VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

I will create and expand programs that build confidence, provide opportunities, address homelessness, mental health and addiction, and programs that prepare kids for real life and allow them to thrive no matter their family or economic circumstance.

• Employment Opportunities

• Mental Health

• Housing

• Education and CHOICE programs

• Addiction

• Let's have some fun

• Protect our girls in sports and private spaces

• Protect our kids

• Promote trade schools

• No gender surgeries 25 or younger

I taught in one of the most diverse schools in the county for 32 years. These kids (67% Hispanic, 22% black, the rest Indian, Asian and white), they called me mom. I was voted favorite teacher 30 out of 32 years at AHHS, I wrote hundreds of college recommendations, I helped families apply for DACA, I got them jobs, helped with admission into Annapolis, developed monthly Life is All About Choices programs for the seniors, took kids on trips, took kids camping, held graduation parties at my home for decades, went to their homes for extra help, threw baby showers, attended their weddings and heartbreakingly, some funerals, was responsible for Cultural activities, attended their sports games (even when they went to local colleges, created more school spirit than any other teacher there and more. I treat every child with the utmost respect and it was my privilege to “help little people become good big people”.

Some of my plans for our kids will give them the opportunities to meet kids state/county wide while learning and having some county fun.

I want to bring these opportunities countywide. I’ll organize programs like Senior Class Clash; county wide school meet ups where students compete in sports, arts, trivia, and obstacle courses; county wide Community Service Days that would include helping clean their schools, parks and bike/walking paths, firehouses and police stations; visit/become penpals seniors and veterans; volunteer at animal shelters; expanded Life Is About Choices programs, teaching business etiquette, branding, meeting with law enforcement and veterans, talk about tough topics, exploring college, trade, or military paths, and creating mentorships and form buddy systems.

I’ll also focus on mental health programs, connecting kids with peers for support, and giving them safe, structured ways to learn, lead, and grow. These activities will help all our kids — not just academically, but as compassionate, responsible members of Westchester. Our kids are our future. Let’s give them the skills, pride and conections they need to thrive. 

Seniors need access to necessary resources and services. These include companionship, healthcare assistance, stronger tax relief programs, accessible transportation, expanded home-care services, training family members to become care-givers, community programs and affordability. While many of our seniors are more than capable of affording where they live, many are not and are living on fixed incomes. They are faced with leaving their lifelong homes - this is where affordable housing takes precedent. 

I will also propose the elimination or drastic reduction of school taxes for single family home owners 65 and older as well as easier access to voting.

Our surviving spouses - those who have become invisible and unnoticed in what is the most devasting time of their lives. There are no policies to protect them, infact our policies on social security, tax deductions, and veterans benefits can also financially cripple them. I will work to pass the SWIFT Act.

This may not be one of your concerns but it is mine - supporting our surviving spouses. If you have anything negative to comment - keep it to yourself. These people don’t need that, they need help and could sure use a hug.

There are over 15 million surviving spouses in the United States.

One invisible crisis.

Here’s what most don’t know:

Widowhood in America is a health crisis hiding in plain sight in every family and community.

Systems don’t see or recognize many of these forgotten humans . Policy doesn’t protect them. And over 50% end up in poverty—a reality that transfers many times generationally.

Please make sure to read, sign and share my petition. I will be working with elected officials to get this accomplished.

In addition, my plan is to create tiny villages where surviving spouses can live and receive counseling surrounded by people who understand this debilitating loss. There is no greater stress factor in life.

This will sadly be 1/2 of you one day and I see you.

This is it:

There is not one person who understands the devastating loss of a spouse unless you have lost your spouse, not one. Surviving spouses are overwhelmed with sadness and must take care of a ton of paperwork at a time when they can not think straight or put together a coherent sentence or fight for what is rightfully theirs. The loss of a spouse is the single most devastating stressor in life. It affects their mental, emotional, physical and financial state of being for the rest of their lives. The financial stress of losing income but having all the same bills and expenses is crippling. There are over 15 million widowed in the Untied States, 71% are over 65.

This petition is to propose 6 federal actions that would provide financial relief to the widowed, those people who have become invisible, unwitnessed, unnoticed and that others do not give a second thought to even though it will happen to them one day.

Action 1: Social Security

A) Allow the widowed to continue to collect their spouses social security payment as well as their own until they leave this earth even if they remarry. Social Security is not an entitlement and it is certainly not the fault of the contributors that our government has mismanaged and borrowed without repayment from social security. We have had money deducted from our paychecks our entire working lives. This money is ours, not the governments. This action would not be retroactive and would apply to widows who are 55 years of age or older. Pass the SWIFT ACT.

b) Allow children to collect parental social security until the age of 22 instead of 18.

C) Increase the dismal one time $225 payment. It’s insulting.

D) A payment of at least $25000 to surviving spouses between 30-55. They should not have to lose everything their spouse contributed to Social Security.

Action 2:  Taxes

Change “qualifying surviving spouse” to simply “surviving spouse” and allow them the same standard deduction as married filing jointly. Married Jointly and Surviving Spouse have the same standard deduction which is currently $29,200. The widowed have always  been able to file taxes jointly. Now they are faced with filing differently which lowers their standard deduction by approximately $15,000. The standard deduction for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouses is $29,200, for head of household it is $14,600 and for singles it is $14,600. The widowed  must now take on the sole responsibility of the same mortgages, the same utility bills, and the same house up-keep bills. But now they have to do it with half of the income they were used to having. The widowed did not choose to not be married. Remove the word “qualifying” and make married filing jointly  and surviving spouses the same deduction.

Action 3:  Veteran Benefits

Every surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who has already been collecting veteran benefits, should receive at least $1800 each month regardless of whether or not they’ve been granted 100% status. Yes, there are many cases where spouses receive VA payments but this is to help the surviving spouse who qualifies for nothing but has been the person to make their veteran spouse whole.

Action 4: Eliminate capital gains tax completely or make the deduction on capital gains the same regardless of marital status. Currently, when a home is sold with a profit, single people can add on $250,000 to the purchase price whereas married people can add on $500,000 to reduce capital gains. Quite often, the widowed must sell their homes for a plethora of reasons including it is just too damned painful to live in the same house or, because the widowed have lost what could be a lot of income, they can sadly no longer afford their home.

Action 5: Eliminate estate (death) tax.

Action 6: Eliminate school taxes for single family home owners 65 and older.

Until you lose your spouse, you simply have no idea what this does.

support surviving spouses

Every NYS Senate Democrat opposed an introduces bill for a domestci abuse registry. I will fight for this along with any and every measure to keep our victims safe ad provide the necessary counseling, support and opportunities they need to live a safe and thriving life.

SENATE DEMOCRATS REJECT MEASURE TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY

We MUST show our gratitude and support for those who have sacrificed so very much in order to keep us safe.

Veterans need access to top-notch healthcare, education & employment opportunities, housing and mental health services and companionship programs.

In addition, many times a surviving spouse can no longer receive their veteran spouse's benefit payments. I am currently working to remedy this.

Pictured: My cousins, Sgt Eddie Ryan and his dad Chris Ryan

NYS currently has an animal abuse registry but it only includes those who have been convicted of animal abuse crimes. I will further that by working with animal rescues to write and support policies to protect animals and wildlife and create a registry of people who can no longer adopt pets - nationwide. In addition, we need more shelters and better monitoring of breeders. Finally, consequences need to be harsher for those committing acts of cruelty on animals. I will do everything I can to make that happen.

animal cruelty hotline: 914-941-7797

how to help a neglected animal

report animal cruelty