Photo by the Office of N.Y. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Aviation was front and center in the halls of state government in Albany, N.Y., on March 22, when the state Senate and Assembly adopted resolutions recognizing the thirty-fifth anniversary of the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA).
The resolutions came on Advocacy Day that included activities sponsored by NYAMA to provide airport managers and other aviation officials with information on airport development programs and a forum for discussions with elected leaders and staff. AOPA and NYAMA have been close allies on issues affecting general aviation in New York, and AOPA Northeast Regional Representative Craig Dotlo participated in the day’s activities.
NYAMA’s top legislative objective is to get the New York Aviation Jobs Act enacted, which seeks a sales-tax exemption for the purchase of GA aircraft. Another goal is to restore cuts in state funding for airport infrastructure projects.
NYAMA is also working to increase membership in the state’s Aviation Caucus from the current 66 assembly members and senators to approximately 100 by year’s end. The caucus is chaired by Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo (D-Endwell) and co-chaired by Sen. William J. Larkin Jr. (R,C-Cornwall-on-Hudson).
Dotlo joined NYAMA President Carl Beardsley and other organization officials in a meeting arranged by NYAMA Legislative Committee member and AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Ken Paskar with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-NY 64th District) to discuss the sales-tax exemption proposal, which Silver said would be reviewed and evaluated by himself and his staff.
