Queens, NY, January 9, 2013 -- NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), released the following statement today in response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2013 State of the State Message to the Legislature:
In his State of the State Message, Governor Cuomo touched on a number of vital issues that New York State must address over the course of 2013, and I am pleased to say that the governor’s priorities in many of these areas are my priorities as well.
First and foremost, we must work together across the aisle and on all levels of government to address the staggering economic and human costs of Superstorm Sandy, which has had such a devastating impact on our people and our state as a whole. My district in Queens was one of the areas especially hard hit by the storm, and my constituents need help to rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives. As a member of the new Senate Bipartisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy, I will continue to be fully involved with every aspect of the recovery efforts.
In light of the horrendous tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut – which joins other instances of unspeakable gun violence claiming innocent lives in recent years – we cannot wait one more single minute to find effective, reasonable remedies to combat this heartbreaking epidemic. We can and must sign into law a package of firearm control measures that balances Second Amendment rights with the right of all of us not to live in fear of being senselessly shot and killed in our schools, in movie theaters, and on our neighborhood streets.
I also appreciated the governor’s continuing call to finally raise the minimum wage and provide a helping hand to New Yorkers who simply cannot make ends meet, no matter how hard and long they work to support themselves and their families. Raising the minimum wage is an investment in our human capital, and putting more money in the pockets of New Yorkers who need it ultimately benefits local economies throughout the state.
Campaign finance reform is desperately needed in New York, and I am glad that the governor made this issue a centerpiece of his goals for 2013. We need to reduce the influence of special interests on our electoral process and restore the public’s confidence in our democracy.
I do have a major concern over the governor’s remarks made regarding the future of casinos which may impact the future of Resorts World and the opportunity for additional jobs and revenue there.
I believe we also have to address the single most important environmental issue of our time, that was not mentioned in the State of the State -- hydrofracking.
I look forward to working with the governor and my legislative colleagues on these and other important issues over the course of the 2013 legislative session.
We have many challenges ahead to address our state’s severe economic woes while meeting the most pressing needs of our citizens, both through our work on the upcoming 2013-2014 State Budget and new laws. In Albany, it’s time to put politics aside, roll up our sleeves and get to work for the benefit of our people.
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Judy Close, Press Secretary
NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
15th Senate District - Satellite Office
66-85 73rd Place
Middle Village, NY 11379
Ph: 718-497-1630
