In Support of Amy Paulin

Letter to the Editor: We are getting closer to November elections and Scarsdale voters have to make some tough decisions. I've been looking closely at my Assemblymember in the 88th district. I was pleased to find that Assemblywoman Paulin continues to cast votes that are for the greater good. At a time when many lawmakers just vote the party line, Paulin continues to be her own person. It really struck a chord with me when I read that she broke with the Democratic leadership and voted against borrowing $2 billion to balance our state budget. If we had more lawmakers like Assemblywoman Paulin, New York wouldn't be in its current financial mess.

Eric A. Jaffe,
M.D., Scarsdale, N.Y.

Dear Scarsdale10583: When a lawmaker proposes a new tax on us, it is important that we have someone in Albany to fight back. That person is Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. She continues to fight against tax increases and has most recently stopped new taxes on soda, gasoline, cable television, movie theater tickets and Broadway shows. Assemblywoman Paulin has also halted increases in our income tax rate and the mortgage recording tax on co-ops. Can you imagine how many of our hard earned dollars would have been lost had these taxes taken effect? This November we need to re-elect Assemblywoman Amy Paulin so she can continue to be our advocate in Albany, making sure we are not saddled with unfair and burdensome taxes.
Thank you,
Julie Hoofnagle

To the Editor: As a Westchester County resident, mother of four children, and a child abuse pediatrician, I have been amazed at Assemblywoman Amy Paulin’s dedication, knowledge, perseverance and skill – particularly in the area of protecting children and keeping children safe. Almost 165,000 cases of child abuses and maltreatment in the State were investigated in 2009. More than 6,100 of these happened in Westchester County.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin has worked tirelessly to protect the safety and well-being of our children. Having learned of the tragic death of young Nixmary Brown in New York City and of others here in Westchester, Amy actively investigated in hearings throughout the State the failings of our child welfare system and recommended substantive changes to address them. I met Assemblywoman Paulin when I testified at those hearings, and have been continually impressed at her commitment and knowledge about the complex issues related to child abuse.

As a result of her efforts, several changes in the law were made, including requiring teachers to report suspected child abuse directly to the state hotline, improving child protection investigations and supportive services in certain child abuse cases, and expanding and improving the process of reviewing deaths of children in the State. Assemblywoman Paulin has also tackled physician education in the area of child abuse pediatrics through her advocacy for child abuse pediatrics fellowship training and her steadfast support of a statewide sexual abuse medical education program.

As a physician who evaluates neglected and abused children every day, it is so important that we have an effective voice in Albany fighting to protect our most vulnerable. Although we have made significant strides in improving our child welfare system – much due to Amy’s success in enacting good laws – there is still work to be done. Returning Amy Paulin to Albany, I know will ensure that this critical work will be advanced and that Amy will continue her unwavering commitment to prevent harm to our children.

Jennifer Canter M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P.
Child Abuse Pediatrician