Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko joined Susan E. Savage, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature and Mayor Brian Stratton at Proctors recently to discuss efforts to combat senior fraud. On the federal level, Senator Gillibrand announced several bills she will be introducing to increase criminal and civil penalties for defrauding seniors and incentivize states to educate and protect seniors. Chairwoman Savage also announced a local initiative intended to help educate and protect seniors in our community.
Read more news coverage here.
Showing posts with label Public Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Safety. Show all posts
Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Text messaging while driving ban goes state-wide
Recently, Governor David Paterson signed into law a state text messaging while driving ban. Dozens of upstate counties followed Schenectady County's lead and adopted county bans which led to the state law. The need for this important public safety measure has been supported by a report released by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). The study showed that text messaging on a cell phone has the highest crash risk of all cell phone related tasks, with the risk of a crash or near crash 23.2 times higher while text messaging as compared to non-distracted driving.
Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature and sponsor of the County’s Text Messaging While Driving Ban said, “My goal has been to raise awareness to this dangerous and deadly behavior. With increased awareness, I hope that drivers will understand the dangers of text messaging while driving and will instead pull over or wait until they reach their destination before sending a text message.”
Nationally, Senator Charles Schumer is leading the fight to make this a federal law.
Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature and sponsor of the County’s Text Messaging While Driving Ban said, “My goal has been to raise awareness to this dangerous and deadly behavior. With increased awareness, I hope that drivers will understand the dangers of text messaging while driving and will instead pull over or wait until they reach their destination before sending a text message.”
Nationally, Senator Charles Schumer is leading the fight to make this a federal law.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Working together works for improving Schenectady County residents public safety
New York State Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez recently visited Schenectady to announce a $1 million grant for the implementation of a centralized emergency dispatch system through the creation of a unified communications center. This is expected to provide both a cost savings by reducing duplication of services and improve public safety by improving communication between the county's public safety agencies.
“I would like to thank Governor Paterson and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez for this grant and their commitment to helping local governments work more efficiently to save taxpayers money,” said Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This grant brings us one step closer to a centralized dispatch system that will improve public safety throughout the county and streamline functions to reduce municipal costs.”
“This funding is proof of what we’ve accomplished working together with each of the communities throughout Schenectady County,” said Judy Dagostino, Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chair and Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. “We are all very excited about the prospects for greater efficiency, better coordination and improved effectiveness this grant will bring to our dispatch system in Schenectady County.”
This is another major win that happened because of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. The committee was created in 2004 by the new Democratic Majority on the county Legislature and has saved county residents millions of dollars through identifying duplications in services and smarter ways of doing government work.
Click here for more news coverage.
“I would like to thank Governor Paterson and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez for this grant and their commitment to helping local governments work more efficiently to save taxpayers money,” said Susan Savage, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This grant brings us one step closer to a centralized dispatch system that will improve public safety throughout the county and streamline functions to reduce municipal costs.”
“This funding is proof of what we’ve accomplished working together with each of the communities throughout Schenectady County,” said Judy Dagostino, Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chair and Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. “We are all very excited about the prospects for greater efficiency, better coordination and improved effectiveness this grant will bring to our dispatch system in Schenectady County.”
This is another major win that happened because of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. The committee was created in 2004 by the new Democratic Majority on the county Legislature and has saved county residents millions of dollars through identifying duplications in services and smarter ways of doing government work.
Click here for more news coverage.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Information Regarding the Schenectady County Emergency Evacuation Registry
Schenectady County Legislative Chairwoman Susan E. Savage reminds residents of the Schenectady County Emergency Evacuation Registry, a free service that will help provide emergency first responders with critical information about the location and special needs of our seniors and other residents in the event of an emergency.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
County Democrats work to improve public safety
Recently, the Schenectady County Legislature has passed a local law sponsored by Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage to ban text messaging while driving. The new law will go into effect on March 1 and carry a $150 fine per offense.
“This is an important public safety issue,” said Chair Savage. “Research has shown the dangers of driver distractions so it is important that we have legislation that will prevent a deadly accident before it happens. I also hope this will raise awareness to this dangerous and deadly behavior. Before the New York State seatbelt law, most drivers knew it was a good idea to wear one, but only 17 percent of drivers were motivated to change their old habits. Now, 89 percent of drivers in New York State wear their seatbelts.”
A supporter of the law, local Democratic activist Tom Bellick points out, "While this law seems like common sense, the need is very real. In Washington, a 53-year-old driver who was checking his email caused a five-car pileup near Seattle. In California, a 46-year-old train engineer was sending and receiving a text message prior to a collision that led to 25 fatalities, and 130 injuries. Closer to home, just over a year ago in Monroe County, five teenage girls were killed in a tragic car crash which authorities have said could be linked to text messaging." Click here for more news coverage.
“This is an important public safety issue,” said Chair Savage. “Research has shown the dangers of driver distractions so it is important that we have legislation that will prevent a deadly accident before it happens. I also hope this will raise awareness to this dangerous and deadly behavior. Before the New York State seatbelt law, most drivers knew it was a good idea to wear one, but only 17 percent of drivers were motivated to change their old habits. Now, 89 percent of drivers in New York State wear their seatbelts.”
A supporter of the law, local Democratic activist Tom Bellick points out, "While this law seems like common sense, the need is very real. In Washington, a 53-year-old driver who was checking his email caused a five-car pileup near Seattle. In California, a 46-year-old train engineer was sending and receiving a text message prior to a collision that led to 25 fatalities, and 130 injuries. Closer to home, just over a year ago in Monroe County, five teenage girls were killed in a tragic car crash which authorities have said could be linked to text messaging." Click here for more news coverage.
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