Governor Cuomo’s recent State of the State speeches caused me to consider a significant question: is a “middle class champion” enough in this political moment?
From my perspective as a close-to-retirement non-profit professional, the answer is no. Cuomo’s speeches to date have highlighted important needs, and some of his proposals will absolutely ease the economic burden of New York families who have managed to hang on to a spot in the middle class after a decade of growing inequality. They might even help some members of my own family. But there are just too many people in my community who will once again be left behind.
The problem, of course, is that as a result of the economic policies that Cuomo and Congress have enacted over the last decade, more and more people are living on low wages and teetering in and out of poverty. And I expect these policies will be continued and expanded under President Trump.
These policies have created huge barriers to those seeking economic progress; barriers like the millions of dollars promised but not delivered to New York public schools; college costs that go far beyond tuition; wages that do not meet the cost of living today, let alone five years from now; child care subsidies that are only adequate to meet 17% of the need; and more. As long as these barriers exist, the ladder to upward mobility and economic security is broken; and struggling New Yorkers will continue to turn against each other in competition for a piece of what they falsely believe is a small pie.
Leaders like Cuomo tell us that resources are limited; we have a deficit budget, and so modest advancements for the middle class are the most we can expect. But New York’s wealth is vast. New York includes a large percentage of the wealthiest people and companies in America. We have, I believe, the means and ability to tear down the barriers that have closed the doors to economic opportunity for so many people.
Cuomo can throw open those doors again. But he must be willing to tell our state’s hedge fund billionaires and corporate giants that they have gone too far; that they have accumulated their great wealth by cutting jobs, wages, and benefits, by betting on our mortgages and binding us to high interest loans; and that their greed and hoarding is killing the American dream. He must be willing to increase taxes on the wealthy.
I think we need a bold champion not just for middle class New Yorkers, but for all New Yorkers. Governor Cuomo has made modest advances, but we urge him to pick up the banner and lead us into the real battle.
Blue Carreker is Campaign Manager for Citizen Action of New York