It's Important to see the whole picture, Accuser #2

Note:  This post examines publicly available information and defense-raised challenges.

Charlotte Bennett worked for Governor Andrew Cuomo as a special assistant for briefings in January 2019.  She organized and researched materials on relevant topics for the Governor.  In May 2019, she was also assigned to be his executive assistant.  In this role, Bennett managed telephone calls, took dictation and, for a period of time, traveled with the Governor.

At Hamilton College, Bennett majored in Women’s and Gender Studies and Psychology.  She was an activist and was a founding member of the Sexual Misconduct and Assault Reform Task-Force (SMART).

The allegations

Danny Boy  On May 16, 2019, Cuomo asked Bennett if she knew the song, “Danny Boy.” He handed her a copy of the lyrics and asked her to memorize them.  There are notes in the AG’s report to corroborate this and Melissa DeRosa remarks that this was “hazing.”  Bennett also texts a family member.

The report also says  “Once Ms. Bennett returned to her cubicle, a colleague told Ms. Bennett that the Governor had been testing Ms. Bennett for her temperament, confidence, ability to handle herself, anxiety, and memory.”

Pushups  Cuomo asks Bennett how many pushups she could do.  Stephanie Benton overheard this conversation.

On August 9, 2019, Bennett posts to her Instagram account

 Hand size   Cuomo persistently asked Bennett what people were saying about the size of his hands.  Bennett testified that she understood Cuomo was attempting to get her to say something about the size of his genitals.  She was uncomfortable and wanted to change the topic but didn’t want to anger Cuomo.  I find it interesting that the one in this group that is true sexual harassment has no corroboration.

The Bun  Cuomo asked Bennett why her hair was in a bun and that he didn’t like it.

 January 19, 2020 conversation   Bennett told Cuomo that his signing of sexual assault legislation in 2015 changed her life.  She then disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted in college and that the difficult experience motivated her to work in politics.  She tells her mother about the conversation in a text.

 

May 2020 conversation  Bennett spoke with Cuomo about a speech she was giving at her alma mater, Hamilton College, regarding sexual assault.  While providing her feedback, Bennett says Cuomo pointed at her and kept repeating, you were raped, you were raped.  He also told her that he wanted to find a lady and drive off on his motorcycle into the mountains with her.

June 5 and 6, 2020  Bennett says Cuomo said (1) he was “lonely” and “wanted to be touched”; (2) asking her whether she had been with older men; (3) that he would be willing to date someone who was as young as 22 years old (he knew Ms. Bennett was 25 at the time); (4) asking whether Ms. Bennett was monogamous; (5) telling Ms. Bennett, after she told him that she was considering getting a tattoo for her birthday, that if she decided to get a tattoo, she should get it on her butt, where it could not be seen; and (6) asking whether she had any piercings other than her ears.

Bennett testified that she understood her June 5 conversations with Cuomo to mean that he was propositioning her for sex.  Bennett no longer wanted to be in a role that required her to work with him.

On June 10, 2020, Bennett reported Cuomo’s conduct to Jill DeRosiers, the governor’s chief of staff, and was transferred to work in the health policy team.

On June 30, 2020, Bennett had a follow-up conversation with DeRosiers and special counsel Judith Mogul.  Bennett said she did not want an investigation and that she still considered Cuomo a friend.

A month later, Bennett went on medical leave and quit her job and on December 8, 2020 she contacted Lindsey Boylan on Twitter.

The AG’s assessment was, “We found the level of detail and consistency in Ms. Bennett’s account, her demeanor, and the circumstances of her allegations to be credible.”

What nobody told you    Charlotte Bennett was accused in a 2017 federal lawsuit of having filed a false claim of “non-consensual sexual contact” against a fellow student at Hamilton College.

The lawsuit used pseudonyms for the students and Bennett is referred to as “Sally Smith”, but is identifiable due to a reference to a newspaper opinion she’d written.

