NY State Senate · District 21

• Didn't voteAssesses a separate tax on distributions from designated settlement funds · S10585 · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Assesses a 100% tax on distributions from the federal anti-weaponization fund; provides that such tax shall not be reduced pursuant to any deduction, exemption or credit.
• Didn't voteProvides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits · S10113 · Passed Senate 47–13 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.
• Didn't voteRelates to winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring · S10094 · Passed Senate 44–16 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes a standardized statewide system for collecting, recording, and monitoring winter road maintenance operational data in order to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and support the protection of water resources in the state of New York; requires calibration of all deicing material application equipment used for winter highway maintenance on public roads.
• Didn't voteEstablishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act · S9500-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
• Didn't voteRelates to placing restrictions on the sale of flare guns · S8455-B · Passed Senate 35–25 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Establishes the crimes of criminal sale of a flare gun in the first and second degrees; sets restrictions on and requirements for the sale of flare guns.
• Didn't voteRequires certain construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility transmission facilities · S7898-A · Passed Senate 39–21 · 2026-06-01 official record ↗Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.
• YesConcealed Carry Improvement Act · S51001 · Passed 43–20 · 2022-07-01 official record ↗Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.
• Yes2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax) · S2509-C · Passed 38–25 · 2021-04-06 official record ↗Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.
• YesProtect Our Courts Act · S425-A · Passed 42–18 · 2020-07-22 official record ↗Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.
• YesClimate Leadership and Community Protection Act · S6599 · Passed 41–21 · 2019-06-18 official record ↗Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
• YesHousing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · S6458 · Passed 36–26 · 2019-06-14 official record ↗Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.
• YesExtreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law) · S2451 · Passed 42–21 · 2019-01-29 official record ↗Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
• YesReproductive Health Act · S240 · Passed 38–24 · 2019-01-22 official record ↗Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.

Votes on landmark laws since 2019, plus 2026 roll calls where at least five members voted on the losing side — read from the legislature’s official records.

• bill2026-02-10 · Sponsored S1329, which would direct utilities to limit residential fixed charges to costs directly tied to metering, billing, service connections, and customer service. It passed the Senate 46-14 in January 2025 and again 46-16 in February 2026; as of those votes it remained in the Assembly Energy Committee.[3]
• billSponsored S1330, establishing a statewide requirement that utility companies offer affordable payment plans to customers enrolled in social-service programs.[4]
• billSponsored S2011-A, directing the Department of State and the Public Service Commission to study utilities', cable companies', and cellphone carriers' disclosure of customers' late payments and defaults to credit-reporting agencies, with recommendations due by December 31, 2027.[7]
• bill2026-01 · Sponsored S3985, establishing a task force to study a state-issued cryptocurrency as a potential revenue source for New York; remained in the Senate Finance Committee as of January 2026.[5]
• legal2011-03-21 · In March 2011 was sentenced to three years' probation and fined $1,672 after being convicted of assaulting a New York Post photographer outside his home in a May 2009 incident in which he damaged the photographer's car and camera.[1]
• actionChairs the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee in the 2025-2026 session.[3]

• ✓SupportsRaise the minimum wage

  Advocated for a higher minimum wage than the $8.75 rate then in effect, saying low-wage earners needed a wage they could actually live on.[8]

  “Although $8.75 is a welcome start, it does not provide low-wage earners with a true minimum wage that they can live upon.”

• ✓SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S2509-C (2021–22 Budget Revenue Bill (raised taxes on income over $1M and corporate franchise tax), 2021-04-06): Raised personal income tax rates on incomes above $1 million and raised the corporate franchise tax rate on large businesses, among other revenue measures.[17]

  What they say: Supported continuing a higher state income-tax rate on millionaires, citing New Jersey data that higher earners taxed at a greater rate were not leaving the state.[9]

  “studies from our neighboring state of New Jersey, where millionaires are taxed at a greater rate, have shown that the millionaires are not going to leave”

• ✓SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S6599 (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-06-18): Set statewide targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 85% cut in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.[12]

  What they say: Sponsored a tax-abatement bill for electric energy storage, describing it as a step toward a cleaner energy future for New York.[10]

  “With the passage of my Tax Abatement Bill, we are taking a decisive step toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future for New York.”

• ✓SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S6458 (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, 2019-06-14): Made rent regulation permanent, ended vacancy decontrol and the vacancy bonus, and limited rent increases for major capital improvements.[11]

• ✓SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S2451 (Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law), 2019-01-29): Allows courts to temporarily bar people found to pose a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms. Voted yes on S51001 (Concealed Carry Improvement Act, 2022-07-01): Enacted after the Bruen decision: added training and character requirements for carry permits and barred guns in designated sensitive places.[13][14]

• ✓SupportsProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S240 (Reproductive Health Act, 2019-01-22): Moved abortion from the penal code to the public-health law and protected access to abortion under state law.[15]

• ✕OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on S425-A (Protect Our Courts Act, 2020-07-22): Bars federal civil immigration arrests of people going to, attending, or leaving New York courthouses without a judicial warrant.[16]

• Earned a B.S. in public service from Pennsylvania State University (1989) and an M.S. from the New School for Social Research (1993); has been pursuing a Ph.D. in political science at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center.[1]
• Worked as a project manager for the New York State Urban Development Corporation, an instructor at Brooklyn College (1993-1997), a political-action director for Paine Webber (1998-1999), and a special assistant in the Office of the New York State Comptroller (2000-2002).[1]
• Served as a legislative aide for New York City Council Member Una Clarke and as special assistant to Assemblyman Nick Perry before winning his Senate seat in 2002.[1]
• Has chaired the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee across multiple sessions and previously served as Senate Majority Whip.[1][3]
• Ran for New York City Comptroller in the 2025 Democratic primary, finishing fourth of four candidates and eliminated in round 2 of ranked-choice tabulation.[1]

• Push for stronger state oversight, transparency, and accountability to lower utility costs[6]
• Support measures for safer streets and neighborhood quality of life[6]
• Fight for property tax relief for one- and two-family homeowners[6]
• Require community input, safety planning, and accountability review before siting homeless or migrant shelters[6]
• Advocate stricter safety standards for battery storage facilities sited near homes and schools, and bring career and technical education back to schools[6]

• Attended P.S. 236 Mill Basin, J.H.S. 078 Roy H. Mann, and South Shore High School, and is a graduate of Kingsborough Community College.[6]
• Has operated an NYC-licensed home contracting business for 18 years; previously owned an auto repair shop and worked in transportation and logistics.[6]
• A longtime Knights of Columbus member who has participated in food and clothing drives, school scholarships, and interfaith community service.[6]