Press Releases

Assemblymember Barrett Calls on Army Corps of Engineers to Extend Public Comment Period for Proposed Surge Barriers

One year after ten thousand residents across the Hudson Valley and New York State successfully fought against a federal proposal to add over 40 anchorage sites to the Hudson River – thereby preventing it from becoming a fossil fuel highway – a new...

Assemblymember Barrett Makes Strides to Combat Lyme Disease

As New York enters the height of tick season, and as a new and rare tick-borne disease is emerging in the region, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess)announced the passage of two critical pieces of legislation that aim to prevent the spread...

Groundbreaking Carbon Farming Project for Hudson Valley Passes Legislature

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) announced the passage of landmark legislation to create a two year soil health project promoting environmentally friendly practices known as carbon farming. The bill creates a pilot project in Columbia...

Assemblymember Barrett Passes Legislation to Help Struggling Public Libraries Gain Access to Construction Aid Funds

Public libraries got a boost this week as Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s (D - Columbia, Dutchess) legislation to make libraries in economically disadvantaged communities eligible for up to ninety percent of the approved construction costs passed the...

Assemblymember Barrett on Charter’s Broken Promises to Deliver Broadband

“For the second time in just three months, Charter Communications has failed to reach the promised benchmarks and connect waiting customers to high speed internet. Residents of my district in Charter's footprint are tired of the delays and excuses,...

Statement: Assemblymember Barrett on Governor Cuomo’s New Lyme Disease Initiatives

“I’m pleased that New York State is finally realizing it is time to #GetTickedOff,” said Assemblymember Barrett. “Columbia and Dutchess counties are at the epicenter of the national public health crisis around Lyme and tick-borne diseases and...

Assemblymember Barrett Secures Grant for New Yogurt Filler at Hawthorne Valley Farm

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) announced that her office has helped secure a $125,000 state grant for Hawthorne Valley Farm for the purpose of procuring a new yogurt filler machine, which will help increase productivity for packaging...

Assemblymember Barrett Introduces the Working Farm Protection Act to Make Farmland More Accessible to Working Farmers

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) was joined in Albany today by The National Young Farmers Coalition, New York Farm Bureau, American Farmland Trust, Scenic Hudson, local farmers and land trusts from around the state to take a stand for...

Assemblymember Barrett on Governor’s Climate Resilient Farming Grants

“Today’s announcement of another round of Climate Resilient Farming Grants to a small group of farms across the state is encouraging news that New York is willing to financially incentivize the time-honored practices that improve soil health and strengthen...

Assemblymember Barrett Statement on the Passing of State Librarian Bernard A. Margolis

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of New York State Librarian Bernard Margolis. In my short time as chair of the Assembly committee on Libraries and Educational Technology, Bernie went above and beyond – even in declining health – to help me...

Historic Preservation Trades Initiative Launched by Assemblymember Barrett

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess) announced this week a new initiative to train and inspire a new generation of skilled trades people to work on our region’s sizable stock of old and historic buildings. Along with partners at New...

Assemblymember Barrett Calls for Public Forums for Proposed Amtrak Fencing

In the wake of Amtrak’s proposal to construct fencing along portions of the railroad’s Empire corridor along the Hudson River between Rhinebeck and Stuyvesant, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) submitted a letter to the Department...

Assemblymember Barrett: State Budget Boosts Construction Funds for Libraries

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D - Columbia, Dutchess), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, announced that the 2018-19 state budget provides a significant increase in funding for library construction grants to help local...

Assemblymembers Barrett and Crespo: Fund 2020 Census Programs for Public Libraries in State Budget

As New York State prepares for the 2020 Census, Assemblymembers Didi Barrett (D – Columbia, Dutchess) and Marcos Crespo (D – Bronx) have requested $1 million in the 2018-19 FY budget be appropriated to public library systems across the state for census...

Assemblymember Barrett Statement on U.S. Coast Guard Decision Not to Recommend More Anchorage Sites Along Hudson River

“The United States Coast Guard’s decision not to build more anchorage sites at this time is the direct result of advocates and residents fighting for our communities and our majestic Hudson River,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D- Columbia,...

Assemblymember Barrett: Assembly Budget Proposal Sends the Message That Libraries Matter

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Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess), chair of the Committee on Libraries and Education Technology, announced that the State Assembly’s 2018-19 budget proposal provides $64 million for library construction grants and restores proposed...

Assemblymember Barrett Requests State Comptroller to Audit Charter’s Broadband Expansion Efforts

As residents in Columbia County grow increasingly frustrated over the wait for high-speed broadband service, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D – Columbia, Dutchess) has requested State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli to audit Charter Communications, Inc....

Assemblymember Barrett: Lyme Literate Doctors should be Represented at State DOH Tick-borne Disease Meetup

As the Hudson Valley continues to fight an epidemic of Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBDs), Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D – Columbia, Dutchess) called on NY State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to include a globally-recognized TBD...

Assemblymember Barrett Statement on Governor Cuomo's 2018 State of the State Address

“In what will likely be one of the tightest budget cycles in recent memory, Governor Cuomo laid out an ambitious agenda in his annual State of the State address. I was pleased that he raised a number of priorities that I share, including a few that...

Assemblymember Barrett: Repeal of net neutrality will hit New Yorkers, public libraries hard

“As chair of the Assembly Libraries and Education Technology Committee, I am committed to ensuring each and every New Yorker has fair and equal access to the information and resources they need. Many residents, especially those in underserved communities,...