Hamilton brings union experience to Senate With nearly three decades of public service, recently elected state Sen. Jesse Hamilton is not one to shy away from his strong union roots and public sector background. As a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Hamilton conducted small claims hearings for property tax reductions for nearly 30 years for the New York City Department of Finance. AFSCME is CSEA’s international union. Now he’s hoping to use that financial and rank-and-file background to advocate on behalf of institutions in his district like SUNY Downstate and for improved mental health services as a member of the Senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee. As a three-term district leader representing the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, Hamilton has focused on civil rights, increasing jobs, decreasing crime, registering voters and quality of life issues. He is a member of the New York State Bar and Brooklyn Bar Association and provides pro bono legal services, representing neighborhood youths accused of crimes free of charge. Hamilton was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Ithaca College. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Long Island University and a law degree from Seton Hall Law School. His wife, Lorna, graduated from Smith College and has a degree from State Sen. Jesse Hamilton speaks with CSEA members from left, Kingsboro Psychiatric Hospital Local President Fitzroy Wilson, Bronx Psychiatric Center Local President Abraham Benjamin and SUNY Downstate Medical Center Local President Althea Green. Rutgers University School of Law. They have lived in Brooklyn for more than 20 years and have two children, Carla and Jesse IV, and a Dachshund named Paxton. In addition to Mental Health, Hamilton has been assigned to the following committees: Agriculture; Banks; Codes; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Education; Energy and Telecommunications. — David Galarza Ortt ready to fight for Western New York LOCKPORT — State Sen. Robert Ortt is ready to roll up his sleeves and fight for Western New York. Improving the upstate economy and Western New York infrastructure, veterans issues and maintaining essential services in the region are just a few of his goals for his first term. “I’m excited to be a new senator at such a critical time,” Ortt said recently from his Lockport office. “I hope to be part of a new generation and a new voice.” As senator, Ortt is enthusiastic about serving as chairman of the senate’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee. Mental Health is not only an important legislative committee, but also an important issue in the community. “People need mental health services so they can be productive members of society,” Ortt said. “It’s an exciting committee; I can go to battle for people who need a voice.” And, he intends to go to battle for Western New York, he said. CSEA members recently met with Ortt to discuss a plan to close the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center in West Seneca and move the children to two floors of the adult-only Buffalo Psychiatric Center. “With children, there are a lot of opportunities to prevent issues before they develop,” Ortt said. “I will fight very hard for the children’s facility.” He is interested in touring both facilities to see first-hand the important work CSEA members do every day as they provide services to those in need. “Budgets are always hard, but you can’t make a decision on paper,” Ortt said. “There is more to consider. I’m going to fight hard and be an advocate.” Ortt may be new to the state Senate, but he is not new to working with CSEA. He is the former City of North Tonawanda mayor, where CSEA members provide essential services every day. CSEA endorsed Ortt for Senate last fall. “Being a former mayor, I worked with CSEA on a regular basis,” he said. “Working together, we were able to do many good things. We always wanted to be fair. CSEA members make the community what it is. They live in the community; they provide the services.” “These are the people who make the state go,” he said. Ortt also serves on the following other State Sen. Robert Ortt during a meeting with the CSEA Western Region Political Action Committee. committees of concern to CSEA members: Cities; Civil Service and Pensions; Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Environmental Conservation; Higher Education; Local Government; and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. — Lynn Miller 6 The Work Force March 2015
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