ALLEGANY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

Check out the New York State Democratic Committee Newsletter for March! Click on "NY State Democratic Committee" above.

Allegany County Democrats Deliver Sweet Valentines
BELMONT, NY — On Tuesday, February 14th , the Allegany County Democratic Committee (ACDC) delivered homemade cookies to approximately 1,000 “Health Care Heroes” at Allegany County’s
medical facilities: Wellsville Manor, Manor Hills, Highland Park Rehabilitation and Jones Memorial Hospital, and Hart Comfort House in Wellsville; Cuba Memorial Hospital in Cuba, and the Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Houghton.
This is ACDC’s third year organizing this project. Those involved do it to show support for our local health care workers, let them know they are appreciated, and thank them for the compassionate attention they give to the community members in their care.
More than 50 volunteers from all corners of the county baked and donated 160 dozen cookies, which were packed in individual bags at several locations around the County. Each bag had a tag that read: “To the unknown hero receiving this message: Thank you for all you do. We are very grateful! Allegany County Democratic Committee 2023”

Martha Sabato, Committee Vice Chair and a key organizer for this project, spoke for all: “Words can never fully express our appreciation, but we believe that cookies are able to say what words cannot. With this project, we recognize and honor the commitment and dedication of our local health care workers as they attend to our loved ones, our dearest friends, and our neighbors.”

Allegany County Democrats “Serving our Community” on National Day of
Service
Belmont, NY --- For Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, the Allegany County Democratic Committee organized a collection drive for the Comfort House of Allegany County (Hart Comfort House) in Wellsville.
Marty Sabato, Vice Chair of the Allegany County Democratic Committee, said, “Dr. King’s life exemplified what it means to serve. Since we, as Democrats, also strive to serve our communities, we chose to honor his legacy with this project. We reached out to our volunteer network – an amazingly generous group of givers and doers. They made this project possible.”
The call went out a few weeks ago for donations, with hundreds of requested items and multiple hundreds of dollars dropped off at multiple points across the county. Members of the county’s Democratic Committee needed five vehicles to deliver all the collected goods and monetary donations.
The results are evident in this photo.
Scott Swift, Executive Director for Hart Comfort House, said, “I’m very excited about the donation, which far exceeded our expectations. The cleaning and office supplies will last for many months. And we received a much-needed microwave oven for use in the upstairs kitchenette by family guests staying overnight. We are so grateful.”
The Allegany County Democratic Committee is the official governing body for the County Party, working toward broader representation by Democrats at the local, state, and national levels. Learn more at www.alleganycountydemocrats.org or on Facebook, email: info@alleganycountydemocrats.org, or phone / text (585) 610-4321.

Members of the Allegany County Democratic Committee deliver donations and monetary contributions to Comfort House of Allegany County (Hart Comfort House) in Wellsville on the ML King National Day of Service.

Democrats Cap off Winning Week of Service at Allegany County Fair
ANGELICA, NY —35 Allegany County Democrats donated more than 200 volunteer hours to the county fair this year, illustrating once again how Democrats are “Serving our Community.” Volunteers took part in booth planning and design, set-up, staffing, and clean-up, and this year
expanded the scope of service by also volunteering at the entrance gate ticket booth. “We are deeply committed to community service and outreach,” said committee Vice Chair Martha Sabato, “and the Fair is one of our most eagerly anticipated and successful activities.”
Volunteers helped voters with their registration inquiries, shared absentee ballot applications, informed visitors about candidates and election dates, and encouraged people to become election inspectors. In addition to staffing the booth with at least two volunteers from open to close every day, the Committee welcomed NY-23 Congressional candidate Max Della Pia, NYS-58 Senate Candidate Dan Brown, and Angelica Village Trustee candidate Linda Cash.
This year’s booth design featured a dozen framed photos of county Democrats engaged in community service, as well as graphics highlighting the most important issues facing Americans today. On Wednesday, fair personnel announced the booth had won an award in the non-commercial category.

Allegany County Democrats and Democratic Candidates March in Wellsville Balloon Rally Parade
On Saturday, July 9, Allegany County Democrats presented a float and marched in the Balloon Rally Parade through the streets of Wellsville, along with Max Della Pia (Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives NY-23), Dan Brown (Democratic candidate for NY State Senate District 57) and other local candidates.

