[ ROLL CALL] [00:00:17] PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREEN, HERE. LARIGO, HERE. MILLS, HERE. TODARO, HERE. PRESENT. BARGNAZI, HERE. DUPREE, HERE. GILMORE, HERE. KHASHOGGI, HERE. MYERS, HERE. ST. JEAN TARD, HERE. AND VINAL, HERE. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR BARNAZI. THANK YOU. [ PUBLIC COMMENT] I WILL NOW COMMENT PERIOD SESSION THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE ASK THAT THEIR SPEAKERS PLEASE KEEP THEIR COMMENTS TO ANY MATTER INVOLVING TODAY'S AGENDA. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ALL SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY? OKAY, DID THE SPEAKERS MEAN TO SIGN UP FOR AGENDA ITEMS ON THE FIRST ONE? OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE FIRST LIST AND THEN IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO DID. OKAY, SO FIRST WE'RE GOING TO CALL ON SHANE SEYMOUR. MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TODAY TO SEEK BUDGET AND WELL THIS I HAD INTENDED FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC SPEAKING BUT AS I'VE BEEN CALLED ON OR SEED SO THOUGH YEAH AND I MISSION LEGISLATURE TO BEGIN A BILLING IN ADVANCE, HOTEL SUPERVISION, GENERAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, AGAIN, PAYING BILLING IN ADVANCE. AND THAT BY VIRTUE OF THIS STATEMENT OF PROVOST FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO, IF I MAY. I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE IT ACKNOWLEDGED, BE READ THOROUGHLY. IT CAN BE OBTAINED, I MEAN, THROUGH REGULAR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS. YOU HAVE MY NAME, MY PRESENT ADDRESS. THIS IS, AGAIN, WITH REGARDS FOR MY PRESENT LODGINGS AND FUTURE LODGINGS THAT I MAY PAY BILLING IN ADVANCE. SO, I MEAN, THAT'S... THAT IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN, AND JUST THAT I INTEND TO DO SO, THIS STATEMENT OF PROVOST, HOPEFULLY WITHOUT OBJECTIONS FROM THE... OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JIM STEELE. I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO OVERRIDE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S VETO ON LOCAL LAW 3-1. I'D LIKE TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE REASONS CITED IN THE VETO MESSAGE. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RELIES HEAVILY ON THE SALNICK AND HEMINGWAY STUDY REGARDING THE UNINTENTIONAL FIREARMS FATALITIES. HOWEVER, THIS STUDY DOES NOT EVALUATE THE NEW YORK STATE YOUTH HUNTING PROGRAM. IT DOES NOT OF THE LA 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD HUNTERS SPECIFICALLY. AND DOES NOT MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ADULT SUPERVISION. [00:05:01] MOST LIKELY, THE STUDY CATEGORIZES INCIDENTS BY AGE OF VICTIM, NOT THE AGE OF THE FIREARMS HANDLER. IT SIMPLY CANNOT BE USED TO DRAW A CONCLUSION ABOUT THE ABILITY OF A SUPERVISED 12- AND 13-YEAR-OLD TO HUNT SAFELY. IN FACT, THE STUDY'S OWN FINDINGS POINT TO VERY DIFFERENT CAUSES TO YOUTH FIREARMS FATALITIES. AMONG 10 AND TO 19 YEAR OLDS, THE MOST COMMON CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVE PLAY, INVOLVE PLAYING WITH A FIREARM OR BELIEVE A FIREARM IS UNLOADED. HUNTING RELATED INCIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR A MUCH SMALLER PORTION OF THE FATALITIES EXAMINED. THE STUDY SUGGESTS THAT THE GREATER RISKS INVOLVE IMPROPER FIREARMS HANDLING, UNSUPERVISED ACCESS TO FIREARMS, RATHER THAN PARTICIPATING IN A STRUCTURED, SUPERVISED HUNTING PROGRAM. THE STUDY DOES NOT SUPPORT THE IMPLICATION THAT YOUTH HUNTING PRESENTS A UNIQUELY ELEVATED RISK. THE REPORT'S OWN DATA SHOWS THAT HUNTING-RELATED FATALITIES REPRESENTED A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF UNINTENTIONAL FIREARMS DEATHS AMONG SEVERAL ADULT GROUPS THAN YOUTH. THE STUDY'S FINDINGS SIMPLY DO NOT SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT A SUPERVISED YOUTH HUNT FACED GREATER HUNTING-RELATED RISKS THAN ADULTS. THE VETO MESSAGE ALSO CITES... TRAGIC INCIDENTS FROM OTHER STATES. ANY HUNTING INCIDENT IS ONE TOO MANY AND THOSE INCIDENTS OCCURRED UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND DIFFERENT LAWS. NEW YORK STATE'S PROGRAM INCLUDES SAFEGUARDS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF. YOUTH HUNTERS MUST BE LICENSED, COMPLETE HUNTER EDUCATION, AND REMAIN UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION. MOST