Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Earlier this year, the State Health Department announced some good news: the statewide adult smoking rate has fallen to 14.2%. This is the lowest level since 1985 when New York began using its current system to track smoking rates and it is below the national average of 15.5%.

In 2017, the President set a goal to double the number of apprenticeships in the U.S. because there is a great need for skilled laborers due to retiring baby boomers. AARP estimates that 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, a trend that will continue into the 2030s. Businesses are in need of reliable, skilled employees who can fill the gaps left by retirees.

When serving in the National Guard, guard soldiers and airmen never know when they will be called to serve the state or country. On the morning of 9-11, two pilots were on alert duty at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts when a call came through of a suspected hijacking.

Each quarter the state’s Division of Budget releases updates to the state’s financial plan. The latest report which was published earlier this month included, once again, details on state debt. As one might guess, with our state’s reputation for spending, the state debt load is among the highest in the nation. Our outstanding debt is nearly $54 billion, second only to California.

Volunteers are the backbone of any community organization. The causes our local volunteers support help ensure that fewer people spend Thanksgiving alone, that children have gifts to open for the holidays, and that people have warm coats and boots for the winter. These efforts provide an opportunity for people to give back while at the same time providing assistance for those in need.

One thing we should be proud of in New York is our history and because of technology, it has never been easier to learn about our past. With the advent of online archives and searchable databases, what once required a trip to the local court house or hours sifting through library archives has, in many cases, been replaced with simple keystrokes. However, knowing what to search or where to start can still be a challenge.

Time and again, our service men and women have defended our country’s values and put their lives at risk for the greater good. They have fought to protect our democracy and shown valor and strength in the face of conflict. They have protected our country’s freedoms so that all citizens can live under the democracy set forth in the U.S. Constitution. This Veteran’s Day marks a special milestone. It is the centennial of the Armistice, the 100 year anniversary of the agreement that ended hostilities between Allied forces and Germany in World War I.

Everyone knows that New York’s property taxes are among the highest in the nation. According to the Tax Foundation, New York’s state and local property taxes on a per capita basis were $2,789 making them the 4th highest in the nation. The main reason is unfunded mandates.

There are many kids in our area who wish to improve our communities and our state. I recently had the privilege to meet with a group of them at the APW School District. The group is interested in changing state laws and learning how our government works.