Evidence proved she fabricated the allegations, and she withdrew her complaint immediately after the College removed John Doe from Campus and denied him graduation. The victim of the false allegations sued the college for the mishandling and failed investigation, and Hamilton College agreed to an undisclosed settlement in 2018.

Like the college, the AG never investigated the Hamilton lawsuit in connection with this case and never mentioned it.  How can anyone be considered credible without reviewing a previous false allegation.

You need to know both sides. Accuser #1

There are things I believe in.  “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  “Don’t pick sides until you know the full story…Some people are really skilled at making others look bad.”  “Innocent until proven guilty.”  ‘No person shall…be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.”

I believe that women’s allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment should be taken seriously.  However, there are many reasons why it never gets reported:     fear of retaliation or negative consequences; fear of not being believed or being blamed; shame or guilt; lack of faith in the system or process; desire to move on from it.  A person should not be dismissed because they are a woman or held in high regard because they are a man.  The facts and the truth should always be the goal.  However, I don’t believe all women no more than I believe all men.  That has recently gotten me called misogynistic.  Everyone isn’t right all the time.

Andrew Cuomo has always been criticized for using aggressive political tactics, having an abusive workplace environment and being a bully, but that is where it has always stopped.

Note:  This post examines publicly available information and defense-raised challenges.

Lindsey Boylan worked for Andrew Cuomo from 2015 to her resignation in September 2018.  During that time, she was Vice President at Empire State Development, Chief of Staff at Empire State Development, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and then Special Advisor to the Governor. 

On September 26, 2018, Boylan was called into a meeting that involved Alphonse David, who was then counsel to Cuomo.  The meeting was described as a “counseling session”/discussion to address complaints from staff about her alleged behavior of belittling, yelling at or bullying subordinates.  During the meeting, Boylan voluntarily tendered her resignation.  David was “clear that she was not being asked to resign, fired or pushed out in any way.” And the meeting was documented as stated in the AG report.  After the meeting, she sent a mass email informing staff members of her resignation.

On December 13, 2020, Lindsey Boylan made her first public accusation against Andrew Cuomo.  Not to him, not to Human Resources, not to the police but in a series of tweets, where she stated Cuomo had “sexually harassed me for years.”  Boylan said she spoke up now after hearing from another former staffer.

Cuomo held a press conference denying the claims outright, saying “it’s just not true”. (Coincidentally, her tweets came out when there was conversation of Cuomo becoming U.S. Attorney General.)

On February 24, 2021, Boylan describe several specific events in her Medium essay titled "My story of working with Governor Cuomo.”

Key specific events she described include:

January 6, 2016: Her first in-person encounter with Cuomo at a Madison Square Garden event promoting the Pennsylvania Station-Farley Complex project. She described as uncomfortable interactions, including comments on her appearance.

December 14, 2016: An email from aide Stephanie Benton relaying that Cuomo suggested Boylan resembled his rumored former girlfriend "Lisa Shields" (calling her the "better looking sister"), after which he began calling her "Lisa" in front of colleagues, which she found degrading.

October 2017: On a government plane flight after a Western New York event, Cuomo allegedly said to her, "Let’s play strip poker." She described this as crude and part of a pattern.

2018 (specific one-on-one briefing, shortly before her September 26, 2018 resignation): In his Manhattan office during a private update on economic and infrastructure projects, Cuomo allegedly stepped in front of her as she was leaving, blocked the door, and forcibly kissed her on the lips without consent. She said she was in shock but continued walking out. This was a pivotal incident she cited as contributing to her decision to resign.

