This morning's Town of #EastGreenbush Honor a Deceased #Veteran Program recognizing US Army Veteran John K. Curran who enlisted into the Army in 1945, served with the infantry, fought in Germany, Italy and France, and was awarded the Army of Occupation & WWII Victory Medals.

I was in Hudson this morning with NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Congressman Antonio Delgado, Assemblywoman Didi Barrett, and Mayor Kamal Johnson's representative Michael Hoffman for a press conference regarding broadband access and affordability in NYS.
According to State Comptroller DiNapoli's report released today (link below), "the state has made progress in making high-speed connections available to New Yorkers, ranking second in the U.S. in the percentage of the population with broadband available in their neighborhood, but more than one million, or 13.8%, of households do not have access or a subscription to home broadband services."
The acceleration of universal availability of the highest-speed connections statewide, especially in rural communities, along with enhanced broadband access for low-income households and improved affordability, are all smart goals worthy of strong bipartisan support at the local, state, and federal levels. Without question, New York must make it easier and more affordable for broadband providers to expand. I’m proud to be part of this important effort and thank State Comptroller DiNapoli for this comprehensive report: http://ow.ly/WTqF50G9QGh

Lots of “flexing” 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 today during our press conference held at the DeCrescente Distributors Sales Marketing Building in Mechanicville to highlight the Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA’s new FLEX micro-transit program!
Introduced to our Capital Region in January of 2020, CDTA’s FLEX micro-transit program offers flexible routing that uses real-time matching of demand and supply as customers request rides using a mobile application or by calling CDTA. Now, added to this micro-transit list, is Southern Saratoga County, as CDTA Flex service expands to Mechanicville, Halfmoon – my hometown ❤️❤️ – and Clifton Park next week.
FLEX will operate 3 vans 🚐🚐🚐 within this newly expanded service area, with access to Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, Halfmoon Walmart, and Halfmoon Town Hall. This is exactly what our area needs, as there presently is no public transit service, and in an area where people must use some form of transportation, besides their own two feet, to get around.
CDTA is “flexing” – and Southern Saratoga County will soon feel the strength of this innovative service!
CDTA’s a vital resource for our Capital Region and remains at the forefront of meeting the growing transportation needs of our growing region. CDTA delivers lifeline services and provides a full range of safe, convenient, and affordable transit options that, because of the pandemic, were needed more than ever. I’m proud to support the expansion of this wonderful service!
Pictured in these photos with me are CDTA CEO Carm Basile, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, DeCrescente Distributing Company (our gracious host) Vice President Carmine DeCrescente III, Mechanicville Supervisor Tom Richardson, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, and Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Inc. Executive Director Megan Quillinan.
Congratulations to CDTA CEO Basile, and to all of the private and public sector partners in this important effort, on today’s great announcement!

Today I visited the new location of Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Saratoga Springs. I’m pictured here with Grey and Elizabeth Masko, owners and instructors. I presented a NYS Senate Certificate of Recognition to celebrate their expansion. As shown in these photos, it’s a gorgeous, spacious studio!
Keeping with its famous namesake, FADS offers unparalleled, expert dance instruction. In the words of the great Fred Astaire: “Some people seem to think that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I have known are taught or trained.”
Congrats to Grey and Elizabeth Masko and best wishes for success in your new location!

This afternoon in Saratoga Springs was the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the second Saratoga Bread Basket Bakery. The Bread Basket Bakery 🍞🍞🥖🥖 is owned by Lisa and Ed Mitzen. All profits from the bakery go to Capital Region charities fighting food insecurity.
“Business for Good” is the Mitzen’s non-profit foundation, which is venture philanthropy, This afternoon’s ribbon cutting featured a check presentation of $25,000 (that’s a lot of dough! 🤦‍♀️) to the South End Children’s Cafe on behalf of Business for Good, based on proceeds from the bakery.
During today’s grand opening, I spoke about their philanthropy and what a wonderful model the Mitzen’s have created through private investment, providing people the tools they need for success to elevate themselves for life, rather than relying on just sustenance to help them maintain.
Congratulations to Lisa and Ed Mitzen on today’s grand opening! More important, THANK YOU for doing good, making a difference, and helping others. Good things are RISING at Bread Basket Bakery!

Posting these photos from the ribbon cutting and grand opening of The Dogscape on Oakwood Avenue in Troy held earlier today. This event was sponsored by the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
My Director of Constituent Services (and Rensselaer County Legislature Member) Daniel Casale represented me at this event. Dan is pictured here with The Dogscape owners Amanda Marie Rubino and Kristen Koenig. Dan also presented a NYS Senate Certificate of Recognition on my behalf to bark 🐕🦮🐩🐕‍🦺— I mean mark — the happy occasion. Also attending today’s event and pictured here are Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin and Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo.
Congrats and best wishes to The Dogscape team!

Serial pervert, cut loose because of bail reform, terrorizes NYC nabe

A serial pervert has been terrorizing a Brooklyn neighborhood by repeatedly exposing himself to kids — but keeps getting cut loose thanks to New York’s lax bail reform laws, The Post has learned.

