Assemblywoman Jenne co-sponsors net neutrality bill

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, (D-Theresa), joined several of her colleagues in the state Assembly last week to show their support for legislation (A8882) that would require companies doing business with the state to follow net neutrality rules.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, (D-Albany), was introduced in December shortly after a decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repeal regulations that required internet service providers (ISPs) to treat websites equally. Assemblywoman Jenne immediately signed on as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

"Cutting off the ability to do business with the state, I think, is appropriate given the state has funded a lot of the infrastructure that brings the internet to so many people that live in the North Country, particularly our businesses," Assemblywoman Jenne said to a crowd that included representatives from schools, libraries and small businesses.

"A lot of our traditional businesses, like the agriculture industry and the tourism sector, are becoming more and more reliant on technology as well as our many, many, many small businesses that run in the North Country," she added.

"We will have built a bridge to nowhere if we allow companies to essentially censor the content we have access to and prevent the voices and competitiveness of our businesses and entrepreneurs across the state," the assemblywoman said.

"It's the basic foundational principles of fairness and even play, which our country was founded on. Net neutrality, I believe, is a must if we are going to adhere to our long-held founding beliefs," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.

She said she was pleased Gov. Cuomo signed an executive order directing state entities not to enter into any contracts for internet service unless the internet service providers ISPs agree to follow net neutrality principles.

Assemblywoman Jenne praised Assemblymember Fahy for being a leader on the issue and noted, despite the governor’s action, legislation is necessary to codify the executive order into state law.

She said Congress also needs to take steps to address the inequities that could result from the FCC decision.

IN THE PHOTOS:

TOP PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne says net neutrality is important to growing business in the North Country. She joined several of her colleagues to call for the state to pass legislation aimed at addressing recent action taken by the Federal Communications Commission. Pictured are (l-r); Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Assemblywoman Jenne and State Senator David Carlucci.

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Assemblymember Patricia Fahy discusses a net neutrality bill she has introduced in the New York State Assembly.

Assemblywoman Jenne: $1 million state grant opportunity to provide tools to move people out of poverty

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, praised a community forum last week at Jefferson Community College that helped open lines of communication between schools and community-based organizations that work with those living in poverty.

The forum was part of the city of Watertown's anti-poverty initiative. The city was awarded $1 million in Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative funding in the 2016-17 state budget. The grant is being administered by United Way of Northern New York (NNY).

United Way of NNY Chief Executive Officer Robert D. Gorman said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had proposed funding 12 cities around the state with $1 million anti-poverty initiative grants in his executive budget proposal last year.

"Watertown was not on that list of 12 cities," he said, noting Assemblywoman Jenne immediately saw the omission and worked during the budget negotiation process to get funding for the North Country. "At the end of the day, Addie got the city of Watertown added to the list."

Assemblywoman Jenne, who was the forum’s keynote speaker, said the goal of the funding was to provide tools to help individuals raise themselves out of poverty and gain long-term economic stability.

"While this grant went to the city of Watertown, this initiative is not just about the city. Our approach to these types of issues in the North Country is regional. My hope is the work the city does through this grant process will have a much larger footprint."

The poverty rate in Jefferson County is 15 percent, with 28 percent of children under 18 years of age living in poverty. The numbers are even higher in St. Lawrence County, with a 19 percent poverty rate and 27 percent of children under 18 years of age living in poverty.

"This Call to Action community forum brought together educators from a number of schools in Jefferson and Lewis counties and representatives from a host of community organizations serving the tri-county region in the North Country," Assemblywoman Jenne pointed out.

The forum was facilitated by the Institute for Learning Centered Education.

Don Mesibov, the Canton-based institute's director, said students raised in concentrated poverty face a unique set of challenges, often associated with trauma, which many schools are not prepared to address effectively.

He said his program's poverty and trauma initiative is aimed at assisting educators in developing the tools and strategies they need to help students succeed in academic, social and personal settings.

Mr. Mesibov noted Assemblywoman Jenne had secured $20,000 in state funding, allowing the program to launch the poverty initiative.

"Addie got us a legislative grant that helped us start working with 35 schools in the North Country and Fairport," he noted.

He said bringing together educators and agencies to work with individuals living in poverty was an important step in addressing the challenges facing the region.

"There are common denominators as we work to reach people. We have a lot more power in this room than you realize," he said to the approximately 70 participants at the forum.

The state's anti-poverty initiative is aimed at making targeted investments in capital projects to improve the quality, efficiency and reach of services that address poverty, including job training, public safety, and health and nutrition programs.

The initiative also seeks to better align public and private resources with community-based interventions that are successful in improving outcomes for residents and build partnerships among public and private, municipal and nonprofit organizations to provide a variety of solutions.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the North Country's poverty rate is higher than the state and national averages. She noted that she continues to fight for funding and programs to grow the workforce and help to reduce the number of families living in poverty.

