Poughkeepsie, NY – Today, Citizen Action of New York, lawmakers, advocates, and community leaders came together at City Hall to hold a press conference introducing a resolution in support of the Invest in Our New York Act — a suite of widely popular policies that seeks to ensure ultra-wealthy New Yorkers and corporations pay their fair share and invest the newly generated public dollars into essential programs and services like affordable housing, affordable childcare, and public education.
This press conference is one of four coordinated events across New York calling on Governor Hochul and the state legislature to make millionaires, billionaires, and highly profitable corporations pay their fair share and fund our communities.
Across the Hudson Valley, issues like the housing crisis have reached a fever pitch as the cost of living continues to soar. With rents skyrocketing, corporations like Central Hudson are driving up the cost of basic utilities, making it harder for families to keep the lights on and stay warm. No one should be forced to choose between heating their home or feeding their family. Citizen Action of New York has introduced a resolution that supports the Invest in Our New York Act –– because New Yorkers shouldn’t have to wait one more day for the resources and support they deserve. Under the Invest in Our New York Act corporations and their millionaire CEOs will pay their fair share, so that all New Yorkers can afford to live safely and comfortably.
“I am proud to say that I support and sponsor this resolution calling for the State of New York to pass the Invest in Our New York package. As a lifelong City of Poughkeepsie resident who attended Poughkeepsie City Schools and now a City Councilmember, I know first hand that our community is in great need of more resources to ensure that our community and our families can thrive,” said Chris Grant, Council Member, Ward 6. “More resources for our community means bigger investments in our youth and in our infrastructure. Working class people in this city and across the entire state pay a higher percentage of their income than the wealthiest in our state. It has been time to move in a different direction.”
“As a lead sponsor of this resolution, I urge my fellow Council members in Newburgh to stand with our communities and support the Invest in Our New York Act. We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone—regardless of their zip code—has access to affordable housing, quality public education, and essential services,” said Omari Shakur, Newburgh Common Council, At-Large Member. “This legislation is a bold step toward creating a fairer New York, and it starts with a simple principle: tax the rich, fund the people.”
“The situation in the Hudson Valley is dire and urgent. Our communities are struggling under the weight of skyrocketing housing costs and underfunded schools. Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, and in order to achieve that we need millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share,” said Isaiah Fenichel, Lead Organizer for Citizen Action of New York Hudson Valley Chapter. “Taxing the rich to fund our people is not an aspiration— it’s a necessity. We’re calling on our leaders to act now.”
“As a lifelong Newburgh resident, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that decades of under investment in our community has had on our youth. Our schools are underfunded, there are no programs for young people, families can’t afford housing or food, and yet the richest individuals in this state have opted out of paying their fair share,” said Gabrielle Hill, member of Citizen Action of New York Hudson Valley Chapter. “If we are going to talk about investing in our future we have to address investing in our youth. It’s about fairness, it’s about justice, and it’s about time.”
The Invest in Our New York Act is a comprehensive legislative package designed to reform New York’s tax system and reverse decades of underinvestment in the services that working families across New York rely on.
In 2021, Invest in Our New York (IONY) led the charge to raise taxes on millionaires and billionaires and we won over $10 billion in new recurring revenue. Those dollars went to increasing funding for our public schools, keeping people housed during the pandemic, and expanding access to unemployment benefits for working-class New Yorkers.