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Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County) announced the passage of his bill, S.4558A, which would restore the Tappan Zee name to the now-Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The measure received bipartisan backing in a floor vote on Tuesday.

In 2017, then-Governor Cuomo inserted language to rename the bridge after his father into a larger bill without seeking any public feedback. The renaming has stuck in the craw of Hudson Valley residents ever since, who appreciate the significance of the Tappan Zee moniker – suggestive of both the Native American people who long occupied the area, and the Dutch settlers who traveled up the Hudson. Skoufis’ amended legislation would see the iconic bridge renamed as the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee – a recent compromise Skoufis acknowledges as respectful of both parties and needed in order to pass the bill through the Senate.

“When ‘Tappan Zee’ was stripped away for seemingly no reason beyond our former Governor’s own vanity, many of my Hudson Valley constituents took issue,” said Skoufis. “The name change remains a grievance for many local residents who value our region’s history and I am grateful to colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing what a point of pride the Tappan Zee name is for us in the Hudson Valley. I urge the Assembly to take up the measure this week.”

The bipartisan bill was first introduced by former Senator Mike Martucci (R-New Hampton), who represented much of Senator Skoufis’ new Orange County district.

Rockland Community College (RCC) has named Dr. Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo as its eighth President, effective July 1st. Dr. Rápalo will succeed Dr. Michael Baston following an extensive search process that began in September 2022. His selection was approved by the RCC Board of Trustees and the State University of New York.

Dr. Rápalo brings a strong academic background and expertise in community outreach and developing programs for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. He previously served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bronx Community College, CUNY. His leadership and dedication to diversity and inclusion are expected to enhance RCC’s ongoing success.

Please see the attached release for more details.

Rockland Community College Has Announced the Selection of the College’s Eighth President