Winter 2019 NEWS from ASSEMBLYMEMBER Mathylde Frontus New York State Assembly 46th District Coney Island • Sea Gate • Bay Ridge • Bath Beach Brighton Beach • Dyker Heights • Gravesend Albany Office • Legislative Office Building Room 324, Albany, NY 12248 • 518-455-4811 • 518-455-5654 fax Bay Ridge District Office • 8525 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 • 347-560-6302 • 347-497-5372 fax Coney Island District Office • 2823 West 12th Street, Suite 1F, Brooklyn, NY 11224 • 718-266-0267 • 718-266-5391 fax Email • [email protected] • Website • https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Mathylde-Frontus Introducing Assemblymember Dr. Mathylde Frontus The 46th Assembly District finally has a new representative in the New York State Assembly! The Honorable Mathylde Frontus was officially sworn in by Speaker Carl E. Heastie just nine days after the General Election in No- vember, along with three other newly elected Assemblymembers, Karina Reyes, Jonathan Jacobson and Nader Sayegh. All four Assemblymembers were filling open seats and as such were sworn in on November 15th, earlier than the other nine Majority Conference members who assumed their new roles on January 1st. Assemblymember Frontus has been a community activist for many years before this new role. She’s been living in Coney Island for over 30 years and started multiple organizations to improve the conditions of her neighborhood such as Urban Neighborhood Services and the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative. She designed many noteworthy programs in her community such as a college readiness initiative consisting of college tours and free SAT prep courses; a summer youth leadership project for high-school students; legal and housing services and helping scores of local residents find employment. A long-time Social Worker, Assemblymember Frontus has a BSW and MSW from New York University (NYU), as well as a Ph.D. from the Columbia University School of Social Work. She has taught Advocacy & Social Justice at both of her alma maters and is proud to bring her long history of advocacy into her new role as a lawmaker. Community Inaugural Celebration t was a moment of celebration for the district that had Igone without a representative in the Assembly for the better part of one year. The culture and diversity of the 46th Assembly District was on full display with performances Excerpt from from the Coney Island Seaside Innovative Senior Center, Inaugural Speech P.S. 329 and the local Girl Scouts from Troop 2724 who “Indeed it is this potential to closed out the ceremony with a recessional. do good with this seat which really excites me the most because I know that as a collective of lawmakers my colleagues and I can do the right thing and pass legislation which can heal our communities. We can ease the suffer- ing of our children, our seniors and our immi- grants. We can protect the rights of the disabled and the LGBT [community]. We can stand up for tenant’s rights and I’m happy to say that with clear majorities in the Assembly and the Senate for the first time in ten years, there is no better time for all of you here today to rally around your state legislators and to urge us to pass the progressive legislation that New York State deserves….This is our year.” n Sunday January 6, 2019, Assemblymember Frontus held her in-district swearing in ceremony at William E. Grady High OSchool in Brighton Beach. Hundreds of community members attended and notable attendees included: • U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer • Congress Members: Max Rose, Yvette Clarke • State Senator Andrew Gounardes • Assembly Members: Harvey Epstein, Rodneyse Bichotte, Michaelle Solages, Charles D. Fall, Clyde Vanel, Jo Anne Simon, Steven Cymbrowitz, and former Assemblymember for the 46th district, Adele Cohen • NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer • City Council Members: Justin Brannan, Mathieu Eugene, Mark Treyger and former Councilman Vincent Gentile • Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams • District Leaders: Ari Kagan, Margarita Kagan, David Schwartz, Josue Pierre, and Doug Schneider • Judges: Loren Baily-Schiffman, Odessa Kennedy and Dweynie Paul • Consul General of Haiti in New York, Gandy Thomas Other distinguished guests include Rabbi David Okunov, from the Warbasse Jewish Heritage Congregation; Imam Nazrul Islam, from the Muslim Community Center in Bay Ridge, Reverend Dr. Classtine Pendarvis from the Naomi A.M.E Zion Church in Coney Island and Pastor Anthony Jones from the Greater Works Ministries in Coney Island, who all rendered invocations during the ceremony. Community members spoke about the impact that Assemblymember Frontus has had on their lives over the years and a video was