I recently joined town supervisors from Goshen, Warwick, and New Windsor to announce $2 million in funding for the construction and renovation of pools and splash pads around Orange County. It’s always gratifying to secure funding through my office, but it’s important that I’m clear about where the gratitude should lie. These are not my dollars that will build out these water recreation facilities – they are yours.
One of my primary jobs as your State Senator is to fight to bring your hard-earned tax dollars right back to Orange County. Much of my work in Albany is about securing funds for our cities, towns and villages and advancing important projects in our schools, libraries, police departments, fire departments, nonprofits, senior programs, and youth programs.
Over the last two years, I’ve secured over $16 million in grants all around Orange County. $16,087,250, to be exact. From Port Jervis to New Windsor, $16 million of your tax dollars now flow through our communities.
That’s funding for patrol cars, violence prevention programs, case workers, and new facilities for our police departments. Ambulances, heart monitors and stretchers for EMS. Millions for youth and sports enrichment, including basketball courts, playgrounds, soccer clubs, free museum admission, legal support, and trade pre-apprentice programs. That is money for libraries and schools, for seniors and veterans, farmers and small businesses. My staff and I work hard to ensure that these funds – over $16 million dollars – get to work enriching the communities of Orange County taxpayers.
As well we should – it’s your money, and it’s my honor to bring it right back to where it belongs.
