Lobby Day Provides BCW Members Valuable Access to State Legislators

More than 30 BCW members traveled to Albany on May 21 for the Annual Lobby Day, an all-day event that gives members valuable access to state legislators and policy analysts.

The delegation met with the Westchester Assembly Delegation and discussed several significant issues including Unemployment Insurance, Pay Frequency Legislation, Energy Issues and Mandate Relief.

The delegation also met with Assemblyman Al Stripe, who is Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce, and Industry. He gave an overview on the work his committee has been focused on during this year’s legislative session.

Ken Girardin, Director of Research, Empire Center for Public Policy, gave a presentation that covered the recently passed state budget and economic development issues and the various challenges the state will be facing.

The luncheon speaker was Bill Mahoney, Senior Reporter at POLITICO New York’s Albany Bureau. He gave an overview of the legislative session and the upcoming state and national elections.

Matthew Robinson-Loffler, Supervising Counsel, New York State Department of Labor provided an update on DOL policies and programs that employers need to be aware of. This was followed in the afternoon by a tour of the New York State Capitol and a visit to the New York State Assembly Chamber.

Later in the day the delegation met with New York State Budget Director Blake Washington for a briefing on the recently passed state budget as well as what issues the Division of the Budget will be working on to prepare for the 2025 Budget.

The final meeting of the day was with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the Westchester Senate delegation members. Every year, the Majority Leader invites the BCW to hold the private meeting in the Majority Leader’s Conference Room in the Capitol.

Balancing Life Issues sponsored the Albany Day.