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PHOTO GALLERY

Happy Pride Month! Celebrating love, inclusion, an Happy Pride Month! Celebrating love, inclusion, and the freedom to be who you are.
Last week in Albany, we passed the State Budget, f Last week in Albany, we passed the State Budget, following many weeks of negotiations. I’m continuing to build on that momentum this week to pass critical legislation before session ends. In the final stretch I am committed to passing legislation that will improve our communities!
What a beautiful evening at ECMC’s annual Spring F What a beautiful evening at ECMC’s annual Spring Fest Gala. I love gathering with our community to honor the incredible medical professionals who make a difference every day at Erie County Medical Center. It was a wonderful night recognizing the dedication, compassion, and hard work of our nurses, physicians, facilities teams, and all the staff who tirelessly care for our residents, patients, neighbors, and families. Their commitment to saving lives, providing comfort, and ensuring the highest level of care does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for the sacrifices they make each day and proud to celebrate the people who help make ECMC such an extraordinary institution. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Spring Fest Gala such a memorable event.
✨❤️ What an unforgettable celebration of sisterhoo ✨❤️ What an unforgettable celebration of sisterhood, service, and legacy! ❤️✨
Congratulations to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Buffalo Alumnae Chapter on the premiere of Pillars of Our Legacy, a powerful and inspiring documentary honoring eight remarkable Sorors who have dedicated more than 50 years of service to Delta and our community. The red carpet event was truly spectacular, featuring a beautiful museum display filled with cherished memorabilia that captured decades of impact, leadership, and lifelong commitment to sisterhood. A heartfelt congratulations to the honorees:
🌹 Gertrude Burke
🌹 Dr. Bonita Durand
🌹 Allie Freeman
🌹 Yvonne Hargrave
🌹 Joyce Harrington
🌹 Dr. Mattie Rhodes
🌹 Dr. Thomasina Stenhouse
🌹 Dr. Lillian Williams
Thank you for setting an extraordinary example of dedication, service, and sisterhood for generations to come. A special salute to Soror President Sanford, Tiffany Gaines, Dr. Olivia Cox, and Porsha Parson for their vision and hard work in curating and producing this incredible film. Your efforts have preserved a legacy that will continue to inspire for years to come.
❤️🐘 Celebrating the past, honoring the present, and inspiring the future. #DST1913 #DeltaSigmaTheta #PillarsOfLegacy #BuffaloAlumnaeChapter #Sisterhood Service Legacy BlackExcellence
“Paper Thin” was one of the very first rap songs I “Paper Thin” was one of the very first rap songs I learned word-for-word as a kid. MC Lyte, your boldness, talent, and representation of women in a male-dominated industry influenced me in the most remarkable ways. It’s always amazing when someone you’ve admired for years turns out to be even more incredible in real life. Meeting you and experiencing how fun, cool, and down-to-earth you are was truly special. Thank you for inspiring generations of women and continuing to break barriers with grace and authenticity. 💫 #alwayslyteasarock
The 2026 State Legislature celebration of Black Mu The 2026 State Legislature celebration of Black Music Month was a star-studded event. Congratulations to my colleague and Soror, @senatorleawebb, on executing a fantastic reception and presentation honoring Buffalo’s own Sheila Brown, owner of WUFO Radio @power965wny , MC Lyte, Talib Kweli, DJ Beverly Bond, Andre Langston, the late John Coltrane, and Bob Law. It was also a pleasure meeting the daughters of these music legends, who accepted honors on behalf of their late fathers. I am incredibly proud to have nominated @slbauthorsacademy as an honoree this year. Thank you, Sheila, for providing a platform for Black communities’ voices to be heard and for shattering glass ceilings for women in radio and media.
57 days past due, I’m proud to say the state budge 57 days past due, I’m proud to say the state budget has finally been passed with major investments that will strengthen our communities, provide relief to rising costs, and help address long-standing inequities. This was a long and demanding process that required tremendous work, focus, and stamina from everyone involved. While the delay was significant, I remained committed to fighting for the needs of the 63rd District every step of the way. I’m proud of what we were able to deliver for our communities, and I look forward to continuing the work of moving my district and our state forward.
I am deeply honored to recognize Jerry C. Bowman f I am deeply honored to recognize Jerry C. Bowman for his extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and lifelong dedication to serving others. A United States Army Veteran who served nearly three years in Vietnam with the 4th Psychological Warfare Battalion and the 173rd Airborne Brigade during some of the war’s most intense combat, Jerry rose to the rank of Sergeant and earned both the Army Commendation Medal and the Air Medal for his bravery and leadership. Following his military service, he devoted decades to advocating for veterans and strengthening the Buffalo community through public service and outreach. Congratulations to Sergeant Bowman on his well deserved induction to the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame.
May this Eid al-Adha bring peace to your heart, jo May this Eid al-Adha bring peace to your heart, joy to your home, and countless blessings to your life.
So many long days in Albany, with meaningful momen So many long days in Albany, with meaningful moments in between. I was proud to stand alongside my new Delta Sigma Theta sorors for Delta Day while continuing the critical work of negotiating and moving the state budget forward. Balancing service, sisterhood, and the responsibility of delivering for the constituents of District 63, I remain committed to all three.
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Buffalo has a long history of redlining and system Buffalo has a long history of redlining and systemic discrimination — from housing inequities to environmental injustice. For years, insurance companies continued that pattern by using information like drivers’ ZIP codes, education, and employment status to set higher car insurance rates in communities like mine.

