Assembly Will Barclay

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.

Domestic violence is a widespread problem across the nation and in New York. According to the State Office of Court Administration, in 2016 more than 28,000 domestic assaults were reported to police agencies outside of New York City. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a reminder that this type of abuse is prevalent and that educating the public on this important topic can help save lives.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. According to the New York State Department of Health, more than 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 2,600 women die from the disease each year in New York State. Early detection, however, has played a tremendous role in saving lives and allowing many people to live cancer free for years after initial diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 90 out of 100 women survive breast cancer for five years or more after being diagnosed thanks to early detection.

Too often it goes unrecognized, but New York state is a leader in agriculture. The farmers in our state grow and produce a diverse range of commodities and Upstate’s nutrient-rich soils give way to some of the best products in the nation. Year after year, New York farms produce award-winning dairy products, wines, and apples that we can be proud to call homegrown.

One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is making sure that there is parity in state spending between Upstate and Downstate New York. This is particularly challenging when it comes to transportation spending. New York City relies primarily on mass transit for its transportation needs. In Upstate, our primary mode of transportation is our cars. Accordingly, the needs of each region tend to be very different.