Investing in Pre-K Critical Step, but Tax Policies Will Only Grow Economic Divide
Time for Albany to Prove They Work for the People by Passing Fair Elections
Statement in Response to Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State Address
Albany, NY – In response to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address, Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said:
More than ever before, New Yorkers need leadership on an uncompromising path toward correcting the unjust, ever-growing income and wealth inequality that plagues this state’s communities.
Investment in creating a universal, statewide full day pre-K program is a wise place to start correcting that economic divide as long as the Governor also allows NYC to fund its pre-K program so kids don’t have to wait any longer.
Unfortunately, Governor Cuomo’s trickle down tax plan prioritizes corporations and the rich, at the expense of school children and all working families in New York. Leaders of municipal governments and schools are forced to raise property taxes because of inadequate state aid. Instead of creating ultimatums built on austerity economics and forcing cuts in services, the state should be making investments that will help make communities stronger.
Certainly, the priorities of everyday New Yorkers would receive greater focus in Albany if the influence of CEO campaign cash were reduced by creating a system of publicly financed elections. For the fourth time, Governor Cuomo indicated his support for enacting real campaign finance reform. On the heels of a strong recommendation by the Moreland Commission and even more evidence of the legal bribery that will certainly be back in full force this session, now is the the time for our elected leaders to prove that they work for the people by enacting public financing of campaign.
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