LATHAM, N.Y. — The New York School Bus Contractors Association announced today that it presented New York State Assembly member Daniel O’Donnell of Manhattan and Senator Marty J. Golden of Brooklyn with its Distinguished Service Award.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to the person or persons who demonstrate an unmatched commitment to the association’s mission to provide the safest, most reliable and cost-effective student transportation possible.
“It is a privilege to present Assemblymember O’Donnell and Senator Golden with our Distinguished Service Award. Their hard work and tireless support of the pupil transportation industry and its labor force in New York is immeasurable,” said New York School Bus Contractor Association President Mike Martucci. “If signed into law, the legislation will help stabilize transportation costs for school districts and protect wages and benefits for New York City transportation workers.”
Assemblymember O’Donnell and Senator Golden were lead sponsors of the omnibus legislation drafted to help school districts manage transportation costs, protect working men and women, and ensure the safe transportation of New York’s school children. The bill A.8019-C, same as S.5984-C, establishes the use of Employment Cost Index (ECI) instead of Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) to determine the negotiation cap on school district transportation contract renewals; exempts school buses and related equipment and items from sales taxes; and reinstates labor protections for private pupil transportation employees in New York City.
The bill passed both the New York State Assembly and Senate with bipartisan support and is currently awaiting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature.
The New York School Bus Contractors Association worked closely with the bill’s sponsors, and a number of school transportation stakeholders from across the state; primarily the Amalgamated Transit Union and their President Michael Cordiello, who was instrumental in not only helping draft the bill, but also in helping to get the bill passed.
“Making sure New York’s school children get to and from school safely each day is the industry’s number one priority; my number one priority is making sure New York’s laws allow them to do their job effectively,” said Senator Golden. “We worked closely with NYSBCA, our friends in labor, including the President of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1181, Michael Cordiello, who was instrumental in helping pass this very important legislation. It was a team effort and I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the New York School Bus Contractors Association.”
“Our top priority is to ensure that students get to and from school safely. By helping school districts save on transportation costs and by protecting hard-working transportation employees, this legislation will improve the quality of life of tens of thousands of families,” said Assembly member O’Donnell. “It is always a pleasure to make the lives of hardworking New Yorkers easier and it is an honor to receive this award from NYSBCA. I thank NYSBCA and the Amalgamated Transit Union for their important roles in getting this bill through the legislature.”
Assembly member O’Donnell has represented the 69th Assembly District in Manhattan since 2002. The first openly gay man elected to the New York State Assembly, he was the author of the Marriage Equality Act—a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York. After years as the bill’s champion, it was eventually signed into law by Governor Cuomo in 2011. O’Donnell was also prime sponsor of the Dignity for All Students Act, New York’s first anti-bullying legislation, which was signed into law in 2010.
“From same-sex marriage to anti-bullying initiatives, Assembly member O’Donnell has a stellar record of proposing and supporting historic bills that went on to become the law in New York state,” continued Martucci. “His positive influence in New York and throughout the country simply cannot be denied. We are absolutely thrilled to call him a friend and champion of safe, reliable and cost-effective student transportation.”
Senator Golden has represented the 22nd Senate District in Brooklyn since 2002. A highly decorated retired police officer and former New York City councilman, Golden is the only Republican State Senator from Brooklyn. As one of the most influential lawmakers in New York City and the state of New York, he has been the lead author of over 200 laws spanning the areas of public safety, tax cuts, economic development, and senior citizen issues.
“Senator Golden always places people and community over politics,” said Martucci. “He made a lasting first impression on me personally after we lost my wife’s sister in the attacks on the trade center on 9-11. It was then City Councilman Golden and his staff who coordinated the shipment of more than 200 truckloads of food, clothing, and materials for the volunteers working at Ground Zero. I’ve never forgotten his help, support and caring during those dark days, and his compassion for people continues unabated today. We are truly honored to have Senator Golden as an ally for pupil transportation.”
The Distinguished Service Award was announced at the New York School Bus Contractor Association’s 62nd Annual Convention on October 15 at the Albany Marriott Hotel, Colonie, NY.
About the New York School Bus Contractors Association
The New York School Bus Contractors Association is an organization representing over 100 school transportation companies, also known as school bus contractors. The industry transports more than half of all the children who ride a school bus to and from school each day. The Association’s primary mission is to promote safe, reliable and cost-effective student transportation services for New York’s school children. www.nysbca.com
