By Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz
Earlier this month I was honored to join Governor Kathy Hochul along with county executives, district attorneys, sheriffs, and police chiefs from across New York to discuss the impact of ICE actions on local communities and law enforcement and how we all can protect our constituents.
Public safety starts with trust. Gov. Hochul's "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act" is a commonsense way to ensure local law enforcement personnel and resources are reserved for use in our communities, policing them according to the law and not subjected to federal overreach such as what we are seeing with ICE operations happening across the nation.
The legislation reassures residents that local police departments will not be deputized by ICE for the federal government’s civil immigration enforcement efforts. It also provides protections and remedies for anyone whose constitutional rights are violated. This legislation is logical, timely and necessary. I was proud to stand with Gov. Hochul when she introduced the concept at a press conference in Albany and thank her for proposing it.
February is Black History Month and Erie County is highlighting African American history by celebrating the contributions of local and national leaders, local institutions and significant landmarks. I encourage you to visit Erie County’s Facebook page to learn about notable figures, significant events and historic venues.
Did you know that Erie County has a Veteran Service Agency staffed with military veterans who are trained to assist others in applying for veteran benefits? Located on the eighth floor of the Rath Building, the office’s dedicated county employees are ready to assist veterans and their family members with the complicated VA paperwork and filing process at no charge. More information about what they offer local veterans can be found at www.erie.gov/veterans/ or by calling 716-858-6363.
Our award-winning Erie Corps program continues to receive praise from government leaders across the country. The concept, which was developed from Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, helps train local residents for careers in the parks and public works fields. I recently spoke about it on the podcast “The Good Government Show.” You can listen to what I had to say by visiting www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUdlwryoYCY .
The many changes happening within the evolving health care industry has resulted in some people now searching for a new physician. The Erie County Health Mall is our one-stop shop for various medical services, including adult primary care, laboratory work, counseling, and mental health care. Located at 1500 Broadway Ave. in Buffalo, our partners at that facility are professionals you can trust. More information about what is provided at the Erie County Hall can be found at www3.erie.gov/health/erie-county-health-mall or by calling (716) 858-8888.