Assembly Will Barclay

There are many in our local communities who donate their time and talents to make sure that others do not go without around the holidays. I like reading the news this time of year and finding stories about charities that were helped or how one person can inspire others to give, and even save a life.
There are countless other volunteer efforts, too various to mention here, but one thing is clear: we are a community of givers. I, for one, am proud to be a part. Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Since the passage of Obamacare, polling consistently has shown that it is a very unpopular program with the American people. Against this backdrop, it is surprising that a number of Democratic state legislators want to go a step further than Obamacare and implement a government-run single-payer healthcare system in New York state.

School lunch purchases are on the decline. The decrease in sales coincided with the federal Health Hunger-Free Kids Act, which attempts to curb childhood obesity. Sadly, this federal mandate, though well meaning, has left many school lunch rooms with three problems: wasted food, loss of sales, and higher food costs.

Following the storm’s wake, the Governor made his way to Buffalo and announced that meteorologists did not predict the storm well and residents were not prepared. While some may not have been prepared for the snow totals, it’s doubtful it had anything to do with the lack of weather predictions. According to several reports, New York needs to upgrade its water and sewer systems and, in fact, one report claims that to sufficiently upgrade our systems would cost $36.2 billion over the next 20 years.

Whether it’s adopting a family to make sure they have presents under the tree, or working at a local community dinner to ensure that people have a warm holiday meal in good company, many volunteer their time to give back to their community. I continue to be humbled at the way our community gives in time, talent, and resources. Many holiday events are successful because of volunteers.

Fall is the time of year when many graduating high school seniors start to look toward the future. According to the New York State Education Department, in 2010, 82% of high school graduates in New York entered post-secondary education which includes either two- or four-year institutions. In order to attend, most students will apply for some type of financial aid whether it is in the form of student loans or scholarships or a combination of both.

The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs estimates that there are 892,221 veterans in New York State and nearly 22 million veterans across America. From World War II to present-day battles, veterans return home shaped by their experience. They deserve our gratitude and respect.

The Tax Foundation, an independent tax policy research organization, released its 11th annual report last week which indicated that New York’s business tax climate is second to last in the country. California, New Jersey and Minnesota also received shameful ratings while states like Wyoming, South Dakota, Florida and Nevada ranked among the highest.

There have been a number of reported overdoses due to heroin and other opioids in recent months. According to the Centers for Disease Control, among people 25 to 64 years old, drug overdose caused more deaths than motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2012. Drug overdose death rates have been rising steadily since 1992 with a 117% increase from 1999 to 2012 alone.