LIKELY THE MENTOR CANNOT CARRY A FIREARM OR CROSSBOW WHILE SUPERVISING THE YOUTH. THE MENTOR'S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY IS SAFETY AND SUPERVISION FOR THOSE REASONS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO FOCUS ON THE EVIDENCE SPECIFIC TO NEW YORK STATE'S PROGRAM AND OVERRIDE THE VETO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEN DELANO. THE VETO OF LOCAL LAW 3-1. FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAME YOUTH HUNTING PROGRAM AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE STATE. THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS THIS, SHOULD THE DECISION BE BASED ON NATIONAL STUDIES AND ISOLATED INCIDENCES FROM OTHER STATES OR SHOULD IT BE BASED ON NEW YORK'S ACTUAL EXPERIENCES? THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HAS ALREADY EVALUATED THIS PROGRAM AND REPORTED NO HUNTING RELATED SHOOTINGS, INCIDENTS, VIOLATIONS, OR LICENSE REVOCATIONS INVOLVING PARTICIPATING 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD HUNTERS. DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD, THIS IS THE PROGRAM WE ARE DISCUSSING. THIS IS THE EVIDENCE THAT SHOULD CARRY ITS GREATEST WEIGHT. WHAT MAKES THE SITUATION UNIQUE IS THAT WE ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO GUESS. MOST PROPOSED LAWS DO NOT COME WITH YEARS OF REAL-WORLD RESULTS FROM THE EXACT SAME PROGRAM. THIS LAW WOULD SIMPLY EXTEND TO ERIE COUNTY THE SAME YOUTH HUNTING PROGRAM THAT HAS ALREADY OPERATED ACROSS NEW YORK UNDER THE SAME RULES. THE SAME SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS AND THE SAME TRAINING STANDARDS. THE COUNTY'S EXECUTIVE'S CONCERN REGARDING ONLINE HUNTING EDUCATION HAS ALSO NOT SUPPORTED BY NEW YORK'S EXPERIENCE. WHAT NEW YORK EXPANDED ACCESS TO HUNTER EDUCATION THROUGH A FULLY ONLINE OPTION, NEARLY THREE TIMES AS MANY NEW HUNTERS WERE CERTIFIED COMPARED TO TYPICAL YEAR. DESPITE THE INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION, DEC REPORTED THAT NONE OF THE HUNTING RELATED SHOOTINGS OR INCIDENCES THAT YEAR INVOLVED HUNTERS WHO COMPLETED ONLINE COURSES. D.C. REPORTED SIMILAR FINDINGS IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THESE RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THE ONLINE HUNTING EDUCATION EXPANDED ACCESS TO SAFETY TRAINING WHILE MAINTAINING NEW YORK STATE'S STRONG HUNTING SAFETY RECORD. FINALLY, LOCAL LAW 3-1 PASSED BY THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE BY A SUPERMAJORITY. THE VOTE FOLLOWED PUBLIC TESTIMONY, COMMITTEE REVIEW, AND... CONSIDERATION AND AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. IT REFLECTED THE JUDGMENT OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS ERIE COUNTY. THE LOCAL FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT MOST OF NEW YORK STATE. PARENTS, NOT GOVERNMENT, ARE THE BEST POSITION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEIR CHILD IS READY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CAREFULLY REGULATED AND CLOSELY SUPERVISED HUNTING PROGRAM. GIVEN NEW YORK'S DEMONSTRATED RECORD OF SAFETY AND SUCCESS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO OVERRIDE THE VETO. AND ALLOW THE ERIE COUNTY FAMILIES THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN OUR STATES. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JERRY LEWANDOWSKI. [00:10:12] GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR THE OVERRIDE OF MARK BOLONCARZ'S VETO OF BILL 3.1. I'VE READ THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES REASON FOR VETOING BILL 3.1, WHICH IS THE YOUTH HUNTING BILL. FROM HIS RESPONSE, IT'S CLEAR THAT HE REVIEWED NEW YORK'S FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM SAFETY RECORD AND CONSIDERED A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS BEFORE ISSUING HIS VETO. HE WANTS TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING INJURED WHILE HUNTING. I RESPECT HIS DECISION, BUT I DO NOT FULLY AGREE WITH HIS REASONING. I SUPPORT LAW 3.1 OR 3-1 BECAUSE OF THE MANY POSITIVE ASPECTS. OF HUNTING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HIMSELF MENTIONED IN HIS STATEMENT AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. LIFE IS NOT WITHOUT RISK. LIFE IS SIMPLY ABOUT MANAGING RISK. WE CANNOT REALISTICALLY PROTECT EVERYONE FROM EVERYTHING. MR. POLICARZ MENTIONED A 