New York State

Nickname: The Empire State Admission to Union: July 26, 1788 State Capital: Albany Motto: “Excelsior” (Ever upward) Blue State

Part I – Government Particulars

The Executive Branch Governor Political Party Democrat NY Attorney General (4 years) Secretary of Housing and Urban Former Political Role(s) Development (Clinton Administration) Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan

The Legislative Branch Official Name State Assembly Total Representation 150 Speaker of Name Sheldon Silver the Political Party Democrat Assembly District 65 – Lower Manhattan Recent Legislation No recent sponsored legislation. Former legislation sponsorship includes reducing harsh drug laws on non-violent The Lower offenders. House Assembly Name Anthony Brindisi Member #1 Political Party Democrat District 119 – Utica, Rome, Floyd, Whitesboro Recent Legislation Relates to zone pricing of gasoline. He intends to decrease prices in Central New York. Committee Membership The Committee on Higher Education focuses on affordable education at collegiate levels.

The Legislative Branch (cont.) Assembly Name Michaelle C. Solages Member #2 Political Party Democrat District 22 – Valley Stream, Elmont (Long Island) Recent Legislation Makes certain provisions applicable to The Lower public schools relating to instruction in House civility, citizenship and character (cont.) education. Committee Membership The Committee on Social Services focuses on areas such as homelessness, programs for poor families, New York State food and nutrition policies, etc. Official Name New York State Senate Total Representation 63 President Name Dean G. Skelos (pro Political Party Republican tempore) of District 9th Senate District - Rockville Centre the Senate (SW Long Island) Recent Legislation S4554A-2013: Authorizes counties in the Hurricane Sandy federal disaster area to grant exemptions to filing fees related to federal Small Business Administration Disaster Loans Senator #1 Name Joseph A. Griffo Political Party Republican District 47th Senate District – From South of Utica, North past Potsdam, to Massena. The Upper Recent Legislation S7084-2013: The purpose of the House legislation is to provide coverage for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers when they are injured in the line of duty. Committee Membership The Committee on Higher Education focuses on collegiate affairs in NY. For example, the committee recently proposed legislation to “prevent academic fraud by discouraging Internet-based services from selling educational papers to students.” Senator #2 Name Political Party Republican District 45th Senate District – Glens Falls to Plattsburg (Most of the Adirondack Park)

The Legislative Branch (cont.) Senator #2 Recent Legislation S4358D-2013: The bill would amend (cont.) Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 109 (2-d) to permit the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to enter into a The Upper lease or license, not to exceed forty House years, for the adaptive reuse of (cont.) buildings and structures at certain state parks located on Long Island Committee Membership The Committee on Consumer Protection most recently focused on identity theft protection for minors.

The United States House of Representatives Total Number or New York State 27 Representatives Name Richard Hanna Political Party Republican District 22 – Binghamton, Utica, Rome, North of Oswego H.R. 1353: STEM Education Opportunity Act: This bill would help address college affordability and Recent Legislation encourage access to higher education in the economically competitive fields of Science, Representative Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). #1 Committee on Small Business

The House Small Business Committee was Committee Membership established to protect and assist small businesses. The Committee has jurisdiction over matters related to small business financial aid, regulatory flexibility, and paperwork reduction. Name Yvette D. Clarke Political Party Democrat District 9 – Brooklyn H.R.197: To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and Recent Legislation ensure respect for State regulation of marriage. Representative Committee on Homeland Security #2 The Committee on Homeland Security was Committee Membership established in 2002 to provide Congressional oversight for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and better protect the American people against a possible terrorist attack.

The United States House of Representatives (cont.) Name Steve Israel Political Party Democrat District 3 – Northern Long Island H.R.1641 : Weekend Voting Act

Representative Recent Legislation To change the date for regularly scheduled Federal #3 elections and establish polling place hours. Committee on Appropriations

Committee Membership Responsible for writing the laws that fund the federal government's myriad responsibilities.

The United States Senate Name Kirsten E. Gillibrand Political Party Democrat Pathways to College Act

Legislation that authorizes competitive five-year Recent Legislation grants to local education agencies that serve high- Senator #1 need high schools to increase the number of students from low-income families who attend college. U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee Membership This committee focuses on the environment. Recently, it has researched climate change. Name Charles E. Schumer Political Party Democrat S.2944 -- No Social Security for Nazis Act (Introduced in Senate - IS)

Recent Legislation To amend the Social Security Act to provide for the termination of social security benefits for individuals who participated in Nazi persecution, and for other Senator #2 purposes. Senate Judiciary Committee

The Committee on the Judiciary oversees federal Committee Membership law enforcement, all federal courts, and key policy areas including anti-terrorism measures, copyright and patent law, immigration policy, and bankruptcy protection.

Part II - General Statistics and Information

Population Total Population 19,651,127 Square Footage 47,126.40 square miles Persons per Sq. Mi. 411.2 New York is made up of both Urban and Rural areas. There are many cities found in the state including, New York City, Albany, Utica, Concentration Rome, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, Plattsburg. Much of Upstate New York is rural, including plenty of farmland and open areas, such as the Adirondacks and The Finger Lake Region’s wine country. White 70.9% Black 17.5% American Indian 1.0% Asian 8.2% Demographics Native Hawaiian 0.1% Two or More Races 2.3% Hispanic or Latino 18.4% Foreign Born Persons 22.1% Homeownership Rate 54.2% Crime Rate 2,200.6 per 100,000 people Laws N/A

Employment/Economy NY has many private sector jobs available. As of the end of Top Industries 2014, unemployment rates were decreasing. Farming is another large industry, particularly in Upstate NY. Unemployment Rate (as of Upstate NY (52-co. area) Downstate NY (10-co. area) December 2014) 5.6% 5.9% Insurance assessors, postmasters, mall superintendents opportunities will decrease by 2022.

Top 10 fastest growing occupations: 1. Biomedical Engineers 2. Personal and Home Care Aides 3. Network Systems and Data Communications Employment Projections Analysts 4. Skin Care Specialists 5. Home Health Aides 6. Physical Therapist Aides 7. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors 8. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 9. Pharmacy Technicians 10. Veterinarians Average Commute to Work 31.6 minutes

Employment/Economy (cont.) Average Earnings per Household $84,432 People Living Below Poverty 15.3% Level State Income Tax 8.82% Average Property Taxes $3,755 – 96 percent higher than the national median

Education Overall Rank 34* % High School Graduates 84.7%* % Bachelor’s Degree 32.4%* % Advanced Degree 14.0%* Syracuse University Utica College Major College(s) State University of New York (SUNY) College opportunities City University of New York (CUNY) College opportunities *Data collected as of 2009

Other Interesting Information Finger Lakes Region Wine Country Recreational Activities Adirondack Park The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse Niagara Falls New York City Vacation Spots 1000 Islands Alexandria Bay Bolt Castle New York City Broadway City Attractions Sightseeing Statue of Liberty Ellis Island

References

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