Thursday, October 1, 2026
When I’m out in the community, people often ask, “How’s it going in Albany?”
I usually think back on the whirlwind that the past six months have been and reply, “I’m happily busy.” There’s a saying in Albany that the first session of your first term is like drinking water from a fire hose — and truly, it is. Serving as a newly elected state senator has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career in public service.
Since being sworn in in January, I’ve been immersed in the fast-moving, high-stakes work of legislating. I quickly learned Albany’s policy lingo, adapted to the weekly back-and-forth between the Capitol and my district, and jumped headfirst into the state’s budgeting process.
One of many lessons I’ve learned so far is that change doesn’t only come from passing bills. The impact you can make from budget-related policy can be just as meaningful. Several of my key policy wins, like the rebate program for the purchase of smart irrigation devices on Long Island, and $50 million for capital improvements for Nassau University Medical Center, which I wrote about previously, will make positive changes throughout the district.
Another policy achievement was reinstating funding for libraries statewide. We increased previously cut capital funding by $10 million, bringing the total up to $44 million, which was initiated in the Senate One House Bill.
As chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Libraries, I introduced legislation that would establish a pilot program for employing social workers in public libraries in economically disadvantaged communities. This program would increase access to social services by placing trained professionals in libraries, which are often safe and accessible community spaces. Uniondale and Roosevelt have been selected to pilot this program, and I am working to expand this initiative statewide.
In the midst of budget season, urgent news came from the Hempstead school district, of a projected $27 million shortfall that threatened teacher layoffs and a school closure. The primary cause? Increased charter school expenses paid out of public-school budgets. At 36 percent, the Hempstead district has the highest saturation rate of charter schools outside New York City.
In collaboration with conference leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, I submitted and secured a formula in the Senate One-House Budget, which was developed by the state-appointed fiscal monitor for Hempstead, Dr. William Johnson. This permanent, annual funding allocation, enacted in the final budget, provides a sustainable budget stream that will help stabilize school districts in which over 20 percent of the school population is attending charter schools, which helped Hempstead, Albany and Lackawanna. For the Hempstead district, that amounts to a $24 million increase in this year’s budget. It’s likely that Roosevelt, which is at the cusp, with 18 percent charter school saturation, will receive this aid in the coming years.
Back home in the district, I’ve continued meeting with elected officials, school superintendents and community organizations. These conversations fuel my work, and remind me of the complexity and promise of the issues we face, including unfunded mandates, rising costs and resource gaps. In the spirit of those conversations, I targeted the issuance of more than $500,000 in micro-grants to community organizations throughout the district.
With these grants, we are investing in public safety as it relates to our local fire departments and village law enforcement, including updated 911 recording systems, fire-prevention education and a variety of lifesaving equipment. Micro-grants enable our local school districts to cover the cost of trips to local educational attractions, provide technical assistance for college readiness, and purchase equipment and supplies for innovative educational initiatives. The grants will also help community organizations meet the needs of our senior citizens, support community violence-intervention efforts, and bolster nutritional services throughout the district.
Every time I’ve returned home, I’m reminded why I chose this path. I see it in the resilience of our families and neighborhoods, the passion of our educators, the strength of our health care workers and the spirit of our young people. Thank you for trusting me to be your voice in Albany.
Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.