17-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN A MIDWESTERN STATE WHILE SQUIRREL HUNTING. MANY MORE 17-YEAR-OLDS HAVE DIED IN CAR ACCIDENTS YET HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY PROPOSAL TO PREVENT 17-YEAR-OLDS FROM DRIVING. IN FACT, THE NEWS MEDIA IS REGULARLY DISCUSSING THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS, AND THEY STILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE. MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO INJURED WHILE PLAYING ORGANIZED SCHOOL SPORTS. A VISIT TO ANY LOCAL ORTHOPEDIC WAITING ROOM WOULD MAKE THAT CLEAR. THIS, TOO, IS AN EXAMPLE OF MANAGED RISK. MY CHANCES OF BEING SHOT ON THE BUFFALO CITY STREETS ARE PROBABLY GREATER THAN MY CHANCES OF BEING SHOT WHILE HUNTING. SO I MANAGE THAT RISK BY AVOIDING THE MOST DANGEROUS AREAS OF THE CITY. I BELIEVE THAT 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD NEW YORK DEER HUNTERS AND THEIR MENTORS ACROSS 52 NEW YORK COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF HUNTING SAFELY AS REFLECTED IN THE DEC'S HUNTING INCIDENT REPORT FROM 2021 THROUGH 2025. OVER THIS PERIOD, THERE WERE 63,249 LICENSED 12 TO 13 YEAR OLDS THROUGH THAT PERIOD AND ZERO INCIDENTS. THEY MANAGED THEIR RISK OF INJURY BY ACTING RESPONSIBLY AND SAFELY WHILE AFIELD. ERIE COUNTY'S HUNTERS AND MENTORS ARE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE AND DESERVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT DEER AS HUNTERS IN THE REST OF THE STATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JACK BOQUIN. I'M JACK BOQUIN. I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK FOR AN OVERRIDE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S VETO ON THE YOUTH HUNTING BILL. YOU'VE ALL HEARD OVER AND OVER THE STATISTICS, AND JERRY, WHO JUST WENT BEFORE ME, STATED VERY SUCCINCTLY ABOUT WHAT THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, HAS REPORTED THROUGH THE ACCIDENT SUMMARY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO I THINK YOU ALL KNOW, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THIS IS A SAFE ENDEAVOR. AND HE DID MENTION THERE ARE ALWAYS RISKS, AND I UNDERSTAND THE EXECUTIVE'S PERSONAL POSITION. I DO LIKE TO THINK I'M NOT... GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, BUT I DO LIKE TO THINK THAT OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE THERE AND ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR INTERESTS, THE COMMUNITY, THE CITIZENS. AND IT'S TOUGH TO DIVIDE THAT FROM YOUR PERSONAL IDEAS AND IDEALS. AND I THINK OUR EXECUTIVE HAS HAD A TOUGH TIME WRESTLING WITH THAT. I URGE YOU PLEASE TO OVERRIDE THIS. WE'VE HEARD HOW SAFE THIS ACTUALLY IS. WE'VE HEARD ALL THE REASONS TO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT. AND I'M GOING TO SPEND THE LITTLE BIT OF TIME THAT I HAVE LEFT TELLING YOU A LITTLE STORY. THIS WEEKEND, MY SON CAME OVER TO HELP ME WITH SOME EQUIPMENT. HE BROUGHT HIS WIFE AND HIS THREE CHILDREN, MY THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS. I HAVE SIX GRANDCHILDREN. WE SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS, ME AND THE THREE GIRLS, AGE RUNNING FROM FOUR TO EIGHT, FOUR, SIX, AND EIGHT. WALKING AROUND LOOKING AT VARIOUS TREES THAT I'VE PLANTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES. SOME OF THEM LITTLE TREES, LITTLE SEEDLINGS. SOME OF THEM... 30-40 FOOT MATURE OAK TREES BEARING NUTS. [00:15:01] TALKING ABOUT THE REASON FOR DOING THIS AND IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY'RE SO INTERESTED AND IT WAS SO NICE AND I HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME. I LOVE THOSE GRANDKIDS AND I LOVE THE OUTDOORS. AND THIS BODY IS HERE TO REGULATE AND SERVICE ALL OF ERIE COUNTY. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH OF THE CITIES. BUT THIS IS MORE OF A COUNTRY MATTER. CERTAINLY THERE ARE CITY AND SUBURBIAN PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE OUT-OF-DOORS AND COME AND HUNT IN THE WOODS AND PURSUE THAT SPORT. PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF US THAT HAVE INTERESTS OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND INTERESTS IN THE OUT-OF-DOORS. IS THAT DEADLINE OR 30 SECONDS? 