This was the New York Attorney General’s assessment: 

“Most of the allegations that Ms. Boylan has made against the Governor are now essentially uncontested. For example, although the intent is in dispute, there is no serious question that (1) the Governor commented on Ms. Boylan’s appearance, including comparing her to someone who was an ex-girlfriend; (2) the Governor on occasion touched Ms. Boylan on the waist, leg, and back; (3) the Governor gave Ms. Boylan a tour of his office that included the cigar box from President Clinton; (4) Ms. Boylan received a rose from the Governor for Valentine’s Day; and (5) the Governor thought she did good work and paid attention to her at events. While the Governor vehemently denied, and others did not recall, the “strip poker” comment, Mr. Zemsky testified under oath that he recalls the Governor making such a comment, independently corroborating Ms. Boylan. And with respect to the alleged kiss on the lips, although the Governor again denied it, he has admitted that, on occasion, he has kissed members of his staff on the lips. Thus, despite the intensity of the attacks on Ms. Boylan by the Governor and others within and outside of the Executive Chamber, and the refusal to even consider the possibility that she may have felt harassed, most of the factual allegations that Ms. Boylan has made are not disputed and those that are have corroboration, including in the allegations by the other complainants of similar conduct. What the Governor disputes is his intent and the way in which he believes Ms. Boylan perceived the interactions. Thus, regardless of whether Ms. Boylan may have had political or other personal motivation for making her allegations public, we find that the factual allegations she has made are credible and supported by the rest of the evidence in our investigation.”

Cuomo issued statements and held briefings apologizing for any offense caused by his “collegial” or “too familiar” behavior, but denied the inappropriate touching, advances or harassment.  He called some interactions misinterpreted.

So let’s breakdown the AG’s “factual allegations”.

“Let’s play strip poker”  despite everyone denying that this happened, this is considered credible because Howard Zemsky (Boylan’s former boss at Empire State Development) said it was a fact.  Zemsky also told Boylan that the governor appeared to have a “crush” on her.  However, the AG never bothered to make public the fact that Boylan and Zemsky had a sexual encounter in 2017 and she used that encounter to threaten Zemsky into changing his testimony.  

The Rose  Boylan did receive a rose from the Governor’s office on Valentine’s Day. Other female staff members also did and there is no proof that she was specifically singled out. Sometimes a rose is just a rose.

The Cigar Box  Cuomo has the highest regard for Bill Clinton and this gift from Clinton is important to him.  Cuomo showed off the cigar box to Boylan during a tour. To assert that this was an intentional sexual reference is a stretch for anyone and absurd that the AG would call this factual.

He Touched Her  Boylan said Cuomo would touch her in passing, touched her back during a photo and would always sit where he could see her.  There are no details to these events or witnesses.

Her Appearance  Boylan received an email from Stephanie Benton where Cuomo compares her to a former girlfriend.  The email is Exhibit 58 of the report and in her testimony Benton says Cuomo only said to tell Boylan to look Lisa up, the comparison came from Benton.

 

What nobody told you  Prior to the December 2020 accusation, Boylan had nothing but nice things to say about Cuomo.

Boylan told Robert Mujica (Director of the Division of the Budget) that she was frustrated about her work at the Executive Chamber due to inability to access or speak directly with Cuomo, which contradicts that Cuomo was singling her out.

Boylan ran for the United States House of Representatives to represent New York’s 10^th Congressional District.  On March 14, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order shortening the petition period for primary election candidates to reduce the spread of the Covid virus for all candidates.  Boylan reacted by sending strongly worded text messages to senior Executive Chamber employees.

In November 2020, Boylan announced her candidacy for Manhattan Borough President. On December 5, she posted her toxic workplace tweets.  Shortly after, Boylan was contacted by Charlotte Bennett and Bennett offered to help her.  Boylan’s story went from toxic workplace to sexual harassment.

Also in December, there were phone conversations between Boylan’s campaign consultant, Trip Yang and Ibrahim Khan, Letitia James’ chief of staff. Trip Yang was Letitia James’ consultant to her 2018 AG campaign.  Nothing was ever released stating what the conversations were about.

 

Lindsey Boylan has the right to have her thoughts and feelings taken seriously and investigated.  BUT why are these accusations not in full context and allowed to go unchallenged?  Cuomo was never allowed to defend himself and has never received all of the evidence against him.  Claims this serious should have required serious investigation.

The next posts will go thru the other accusations.