Allegany County Democrats Deliver for Buffalo Shooting Victims
Mission Accomplished.
Marty Sabato, Vice Chair of the Allegany County Democratic Committee, dropped off the cookies this morning at the Resource Center of WNY on East Ferry in Buffalo on behalf of Allegany County Democrats.
According to Marty, "The parking lot of the center and the streets around it were abuzz with activity. A representative from FeedMore WNY gratefully and enthusiastically accepted the cookies and they were taken from me by a group of young volunteers from Alfred! (I’d say Allegany County was well represented.)
"In addition, as of this evening, we have collected several hundred dollars to donate to FeedMore. Allegany County Dems are kind and generous, for sure. A few pictures are attached. "
FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. If you'd also like to contribute to this worthy organization, visit www.feedmorewny.org

Allegany County Democrats deliver for Buffalo shooting victims

ACDC Vice Chair Marty Sabato (L) delivers to FeedMore WNY for Buffalo shooting victims

Allegany County Democrats Thank Our Local
Health Care Heroes
BELMONT, NY — On December 13 and 14, over 1,700 homemade cookies were delivered to the estimated 850 employees at Allegany County’s health care facilities: Wellsville Manor, Manor Hills, Highland Park Rehabilitation and Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, the Cuba Memorial Hospital in Cuba, and the Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Houghton.
            This is the second year that volunteers for the Allegany County Democratic Committee have organized this project. Those involved do it to show support for our local health care workers, let them know they are appreciated, and thank them for their dedication and commitment during this prolonged COVID 19 pandemic.
            More than 50 volunteers from all corners of the county baked and donated cookies. The cookies were packed in individual bags by volunteers (masked and gloved!) at several locations around the County. Each bag had a tag that read: “To the unknown hero receiving this message: Thank you for all you do. We are very grateful! Allegany County Democratic Committee 2021”
            Martha Sabato, Committee Vice Chair and a key organizer for this project, spoke for all: “No matter how we phrase it, words can never express our appreciation for the health care heroes in our midst. We recognize their commitment and compassion over yet another year dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We owe them a debt of gratitude for caring for our loved ones, our dearest friends, and our neighbors.”

ACDC Volunteers prepare cookies for delivery to our county's healthcare heroes.

Delicious holiday cookies ready to be delivered.

Allegany County Democrats Support Teamsters Local 264
Belmont, NY --- The Democratic Party has a long-standing connection to the workers of this nation. Democrats recognize that Labor is the backbone of the middle class and that workers uniting for better working conditions, wages and benefits creates a positive impact in the community.
For these reasons, the Allegany County Democratic Committee supports the strike action of Teamsters Local 264 against Saputo/Friendship Dairy.
Saputo, which is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, generated $11.5 billion dollars in revenue last year. This wealth was created by its workers -- including our neighbors in Teamsters Local 264.
The members of Local 264 worked without time off and without any additional bonuses throughout the entire pandemic. Recently, at the bargaining table, employees rejected a contract that would have raised their health insurance costs to a point that would impose an actual pay cut for the workers.
The Allegany County Democratic Committee supports collective bargaining and stands in solidarity with the hard-working union employees as they strike for a better contract.

Treasurer Karen Patterson delivers a donation from the Allegany County Democratic Committee to striking workers of Teamsters Local 264

Allegany County Democrats on the picket line in solidarity with Teamsters Local 264

Merchandise . . . We Have Merchandise . . . Show your support for Democratic causes and the Allegany County Democratic Committee with our Merchandise!
Click on the individual photos below for a larger view, and then click on the ACDC Merchandise link below to stock up on merchandise pictured here:

ACDC Merchandise

Allegany County Democrats participated in a fund-raising "Wine Pull" on Saturday, May 22 in Angelica. Participants got a mystery bottle of quality wine in support of local Democratic candidates.

Allegany County Democrats enjoyed hundreds of bottles of wine at the "Wine Pull".