"At first glance, it might not seem like the farm-to-school program, funding food pantries, gaining equitable funding for our schools, implementing community school programs, increasing the minimum wage and this $1 million grant to the city of Watertown are related," she said.

"But it is a holistic approach to improve the North Country and help lift people out of poverty. We know education is an important part of that process and providing schools with the tools they need to reach students with the greatest needs is critically important," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"We also know students faced with empty cupboards at home and coming to school hungry are going to find it hard to focus on their schoolwork. We know that students dealing with traumatic events at home are going to find it hard to focus on their academics when they come to school. Programs like these give schools and community organizations better tools to meet those students' needs," she added.

The city has submitted a proposal to the state that calls for the funding to be used for mentorship programs, providing vehicles to the working poor with transportation needs, refurbishing six to eight homes for working poor families and working with employers on strategies to retain employees that come to the workforce from lives of poverty.

"We know there are barriers that can make it difficult for individuals to get out of poverty, and these programs are aimed at helping individuals and families overcome some of those challenges," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

The community forum was sponsored by the United Way of Northern New York, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, Jefferson-Lewis Teacher Center, Watertown City School District and the North Country Regional Office of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).

IN THE PHOTOS:

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Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Robert D. Gorman, chief executive officer of United Way of NNY, at "Call to Action, A Community Forum on Poverty/Trauma held at Jefferson Community College. The event was sponsored by Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, Jeff-Lewis Teacher Center, Watertown Central School District, the North Country Office of NYSUT and the Institute for Learning Centered Education.

BOTTOM PHOTO:

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, standing, checks in with Beverly Ouderkirk of Morristown,  a member of the New York State Board of Regents, at a community forum on Friday at Jefferson Community College, The event attracted 80 individuals from several school districts in Jefferson County and a number of community organizations ranging from the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council and the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization to Watertown Urban Mission and the Community Action Planning Council.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne talks with Don Mesibov, director of the Institute for Learning Centered Education, at Friday's community forum on poverty at Jefferson Community College. The event drew representatives from a number of non-profit organizations as well as the Watertown, Indian River, Thousand Islands, Beaver River, South Lewis, South Jefferson and Lowville Academy school districts. Officials from Jefferson-Lewis BOCES and SUNY Canton were also on hand for the forum.

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, standing, checks in with Beverly Ouderkirk of Morristown,  a member of the New York State Board of Regents, at a community forum on Friday at Jefferson Community College,

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne chats with Robert D. Gorman, chief executive officer of United Way of NNY, and Antwerp Primary School Principal Elixabeth Culbertson at "Call to Action, A Community Forum on Poverty/Trauma held at Jefferson Community College.

Don Mesiboc, director of the Institute for Learning Centered Education, talks with Marlene Pickering and Lawrence Bohler about their experiences growing up in poverty

Assemblywoman Jenne impressed by enthusiasm at women's marches in Canton, Watertown

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne said she was encouraged by the enthusiasm, engagement and willingness to stand up for policy issues of importance she saw at rallies and womens' marches this past weekend in Canton and Watertown.

"It’s amazing to see so many people come out this morning for this call to action. We are trying to address social inequities, social justice," Assemblywoman Jenne said as she addressed a crowd of just under 200 people at a pre-march rally at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton.

"We are not going away. We’re never going to give up. We will not be shushed, shushed,” she said.

Assemblywoman Jenne said the crowds attending the two rallies were drawn by a variety of issues ranging from federal policy actions on health care, and education, cuts targeting children and environmental protections as well as the current state of public discourse on race and sexual assaults and sexual harassment.

"At the end of the day what we are talking about today is social justice. We are trying to address social inequities and support the time honored ideals our country was founded on," she said.

Elizabeth Bollt, who organized the Canton march, said the theme of this year's event was "Power to the Polls."

Ms. Bollt said a voter registration table was set up at the event, and she stressed volunteers would be canvassing and working to get out the vote in November.

Assemblywoman Jenne said local residents have their voices heard when they go to the polls on Election Day.

“It is in communities like this in the North Country, where we know how to strike the balance; communities where we respect and value each other," she said.

"It’s places like this one that support young women running for office that have crazy ideas, like the importance of providing our citizens with quality health care and equitable funding for our schools, raising the minimum wage and expanding family paid leave to allow moms to stay home longer with their babies,” Assemblywoman Jenne added.

She said she will continue to advocate to allow women to continue to make their own health care decisions.

"We wake up and find a women's right to choose is in the crosshairs again. We've got to work together so we are able to make our own health care decisions that will determine our futures," according to the assemblywoman.

Assemblywoman Jenne, speaking at the rally in Watertown, said the #MeToo movement is a sign that women are demanding changes in the workplace and will no longer remain silent about sexual harassment and sexual assaults.

