Rob Rolison

Caregivers dedicate so much of themselves to supporting the people they love — and this issue is personal to me.

I was a caregiver for my own parents as they aged, so I understand the responsibility that comes with caring for a loved one and how important it is to have support along the way.

That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor S.8875, which would direct the New York State Office for the Aging to establish a caregiver crisis hotline providing emotional support and resources for informal caregivers.

As a member of the Senate Aging Committee, I’ll continue advocating for our older New Yorkers and the family members, friends and neighbors who care for them every day.

This week, we recognize our Direct Support Professionals. We thank you for the selfless job you do every day to provide hands-on support to those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The work you do never goes unnoticed.

Happy National Grandparents Day! Lori and I couldn’t be more proud to be grandparents to our grandchildren, Alena and Baby Jay. We're working to help make the Hudson Valley an even better place for Alena, Baby Jay and every child who will call this region home for generations to come.

Wishing all of the grandparents across the Hudson Valley a very happy Grandparents Day!

Public safety is the number one responsibility of government, and that means ensuring the men and women who protect our communities have the training, policies and standards they need to do their jobs effectively.

As mayor, I was proud to help begin the accreditation process for the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department with that responsibility in mind. To now see that work come full circle is incredibly meaningful and reflects years of dedication and the department’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and earning the trust of the community it serves. Having spent much of my life in law enforcement and public service, I could not be more proud to see the department reach this important milestone.

Today, I was proud to present the 2026 New York State Senate Empire Award to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Gamma Eta Omega Chapter in recognition of their outstanding contributions, dedication, and service to our community.

Their commitment to empowering others, strengthening our neighborhoods, and making a lasting difference exemplifies the very best of community leadership. Congratulations, and thank you for all you do!

25 years after September 11, nearly 40% of Americans were either not yet born on 9/11 or were too young to remember that day firsthand. As that number grows, “Never Forget” must also mean we teach.

That’s why this week I introduced S.10693, Firefighter Joseph P. Spor Jr.’s Law, which would require New York school districts to provide curriculum on September 11 — ensuring future generations understand what happened that day, remember the lives we lost, honor the heroes who ran toward danger and learn how our nation came together in the days that followed.

I’m proud to carry this legislation in the Senate and grateful to my friend and colleague Assemblyman Matt Slater for introducing and carrying it in the Assembly.

We wish all of our Jewish brothers and sisters a blessed and joyous Rosh Hashanah. A time to celebrate spiritual renewal and creation in this new year ahead. ✡️

The NYS Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team is accepting referrals of cases for possible review in 2027. To be considered for 2027, referrals must be received by September 30, 2026. For more information and to refer a case, visit: https://ow.ly/rVRB50ZLVlt

25 years ago, 2,977 lives were taken on September 11, 2001 — including 343 FDNY members, 23 NYPD officers, 37 Port Authority Police officers and three New York State Court Officers.

Today, myself along with members of Team Rolison joined remembrance ceremonies throughout Senate District 39 to honor the victims, the heroes who ran toward danger and the thousands we have since lost to 9/11-related illnesses. I am always fortunate to be able to provide remarks at the City of Poughkeepsie’s annual recognition.

25 years ago, in our darkest hours, Americans came together. Today, we came together again. May we carry that same spirit of unity, service and compassion with us every day.

We will

This photograph was taken just weeks after the September 11th attacks on our country. At the time, I was president of the Town of Poughkeepsie PBA, and I traveled with a delegation of my brother and sister officers from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department to New York City to pay our respects at Ground Zero and visit the NYPD Police Officers Memorial Wall on Liberty Street.

We took the train from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central and then the subway downtown. Everywhere we went, people stopped us. Complete strangers hugged us, cried with us and thanked us for our service. I have never forgotten this appreciation, nor the devastation that was still everywhere. As we walked toward Ground Zero, we passed debris, papers and other items scattered throughout the streets and on the fire escapes. Restaurants along the perimeter had their large doors and windows open, and inside, plates and cups remained on tables exactly as they had been left on September 11. The streets around Ground Zero were nearly empty except for police officers, firefighters and those working at the site.

But another memory has stayed with me just as strongly: how people treated one another in the weeks and months that followed. In the wake of unimaginable tragedy, Americans came together. People hugged strangers. They thanked first responders. They looked out for their neighbors. American Flags were everywhere. For a time, the things that divided us seemed far less important than everything we shared. 25 years later, I wish we could find more of that spirit again — not the tragedy that brought it about, but the compassion, gratitude and sense of common purpose that followed.

Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken from us on September 11, 2001, and all who have passed away from 9/11 related illnesses since. We honor the police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and ordinary Americans who ran toward danger to help others, as well as the first responders and survivors and families who live with the tragedy every day.