30 SECONDS. THANK YOU. SO, WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT HUMAN BEINGS AND YOU'RE TAXED WITH... THE DIFFICULTY OF DEALING WITH ALL OF ERIE COUNTY, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROBLEMS, PEOPLE WHO ARE TAXPAYERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN BUILDINGS, PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THE LAND, NURSERY GROWERS, FARMERS, PEOPLE WHO PURSUE ALL KINDS OF INTERESTS, DOWNHILL SKIING, HUNTING IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE. THIS IS A QUESTION OF CAN 12 AND 13 YEAR OLDS HUNT? DURING THE BIG GAME SEASON, WITH IMPLEMENTS THEY USE NOW IN SMALL GAME SEASONS. MONTH OF MAY WAS TURKEY HUNTING SEASON. ALL MONTH LONG, 12 AND 13 YEAR OLDS WERE OUT THERE WITH SHOTGUNS SAFELY DURING THIS MONTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND PLEASE OVERRIDE. THANK YOU. OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? LAST CALL FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME. OKAY, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION [ ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM PREVIOUS MEETING] BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. PLEASE. ON THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER, LEGISLATOR GREEN. YES. LARIGO. I POINT MY VOTE. I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKE OUT IN FAVOR OF THIS. WE OWE IT TO PEOPLE. DREAM SUPPORT STATE THAT IT IS SAFE. IT IS ADMINISTERED A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND THERE'S NO REASON. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS. TODARO. YES. BARGNAZI. YES. DUPREE. NO. GILMORE. YES. KASHOYAN. MYERS. YES. ST. JEAN TARD. NO. AND VINAL. THE VOTE IS 8-3. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE LOCAL LAW, INTRO 3-1. I'M SORRY, STOP. OKAY. GOOD. HOLD ON. MOTION TO... CALL VOTE PLEASE. OKAY ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE LOCAL LAW AND SHOW 3-1 LEGISLATOR GREEN. YES. LARIGO. YES. MILLS. TODARO. BARGNAZI. YES. DUPREE. NO. GILMORE. YES. KOSHOIAN. MYERS. YES. ST. JEAN TARD. NO. AND VINAL. 8 TO 3. OKAY THE MOTION CARRIES THE LOCAL LAW IS APPROVED. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR FROM THE [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] PREVIOUS MEETING MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR A MEETING CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A MEETING. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ZERO. [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:] UNANIMOUS SOLUTIONS ARE [00:20:01] APPROVED. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING AS CITIZEN OF THE MONTH COACH MIKE MCDONALD. AND I ALWAYS, ONE OF MY PET PEEVES IS WHEN SOMEONE SAYS I'M A SELF-MADE MAN. AND I ALWAYS THINK IF YOU HAVE A GOOD FAMILY, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW POOR YOU ARE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING AND YOU'RE NOT A SELF-MADE MAN. AND HE IS THE EPITOME OF THAT. AND I ALSO, AS A BASKETBALL COACH AT A HIGH LEVEL AS HE IS, THAT MOST ONLY ARE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE UPROOTED AND THEY GO ALL OVER. THEY AVERAGE ONLY FOUR TO SIX YEARS PER PLACE. HE'S BEEN IN WESTERN NEW YORK THIS WHOLE TIME MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK HIS WIFE, MAURA MCDONALD, IS A LARGE PART OF THAT. SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY. BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT AND SAID TO MY KIDS OFTEN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT, MAURA MCDONALD IS AN IDEAL MOTHER. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT. AND I ALWAYS SAID THAT TO THE KIDS AND SAID IT TO OTHER PEOPLE. FOR SO MANY REASONS, I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT, BUT SHE CHERISHES HER FAMILY AND SHE DOES SO MUCH. SHE'S THE IDEAL MOTHER. AND SO THEN I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, AND I STAND BY THAT, BUT THEN I WAS AT THIS ACTUALLY ORDINATION FOR THE PRIESTS AND MY DAUGHTER WAS THE ALTAR SERVER, AND THEN I GOT THERE EARLY. SO THEN THIS MAN CAME, I'M THE TYPE TO SIT NEXT TO SOMEBODY WHO'S ALL BY HIMSELF, AND SO WAS HE, AND IT WAS YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW. AND SO I SAID, I SAID, OH, YOU'RE MAURA MCDONALD'S FATHER. I GO, I THINK SHE'S THE IDEAL WOMAN. WELL, HER SISTER RITA'S ALSO, I'D SAY. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. AND I EXPLAINED WHY. AND SO THEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT, AND I FOUND OUT FROM HIM, IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING, THAT HE SAID THAT HE AND HIS WIFE WERE BOTH ORPHANS FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND GREW UP IN FATHER BAKER'S THE WHOLE LIFE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT FAMILY. AND THEN WHEN THEY AGED OUT, THEY GAVE THEM JOBS SO THAT THEY COULD STAY THERE. AND THEY MET EACH OTHER AND MARRIED AND HAD THIS WONDERFUL, BIG, HUGE FAMILY. AND THEN THAT FAMILY CHERISHES FAMILY. THEY KNOW THAT EVERYONE DOESN'T GET THAT. SO THEY CHERISH IT AND GROW IT. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS GUY DOES. AND THEN THIS GUY COMES FROM OLEAN. ALL RIGHT. HE MEETS THERE IN ST. FONDA VENTURE, RIGHT? YOU WENT TO OLEAN HIGH SCHOOL? CONNECTICUT. OKAY. HE COMES, BUT HE MEETS. HERE HE COMES TO BUFFALO AND NOW HE'S HERE FOREVER. AND HE'S SUCH AN IDEAL FATHER. SO I STAND BY THAT MORE MCDONALD'S THAN IDEAL MOTHER, BUT I ALSO NOW SAY HE'S THE IDEAL FATHER BECAUSE HE ALWAYS PUT HIS KIDS AHEAD OF CAREER IN THE SENSE HE KEPT THEM HERE FOREVER. HE WAS AT CANISIUS, HE WAS AT MEDI, AND HE WAS AT DAMON COLLEGE FOR LIKE 30 YEARS ALTOGETHER, THOUGH, COACHING THEM, DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND NOW HE WAS CHOSEN THE PREMIER, I WOULD SAY, BASKETBALL TEAM FOR OUR AREA, ST. BONAVENTURE'S, IN SOME WAYS. I GUESS YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT. AND SO NOW HE'S CHOSEN TO BE THEIR COACH. HE'S THE ONLY COACH, MY SON FREDDY TOLD ME THIS, BUT IT'S ALSO WELL KNOWN, THAT HE'S THE ONLY COACH IN THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL IN AMERICA THAT WON OVER 100 GAMES IN DIVISION I, DIVISION II, AND DIVISION III. SO THAT MEANS HE CAN COACH ON ANY LEVEL FOR THE MOST ELITE AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. SO THE THING IS, THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT, AND THIS IS WHAT I THINK THAT AS LEADERS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM MIKE MCDONALD, IS THAT HE IS... THE TYPE, SOME PEOPLE BREAK SOMEONE DOWN, LIKE IN CERTAIN LEADERSHIP, LET'S BREAK THEM DOWN INTO NOTHING AND HUMILIATE THEM, AND THEN BUILD THEM UP IN SOME IMAGE, LIKE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, MILITARY GROUPS FEEL THAT WAY, OTHERS DON'T. HE IS LIKE A FATHER IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN I SEE HIM IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH HIS, LIKE, I SAW HIM WITH HIS RECRUITS, OR MAYBE THERE WERE ALREADY ONES, HE ACTS LIKE A FATHER EATING WITH THEM, AND YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST LIKE A REALLY GOOD GUY, AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN HAVE A FAMILY AND BE IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUCCESS AND HAVING A WIFE LIKE MAURA MCDONALD WHO GREW UP CHERISHING FAMILY AND CULTURE AND IT MADE HIM A BETTER COACH AND MADE HIM A BETTER PERSON. YEAH, AND SO ANYWAY, SO WE WANTED TO HONOR HIM TODAY. HE'S A COACH, LIKE I SAID, WHO'S WON IN EVERY LEAGUE. [00:25:01] HE'S BEEN NATIONALLY MADE COACH OF THE YEAR FOR HIS DIVISION. HE'S BEEN, HAS FOUR PEOPLE IN JUST THE LAST YEAR THAT MADE IT TO BEING HONORED NATIONALLY AS PLAYERS. HE IS A, HE HAD A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON OF 60 WINS AND THREE LOSSES ONLY FOR DAMON. AND HE'S DONE SO MUCH. HE'S BEEN GIVEN. AWARD FOR BASKETBALL COACH FOR THE OF 2025 FOR THE WHOLE UNITED STATES AS WELL AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT OUT OF THE LIKE PEOPLE LIKE ADMIRE HIM BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE IS YOU WANT TO BE LIKE HIM, YOU KNOW AND HE HAS 24 PEOPLE WHO HE COACHED THAT ARE NOW BASKETBALL COACHES. NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT SO ANYWAY FOR ALL THESE REASONS HE IS LIKE AND HE'S GONNA STAY IN BUFFALO AND HAVE A TOSS OF BUFFALO AND HE'S GONNA BE BY CITY BUT ANYWAY, SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN HONORING MIKE MCDONALD AS CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOR ERIE COUNTY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN HIS FAMILY, IN THE COMMUNITY, DOING SO MUCH CHARITY WORK ALSO FOR COACHING FOR CANCER AND FOR ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS AT HIS CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND AS A LEADER AND AS A COACH. MY ULA'S GOT A LOT TO DO WITH THE WORD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENE, FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR ALL YOU FOR THIS HONOR. AGAIN, I JUST CHASE AROUND GUYS IN THEIR SHORTS AND I APPRECIATE IT. