Cuomo’s traveling State of the State message covered many bases, including recreation
PURCHASE – Governor Cuomo brought his State of the State message to the Hudson Valley on Tuesday telling a packed house of public officials at SUNY Purchase that New York has made great strides in recent years. He pointed to marriage equality, paid family leave, the $15 per hour minimum wage and an over three percent decline in unemployment over the last six years.
On a negative note, the governor said hate crimes are up in recent times. He called that “disgusting and repugnant.” He spoke about immigration in an obvious reference to the presidential election where President-elect Donald Trump talked of closing the door on newcomers to America.
Pointing to himself as an Italian-American, Cuomo said unless you are a Native American, we are all immigrants.
“Division doesn’t work in New York, anger doesn’t work in New York, discrimination doesn’t work in New York,” he said. “Progressive policies, love and commonality work in New York, and this nation needs to hear that message today.”
On regional issues, the governor called on county executives in all Mid-Hudson counties to sit down with their municipal leaders and start a dialogue about sharing services. He said $150 million will be spent to create a transit and economic hub in the Town of Woodbury by redeveloping the entire road network to remove the bottleneck problem. A request for proposals will be issued shortly with construction to start later.
Cuomo also wants to spend $200 million to develop a paved hiking and biking trail from one of the state to the other, $2 billion to upgrade water infrastructure statewide and offer free college tuition to SUNY students whose families earn $125,000 or less annually.
