Press Releases

O'Donnell Statement Regarding the Inspector General Report on Clinton Escape

Yesterday the State Inspector General published its report on the failures within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) that led to the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat from Clinton Correctional Facility. “A year after...

O'Donnell Launches Campaign Calling for Historic Designation and Rezoning of Morningside Heights

In the face of 2-4 large scale, as of right, towers proposed within a few blocks of each other, between West 120th street and West 123rd street, Assembly Member O'Donnell urged Mayor de Blasio for the third time to support the rezoning of Morningside...

O’Donnell Statement Calling for TennesseeTravel Ban in Response to Anti-LGBT Legislation

Assemblymember O'Donnell made the following statement in response to Tennessee Governor Haslam's signing into law anti-LGBT legislation: “I am extremely concerned that I must make this request for the second time this year. It is obvious that states...

O'Donnell Rallies with Striking Verizon Workers on the Upper West Side

Photo as described in caption
Assemblymember O'Donnell rallied with striking Verizon workers on the Upper West Side. O'Donnell joined the workers picketing in front of a Verizon storefront located in his Assembly District on 109th Street and Broadway. Verizon workers in the North...

Squadron, O’Donnell Introduce “Childcare Advance” in Assembly

NEW YORK — Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell announced introduction of the "Childcare Advance" into the Assembly. The Childcare Advance (S.6714/A.9699) would allow families to defer $2,000 in state taxes annually...

Glick and O'Donnell Announce Budget Funds for Transgender Civil Legal Services

Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, 66th Assembly District Manhattan, and Assemblymember Daniel J. O'Donnell, 69th Assembly District Manhattan, publicized a new funding stream for transgender people in need of civil legal services. Assemblymember Glick...

O’Donnell Statement Calling for Mississippi Travel Ban in Response to Anti-LGBT Legislation

Assembly Member O'Donnell made the following statement in response to Mississippi Governor Bryant's signing into law the so called religious freedom bill: It is once again time for New York to send a strong message to the country that we will not allow...

O'Donnell Nominates Nan Mead as Manhattan Regent

Assembly Member O'Donnell is proud to announce his nomination and the legislature's election of Nan Mead as the 1st Judicial District representative for the New York State Board of Regents. Assembly Member O'Donnell believes it is crucial that the Board...

Assembly Members Nolan, Glick, and O'Donnell Sponsor Symposium on the Implementation of the Dignity for All Students Act

Assembly Members Catherine Nolan, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Education; Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education; Daniel O'Donnell, Sponsor of the Dignity for All Students Act; in coordination with The Queering Education...

Nolan, Glick, and O'Donnell Sponsor Symposium on the Implementation of the Dignity for All Students Act

The Assembly Standing Committee on Correction held a public hearing to assess current and potential oversight of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). This hearing is especially pertinent in light of the events surrounding the...

O'Donnell Statement on Mayor de Blasio Backpedaling on Campaign Promise

After 20 years of fighting for a Morningside Heights Historic District, Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell is tired of waiting. O'Donnell has tirelessly advocated for Morningside Heights to be protected by a comprehensive historic district — first as...

O’Donnell Statement Applauding Landmark Supreme Court Decision Allowing for Greater Freedom and Equality for Same-Sex Couples

Elated by today’s historic and long-awaited Supreme Court decision, which would require all U.S. States to offer same-sex marriage, Assembly Member O’Donnell said the following: I am immensely proud to be American today. The Supreme Court majority...

New York State Assembly Passes O’Donnell Bill to Ban Solitary Confinement

Today, Assembly Correction Committee Chair Daniel O’Donnell’s bill, 1346A, passed the Assembly. Today’s passage of A1346a is an important step in curbing the ills of solitary confinement when used on individuals who should not be exposed to such...

O’Donnell Statement Calling for Louisiana Travel Ban In Response to Governor Jindal’s Discriminatory Executive Order

Outraged over Governor Bobby Jindal’s executive order yesterday to enable state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBT residents of Louisiana, Assembly Member O’Donnell sent a letter calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to ban all non-essential state-funded...

In Ireland, O’Donnell Lobbies for Marriage Equality

Today, Assembly Member O’Donnell returned from a successful trip to lobby for Marriage Equality in Ireland. While there, Assembly Member O’Donnell met with Lawyers for Yes, a group campaigning for Marriage Equality in Ireland, and with Brian Sheehan,...

O’Donnell Statement Condemning Indiana Governor for Signing Bill That Legalizes Discrimination

In response to Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s signature to the ill-named Religious Freedom Restoration Act Thursday morning, allowing anyone to use their religious beliefs to claim that they have a right to refuse to follow anti-discrimination laws,...

Correction Committee Chair O’Donnell Calls for Improved Mental Health Services in New York State Correctional System while Commending Some Aspects of Executive Budget

Today, Correction Chair Daniel O’Donnell attended the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Mental Hygiene to call for improved mental health services in prisons. He spoke to Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Marie T. Sullivan about his budgetary...

O’Donnell, Rozic Bills to Comply with Committee Against Torture’s Recommendations Pass Correction Committee

Today, Assembly Correction Committee Chair Daniel O’Donnell and Committee Member Nily Rozic’s bills to reform New York’s solitary confinement laws passed the Correction Committee, and will now advance to the Codes Committee. The bills would conform...

O'Donnell and Rozic Introduce Bills to Reform Solitary Confinement, Bring New York into Compliance with International Human Rights Standards

Assembly Correction Committee Chair Daniel O’Donnell and Committee Member Nily Rozic introduced bills this week which would conform New York’s solitary confinement laws to the new recommendations issued by the United Nations Committee against Torture...

O’Donnell Statement Applauding NY’s Ban on Hydrofracking

Today, Assembly Member O’Donnell celebrated New York’s official ban on hydraulic fracturing, a practice he has opposed for years. Assembly Member O’Donnell, a long-term member of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation, reacted to the...