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. THIS HAS BEEN HOME TO US. WESTERN NEW YORK IS HOME FOR ME AND MY FAMILY NOW. I GREW UP IN CONNECTICUT. I WENT TO ST. BONAVENTURE. AND FOR A LONG TIME I'VE BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE AND THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. I COULDN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH. I WISH MY WIFE COULD BE HERE TO ENJOY IT WITH ME, BUT I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU, JEAN, AGAIN. THANK YOU. OKAY, WELL I WANT TO BRING UP AUDREY GARWICK. SHE'S A 17 YEAR OLD AND I'LL TALK ABOUT HER WHILE SHE COMES UP, BUT SHE IS NOT ONLY AN AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN THAT ACTUALLY FOUNDED A PROGRAM CALLED READ TO LEAD, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND, BUT SHE'S A SOMEWHAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL I WOULD SAY. SHE IS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE AKRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AS AN EX- OFFICIAL MEMBER, WHICH IS EXCITING. SO SHE GETS TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION. SO I HOPE THIS IS INTERESTING SO FAR FOR YOU. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SHE'S A FOUNDER OF READ TO LEAD, WHICH IS A STUDENT-LED PROGRAM FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY, AND LEARNING. AUDREY HAS FOUND AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO REALLY USE DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND THEN HAVE THAT PASSION AND SHOWING COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO INSPIRING AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LITERATURE, HAVING LEARNING IN A FUN WAY BUT BUILDING COMMUNITY. AND NOT ONLY I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AMAZING, IF YOU READ HER RESUME GUYS, SHE'S INCREDIBLE FOR A 17 YEAR OLD. WHAT REALLY MADE YOUR RESUME, WHEN I SEEN THAT YOU WERE IN FINDING DIFFERENT PLATFORMS AND ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE. AND ALSO FIND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHICH IS VERY NEEDED. JUST BLOWN AWAY. I'M VERY IMPRESSED. TODAY IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE YOU. THE PROGRAM THAT YOU CREATED, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY LOCALLY, IT'S NOT ERIE COUNTY'S PROGRAM. SHE'S MADE THIS PROGRAM NATIONALLY BECAUSE SHE'S USED DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. AND WHEN YOU SEE YOUNG WOMEN LIKE AUDREY HERE, WE NEED TO NOT ONLY POUR INTO HER BUT ALSO SEE HOW WE CAN PUSH HER UP. SO TODAY IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE READ TO LEAD BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE YOU BECAUSE I SEE YOU. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS BUT I ALSO LOVE THAT YOU'RE INSPIRING AND YOU'RE GETTING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ALSO SHOWING THAT IT COULD BE FUN. IN JUST A DIFFERENT WAY, IF EVERYONE COULD ACTUALLY STAND UP AND GIVE HER A ROUND OF [00:30:01] APPLAUSE BECAUSE THIS TAKES A LOT TO FOUND YOUR OWN PROGRAM AND CREATE YOUR OWN PROGRAM AND DO YOUR OWN PROGRAM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. SO, LIKE I MENTIONED, SHE'S A YOUNG LADY, AND AFTER I'LL LET HER SPEAK, I WOULD LOVE LEGISLATOR LARIGO AND LEGISLATOR VINAL TO TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER. BECAUSE, ONCE AGAIN, US WOMEN, WE NEED TO START POURING INTO YOUNG WOMEN. THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING IS INCREDIBLE. I'M SO HONORED ONCE AGAIN TO GIVE YOU THIS RECOGNITION AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT READ TO LEAD BUT WHAT REALLY WHY YOU DECIDED TO DO THIS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT AND CUTE BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST SAYING A COUPLE WORDS. HI EVERYONE, NICE TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME HERE HONORING ME. I HONESTLY, THE MOMENT THAT I GOT KIND OF RUNNING WITH IT AND CIVIC LEARNING AND EMPATHY AND LEADERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF KIDS THAT YOUNG BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, THEY'RE 