Issue Position: Protecting New York's Most Vulnerable Citizens

Issue Position

* Fight for resources for families with disabled and developmentally disabled children
* Protect children by strengthening penalties for repeat child abusers
* Increase the minimum wage so working parents can provide for their families

As an occupational therapist who began his career in an early intervention preschool program, Tim has always been a strong advocate for children -- especially those with special needs.

For that reason, he consistently stands up for families with disabled and developmentally disabled children. Families like the Geary's, in Cheektowaga, who have two daughters both with severe cerebral palsy. The Geary's reached out to Tim when they could not find the resources to build a handicapped bathroom in their home. Tim fought for over the year to get the State to help them and the Geary's are now finishing construction on the new bathroom for their girls.

Tim sponsored Jay J's law, which protects children from child abuse by strengthening the penalties against repeat child abusers. Jay J's Law is named for Jay J. Bolvin, a little boy from Western New York who suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of his own father -- a repeat offender. As the father of three young children, Tim could not stand by while repeat child abusers were given weak sentences for these heinous crimes. Jay J's law passed the Senate unanimously in 2012, a testament to Tim and the Bolvin family's hard work and advocacy.

One of Tim's most relentless and important efforts to protect children and families is his push to increase the minimum wage. While Tim understands that small businesses need to reduce costs to stay competitive, he knows that far too many minimum wage workers have to raise their families without enough money to provide for their basic needs. Tim wants to raise the minimum wage so that working parents can support their children independently and give them every opportunity to succeed.

Tim believes all children, regardless of income, deserve a quality education, a safe environment, and the fulfillment of all their basic needs.

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