"We have had a flurry of women speak out very courageously about the pain that they have suffered - pain that has been long and systemic," she said.

"We have institutional inequities. It is extremely important as we get our legs underneath us as a movement that we not just be satisfied that a couple of rich white men have lost their careers or had their careers knocked off track," the assemblywoman stressed.

"We have to make sure that we turn these high profile incidents into real justice for working women - store clerks, clerical workers on our college campuses ... - and people who have been discriminated against and oppressed for years and years, generation after generation," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"We need to get long-term policies in place to protect all those who have been abused or harassed including those suffering at the lower end of the economic scale so they know they will have justice so they will be able to live their lives with dignity," she noted.

The assemblywoman said she was also impressed to look out at the crowd at both rallies and see the faces of so many men.

"This movement is as much about men as it is about women. The things that move me have as much to do about the men in my life - my son, my father, my brother, my nephews, the men in my life that I love, the men in our community we love that we send off to war to protect the ideals we are here fighting for today," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"It's all about respect, self-determination and justice," the assemblywoman reiterated. It's about our democracy.

"I'm very happy to see so many men here today - men that are leaders, men that are also willing to stand with us and speak up," she said, thanking the men in attendance at the Watertown event.

Assemblywoman Jenne co-sponsors bill to improve availability of voter information

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced a bill (A.1057) she co-sponsored to improve communication between state and county boards of election and voters has passed the state Assembly.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, D-Ossining, allows voters to include an e-mail address on their voter registration application and record.

The change would allow the state Board of Elections to send notices and other communications electronically, in addition to by traditional mail.

"We know a minority of registered voters cast ballots in most elections and improving communication with voters is one way of working to improve turnout," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

"This legislation reflects the reality that more and more North Country residents are using e-mail as their primary method of communication. While there could be an initial cost to implement the new system, it’s clear this will likely result in long-term savings as voters down the road opt to receive notices solely by e-mail," she added.

Assemblywoman Jenne helps pass legislation providing heat to residents during emergencies

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she helped pass legislation that ensures residents have access to propane to heat their homes in emergency situations (A.8940-A).

The bill allows propane customers who lease their tanks to choose from multiple suppliers to refill their tanks during emergencies.

"This is really a no brainer. It's something near and dear to my heart," Assemblywoman Jenne said on the state Assembly floor.

“The community I grew up in (Philadelphia,) had the coldest temperature in the state and country a few days ago, and our area has experienced some of the coldest temperatures in the country in the past few weeks," she said.

“'It’s critical that residents have access to propane so that their homes are heated and their families stay safe from this frigid weather,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.

“This bill ensures propane customers whose regular supplier cannot be reached or is unable to make a delivery can get fuel from a different supplier without having to worry about a breach of contract,” she added.

The bill will allow homeowners leasing tanks from a particular company to choose from the variety of other suppliers for emergency deliveries during times of urgent need and periods of high demand.

Under the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a propane supplier who doesn’t own the tank may fill, refill or otherwise deliver propane into that tank provided it has been inspected and certified, when:

• a consumer has acted in good faith under an existing contract to procure the propane delivery from the owner of the propane cylinder but has not received propane in a reasonable time; or

• a federal, state or local state of emergency has been declared or severe weather or other circumstances may place the residents at risk of death or injury or building structures or fixtures t risk of damage.

Additionally, the legislation forbids the propane supplier from charging any additional fees or penalties for filling the tank and prohibits the companies that own tanks from charging a penalty.

Propane suppliers typically own all of the equipment, including the tanks and regulators, and simply lease the tanks to the homeowners as a cost savings. But the contract stipulates the owner of the equipment is the only provider allowed to refill those tanks.

Assemblywoman Jenne said consumers are left at the mercy of their provider and can face serious issues at their home if they run out of their heating source on days when temperatures have plunged well below freezing.

She pointed out wind chill temperatures in the North Country have sunk to lower than 20 below zero several days this winter.

"I've had frozen pipes in my home this winter and had to replace plumbing. When the temperatures are well below freezing and you run out of propane, you need to remedy the situation quickly so your home is not damaged," Assemblywoman Jenne said.

Assemblywoman Jenne noted there are few options for self-help when you run out of propane and the legislation is not meant to punish propane suppliers. She said extreme weather conditions impact businesses as well, and there are times when propane suppliers simply don't have the drivers or trucks necessary to meet demand.

"This legislation could actually benefit propane suppliers. It would mitigate damages they could face for failing to make on-time deliveries to their customers," she said.

Forcing consumers to wait for the fuel company they’re under contract with to come and refill the tank could put residents in danger if the company doesn’t deliver in a timely fashion. Allowing residents to contact other fuel companies in emergency situations is beneficial to everyone involved, Assemblywoman Jenne noted.