played which shared well-wishes from residents from all corners of the district. Making Waves During Her First Few Weeks in Albany The 2019 New York State Assembly session kicked off with a cascade of legisla- tive accomplishments including voting reforms, campaign finance reforms and the long-awaited GENDA bill. The excitement around the Capitol was exhilarating. “We looked around at one another and we knew that history was being made,” said Assemblymember Frontus about the energy in the room. “Our agenda to pass laws to make New York a more just and equitable place to live was becoming a reality. I knew it would be a rewarding experience to represent my community in Albany but I did not anticipate the magnified effect of a room full of people who felt the same way about their own communities.” In addition to legislation being passed, many firsts occurred as well. Crystal Peo- ples-Stokes (D- AD 141) was appointed as the first female majority leader in the NYS Assembly and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D- SD 35) rose to her rightful place in the NY Senate. It really has been quite a year for women in politics and Assemblymember Frontus has been able to join the fray in what will possibly be the most active and progressive legislative body that New York has seen in decades. “The combination of legislators who are more sensitive to social issues and constituents who are holding their representatives accountable has created a sense of urgency to get to work and get things done. Historically, the slow pace of the government and bureaucratic red tape has hindered the legislative process but New Yorkers from Alleghany County all the way down to Staten Island have elected into office a progressive majority that takes their concerns seriously and prioritizes the needs of their constituents above their own personal interests. It is indeed a new dawn in our state’s capital.” Co-Sponsored Bills A21 Glick – Enacts the reproductive health act; repealer Glick (MS) – Designates engaging in sexual orientation change efforts by mental health care professionals upon patients A576 under 18 years of age Jaffee (MS) – Relates to the prohibition of discrimination based on an individual’s or a dependent’s reproductive health A584 decision making A585A Cahill (MS) – Enacts the “comprehensive contraception coverage act” Gottfried (MS) – Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression and includes offenses regarding A747 gender identity or expression under the hate crimes statute A774 Lavine (MS) – Relates to voter pre-registration A775 Dinowitz (MS) – Relates to voter registration transfers A776 Simon (MS) – Relates to political contributions by limited liability companies A777 Carroll (MS) – Removes ten day advance voter registration requirement A778 Vanel (MS) – Authorizes ballot by mail by removing cause for absentee ballot voting A780 Lavine (MS) – Relates to early voting A782 De La Rosa (MS) – Enacts the Jose Peralta New York state DREAM Act; repealer A783 Benedetto (MS) – Relates to state assessments and teacher evaluations Zebrowski – Provides a temporary extension for payment of real property taxes owed by a person who has been either a A881 furloughed or designated non-pay federal employee A1431 Lentol – Establishes new criminal discovery rules; repealer Committee Assignments Aging • Children and Families • Mental Health Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development • Transportation Out and Around the District • November 14th, 2018 • December 6th, 2018 • January 10th, 2019 Assemblymember Joining the Warbasse Coney Island Frontus addressing Jewish Heritage Affordable Housing the Dyker Heights Congregation at their Resource Event Civic Association. Chanukah menorah sponsored by lighting ceremony. Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS). • January 24th, 2019 • January 26th, 2019 • February 9th,2019 Assemblymember PSA 1’s Annual Assemblymember Frontus joined Coat Drive Frontus speaking NYC Comptroller Present: Members to the well-attended Scott Stringer to from the Explorers Community Pancake discuss much needed and the I.S. 303 Breakfast event, improvements Kiwanis Club. hosted by Bay to NYCHA housing Ridge Cares. conditions. New York State Assembly, Albany, New York 12248 PRSRT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Albany, New York Permit No. 75 NEWS from ASSEMBLYMEMBER Mathylde Frontus New York State Assembly 46th District Winter 2019 ASSEMBLYMEMBER Mathylde Frontus AD 46 STAFF A. Michael Decillis • Chief of Staff • [email protected] Ramon Guadalupe • Community Liaison • [email protected] Sofia Quintanar • Director of Communications • [email protected] Brigitte Purvis-Williams • Scheduler • [email protected] Follow us on Social Media! and @FrontusAD46.