SC New York News

Senator O'Mara offers his weekly perspective on many of the key challenges and issues facing the Legislature, as well as on legislative actions, local initiatives, state programs and policies. Stop back every Monday for Senator O'Mara's latest column.

This week, "Affordability still an unsettled concern New Yorkers."

Not that we needed another poll to tell us that New York State is getting increasingly more unaffordable, but recent statewide polling from the Siena Research Institute offers a telling look at the state of affordability in New York.

"It's a concern, of course, that many of my legislative colleagues and I have steadfastly pinpointed throughout the past few years as New Yorkers have consistently let it be known that the prohibitive cost of living in this state is driving them away."

The truth remains that citizens across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions I represent, and statewide, are worried about making ends meet. They see this state becoming less affordable, less free, less economically competitive, less responsible, and far less hopeful for the future. While many Albany Democrats may acknowledge that New York State has an affordability crisis causing the exodus of so many of our citizens to more affordable states -- remember that we lead America in population loss -- they nevertheless remain committed to out-of-control spending, high taxes, exorbitant costs for everything under the sun, and burdensome regulations and unfunded state mandates.

New York State's current direction is not sustainable. While excessive costs cannot be brought under control solely through actions out of Albany, state government can and should be taking every step possible to ease the burden.

Keep in mind that fiscal watchdogs have already projected significant state budget deficits throughout the foreseeable future and inevitably footing the bill of budget deficits always falls on taxpayers.

"We need to rescue New York and that can begin by restoring the right priorities to turn things around, rebuild stronger and safer communities, and work toward a more responsible and sustainable future for middle-class communities, families, workers, businesses," industries,"and taxpayers."

From the latest Siena poll:

--Seventy-five percent of state residents report that the amount of money they spend on groceries is having either a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their finances.

--Seven in ten New Yorkers say that housing costs are having a very serious or somewhat serious impact on their financial condition.

--Upwards of sixty percent of state residents say that their utility costs are having at least a somewhat serious impact on their finances. And other monthly expenses including cell phones' cost entertainment services including internet cable are having a very or somewhat serious impact on their financial condition.

It simply reaffirms "the need for a legislative agenda pushed by our Senate Republican Conference throughout 2024," 'New Hope for Empire State,' "to focus on policies being ignored in Albany prioritize economic growth job creation tax relief regulatory reform many other affordability initiatives."

The "New Hope for New York" agenda is a comprehensive plan to ease financial burden middle-class families small business owners lower costs improve affordability restore quality life communities statewide." The plan calls numerous actions including:

--enacting a state spending cap;

--rejecting eliminating tax increases unfunded mandates local governments school districts;

--providing across-the-board tax relief;

--rejecting extreme mandated climate proposals;

--increasing affordable housing options;

--making child care accessible affordable;

--improving state's business climate protecting small businesses farms reducing regulations lowering taxes unfair costs.

"We face an affordability crisis. We face border crisis Law order remains free fall. New York its current path fails produce hope long-term sustainable future communities families businesses industries taxpayers workers."