NY state leaders must do better on ethics reform

A state lawmaker interrupted Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address Wednesday, standing in an aisle and shouting at the governor as he was in the early stages of his speech.

The Democrat also has revealed plans to revamp Penn Station and expand the Javits convention center in Manhattan, add a third rail line for the Long Island Rail Road, revitalize upstate airports and take the homeless indoors on the coldest nights.

Part of Governor Cuomo’s state agenda is to fund college degrees for people in prison.

Two days before the governorʼs State of the State address, his secretary, Bill Mulrow, announced that Cuomo’s infrastructure program will cost $100 billion, making it one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the state’s history. I call on Mr. Cuomo to appoint that prosecutor now. There were some tense moments after a state Assemblyman interrupted the address to criticize what he says is the governor’s hypocrisy. “We are also looking forward to ensuring the governor’s small business tax cut proposals are enacted and the property tax cap is not weakened. Its impact will be especially significant among young and low-skilled workers seeking entry-level jobs, and in areas upstate that have yet to recover losses sustained during the Great Recession”.

Cuomo spoke at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center under tight security, including fencing off protesters. My priorities remain unchanged – improving our local economy, delivering equitable education and infrastructure funding to Western New York, protecting taxpayers, and preserving our constitutional freedoms.

“Local governments must be sustainable from a financial point of view”, said the governor. “Working together we can develop and implement community-driven plans that will confront head-on the specific challenges facing families and individuals living in poverty”. “It’s time we stop giving this governor a pass”.

But the budget announcement was almost overshadowed by an unscripted moment.

“We were always confident there was no illegality here, and we appreciate the U.S. Attorney clarifying this for the public record”, said Elkan Abramowitz, a lawyer for Cuomo’s office.

“Last year at this time I was telling everyone I assume he’s going to say a whole bunch of things and we’re going to have a big fight”, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said last week. If there is a need to accommodate more people, more city and county buildings, such as recreation and parks facilities, can be converted into shelters, officials said.

Since Gov. Cuomo took office, the state budget the state budget grew from $132 billion to $145 billion.

His group had recommended a $2.3 billion school aid increase for the coming fiscal year.

“I have kicked myself every day that I didn’t spend more time with my father at that end period”, Cuomo said, calling on lawmakers to mandate paid family leave.

“I have to pay my servers $2.50 cents more an hours”, said Mic Farrell, co-owner of McSweeney’s Red Hots.