windows and Door Systems is involved in many business, community Proclamation. the United States Army Corp of Engineers, met with Cadet and charitable organizations including the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Rachel Kim and Cadet Hemanth Nalamothu during West Queensborough Community College Fund, Queens/Flushing Library systems, Point Day at the State Capitol. Cadet Kim, a member of the College Point Board of Trade, Child Center of New York, Flushing Chinese Class of 2013 is from Whitestone and Cadet Nalamothu, a Business Association and Taiwanese Business Association. member of the Class of 2011 is from Bayside. Both Cadets were recognized on the floor of the State Senate during a special portion of the legislative session. West Point Day is an annual tradition in the State Legislature that honors the service of the FIGHTING FOR MORE JOBS AND A STRONGER ECONOMY Cadets and the important role the storied institution plays in Cadet Rachel Kim, Senator Frank Padavan and Cadet Hemanth Nalamothu during Several months ago, my colleagues and total payroll. They would receive up to West Point Day at the State Capitol New York State and the nation I in the Senate Minority Conference $3,000 in an additional credit for hir- worked with small business leaders ing a New Yorker on unemployment. across the State in crafting a com- “The key cornerstones of MEMORIAL DAY IN Northeast QUEENS prehensive proposal to improve New Moratorium on New Taxes and York’s economy, cut taxes, and help this plan are stability and Regulations create thousands of new private sector growth for New York’s Our plan would impose a moratorium jobs. This groundbreaking plan, called on any new taxes, fees and regulations the 2010 Job Creation and Retention economy...It will provide on small businesses, manufacturers Package, includes the following new opportunities for and farms. components: middle class families and Perhaps the biggest missed oppor- A Cap on State Spending all New Yorkers who have tunity in the State Budget was that it Imposing a constitutional cap on State failed to address New York’s most seri- spending is one of the most critical been deeply impacted by ous challenge — the need for econom- steps we can take to improve New the recession and growing ic growth and new private sector jobs. York’s overall business climate. In the days ahead, I will continue unemployment." fighting for the key reforms set forth in Job Creation Tax Credit —Senator Frank Padavan the 2010 Job Creation and Retention An average $2,500-$5,000 credit to em- Package, because it would dramatically Councilman Dan Halloran, Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Padavan and Assemblywoman Grace Meng Senator Padavan and Councilman Dan Halloran honor our fallen at the Whitestone Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 31, 2010. soldiers and America during a ceremony following the College Point ployers in New York for every new job improve our business climate and create Memorial Day Parade created / only new jobs that expand thousands of new job opportunities.