Greetings Neighbor,

I hope you and your family are well and enjoying the holiday season! For those that celebrate, I hope you had a Happy Chanukah! Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy Kwanza to those that celebrate!

The 2022 Legislative Session begins on January 5th and I look forward to advocating on behalf of AD#21. As always, I welcome hearing from you and encourage you to complete my 2022 Constituent Survey which can be accessed online here or by returning the hardcopy you will be receiving in the mail shortly. Your opinion matters and informs me on key issues so I would be grateful for you to complete and submit it.

Thankfully, Nassau County’s vaccination rate is still on the rise at 87%. As the weather continues to get colder and we spend more time indoors, it is important to be vigilant with the emerging Omicron variant. Now more than ever it is vital that we stay up to date on the latest NYSDOH Guidelines. I encourage everyone to discuss with their physician any ambivalence or concerns about getting vaccinated or getting the booster shot.

Once we get through the current uptick in the Omicron variant, I will continue to advocate for Governor Hochul and the NYSDOH to re-evaluate the mask mandate for toddlers under 3-years old and to establish a statewide threshold for lifting the mask mandate for vaccinated students. I look forward to the day that we are no longer required to wear masks to help stop the spread.

Wishing you all a warm, joyful, healthy and peaceful Holiday Season.

Warmly,

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Judy Griffin
Assemblywoman, 21st District


On December 10, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. This was done to address the winter surge as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide and is in alignment with the CDC's recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission. The State Health Commissioner issued a determination solidifying the requirement.

The new measure brings added layers of mitigation during the holidays when more time is spent indoors shopping, gathering, and visiting holiday-themed destinations. Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by 43% and hospitalizations have increased by 29%. While the percentage of New Yorkers fully vaccinated continues to increase—gaining 2% from Thanksgiving weekend to now—the uptick is not fast enough to completely curb the spread of the virus, particularly among communities with low vaccination coverage.

Toy Drive

My office is hosting my annual Toy Drive through Friday, December 17th , 2021! If you are in need of toys for your children please call us at 516-561-8216. If you still wish to donate to this drive to support local families in AD21, please drop off at my office by the end of day on Friday the 17th or you can give my office a call to schedule a pick up. Thank you to all who donated to our drive so far!

Menorah Lightings and Christmas Tree Lightings

It was wonderful to share in the festive Menorah Lightings and Christmas Tree Lightings in communities throughout the district. I was grateful to attend the Baldwin Menorah Lighting, West Hempstead’s Chanukah Spectacular, Village of Rockville Centre Tree lighting, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Lighting Festival, South Hempstead Tree Lighting, Village of East Rockaway Tree Lighting, Village of Malverne Holiday Lighting and “Elf Parade”, Village of Freeport Tree lighting, Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Annual Tree Lighting, West Hempstead Community Support & Civic Association Holiday at Halls Pond, and last but not least the Village of Lynbrook Tree Lighting.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

I am so grateful for this generous outpouring of support for those in need. In November, my office and I coordinated with multiple organizations to get food donated to families in need. My office and I worked with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge #279 of Rockville Centre, Rockville Centre Cub Scout Pack 31, and Green Acres Mall who together contributed over 140 frozen turkeys and multiple items of non-perishables such as stuffing, vegetables, pasta gravy, and more. Thanks to a combined effort along with individual donations from local residents, as well as patrons of libraries from both Freeport Memorial Library and Malverne Public Library my office was able to distribute turkeys and fixings to the Rockville Centre Hispanic Brotherhood, Inc., Village of Rockville Centre Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Vineyard Church Food Pantry, The Fellowship Center, Oceanside High School, Oceanside Community Service, and the Bethany Congregational Church of East Rockaway, UCC.

Nassau County Veteran Association Winter Stand Down

On November 23rd I had the privilege of attending the Nassau County Veteran Association Winter Stand Down at the Freeport Armory. This is an incredible event that encompasses the true meaning of giving thanks to such a deserving group, our veterans. Due to COVID protocols, this was a drive-thru event which provided shoes, coats, food, and many more essentials, thanks to the tireless efforts of multiple volunteers, to our courageous veterans, who served us so proudly. I presented Ralph Esposito, Director of Nassau County Veteran Association, with a proclamation commending the Nassau Veteran Association for their diligent efforts in bringing this worthy event to our veterans annually.

On 12/15/21, the MTA Board will vote on a discount proposal for LIRR commuters which includes a 10% discount on monthly tickets, a new 20-Trip Ticket, and a flat $5 fare for almy weekday, off peak trips within NYC. If this measure is passed it would take effect on March 1.

Please note that peak fares will return in March as well. I will strongly advocate for additional trains to be added to the peak schedule.

I attended the following important NYS Assembly Public Hearings in Albany throughout November and December. Click below to hear some statements I made:

NYS HAF

Help is on the way! Homeowners, including those living in condos and co-ops, can soon apply for essential financial relief. The NYS HAF offers a wide range of services for eligible homeowners such as financial support to address missed housing-related payments. To apply or learn more, visit Homeowner Assistance Fund or call 1-844-77-NYHAF (776-9423).