 

  

Factory Farms - Get Involved

 “AND IT’S HURTING ALL OF US

Billions of animals and thousands of humans suffer behind the walls of factory farms and slaughterhouses. Entire forests are cleared to make way for miles and miles of barren feedlots. Communities living downwind and downstream endure pollution and poisoning. Giant corporations squeeze contractors, customers, and—most of all—innocent animals, all in the name of profit. It’s never been clearer: our food system is broken. And it's in dire need of repair.” (from thehumanleague.org)

It’s time for us to stand up for these animals and to stand up for ourselves.  Treat the world with care and leave it better than we found it.

                          (from thehumanleague.org)

GET INVOLVED

https://www.farmsanctuary.org/advocacy/

Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of factory farming and encourage a new awareness to help advocate reforms.  Their President and Co-founder, Gene Baur, rescued a live sheep from a pile of dead animals found during an investigation into a farm in PA. 

They established the first permanent sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, and later added the Los Angeles/Anton, California sanctuary.  They care for nearly 600 animals across the two sanctuaries that they have pulled from factory farms.

They educate by giving sanctuary visits and tours, they have live webcams and use social media and newsletters to keep everyone informed.

You can become a member, sponsor a specific animal and volunteer

https://thehumaneleague.org/

The Humane League was started in 2005 in Philadelphia and initially focused on protesting foie gras at local restaurants, highlighting the cruelty involved in its production.  Now they have evolved into a leading organization advocating for animal welfare.     

Their main focus is their corporate campaigns, pressuring food companies to adopt higher-welfare policies like going cage-free for eggs and ending practices like gestational crates for pigs.

To get involved, get on their site to sign petitions, email companies and legislators, or join campaigns directly from their site. 

https://www.aspca.org/shopwithyourheart

ASPCA Shop with your heart program was launched in 2016 as part of their Farm Animal Welfare efforts.  It was created to empower and encourage consumers to make informed choices about the food they purchase.  

The program provides a detailed label guide, a list of nationally available welfare-certified and plant-based brands, and a list of welfare-certified farms in each state.  There is also a supermarket scorecard that ranks the top 20 grocery chains on issues like cage free eggs, gestational crate policy and broiler chicken welfare.

You can get involved by using their tools daily as well as signing up for alerts as well as emailing/calling your grocery store or restaurant to adopt better policies.

#LetsBeTheChange

If anyone is interested in doing something and doesn't want to work on it alone, let me know.  We can all work together.

National Service Animals Monument

Thirty years ago, a dedicated group of animal advocates gathered in the San Francisco Bay Area with a shared passion: to raise public awareness and generate community support for the well-being of animals. They formed an organization called Critter Lovers at Work (CLAW), focusing their efforts on bolstering animal welfare agencies through education, fundraising, and outreach. Over the decades, CLAW built a strong foundation of volunteers and supporters committed to highlighting the vital roles animals play in human lives.

By 2019, the group recognized an opportunity to refine their mission. They shifted their primary emphasis toward raising awareness and support specifically for service animals—those extraordinary creatures trained to assist humans in critical ways, often at great personal risk. This evolution led to a name change: the organization became the National Service Animals Monument (NSAM), with a clear and ambitious goal—to establish a national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring all service animals and their handlers throughout United States history. The memorial would celebrate not just their contributions but also the profound human-animal bond that underpins their service.

Susan Bahary with Sully and the bronze of Sully for the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum commissioned by America’s VetDogs.
– Photo Credit: James Chang/America’s VetDogs

At the heart of this vision is Susan Bahary, a world-renowned sculptor and the driving force behind the project. Bahary served on the executive board of CLAW and emerged as the lead visionary and sculptor for the monument. Her expertise in capturing the essence of animals in bronze has made her one of the foremost artists specializing in monuments that honor the animal-human partnership. Bahary's work is celebrated internationally for its lifelike expression, anatomical accuracy, and emotional depth.

