Speaker Carl Heastie today began his annual statewide tour in Oneida County, where he and Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon toured the Rome Family YMCA, and visited Bellamy Harbor Park to examine damage caused by the tornado that hit central New York this past weekend.
“Every year my statewide tour allows me to visit all corners of the state and see first hand what our communities need and what they’re experiencing,” Speaker Heastie said. “Today, Assemblymember Buttenschon and I had the opportunity to visit the Rome Family Branch YMCA and see the great things they’re doing here as well as the renovations they need to do to continue their good work. But we also once again saw damage done by devastating storms. My heart goes out to everyone that was affected, particularly those who lost loved ones, and I will continue to work with Assemblymember Buttenschon and our partners in government to get Central New York the resources it needs.”
“Thank you to Speaker Heastie for coming out today to visit the Rome YMCA and to see the aftermath of this weekend’s storms. The YMCA is an integral part of the community here in Rome and an essential resource for families. And as we clean up after another wave of severe weather and mourn the loss of lives, Speaker Heastie and I will work together to make sure our communities are able to recover,” said Assemblymember Buttenschon. “This funding isn’t just about renovating a building, it’s about creating a space where our community can come together. My goal is for the YMCA to grow into an even stronger community hub, a place where families feel supported, young people are empowered, and our local partners can
collaborate to serve the needs of the Mohawk Valley. That’s why I invited so many of our incredible community organizations to be here today, because this vision only becomes reality when we all work together.”
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Buttenschon together toured the Rome Family Branch YMCA with YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley CEO Hank Leo, where they announced $3.4 million for updates for the roof and HVAC system. Rome YMCA is in the midst of renovation and the creation of a long-term plan to improve the facility and replace items that have reached the end of their useful life, including replacing the roof, renovating the pool and replacing doors, windows and fire alarm panels. Additionally, the HVAC system has chronic issues and is in need of changes. Additional capital projects to improve services for families, include investments in the locker rooms, group exercise space, pickleball, childcare, security and parking.
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Buttenschon then visited Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome with Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan to see damage done by this weekend’s deadly tornadoes. Three people were killed during the severe storms, which hit Central New York early Sunday morning and left thousands without power. There, they announced $200,000 for general repairs following the storm, as well as $16,000 for the fire department to purchase a tool to inspect gas levels without entering a building.
