Speaker Heastie Statement on Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Speaker Heastie Statement on Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes is a dedicated public servant and a stateswoman. When she departs the Assembly at the end of this session, she will leave big shoes to fill.

For more than two decades here in the Assembly, Crystal has been a voice for her community in Buffalo, as well as for communities across our state that have historically been disenfranchised and left behind. She is a champion for minority and women owned businesses (MWBEs), and for programs like the Diversity in Medicine initiative and Buffalo's Teacher Diversity Pipeline. As she led the fight to decriminalize and legalize adult use cannabis, she ensured that provisions were included to expunge low-level cannabis convictions and to reinvest in our communities that were devastated by the war on drugs.

I've known Crystal since before I was elected to the Assembly, and have been honored to call her a friend. Long before we were able to make it a state holiday, she taught me about the meaning of the Juneteenth Celebration. As speaker, I have been so lucky to have Crystal to be by my side as majority leader as we worked to put forward an agenda to lift up all New Yorkers. Her wisdom and knowledge have been invaluable to me and to so many that have had the privilege of serving with her. Crystal has been more than a majority leader to me. She has been my friend, advisor, sister and my biggest supporter. I know I speak not just for myself but for all our colleagues in the Assembly Majority when I say that we will miss her here in the People's House.