Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato helped make history when she presented personalized certificates to more than 100 new inductees to the newly created Ozone Park Howard Beach Woodhaven Lions Club during an induction ceremony on March 9. The ceremony was one of the largest events in Lions history.
“Local Lions Clubs are amazing community partners who are truly dedicated to community service,” Pheffer Amato said. “I was proud to celebrate and honor each Lion with a personalized award and share this moment with their families.”
The ceremony occurred at Villa Russo in South Richmond Hill during the monthly meeting of the Ozone Park Residents Block Association (OZPKRBA), organized by Sam Esposito and the executive board. During the gathering, the assemblywoman also presented certificates of merit to officers from the 102nd and 106th police precincts to thank them for their ongoing commitment to public safety.
“Every month the OZPKRBA organizes a great meeting where we are able to speak and come together to discuss issues in our community,” Pheffer Amato said. “This is a fantastic example of community partnership and I’m proud of everyone involved.”
It was a brief respite for Pheffer Amato from the legislative session in Albany where she introduced legislation to ensure active and retired members of the NYPD and FDNY are covered for a line of duty injury and another measure that provides sanitation workers in New York City with additional benefits and another bill that would grant disability protections for state court officers and peace officers injured on the job.
Additionally, she has been working on legislation to expand heart disease and lung disease coverage to correction officers and deputy sheriffs and she is also committed to protecting and securing statutory presumptions pertaining to heart-related disabilities for members of the New York State Police, Fire Retirement System and the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System.
“This is legislation that impacts the men and women who have committed themselves to work for the betterment of our community,” Pheffer Amato said. “By strengthening our public sector and defending public employees, we elevate our middle class which enables everyone to succeed and our state to thrive.”
Earlier this month she co-chaired the statewide workforce development hearing in Albany. During the nearly five-hour-long hearing, the assemblywoman questioned the New York State Labor commissioner, the commissioner for the Department of Civil Service and the director of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations to shine a light on the state’s civil service program and vacancy challenges. Her questions focused on reforming the state’s civil service sector and she received support from union leaders and commissioners on her proposal for providing civil service exams with more frequency, reforming aspects of the Tier 6 retirement plan, and ensuring the benefits and pensions for retirees.
“By growing the number of public employees, we grow our middle class and give every individual the option to obtain their best future,” Pheffer Amato said. “We can also never forget the men and women who have worked for our communities, which is why I am committed to protecting their pensions and benefits.”
She serves as chair of the New York State Committee on Governmental Employees, which is the leading legislative authority on civil service, pensions and retirement benefits for active and retired public employees.
