I joined colleagues, Capital Region immigrant neighbors, and NYIC to say: no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here. Masked ICE agents continue to abduct our neighbors, stoke a culture of fear in our communities, and now, their reign of terror extends to our airports.

🏘️ Nearly half of renters in Albany and Amsterdam are rent-burdened, meaning they pay more than 1/3 of their income on rent. Almost 2/3 of evictions occur in the Capital Region because tenants can no longer afford rent.

l will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our union brothers and sisters in 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and 1199 SEIU Upstate NY. Federal cuts are throwing urban/rural hospitals into disarray, putting patient care at risk, and making it harder for nurses and staff to do their jobs.

🚨 You may not be on Medicaid—but your local nursing home is. When the federal government slashes healthcare funding, it puts our seniors, those in acute care, and nursing homes at risk.

🏘️ Today, we continued to turn the lights back on in Albany. Up to 50 new apartments at 97 Central Avenue will offer affordable rents starting at $1,075, marking truly affordable housing for our residents.

We are a nation of immigrants, and New York State was built by our immigrant communities over hundreds of years. I joined clergy from around the state to say: immigrants are welcome here.

✅ I'll always fight for the Capital Region during state budget negotiations. I'm pleased that many of my priorities were included in the State Senate's budget proposal this year.

Loved attending St. Anne Institute’s ribbon cutting for their new Crisis Residence, which will offer immediate and therapeutic intervention close to home for kids aged 12-17 experiencing trauma and mental health issues.

The kids are alright! Loved meeting with young and local Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and March For Our Lives activists yesterday who are fighting for a safer New York State. Keep up your advocacy! Thanks to you, NY continues to have the strongest gun safety laws in the country.

🌃 If NYC can do it, why not Upstate? I've introduced new legislation to incentivize the conversion of vacant office buildings into apartments and other residential uses in Upstate cities such as Albany and Amsterdam.

I stood with members of clergy yesterday to say: what you are seeing on our streets is not who we are as a country. We are better than this. We must pass NY For All and my MELT Act as soon as possible.

🧡 NEW: Both the Senate's and the Assembly's one-house budget proposals include a 4% inflationary increase for providers and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)! After weeks of advocacy and as Chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, I am thrilled that the voices of our community were heard.

✅ Thank you, Montgomery County Democrats, for your endorsement again this election cycle. Together, we have invested in Montgomery County’s towns, villages, and the City of Amsterdam, and I can’t wait to continue our work.

Small businesses and their workers will always be the backbone of the Capital Region economy. I loved joining the Bethlehem Chamber to hear directly from our small business owners about what the state can do to better support them.

🚨 Kristi Noem might be out, but ICE's secret police-style tactics continue, and NYers continue to live in fear. As the sponsor of the MELT Act to ban masking by law enforcement, recent court rulings on California’s first-in-the-nation mask ban make something very clear: the law must apply evenly.

💙 As Chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, today I stood with the Spina Bifida Association of New York State (SBANYS) to urge an $250K total investment in this year's state budget for expanded services and better care.

🦺 Fixing the damn roads is good for our communities and creates good-paying jobs for the middle class. Every year, I fight alongside my Senate colleagues to increase funding for our local roads and bridges because safe, reliable infrastructure is an investment in our workers and communities.

🥪 I visited some bright faces this morning at Albany’s School of Humanities (ASH) to say: once again, New York State will fund free breakfast and lunch for all P-12 students to ensure that no child goes hungry in our classrooms. It’s simple: when kids are hungry, they aren’t learning.

Get your tickets now! www.americanirishlegislators.org/dinner

🍎 Last night, I joined the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District's School Board to provide an update on increased funding for our P-12 schools this year, including marked increases for F-F's funding lines.

📲 On a new episode of Chat with Pat, I sit down with @agounardes.bsky.social to discuss ICE's ongoing reign of terror here in the Capital Region, New York State, and across the country.

🇺🇸 They served us, and now it’s up to us to serve them. Today, we honored Albany native Sgt. Charles Curcurito, who fought with the 754th Tank Battalion to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation and oppression in World War II.

📺 New York's disability care system is struggling. Direct support professionals and the home care workforce remain among the lowest paid in our modern economy. The time for change is long overdue.

Glad to see @cbsnews.com doing the right thing by dropping Peter Attia. There must be accountability and justice for survivors, no matter how long it takes.

@nynowpbs.bsky.social Gov. Hochul proposes a 1.7% cost of living adjustment for nonprofits supporting human services. We discuss w/ Bill Gettman, CEO of @northernrivers.bsky.social @patriciafahy46.bsky.social updates on the $400 million allocated to Albany & immigration policies nynow.wmht.org

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🎓 For too many New York students and their families, the cost of a higher education has gotten further and further out of reach. At yesterday’s Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Higher Education, I emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in NY's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and

Thank you to all who stopped by our mental health booth and those who helped us advocate for Less Red Tape: @gabriellaromero.bsky.social, @johnmcdonald108.bsky.social, and @patriciafahy46.bsky.social. Want to learn more about our plan to Cut the Red Tape? www.northernrivers.org/less-red-tape

Please join me and Assemblymembers Romero and McDonald at the Albany Public Library's Washington Avenue branch on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 5:30 pm for our annual Capital Region NYS Budget Town Hall.

🚆 When Amtrak announced it was reducing service last year, I immediately penned a letter to the Governor and the U.S. Department of Transportation demanding a change of course. A year later, Amtrak has finally reversed its decision, restoring full service between Albany and New York City.

📰 When you read the news, it should be just that: the news. No involvement or manipulation by artificial intelligence, just a real, human being reporting on the issues and news of the day.