Harry Zucker, a scraggly, white-haired 77-year-old with an apparent penchant for fondling himself in public in front of children, has exposed himself five times since April 27, according to court records.

But the creep keeps getting sprung because judges are largely barred from imposing bail on the misdemeanor charges, the filings show.

“Why is this guy still around? Get him in the system, get the trial, get it done,” Jacob, a concerned dad who works with the Midwood Block Association and didn’t want to share his last name, fumed to The Post on Wednesday. “They’re not taking it seriously. I have a daughter, she’s 9. I have a son, he’s 13.”

Zucker lives right next door to PS 199’s playground and is often spotted lounging on a dingy piece of lawn furniture, leering at the children with his penis out, according to court records and fed-up neighbors.

The problem got so bad that school administrators said they were forced to hang up green netting on the fence separating Zucker’s home from the schoolyard — but the flimsy screen wasn’t enough to keep him away.

Zucker lives right next to the playground at PS 199 and has been allegedly taking out his genitals in front of children.
Zucker lives right next to the playground at PS 199 and has been allegedly taking out his genitals in front of children.
Gregory P. Mango
On June 24, Zucker was spotted masturbating while sitting on a bench inside of the schoolyard and “looking at children on the playground,” a horrified parent picking up their kid from school told police, according to a criminal complaint.

The next day, he was back at it on the lawn chair, facing the school and pleasuring himself while once again “looking at children on the playground,” court records say.

“The current legal system is completely failing us — just completely,” railed Jacob, who wants Zucker locked up for good. “This guy should not be allowed to be near kids … [he] has to go.”

Zucker has exposed himself to children five times since April 27, according to court records.
Zucker has exposed himself to children five times since April 27, according to court records.
Gregory P. Mango
Before the incidents in June, Zucker was twice arrested for masturbating in front of children three separate times — once in April and twice in May — but was freed both times because bail can no longer be imposed on the charges under the state’s controversial reform laws.

However, a recent change to the law restored some power to judges, allowing them to set bail if the defendant has an open case involving harm to another person. Because of that, Brooklyn prosecutors requested bail on Zucker’s misdemeanor public lewdness charge from the June incidents.

During that arraignment, prosecutors asked the judge to hold Zucker on a $10,000 cash, $20,000 insurance company bond or a $30,000 partially secured bond — but the jurist decided to remand him for a psychiatric evaluation.

It’s unclear if Thrive or any other mental-health groups have reached out in Zucker’s case.

Zucker had suggested he had a past history of sexual abuse and claimed he couldn’t “control” himself, court records show.

“I’m sorry I was sodomized by the black man,” Zucker claimed to the judge during the hearing, records show. “It affected my brain and my body. I can’t control what the black man did to me, I cannot control my brain, I cannot control the sexuality of my body, I am very sorry.”

Zucker’s Legal Aid Society lawyer asked for a review of the judge’s ruling, citing a technicality in the law that says defendants can’t be remanded for psych tests on non-bail eligible offenses — and the jurist was forced to send Zucker home a little over a week later, records show.

Zucker keeps returning to his home next to the school due to New York's bail reform laws.
Zucker keeps returning to his home next to the school due to New York’s bail reform laws.
Gregory P. Mango
Outside his home Wednesday, Zucker appeared agitated when asked about the allegations against him, telling a reporter he’d already done his “penance,” though not denying he fondled himself in front of kids.

“There’s a curtain between my alley and the school yard. I’m not visible to the children in the schoolyard … Nobody sees me!” he said.

“I haven’t done it in the alley where people can see me,” he shouted.

“I’ve done penance and penance more will do! Why are we opening old wounds and making them bleed again? There are no problems in the present!”

He’s due back in court Sept. 9. Zucker’s lawyer did not return a message seeking comment.

Zucker told The Post that there is a curtain shielding him from children and that "nobody sees me."
Zucker told The Post that there is a curtain shielding him from children and that “nobody sees me.”
Gregory P. Mango
One local mom, who works with the Midwood neighborhood association, said she doesn’t want her daughter anywhere near PS 199.

“I went to that school as a child, and [my 4-year-old daughter] could go there for pre-kindergarten, but I can’t send her there. I don’t feel comfortable,” the mom, who declined to be named, said by phone.

“He hasn’t touched a child, right? He’s only touched himself. Are we waiting for that?” she continued. “Because if that’s what we’re waiting for, we’re sicker than he is, as a society.”

Over the course of American history, it’s estimated that over a half-million servicemembers have been held as prisoners of war. As of today over 82,000 of our nation’s bravest, who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, remain unaccounted for.
On National POW/MIA Recognition Day we acknowledge and honor those heroes whose service cannot and will not be forgotten. And we acknowledge and honor the thousands of families who have gone years without knowing what happened to a loved one.
The sacrifices of these servicemembers and their families are not in vain; our nation is stronger and the world safer because of them.
Our nation thanks them and we remain committed to bringing each and every servicemember missing in action back home.
#Neverforgotten