STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
RE: Gov. Cuomo’s 2016 ‘State of the State’ Address
“Great things are happening in The Bronx, and Governor Cuomo’s remarks today confirm that we are setting the bar for the entire state. Crime rates are dropping, businesses are growing and, thanks to the creation of the Bronx Employment Strike Force in 2014 and our efforts through the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, we are putting people to work.
“The governor’s commitment of $55 million towards expanded workforce training for at-risk youth, as well as new tax cuts for small businesses, will only help our job creation efforts grow. We are grateful for that continued support.
“In his ‘State of the State’ today, Governor Cuomo outlined an ambitious agenda on multiple issues that concern our borough, our city and our state. From increasing our state’s minimum wage, or expanding paid family leave, the governor has made a clear pitch to help strengthen families. With increased funding for CUNY and SUNY, a new tax credit for teachers and an $800 million increase in universal pre-K programs, the governor is clearly focused on our public school system.
“No issue has captivated our city more than housing and homelessness, and the announcement of $20 billion in new funding for permanent and supportive housing is certainly welcome. I look forward to working with officials at all levels to identify sites and projects that could benefit from this funding while creating much needed new units.
“Finally, I am encouraged by the governor’s proposal to allow automatic voter registration at the DMV. Voter participation is the key component of civic health, and I have always supported initiatives that allow more New Yorkers to participate in our electoral process. If we do not participate, our voices are not heard,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
NYC Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez issued the following statement on NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Address:
"The proposals outlined in the Governor's State of the State address today are ambitious and have the potential to modernize our city's subways in buses in numerous ways. His vision for technology and capital upgrades in stations can provide a much needed face lift to our transit system. Yet most of all, the Governor's recognition that public transit is key to the continued economic growth here in New York is paramount to building a sustainable future for New York. These forward-thinking initiatives set forth a strong framework in which we can grow and thrive for the coming decades."
SENATOR ESPAILLAT: GOVERNOR CUOMO PROPOSES HISTORIC INVESTMENT TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS
"New Yorkers are losing their homes and this historic investment in affordable and supportive housing holds the potential to turn the tide. Over 40% of New York City renters are 'rent burdened', hundreds of thousands are on a wait list for public housing, and over 59,000 are homeless; many of them children. This is unacceptable.
We must undertake a monumental effort to ensure working class and middle class New Yorkers have a home in our city. The Governor's proposal to invest $20 billion over five years in affordable and supportive housing plots a course in that direction. I will work with the Governor to tirelessly advocate for the housing funding he proposed today."