Bahary's portfolio already includes landmark tributes to service animals. In 1994, she created the first official U.S. war dog memorial, titled "Always Faithful"—a poignant reference to the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis. Unveiled at the Pentagon and later installed at the Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery on the U.S. Naval Base in Guam, this sculpture honors the courage of military working dogs and their handlers. Her international contributions further demonstrate her global impact: the War Animal Memorial in Pozières, France, commemorates the nine million animals that perished on the Western Front during World War I, marking the world's first monument dedicated to these forgotten heroes. In Australia, she sculpted the Australian War Animals Memorial in Queensland's State Heritage Rose Garden, and in New Zealand, the New Zealand War Animal Memorial stands at the National Army Museum. These works have solidified her reputation as a leader in raising awareness about animal sacrifices in conflict and service.

Other notable commissions include a life-size bronze of Sully, the service dog of President George H.W. Bush, commissioned by America’s VetDogs and placed at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas. Bahary has also sculpted tributes to historic figures like Stubby, the famous World War I hero dog, and Smoky, recognized as the first therapy dog of World War II.

The momentum for a national monument culminated on December 29, 2022, when President Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill—the National Service Animals Memorial Act (part of the larger omnibus legislation)—authorizing the NSAM Corporation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in Washington, D.C. This legislation marked a historic milestone, formally recognizing the need to honor the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and their handlers. The act enables the creation of a first-of-its-kind memorial in the nation's capital, encompassing a broad definition of service animals: from search-and-rescue dogs and police horses to guide dogs, military working dogs, law enforcement K9s, therapy animals, and even dolphins and other species trained for specialized roles in security and support.

Central to the monument's symbolism is the Purple Poppy, an international emblem of remembrance for animals that have died or served in conflict. Mirroring the red poppy worn to honor human soldiers on Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the U.S.), the purple poppy pays tribute to the millions of animals lost in wars, from carrier pigeons and horses in World War I to modern military dogs. NSAM has embraced this symbol, promoting it through campaigns, awards (such as the Purple Poppy Award given to historic animals like Rags, the WWI dispatch dog), and educational initiatives. It serves as a unifying theme, reminding visitors of the shared sacrifices across species and eras.

The proposed design envisions a thoughtful park-like or civic plaza setting, featuring life-size bronze sculptures of approximately 15 service animals and their handlers, representing diverse roles across history. Informational plaques, interactive elements, and a mobile app will provide educational context, allowing visitors to learn about individual stories—from military dogs detecting explosives to guide dogs fostering independence for the visually impaired. The memorial aims to inspire reflection, education, and celebration of the unbreakable bond between humans and animals.

As of recent updates, the project has advanced to the site selection phase in Washington, D.C., with active efforts to identify an optimal location that balances accessibility, visibility, and reflective space. Supported by major organizations like the U.S. War Dogs Association (which provided a leading $150,000 gift), Canine Companions, Guide Dog Foundation, America’s VetDogs, and others, NSAM continues fundraising—privately funded, as required for national memorials—with estimates ranging from $20–30 million. The organization maintains an education program on its website for parents and teachers, and plans include an interactive phone app at the site to engage visitors of all ages.

This monument represents more than stone and bronze; it is a national movement to acknowledge the overlooked contributions of service animals. From battlefield valor to everyday assistance, these animals have enhanced safety, security, independence, and emotional well-being for countless Americans. Through Susan Bahary's artistry and the tireless work of NSAM, their legacy will finally receive the enduring recognition it deserves in the heart of the nation's capital.

national service animals monument

#LetsBeTheChange

The life of a Pig on a factory farm

Most people think of pigs as just farm animals, maybe even dirty or dumb, but honestly, that's not true at all. Pigs are actually gentle, smart creatures with their own personalities, just like dogs or cats. They can be curious, playful, affectionate, and they form real bonds with each other.

Every year in the US alone, around 120 to 130 million pigs are raised and killed for food. These aren't happy pigs rooting around in the mud or hanging out with their families like they would in nature. Instead, from the moment they're born, their lives are controlled for maximum profit, and that means a lot of suffering.

