Autism Flag Raised in Downtown Glen Cove
Mirsky and Lavine in the Assembly, March 18, 2024
(l-r) Glen Cove City Councilman John Zozzaro; Josh Mirsky with his father; Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck; Glen Cove City Councilwoman Marsha Silverman; Glen Cove Deputy Mayor, Donna McNaughton; Assemblymember Charles Lavine at flag raising in Glen Cove, April 25, 2024
GLEN COVE, NEW YORK – A flag representing the neurodivergent community is now flying over the City of Glen Cove.Thanks to the efforts of Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-North Shore), the flag, designed by Jericho constituent Josh Mirsky, was raised today (4/25) at a special ceremony attended by Lavine and other dignitaries including the city’s mayor and representatives of the City Council.The event, which was spearheaded by Lavine’s office, comes during National Autism Awareness Month with the goal of creating more awareness about autism and a greater understanding and acceptance of those in the neurodivergent community.
Mirsky said: “By raising the neurodiversity strength flag, the town of Glen Cove is showing that they stand up with progress and inclusion and that they stand with the neurodiverse people and showing them that we see you, we hear you, and we respect you.”
Lavine said: “Josh is a stalwart and hardened advocate for human rights. He stands for community and for respect for people who are neurodivergent.”
Background:Josh Mirsky is a member of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board and is Cofounder and Host of the Sounds Like Autism podcast.Josh was recently officially introduced by Assemblymember Lavine on the Assembly floor. He has been working to get a bill passed in the legislature establishing his flag as the official state flag for raising awareness of neurodiversity.
See weblinks for status of the legislation:
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S5169
https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A5780
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Assemblymember Charles Lavine represents New York’s 13th Assembly District in Nassau County. He presently serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Committees on Codes, Ethics and Guidance, Insurance and Rules. Lavine previously served as Chair of the Election Law Committee, Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Guidance, co-Chair of the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission, and as Chair of the bipartisan Taskforce that produced the Assembly Speaker’s Policy on Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Discrimination. Lavine is also President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and a member of its National Board of Directors.