Allegany County Democrats “Serving our Community” on National Day of Service: When the Biden-Harris Inaugural Committee contacted the Allegany County Democratic Committee to ask if they would be taking part in National Day of Service the answer came quickly, and the results were impressive. Karen Patterson, lead coordinator for this project, said, “In honor of Champ and Major and, we understand, a cat, becoming residents of the White House, we collected donations for the SPCA Serving Allegany County. We had a short time frame for this project, but our volunteer network knows how to make things happen.” The call went out for donations, which were collected at multiple points across the county. The collected goods were then delivered by volunteers on Monday, January 19th, National Day of Service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The results can be seen in these photos. Lynda Pruski, Executive Director for the SPCA, said, “The SPCA Serving Allegany County greatly appreciates the efforts of those taking part in the National Day of Service. Our organization is very dependent on volunteers and donations and it is simply wonderful to see our community come through for us in times such as these.”

Save the Date for the next ACDC meeting: The next meeting of the Allegany County Democratic Committee will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held via ZOOM. For more information or for a link to the meeting, email to: info@alleganycountydemocrats.org

For an updated listing of Allegany County Democratic Committee leaders and members: Click on the "About" link above.

Dear Karen and Allegany County Democrats,
Thank you for your support last year and happy two years of the Biden presidency. Working together with President Biden, New York Democrats have delivered historic results for our state and our country.
Two Years of President Biden Delivering Results

President Biden ran for office to restore the soul of the nation, unite the country and build an economy from the middle out and bottom up.
Two years ago, when President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in to office:
- Nine million people were out of work.
- The unemployment rate was 6.3%.
- Hundreds of thousands of small businesses had closed their doors.
President Biden moved quickly to deliver results for the American people. In just two years:
- Nearly 11 million jobs have been created and 750,000 of them are manufacturing jobs.
- The unemployment rate is near a 50-year low and Black, Hispanic Americans and people with disabilities are experiencing record low unemployment.
- Nearly 10.5 million Americans applied to start a business, making 2021 and 2022 the two best years for small business applications on record.
The President’s economic agenda, including the CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has helped boomed manufacturing across the country.
To date, the Administration has announced funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 6,900 specific projects, reaching over 4,000 communities across all 50 states, D.C., and the territories.
Private companies have announced nearly $300 billion in investments across the U.S. including $100 billion investment by Micron in New York
President Biden built the most significant legislative record since LBJ by working with Democrats and Republicans to:
- Pass the most sweeping guns legislation in almost 30 years
- Expand health care for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals in the line of duty
- Stand up to Russian aggression and support Ukraine
- Secure marriage equality
As we move into the third year of the Biden Administration, the President will continue to fight every day to grow the economy from the bottom up and the middle out and give middle class families breathing room.
This is in contrast to MAGA Republicans in Congress who are creating chaos and proposing an extreme and divisive agenda that:
- Bans abortion nationwide – without exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.
- Hikes taxes on the middle class by taxing thousands of everyday items from groceries to gas, while cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans.
- Raises gas prices and deprives Americans of relief at the pump in the future – all to benefit Big Oil, who is already making record profits.
- Puts Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block.

We have a lot of work ahead of us this year but with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrats will continue to lead the way.
Sincerely,
Jay S. Jacobs
Chairman

On Tuesday, November 1st the White House hosted a Women's Economic Impact Briefing and provided the following progress update.

Economic Progress by the Numbers

The unemployment rate now matches its lowest level in 50 years at 3.5%, down from 6.4% when Biden took office. The economy has created 10 million jobs since the President took office, including almost 700,000 manufacturing jobs. 17 states are below 3% unemployment.
America has now more than recovered all of the jobs lost during the pandemic and more, as a result of actions from the President and Congress like the American Rescue Plan and the unprecedented vaccination effort.
When the President took office, over 18 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits, today that’s down by more than 90%, the lowest number in decades.
We’re seeing the best economy for American workers in decades, with people getting higher wages, better benefits, and better jobs across the board.
We are also seeing progress in the fight against global inflation. Inflation has been basically flat over the past three months, and real wages have gone up.
We have more work to do. But the good news is gas prices have declined by an average of $1.20 per gallon over the past few months, now at a national average of $3.82 per gallon, with the most common price at gas stations being $3.39.
The American people are getting some relief from high prices, and the Inflation Reduction Act that the President signed will also help bring prices down from prescription drugs to energy costs.