Now, New York State is ending that practice. This year’s state budget includes reforms I fought for to ban insurers from using these discriminatory factors when setting rates. There’s still more work to do, but this is meaningful progress.
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Thank you Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, VOICE Buffa Thank you Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, VOICE Buffalo, National Alliance for Mental Health, Center for Community Alternatives for standing up for India’s Law. We have two more weeks of Legislative Session. Let’s keep pushing for a vote. 
“Inspired by the 2016 death of India Cummings in the Erie County Holding Center, the proposal introduced by state Sen. April Baskin, D-Buffalo, would also require the facilities to transfer the person in need of treatment to an appropriate medical facility within 24 hours. And the proposed “India’s Law” would require visitation to the person’s next of kin or designee during such a crisis.”

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/article_07411ea6-5230-4f68-bafc-291170f36740.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
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This year marks 10 years since the tragic death of This year marks 10 years since the tragic death of India Cummings, a young Western New Yorker who suffered for days from medical neglect inside the Erie County Holding Center. Since joining the Erie County Legislature in 2018, I have fought to pass legislation requiring jails to expedite the transfer of detainees in medical or mental health crises to hospitals and allow families access during emergencies. 

County jurisdiction barriers delayed this effort for years, but now, in the State Legislature, India’s Law finally has a real path to becoming law. 

Today, alongside prison reform advocates, I’m calling on New York State to pass India’s Law before session ends. Thank you to the countless Buffalo based advocates who spent years standing outside of the Holding Center demanding better after India’s death. Thank you to India’s parents for your support and a decade of strength, courage, and relentless advocacy. We owe it to India to make sure medical neglect is never the reason a resident dies in our prison system. 

#PassIndiasLaw
As budget negotiations approach two months overdue As budget negotiations approach two months overdue, I remain encouraged by the progress made this week in Albany as I continue advocating for District 63 and policies that strengthen our communities.

This week was especially meaningful as we honored the fourth anniversary of the Tops mass shooting and the lives impacted, reaffirming our commitment to compassion, advocacy, and safer, stronger communities. I was also proud to recognize Apraxia Awareness Month and stand alongside advocates, partners, and community leaders in support of common-sense prison sentencing reforms and safer beauty and personal care products for New Yorkers.
Many members of the State Senate stood on the Sena Many members of the State Senate stood on the Senate floor yesterday in support of the City of Buffalo as we continue to grieve and memorialize the horrific violence of May 14, 2022. I thank my colleagues for their heartfelt remarks and for their continued commitment to supporting my efforts to bring just policies, equitable opportunities, and financial resources to the East Side of Buffalo.
#NeverForget #DemandProgressandProtection
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