Politics

The New York State Comptroller estimates there will be $89 billion in unmet local infrastructure needs over the next 20 years with as much as $27.4 billion needed for bridges alone. The responsibility to take care of these major infrastructure costs, however, lies on the backs of local taxpayers with 87% of the state’s roads and half of the state’s bridges up to localities to maintain.

Our local ambulance companies and volunteer organizations provide a critical service to residents in need of medical transport.Many of us take for granted that calling 911 will result in the safe and fast transport of patients in an emergency.

There is a little less than a month before the 2019-20 New York State budget is due. Last week, I joined some of my Assembly colleagues in Albany to push for priorities we would like to see in the budget. These priorities include keeping the middle class income tax cut, restoring funding for libraries and helping families, localities, and small businesses.

There are thousands of direct service professionals across the state who work to provide quality care to the elderly, developmentally disabled, and to those struggling with addiction. Yet with all the responsibility they are given, their wages continue to be historically low.