Additional Economic Impact

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) ensured schools could reopen safely and helped over 200,000 child care providers serving as many as 9.5 million children to keep their doors open through a historic stabilization program.
The Administration also expanded the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which contributed to the largest one-year drop in U.S. child poverty on record, including historic cuts in poverty rates for Black, Hispanic, and AAPI children.
This expanded CTC reached an estimated 40 million families with 65 million children—roughly 90 percent of all children in the U.S.
Thanks to that Rescue Plan, families saved an average of $2,400 last year in health insurance premiums. And the Inflation Reduction Act ensures those savings will continue through 2025.
In August, President Biden announced student debt relief of up to $20,000 to borrowers who were Pell Grant recipients in college and up to $10,000 to all other borrowers. If you’re a federal student loan borrower who earned less than $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a household in 2020 or 2021, you’re eligible for this relief. And it’s a really big deal for women, who hold two-thirds of all student debt in the U.S.
- More than 40 million Americans could benefit from debt relief, and about 20 million could see their student debt completely eliminated;
- And nearly 90% of this relief will go to those making less than $75,000 per year.

Fact sheets

Resources

NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
Two western New York county committee chairs express support for Jay Jacobs to continue as chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee:

Statement from Mike McCormick, Chairman of the Allegany County Democratic Committee: Jay has certainly lead the NYSDC well and has realized the needs for upstate Democratic Committees. I intend to vote for Jay at the upcoming State Committee Meeting.

Statement from Jacob Kobler, Executive Director of the Erie County Democratic Committee: There is no one more committed to the ideals of the Democratic Party than Jay Jacobs, and those ideals are our greatest strength at a time of growing Republican extremism. His background as a County chair gives him insight into the work we do on the local level, and Jay is always a great ally and collaborative partner. With so much at stake in this historic election year, we must stay the course with Chair Jay Jacobs.

NY 23rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Max Della Pia (back row, center) with Allegany County Democratic Committee persons

Allegany County Democrats: Serving Our Community ALMOND, NY — The Allegany County Democratic Committee has officially adopted a section of State Rt. 21 in Almond, NY as part of the NYS Department of Transportation’s “Adopt-a- Highway” program. The first clean-up of 2022 took place on Sat., April 23 rd . Numerous bags of trash were collected, giving the roadway a much-improved appearance. State Rt. 21 in Almond was specifically selected by the Committee because of its importance as a gateway to our county. This stretch of highway is heavily used by I-86 travelers on their way to the Alfred campuses or to recreational opportunities elsewhere in the area. This is just one of the many ways local Democrats serve our community, in keeping with the Committee’s desire to protect and enhance the quality of life in the county. To learn more, visit www.alleganycountydemocrats.org or find us on Facebook. Reach out via email info@alleganycountydemocrats.org or phone (585) 610-4321. The Allegany County Democratic Committee is the official governing body for the County Party, working toward broader representation by Democrats at the local, state, and national levels.

The Allegany County Democratic Committee's "Give It Up Challenge" ended on Saturday, March 5, 2022 with a party to recognize those who came up with the most creative challenge and those who raised the most money to support Democratic candidates. ACDC members Gwen Ashford, Marty Sabato, and Brenda Bradley led the winners:

(L to R) Gwendolyn Ashford, Marty Sabato, and Brenda Bradley led the ACDC's winners in the Give It Up Challenge.

