ALBANY, N.Y. — Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany) released the following statement in response to the Governor’s State of the State address provided today in Albany:

“Governor Hochul provided a smart and forward-looking framework for New York State to begin tackling a major crisis facing New York families: the affordability crisis. Crucially, it also provided a blueprint for the State Legislature to continue working on measures that will respond to the federal chaos emanating from Washington, including putting an end to ICE’s reign of terror in our state, and protecting our Constitutional rights and immigrant neighbors.

Addressing the affordability crisis means making bold and transformative investments. To achieve this, New York State is proposing to provide universal childcare for working families, expand free community college to include more high-demand industries such as nursing, build more affordable housing for our low to middle-income neighbors with $250 million in new funding, and enact strong protections for ratepayers to prevent egregious rate hikes and safeguard New Yorkers facing exorbitantly high utility bills. Here in the Capital Region, the designation of New York State as the Hard Cider Capital of the Nation will grow our already burgeoning cider industry and markets.

Furthering our efforts to keep our community safe, I’m also pleased to see provisions cracking down on ghost guns and converters that turn pistols into machine guns, as well as providing New Yorkers with a Constitutional right of action against rogue, masked ICE agents. Although not included, it is imperative that we pass my MELT and RADAR Acts to unmask ICE agents and track their activities in communities across New York State. As Chair of the Senate’s Disabilities Committee, I’m also anxious to see at least a 2.7% inflationary increase for our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and disability providers included in the Governor’s proposed budget. We must also pass my legislation to crack down on the malicious use of flare guns, which caused damage, death, and violence here in Albany this past summer.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the State Senate, my former colleagues in the State Assembly, and the Governor to enact an agenda that truly tackles the affordability crisis facing New Yorkers, protects our Constitutional rights and immigrant neighbors, and delivers strong investments in our Capital Region, workers, and families in the year to come.”

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