10 YEARS OLD. WHAT COULD THEY KNOW? BUT REALLY, THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE LIKE. SO THEY SHOULD GET THOSE SKILLS EARLY. SO I DECIDED EXPERIENCES AND LEADERSHIP THINGS, EMPATHY. ...INCLUSION ALL THE WAY UP SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT I STATEWIDE PROGRAM TO HELP KIDS ACROSS THE STATE. THE IMPACT HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL. I MEAN THESE KIDS LIKE THEY ALWAYS SAY LIKE OH YOU'RE LIKE THE CELEBRITY OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WALK THROUGH THE HALLS BECAUSE MY MOM'S THE SECRETARY THERE SO I WALK THROUGH THE HALLS. AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, HE GOES HERE, SHE'S THE PERSON. SO IT'S REALLY NEAT SEEING THE KIDS LOOK UP TO ME. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME IN-PERSON READ-ALOUDS. I LOVE THOSE KIDS. I LOVE DOING WHAT I DO. AND I'M REALLY GLAD I THREW YOU ALL. OKAY, THANK YOU. VERY NICE PRESENTATIONS. CONTINUING ON [ LOCAL LAWS:] WITH LOCAL LAWS, LOCAL LAW INTRO 4-1 AS COMMITTEE [ COMMITTEE REPORTS:] MAJORITY. MOVE FOR MEETING CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. ZERO. E-DESK 16 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. ZERO. [ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:] [00:36:30] MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. OKAY, OKAY, THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE A MOTION. PASSED OUT. MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT 7E-16, LEGISLATOR GREEN. YES. LARIGO? YES. MILLS? YES. TODARO? YES. BARGNESE? NO. DUPREE? NO. GILMORE? NO. KASHOYAN? NO. MYERS? NO. ST. JEAN TARD? NO. AND VINAL? THE VOTE IS 7-3. OKAY, THE... ER, 7-4. THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT FAILS, SO NOW... THE THING IS THAT THE THING THAT I THINK THAT MIGHT MAKE IT THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO START NEXT YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THIS YEAR IS THAT THIS IDEA OF HAVING THESE NOT-FOR-PROFITS DO IT, IT'S JUST LIKE SUCH AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN IN MY OPINION BECAUSE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, THERE'S NO NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT'S IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING LUXURY SUITE TICKETS TO ANYBODY, OKAY? SO IT'S NOT A MESSAGE IF SOMEONE GETS AN ASSET THAT'S A NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT'S WORTH $60,000, FOR EXAMPLE, SAY, THAT IS AN ASSET THAT SHOULD BE USED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THAT NOT-FOR-PROFIT. SO TO GIVE IT TO 14 PEOPLE TO USE, I DON'T THINK, I THINK IT MIGHT BE VIOLATIVE OF THEIR, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT WHERE IF THEY CAN'T SELL IT ON THE OPEN MARKET, IF THEY SOLD ON THE OPEN MARKET AND THEN USE THAT MONEY FOR THEIR PURPOSES, THAT I THINK WOULD BE AT LEAST IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHARITY. TO USE IT AS A RAFFLE, A GALA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AT THIS LATE DATE, IT'S NOT GOING TO, VERY FEW CHARITIES HAVE GALAS WHERE SOMEBODY CAN PUT IN 60,000 ON. GIVING AN ASSET TO SIX OR SEVEN NOT-FOR-PROFITS THAT THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME TO SELL AND LOOK A YEAR TO DO IT, I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THIS YEAR TO ON THE OPEN MARKET AND ESTABLISH WHAT THE VALUE IS. I MEAN, I WAS HERE AT THE TIME. WE, JUST SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, IT WASN'T NEGOTIATED AS PART OF THE BENEFIT, THAT WE DECIDED WE WANTED IT. I DO THINK IT'S A STRANGE KIND OF, SUCH A LUXURY THING, IT'S KIND OF A STRANGE KIND OF THING [00:40:01] TO BE THINKING THAT GIVING TO CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, A GIFT IS A... GET VALUES IN MY NATION, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE'RE STILL ON THE QUESTIONS. OKAY, ROLL. CALL VOTE. TO APPROVE 7E-16 AS AMENDED, LEGISLATOR GREEN. YES. LARIGO. EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I THINK THIS GOT CLOSER TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE WITH THE C, BUT I... Q. LEGISLATOR MILLS. TODARO? NO. BARGNAZI? YES. DUPREE? YES. GILMORE? YES. KASHOYAN? YES. MYERS? YES. ST. JEAN TARD? EXPLAIN MY VOTE. AS MANY OF YOU GUYS WERE VERY INVOLVED, HOPING WE HAD A... IT ENDS UP BEING THE PEOPLE. THIS AMENDMENT, ROBUST CONVERSATIONS, WE ADDED MORE TRANSPARENCY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIST OF WHO'S IN THE BOX. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF IN THE BEGINNING, THIS IS WHAT... WE HAVE THAT DIS AND THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING THROUGH THAT TO SEE IF THIS PROCESS, WE ALL DO, WITH ANY ACCESS. BUT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK, IT'S OUR JOB AS A CHANNEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. YOUR VOTE IS THANK YOU. AND LEGISLATOR VINAL? NO. 7 TO 4. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. SUSPENSION OF THE RULE. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] INDICATION 10. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:  ] [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:] FROM PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES, COMMUNICATION 10M DOWN [ PUBLIC COMMENT:] TO THE COMMENT PERIOD. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE COMMENTS. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. WE'LL RING THE BELL. ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS WHO WOULD SPEAK AT THIS TIME IN THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT? BEFORE CIRCUIT BOARDING, [00:45:20] I JUST WANTED TO I WAS HOPING TO GET HERE AT THE BEGINNING, SO I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE ACTION IT TOOK TODAY REGARDING THE YOUTH HUNTING LOCAL LAW. I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO BROUGHT THIS UP A SECOND TIME AND ENGAGED IN THE OVERRIDE THERE OF THE VETO. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR ITS WORK REGARDING THE SALES TAX ON GASOLINE. I KNOW I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SOME FOLKS ABOUT THAT, BUT AS THE SUPERVISOR OF ONE OF THE LARGEST TOWNS IN ERIE COUNTY, I'M ABLE TO SEE. THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON OUR TOWN'S BUDGET IT HAS IMPACTS ON THE VILLAGE BUDGETS AND THE SCHOOL BUDGETS AS WELL OUR FUEL EXPENSES ARE GOING UP SO THAT EXTRA SALES TAX REVENUE THAT IS COMING IN IS HELP US HELPING THE TOWN ADDRESS THOSE COSTS AND LASTLY I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSION WHEN I WAS AT THE LEGISLATURE PREVIOUSLY I REALLY WANT TO THANK LEGISLATOR VINYL REGARDING DISCUSSIONS ON THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION I'M HOPING THAT'S STILL ON THE DISCUSSION STAGE I'VE READ YOUR EMAIL OVER A COUPLE TIMES AND I'LL BE GIVING YOU SOME THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK ON THAT. I JUST WANT TO CAUTION THE LEGISLATURE AS IT WORKS THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO REALLY WORK WITH TOWN SUPERVISORS AND OUR ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE TOWNS TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THAT CHANGE CAN HAVE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ON THE VILLAGES, ON THE TOWNS, EVEN ON SPECIAL DISTRICTS. THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES THERE. I'M SURE YOU FOLKS ARE ALL AWARE OF THAT, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE REACH OUT ON THAT. AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK ON HOW THAT CAN WORK FOR THE TOWNS, THE CITIES, AND THE VILLAGES. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? LAST CALL FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. OKAY, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, JUNE 4TH. THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS... SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY JUNE 11TH ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] OKAY PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS LEGISLATOR TODARO THANK YOU CHAIR I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF ROBERT SAMROCK SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR GREEN THANK YOU CHAIR I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF TUNING MURCHIE TUNING A CLEARANCE RESIDENT PROMISE MAN WITH HIS BUSINESS OF AQUANA PRODUCTS, BUT HE WAS MOST KNOWN. WORK PARTICULARLY WITH HIS SUPPORT OF THE UNION BUFFALO ORGANIZATION SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OF LEGISLATOR VINYL FOR YOUR LOSS A MAJORITY LEADER SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OVER TO SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.