The unemployment data released last week proves that our efforts to make New York more economically competitive are working. According to the state Labor Department, New York added 83,500 new private sector jobs this year and the state’s unemployment rate dropped in November.

Over the past two years, the Senate partnered with Governor Cuomo to reduce business taxes, put the brakes on rising property taxes and provide strategic economic investments across our state to encourage job creation and business growth.  

Our bipartisan efforts are paying off, but there is still more work to be done. At 8.3 percent, New York’s unemployment rate is still higher than the national average (7.7 percent).  

In the coming session, I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly to redouble our efforts to make New York State more competitive and create more jobs.