Female pigs, the sows are artificially inseminated over and over to keep having babies—litters of up to 12 piglets each time. During their whole pregnancy and even after giving birth, they're stuck in gestation crates. These are metal cages so tiny they can't even turn around or take more than a step or two. They cannot stretch out or move comfortably. They want to build nests for their babies, but there's no straw, no space. They just lie there on hard floors, sometimes chewing the bars out of frustration and boredom.

When the piglets are about 3 weeks old, they get taken away. In the wild, moms nurse their little ones for months.  Instead they are separated so the mom can be bred again soon.

Soon after birth, most male piglets get castrated, usually with just a knife or scalpel and no pain meds at all. They scream, they tremble, and some are left shaking alone for days. The reason? To stop something called "boar taint," which can make the meat smell or taste off when the pigs get older.

Then there's tail docking. Pigs in these crowded, stressful pens sometimes get so frustrated they start biting each other's tails. Instead of giving them more space, better environments, or anything to reduce the stress, farmers just chop off their tails—again, no pain relief.

There is also ear notching. With hundreds or thousands of pigs in one place, they cut chunks out of the piglets' ears to make codes for which litter they're from and which individual.

Pigs are bred to grow insanely fast—they hit market weight of about 250 pounds in just 6 months. Their bodies aren't built for that kind of rapid growth, so a lot develop painful arthritis or leg problems. They can barely walk, sometimes collapse in their own waste in dirty pens, which spreads diseases. But they're still loaded onto trucks for transport to slaughter. These trips can last over 28 hours—crowded, no food, no water, extreme heat or cold. Many die on the way from exhaustion, injury, or sickness. It's brutal.

Finally, at the slaughterhouse, they are killed.  Some places kill over 1,000 pigs an hour. They're supposed to be stunned first so they don't feel the throat slit, but with that speed, it's not always done right. Some pigs are still conscious when they're hung up, throats cut, bleeding out. Then they're dunked in scalding water to remove hair.

 #LetsBeTheChange

 

Part 2-How to get it started (a statewide animal abuse registry)

How do we get this started...How to get our state to hear us…

Let’s start a postcard campaign urging politicians to establish an animal abuse registry.

🎯 Key Goals for Your Postcard Campaign

1. Grab attention quickly — short, bold statements work best.
2. Make it personal — show why this matters to you and your community.
3. Offer a clear action — ask them to support or introduce legislation for an animal abuse registry.
4. Stay respectful — firm but courteous language increases the chance of being heard.

Who to contact:

The "Gatekeepers" (Top Priority)

​These are the two people with the most power over Tedisco's bill (S1563). They set the meeting agendas.

·         ​            Senator Michelle Hinchey (D)

​                        Role: Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

​                        Address: LOB Room 902, Albany, NY 12247

·         ​            Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D)

​                        Role: Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

​                        Address: LOB Room 829, Albany, NY 12248

The Committee "Influencers"

​These members sit on the committees and have the power to push the Chairs to hold a vote. If you have volunteers in their specific cities, their postcards are 10x more powerful.

Name Committee Location / District Address

·         Asm. Linda Rosenthal (D) Assembly Ag Manhattan (UWS) LOB Room 635, Albany 12248

·         Sen. Samra Brouk (D) Senate Ag Rochester LOB Room 307, Albany 12247

·         Asm. Carrie Woerner (D) Assembly Ag Saratoga/Washington LOB Room 502, Albany 12248

·         Sen. Patricia Fahy (D) Senate Ag Albany LOB Room 613, Albany 12247

·         Asm. Chris Tague (R) Assembly Ag Catskills/Hudson Valley

Your Representatives

​Use these official look-up tools. Just enter your home address:

​Find your State Senator - Find My Senator | NYSenate.gov

Assemblymember - Assembly Member Search | New York State Assembly

​​Once you have their names, you’ll see two addresses: a District Office (near your home) and an Albany Office.

​During Session (January–June): Send your postcards to the Albany Office. This is where they are physically sitting when they vote on committee bills.

