Letter To The Editor: Carlucci Dedicated To Community

To the Editor

On September 13th, I will be voting for Democrat, Senator David Carlucci for re-election in our 38th state Senate District. Senator Carlucci is a supportive family man, who is invested and dedicated in the well-being of our community. I truly believe the people of New York are his first priority.

Senator Carlucci also believes our children are the future. He provides educational youth group programs, such as his Rockland and Ossining Student Advisory Committees. These groups allow young adults to learn firsthand about opportunities in the world of politics and government and gain valuable leadership skills.

Our 13-year-old daughter Larisa was lucky to be a part of Senator Carlucci’s Rockland Student Advisory Committee. The group met periodically at a local library to discuss different topics and debate the pros and cons of passing specific laws. Larisa was also privileged to attend the annual field trip to Albany for a real life student mock debate, on the Senate Floor. It was an incredible event, and a once in a lifetime opportunity for a young student of her age to experience.

Unfortunately, six weeks after Larisa traveled with the Senator to Albany, she was tragically killed on Memorial Day weekend, May 23, 2015. Our family was on vacation in Warren County, New York, and the car she was in was hit by a repeat drunk driver. Larisa died at the age of 13 and was buried one day before her 8th grade school dance and just a month before graduating from Middle School. Senator Carlucci’s compassion and support was truly remarkable to witness first hand.

Our family began a nonprofit called, The Larisa Karassik Foundation, Inc. also known as LarisaStrong.org The mission of the foundation is to educate our youth and repeat DWI offenders by looking at the consequences of their decisions and how they affect others. The foundation was also set up to assist other survivors who have experienced similar fatalities in their family, which affect their livelihood. Our foundation supports them with childcare, a meal-training program, and emotional support during their avoidable loss of a loved one due to Drunk Driving.

Senator Carlucci stepped up to support my foundation when no one else would. He helped our organization begin its mission by hosting an annual fundraiser known as the 5K Fun Run around Rockland Lake. Each year he helps secure the sponsors, supply the t-shirts, get snacks, and handle promotion. All the proceeds raised benefit the LarisaStrong.org foundation and the Rockland Road Runners Scholarship Fund.

His commitment in getting things done was taken to the highest level, the Senate Floor, where he passed legislation (S.1721) implementing stricter punishments for repeat DWI offenders. Now we need the Assembly to pass it, and I am hopeful they will.

Without Senator Carlucci believing in me and assisting us with the first 5K Fun Run, we would have never been able to get the foundation off the ground and educate hundreds of students and DWI offenders across Rockland County. We are FOREVER grateful for his assistance, and Thursday is an easy choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3fUS6QSQhw
Larisa speaking at the Mock Debate with Senator David Carlucci

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOz4gxZd_8c
Senator Carlucci asks the Senate Floor for a moment of silence for Larisa Karassik’s passing on Memorial Day Weekend.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3LWSnTDFdAs
Senator Carlucci speaks on S.1721.

Sincerely,

Anastasia Karassik