Medicare Rights Seminar

Senator Felder hosted a Medicare Rights Seminar on Tuesday, November 28, for people turning 65 in 2017. A representative from Medicare Rights offered a soup-to-nuts tutorial on Medicare and explained the various choices people have when applying for Medicare. About three dozen people attended the two-hour seminar, which included an extensive question and answer session.

A Welcome Surprise!

I promised my young friend Avraham Baruch at Bonim Lamakom a surprise for his birthday... and the surprise was Country Yossi!

With his trusted guitar, Yossi entertained the birthday boy, and everyone assembled, with five songs, and then everyone shared birthday cake.

My thanks to Rabbi Horowitz at Bonim Lamakom for helping make this special moment happen.

Senator Felder's Creative Thanksgiving

Senator Felder and the State Senate sponsored a "Creative Celebration" contest that inspired children from all over the State to submit essays, poetry and artwork for inclusion in their Thanksgiving Day Showcase. The children from Shema Kolainu, a school for children with autism, were thrilled to participate and sent in some terrific entries that Senator Felder's staff marveled at... and hung up in the Senator's office for all to see.

Visiting FDR High School

Senator Felder visited FDR High School in Brooklyn for a tour of the school's performing arts center and student theater.

Parties Don’t Matter. Issues Matter.

by NY State Senator Simcha Felder

I’ve seen a fair amount of coverage about my recent decision this legislative session to caucus with the Republicans. The news reports have been speculative, sometimes confusing, and often inaccurate. So I’m pleased to have an opportunity to explain things directly to you and clear up any questions with regard to why I’ve chosen this path.

Before I go there, I want to thank you for letting me to serve you again. Allowing me to run unchallenged on all three party lines—Democrat, Republican and Conservative—was a vote of confidence that I will work hard to be worthy of.

Like many of you, I am a registered Democrat with fairly conservative views. If you want any say in New York City—a place where winning a Democratic primary is equivalent to winning office—you must be a Democrat to have a say in City elections. So why join sides with the Republicans?

There’s a debate that conscientious elected officials have with themselves that goes like this: Do I carefully and precisely represent the views and expectations of my constituents, or should I use my experience to do what I believe is best in office? After all, elected officials are expected to have a wider understanding of the Big Picture than the public… But if that’s the case, what about the will of the people?

I have never found the answers to these questions to be in contradiction. Having been born and schooled in the same district that I represent—having raised a family here and maintained a passionate involvement with our community—I believe that my thoughts are, for the most part, the same as yours. The decisions that I make politically are what I think are best for us. Given my position, I believe most of you would make the same decisions. There are exceptions, sure, but caucusing with the Republicans isn’t one of them.

Winston Churchill once said that Democracy is the worst form of government, except for the other ones. Our political arena largely relies on a two-party system where you are either a Democrat or a Republican. But at the same time, political club memberships have been declining for years. It’s a sign that more and more people are recognizing that it’s not about the parties—it’s about the issues.

Which brings me to my decision.

At the end of the day, regardless of which lever people may have pulled for me—Democrat, Republican or Conservative—you don’t want me representing a party. You want me to represent you. And I am in full agreement.

My decision to caucus with the Republicans was based on three things: First, I need to consider what’s best for my constituents. Secondly, I need to consider what’s best for New Yorkers. I believe that every government needs balance; that having a stacked deck with either party controlling all of the centers of power, either on a Federal or State level, is not in the people’s best interests.

Third, I have to rely on my experience. That experience dictates that I stand with the Republicans again. I’ve been with them for the last two legislative sessions—the last four years—and this has served New Yorkers well. We’ve done great things together and seen success with many issues including protecting special needs families, free school transportation (a direct help to parents and their families), protecting the bodies of the deceased, and fighting the City’s Bag Tax, to name a few.

The reason behind my decision was no more complicated than that. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I stick to the belief that I must represent you as I’d like to be represented.

So once again, thank you for returning me to Albany where I will have only one goal in mind. And that goal is, with Hashem’s help, serving your best interests, regardless of party politics.

(This article originally appeared in The Hamodia).

Keeping Our City Streets Clean

"Nothing expresses pride in our city quite like clean streets," says Senator Felder. The Senator's continued sponsorship of the ACE program results in keeping major avenues in his Senate district much cleaner than they would otherwise be. Recently, the Senator met with some of the ACE workers who were sweeping up the neighborhood near his office. For more information on ACE's clean streets program, call 212-274-0550 or visit their website.

A Visit to Bonim Lamokom

Senator Felder always enjoys visiting Yeshiva Bonim Lamokom, and the students get a big charge out of these visits, too. A typical day at the yeshiva combines a regular learning curriculum with a vocational training program. Senator Felder greeted the students and staff while observing the yeshiva's programming.

NEED HELP WITH HEATING COSTS?

Senator Simcha Felder has announced the opening of this year’s Neighborhood Heating Fund—the HeartShare program—on December 12. The program provides assistance to eligible households who need help with the cost of heating their homes. Grants of up to $200 may be available to those that have an open balance on their National Grid heating account.

“The cold weather means heating costs will be going up,” said Senator Felder. “The good news is that there are programs available to help low-income families and seniors. Last year my office saved our constituents more than $24,000 on their heating bills. I encourage eligible households to apply for HeartShare, which can be done right at my offices. HeartShare is a good resource for those on a fixed income and working families struggling to make ends meet. Just call my office for an appointment to have your application filled out.”

Call 718-253-2015 (Flatbush office) or 718-484-3216 (Boro Park office).

Senator Felder: Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries

Senator Simcha Felder joins the FDNY in reminding all New Yorkers to change the batteries and their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks for the end of Daylight Saving Time.

The Fire Safety Education Unit will be distributing alarm batteries throughout the five boroughs.

Brooklyn locations for the free batteries distribution are as follows:

November 3, 2016 (10 am – 2 pm @ each location)

Avenue M and East 14th Street

13th Avenue and 53rd Street

Lee Avenue and Williamsburg Street West

Avenue J and East 14th Street.

November 4, (4 – 6 pm @ each location), locations are:

Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Terminal at Stillwell Avenue & Mermaid Avenue

Broadway Junction Complex at Jamaica Avenue & Fulton Street

Crown Heights-Utica Avenue Station at Utica Avenue & Eastern Parkway.

November 5, (12 – 4 pm) the location is:
Target @ 139 Flatbush Ave.

Will the Yellow Bus Strike Impact Your Child?

(This story originally appeared at The Yeshiva World News)

A strike has been threatened by drivers of yellow school buses that may begin as early as tomorrow, but most yeshiva parents are not worrying. Thanks to the free transportation that was put in place by State Senator Simcha Felder, 20,000 children attending yeshivos will not be impacted by the strike.

“Just when we’ve gotten used to thanking Simcha Felder for the free transportation, now we have to start thanking him for taking this strike worry off our minds, too,” said one yeshiva administrator. “Seriously, just as we’re returning to school after the holidays, the last thing we need to worry about, and that parents need to worry about, is how kids are going to get to school every day. Unfortunately, some parents will be effected by this strike, if it happens, but at least the vast majority are protected.”

With two bus driver unions going on strike, close to 600 bus routes serving approximately 12,000 public school students and 2,500 non-public school students attending school in areas of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island will be effected. Bus routes in Manhattan and the Bronx will not be effected.