​            Address Format:

​            Senator [Name]: Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247

​            Asm. [Name]: Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248

 🖋 Suggested Postcard Message Templates

Example 1: The "Public Safety" Angle

​Best for: Conservative or moderate committee members.

​Front: A photo of a German Shepherd or a "Working Dog."

Back:

​Dear [Senator/Assemblymember],

​Research shows that animal abuse is a "bridge crime" to domestic violence and other violent acts. By passing S1563 / A9024, you are protecting not just animals, but our families and neighborhoods. Please vote to move the Animal Abuse Registry bill out of the Agriculture Committee and onto the floor. Public safety cannot wait.

​Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Zip Code]

 

​Example 2: The "Buster’s Law" Legacy

​Best for: Long-term legislators or those who champion animal rights.

​Front: A photo of a cat or a "rescued" animal.

Back:

​Dear [Senator/Assemblymember],

​New York led the way with Buster’s Law in 1999, but we haven't finished the job. Without a statewide registry, convicted abusers can simply move to a new county and adopt again. Please support S1563 / A9024 to close this loophole. It is time to hold animal abusers accountable across all of New York State.

​Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Zip Code]

 

​Example 3: The Personal/Constituent Plea

​Best for: Your own local representatives.

​Front: A handwritten "Protect Our Pets" or a photo of your own pet.

Back:

​Dear [Senator/Assemblymember],

​As a voter in your district, animal welfare is a top priority for me. I am concerned that S1563 / A9024 has been stuck in committee for too long. I am asking you to personally reach out to the Agriculture Committee Chair and urge them to bring this to a vote. I’ll be watching the progress of this bill closely this session!

​Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

 

📌 Tips for Success

• Use bold, legible fonts and eye-catching images of animals (happy and safe, not graphic).
• Include your return address so they know you’re a constituent.
• Coordinate a postcard party with friends or local animal advocates to send them in batches for greater impact.
• Target multiple levels of government — local council, state legislators, and federal representatives.

 

🎯 Best Strategy: "The Rolling Wave"

​Since we're targeting local reps and committee chairs:

​Week 1: Have your core group of volunteers mail their postcards to Senator Hinchey and Asm. Lupardo (the Chairs).

​Week 2: Have the next group mail to the other members of the Agriculture Committee.

​Week 3: Have everyone mail their own local representative, regardless of what committee they are on.

​Ongoing: Send a "Thank You" postcard to Senator James Tedisco every time you finish a wave so he knows the pressure is being applied.

District Office: 636 Plank Rd, 2nd Floor, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Email - Contact James Tedisco's office | NYSenate.gov

 #Letsbethechange

It’s time for New York State to have a statewide animal abuse registry

 It’s time for New York State to have a statewide animal abuse registry and time for us to get involved.

Senator James Tedisco (R, representing parts of the Capital Region including Saratoga and Schenectady counties) has been advocating for a statewide animal abuser registry for over a decade, with roots tracing back to his key role in passing Buster's Law in 1999.

That legislation made aggravated cruelty to animals a felony in New York, inspired by the 1997 case of "Buster" the cat in Schenectady—where a man poured kerosene on the cat and set it on fire. The abuser was convicted, but Tedisco highlighted how that same individual later committed serious crimes against a child (attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment), underscoring what he calls the "bridge crime" link: animal cruelty often signals or escalates to violence against people.

Tedisco's push for the registry specifically intensified in recent years due to what he describes as an "epidemic" of disturbing animal cruelty cases in New York (particularly in his district and surrounding areas), combined with the limitations of the existing patchwork of county-level registries.

Many counties (e.g., Saratoga, Fulton, Allegany adopting registries in 2025) have local ones, but abusers can simply move to a non-registry county to acquire animals.

Specific recent cases prompting renewed urgency in 2025:

July 2025: Death of "Gus" the French Bulldog at "A Time for Paws" doggy daycare/boarding in Halfmoon (Saratoga County area). The owner was charged with felony animal cruelty under Buster's Law for allegedly leaving the dog in extreme heat, plus neglect and criminal mischief. Tedisco reacted by calling for stronger laws, including the registry.

