Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays to you and your family!
While our beautiful state has many blessings to be proud of this holiday season: a smart and talented workforce and citizenry, some of the greatest small businesses in the country, and wonderful recreational opportunities, it continues to face many challenges.
During the past five years, New York State residents have sadly had a front row seat to what happens when all levers of power are overwhelmingly controlled by one voice from one affiliation from one region of the state. No matter one’s political beliefs, too much power concentrated by one party in too few hands with no checks and balances is bad for democracy.
The results speak for themselves.
Census data shows over half a million people fled New York to better economic climates in the past two years – leading the nation in out-migration.
A recent Siena College poll found that 80 percent of New Yorkers rank pocket-book issues as most important, and 57 percent said their quality of life in New York State is declining. After affordability, crime is a top concern of New Yorkers, according to the poll.
Far too many of our fellow residents have looked at this sad reality and decided the only option was to escape from New York to a state that is more affordable, and where they can feel safe and build a better life for themselves and their families.
We can’t let this continue. There are steps the Governor and Legislature can take to alter the state’s trajectory.
As we celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year” and prepare for the New Year and new 2024 legislative session, here’s my holiday wish list of bi-partisan solutions supported by Republicans and Democrats to help turn things around in the Empire State, make our state safer and more affordable and enhance people’s quality of life.
• Permanently cap state spending by making the two percent spending cap permanent. I was proud to be the author of the state’s first Property Tax Cap bill to control property tax increases, which has kept billions of dollars in taxpayers pockets. If we’re asking local governments to put a lid on tax increases, we should hold our state government to the same standard because what’s good enough for the goose should be good enough for the gander.
• Enact my bi-partisan “Two-STAR” legislation (S.1639) to double the popular STAR property tax exemption and ultimately eliminate property taxes for seniors to keep our retirees here in New York where they often want to stay.
• Providing relief from home heating costs by creating a refundable heating tax credit of $300 per individual making under $125,000 in annual income and $600 per married couple making under $250,000.
• To help our small businesses, which are the backbone of the economy in the 44th Senate District and across the state, the state should repeal the burdensome pandemic unemployment Interest Assessment Surcharge imposed by the Governor. Other states paid back their federal loans to help those on unemployment, so should New York without once again sticking it to our small businesses.
• Repealing the disastrous bail reform that has created a revolving door of danger and disaster that has made our communities less safe (S.5017) and pass my bi-partisan bill to give judges discretion to set bail based on risk and the danger posed by a defendant (S.905).
• Pass my bi-partisan “Christopher and Deanna’s Law” (S.2733) named in honor of the late Shenendehowa High School students Christopher Stewart and Deanna Rivers. This bill would ensure that victim impact statements are video recorded and viewed by all parole board members who would decide on the release of an inmate.
• Protecting and strengthening our local governments to respond to the migrant crisis by enacting my bi-partisan Migrant Home Rule Transport Transparency Act (S.7615) to stop one municipality such as New York City from transferring migrants to Upstate communities without notification and getting their sign-off to ensure these municipalities are willing and able to take on the significant burden of hosting these individuals. I’m also sponsoring separate bi-partisan legislation (S.7751) for the state to reimburse local school districts for costs associated with the relocation of migrant students.
• Bullying in our schools continues to be an issue. Parents have a right to know if their child is being bullied or if they are the bully so they can take the appropriate steps to address the situation. That’s why I’m sponsoring “Jacobe’s Law” (S.44), which is being sponsored by Democrats and Republicans, to require that school employees charged with receiving reports of harassment, bullying or discrimination contact the parents or guardians of the students involved – both the bullies and victims — when an incident of bullying or harassment occurs. “Jacobe’s Law” has passed the Senate in prior sessions.
These are just a few bi-partisan solutions to change the agenda in our state and move in a positive direction.
Despite our state’s many challenges, there is still much to love about New York.
The best holiday present of all time for me is to have the honor to represent you and the jewel of New York in the great communities of Saratoga and Schenectady Counties. Again, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and a happy New Year!
Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Saratoga Springs) represents all of Saratoga County, Niskayuna and the City of Schenectady.
READER’S VIEW: A bi-partisan holiday wish list to make NY safer and more affordable
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10.12.2023
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays to you and your family!
While our beautiful state has many blessings to be proud of this holiday season: a smart and talented workforce and citizenry, some of the greatest small businesses in the country, and wonderful recreational opportunities, it continues to face many challenges.
During the past five years, New York State residents have sadly had a front row seat to what happens when all levers of power are overwhelmingly controlled by one voice from one affiliation from one region of the state. No matter one’s political beliefs, too much power concentrated by one party in too few hands with no checks and balances is bad for democracy.
The results speak for themselves.
Census data shows over half a million people fled New York to better economic climates in the past two years – leading the nation in out-migration.
A recent Siena College poll found that 80 percent of New Yorkers rank pocket-book issues as most important, and 57 percent said their quality of life in New York State is declining. After affordability, crime is a top concern of New Yorkers, according to the poll.
Far too many of our fellow residents have looked at this sad reality and decided the only option was to escape from New York to a state that is more affordable, and where they can feel safe and build a better life for themselves........
© The Saratogian
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