Allegany County Democrats Elect Legislative District Representatives
At its most recent meeting, the Allegany County Democratic Committee unanimously approved the election of the following members to serve as Legislative District Representatives for two-year terms:
District 1         Cheryl Hannigan
(Towns of Angelica, Belfast, Caneadea, Centerville, Granger, Hume and Rushford)
District 2         Annette White
(Towns of Amity, Clarksville, Cuba, Friendship, New Hudson, and Ward)
District 3         Diane Cox
(Towns of Alma, Bolivar, Genesee, Independence, Scio, Willing, and Wirt)
District 4         Kathie Stedina
(Towns of Andover and Wellsville)
District 5         Ly Kesse
(Towns of Alfred, Allen, Almond, Birdsall, Burns, Grove, and West Almond)
Democrats residing in each district are encouraged to contact their representatives to learn more about the party’s activities, to discuss running for local office, or with any political concerns pertaining to the district. Email info@alleganycountydemocrats.org or phone 585-610-4321.
The Allegany County Democratic Committee is the official governing body for the County Party, working toward broader representation by Democrats at the local, state, and national levels.  Learn more at www.alleganycountydemocrats.org or on Facebook, email info@alleganycountydemocrats.org, or phone (585) 610-4321

National Votes for Women Trail: On The Road To The 19th Amendment
By Ly Kesse, a member of the Allegany County Democratic Committee from Alfred, NY:
ALFRED -- An Alfred University (AU) alumna was honored with a plaque on the University Green, making her a part of the National Votes for Women Trail.
Abigail Allen, wife of AU's second president, was honored with a plaque sponsored by the Pomeroy Foundation and the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites.
Before the unveiling, the plaque was wrapped in a purple mantle held in place by a gold rope.
"Purple and gold are the colors of suffrage," said AU Archivist Laurie Lounsberry Meehan, '91.
Abigail Allen, who died at 78 in 1902, was a locally active suffragist and abolitionist. A member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, she embraced its progressive politics.
She also raised four children while teaching at AU. She was active her entire life. "Right before her death in 1902," according to Meehan, "she was collecting money and materials to send South to schools for the education of black youths."
"This is so exciting," said Margie MacIntosh, referring to the plaque for Ms. Allen. Ms. MacIntosh is president of the League of Women's Voters of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties. "2020 was such a difficult year [to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment]. This year is 100 years plus one."
"The struggle for voting rights did not end in 1920," said Mayor Becky Prophet, '70, and Theater Professor. "While this marker program honors the past, it also challenges us to work for the future."
"We are literally standing on the shoulders of a giant," said Mark Zupan, current AU president. "The Fiat Luxe is awarded to someone who inspires us. She would receive this award, if we could give it out posthumously."

Allegany County Democrats Clean Up Roadside in Almond
Dist. 5 Legislative Candidate Ly Kesse Heads Up the Team
ALMOND, NY — The Allegany County Democratic Committee has officially adopted a section of State Rt. 21 in Almond, NY as part of the NYS Department of Transportation’s “Adopt-a-Highway” program. The first clean-up took place on Sat., August 21st.
This stretch of highway is heavily used by locals and visitors alike, particularly as drivers exit the I-86 Expressway on their way to the college and university in Alfred or to recreational opportunities elsewhere in the area. State Rt. 21 in Almond was specifically selected for adoption by the Committee because of its importance as a gateway to our county, in keeping with the Committee’s desire to protect and enhance the quality of life in the county.
Ly Kesse, Democratic candidate for Allegany County Legislature in Dist. 5, which includes the Village of Almond, led the group of volunteers on the approximately two-mile stretch. Ms. Kesse remarked, “Litter-free highways and byways are so much more pleasant....who wants to look at garbage along the roadside? So much more pleasant to gaze at Nature.” Numerous bags of trash were collected, giving the roadway a much-improved appearance.
This is just one of the many ways local Democrats devote their time to serving our community. To learn more, visit www.alleganycountydemocrats.org or find us on Facebook. Reach out via email info@alleganycountydemocrats.org or phone (585) 610-4321.

The Allegany County Democratic Committee is the official governing body for the County Party, working toward broader representation by Democrats at the local, state, and national levels.

Mark Holt, Maureen Holt, Ly Kesse and Walter Mason clean up Allegany County roadways in the Town of Almond.

Are you interested in serving your community, your country and your party? Contact us:
Allegany County Democratic Committee
website: AlleganyCountyDemocrats.org
Twitter: AlleganyNYDems
Facebook: Allegany County Democratic Committee
Email: info@alleganycountydemocrats.org
Mailing address: PO Box 136, Belmont, NY 14813
Tel: (585) 610-4321 or (607) 661-8089

Check out our photo gallery at the link at the top of the page!