August 2025: Wilton mother and daughter charged with 37 counts of animal abuse/neglect (hoarding-related, involving unsanitary conditions and failure to provide sustenance). Tedisco linked this to potential mental illness and called for psych evaluations + ownership bans + registry.

August 2025: Canajoharie man deliberately hitting a kitten with his pickup truck (intentional cruelty).

September 2025 onward: Additional cases, like deaths of 21 dogs at a boarding facility in Argyle (Washington County) due to neglect/cruelty, and a pit bull "Diesel" dying at Meadowdale Acres in Altamont. These boarding/kennel horrors led Tedisco to advocate for oversight of facilities alongside the registry.

His advocacy is consistent: The registry would make convictions public/accessible to shelters, breeders, pet stores, and the public; require registration (name/address); prohibit ownership; and include penalties for non-compliance.

 

Here's a chronological timeline of the efforts to establish a statewide animal abuser registry. Note that no statewide registry has been enacted yet—all major bills remain in committee (primarily Agriculture in the Senate or Codes/Agriculture in the Assembly) as of early 2026, with no passage, votes, or governor approval.

Senator James Tedisco begins pushing versions of a statewide registry bill. These appear repeatedly across sessions (e.g., S3804 in 2011-12, S2305 in 2013-14, S2935 in 2015-16, S605/S4273 in 2017-18, S1526 in 2019-20, S1528 in 2021-22, S907 in 2023-24).

These bills typically require convicted abusers to register name/address with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), make the registry public/accessible to shelters, breeders, pet stores, law enforcement, and humane societies, and prohibit abusers from owning animals.

They advance in some sessions but never pass both houses or become law. Tedisco has advocated for this since at least 2015, linking it to preventing repeat offenses and noting the "link" between animal cruelty and other violence.

As of February 2026, no statewide registry exists. All active bills (S1563, S8084, A2194, A9024) are stalled in committee.

What can we do?

Normal people can take several practical steps to help push for a statewide animal abuser registry in New York. Advocacy from constituents is key to building momentum—legislators often respond to public pressure, especially on issues like animal protection that have broad appeal.

Contact your state legislators directly —Tell them you support a statewide registry to close the patchwork gaps, prevent repeat offenders from getting animals, and protect both pets and people.

Find your State Senator - Find My Senator | NYSenate.gov

Assemblymember -  Assembly Member Search | New York State Assembly

Call, email, or write a short message: "As a resident, I urge you to support/co-sponsor [bill numbers like S.1563 or S.8084] for a statewide animal abuser registry. Local county registries aren't enough—abusers move counties. Please help get this out of committee and to a vote."

Be polite, personal (mention why it matters to you, e.g., pet owner, concerned about local cruelty cases), and persistent—follow up if no response.

Reach out to key sponsors/champions —

Senator James Tedisco (main driver behind S.1563 and related efforts):

District Office: 636 Plank Rd, 2nd Floor, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Phone: 518-885-1829

Fax: 518-371-2649

Email - Contact James Tedisco's office | NYSenate.gov

Thank him for his work (he's been pushing this for years, tied to Buster's Law) and urge him to keep pressing for hearings/votes.

Support or join advocacy groups — These organizations track bills, organize calls/emails, and sometimes host events or petitions:  New York State Humane Association — They maintain a list of county registries and advocate for statewide solutions. Check their site (nyshumane.org) for updates and contact them to get involved; Local humane societies/shelters — They often support these bills and may have action alerts, petitions, or ways to amplify your voice (e.g., sign/share their statements).

Raise awareness locally — Share info on social media (e.g., post about the bills, Tedisco's press releases, or recent cruelty cases, tagging @nysenate or @JamesTedisco); Talk to friends/family/pet owners—encourage them to contact legislators too.

These steps don't require special skills or money—just time and persistence. If enough people speak up, it can move bills out of committee.

#Letsbethechange