NY State Senate · District 24

• NoAssesses 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.
• NoProvides 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.
• NoRelates 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.
• NoEstablishes 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.
• NoRelates 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.
• NoRequires 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.
• NoConcealed 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.
• No2021–22 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.
• NoClimate 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.
• NoHousing 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.
• NoExtreme 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.
• NoReproductive 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.

• billSponsored S8578, which would incorporate the City of Staten Island as its own municipality; in the Senate Cities 2 Committee as of the most recent action in the 2025-26 session.[4]
• bill2026-03-18 · Sponsored S9493, the "Toll Payer Advocacy and Relief Act," which would cap cashless-tolling late-payment penalties at 10%, require toll-authority advocate offices to respond to disputes within 48 hours, and create a toll amnesty program; referred to the Senate Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee on March 18, 2026.[5]
• billSponsored S9610, which would require elected county clerks and sheriffs in New York City; in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of the most recent action in the 2025-26 session.[4]
• actionServes as Deputy Minority Leader and sits on the Cities 1, Ethics and Internal Governance, Judiciary, and Rules committees, and the Joint Senate and Assembly Commission on Legislative Ethics.[1][3]

• ✕OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no 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.[9]

  What they say: Criticized the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act after a NYSERDA memo on its costs, saying the law is raising utility bills and that energy policy should not be driven by the push to cut fossil fuel use.[6]

  “The leftist Democrat's radical and costly climate agenda was outed by NYSERDA's recent memo. Utility bills will continue to rise if we don't change course. Common sense should drive our State's energy policy, not climate activists who are damaging the quality of life and savings of New Yorkers.”

• ✕OpposesKeep congestion pricing in Manhattan

  Called Manhattan's congestion pricing program "this scheme" and said he hoped the incoming EPA administrator, whom he described as an opponent of the program, would help revisit it.[7]

  “We're going to have a new EPA in Lee Zeldin, a good friend and opponent of this scheme.”

• ✕OpposesStronger rent regulation and tenant protectionsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no 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.[8]

• ✕OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no 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 no 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.[10][11]

• ✕OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

  Voted no 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.[12]

• ✕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.[13]

• ✕OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no 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.[14]

• Has repeatedly sponsored legislation to incorporate a separate City of Staten Island.[4]
• Has focused on toll relief for Staten Island bridge commuters, including a bill capping cashless-tolling late fees and creating a toll amnesty program.[5]

• Earned a B.S. in accounting from St. John's University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1992.[1]
• Worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan office of Robert Morgenthau before entering elected office.[1][3]
• Served on the New York City Council before his election to the State Senate.[1]
• Authored the I-STOP prescription drug monitoring law and led the effort to establish the 13th Judicial District, consisting solely of Richmond County (Staten Island).[3]