Cuomo: “Economic civil war”
ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo’s state of the state address
delivered on Wednesday had the message that despite the adversities the
state will face in the new year, it will continue to move forward.
The 1½ –hour speech acknowledged 2018 will be a tough year
for the state, but he said New Yorkers will rise above the problems of
finances, terrorism, anti-Semitism, racism and sexual harassment.
“This year, let us show what New York is at its best. Let’s
show this nation the New York lesson that at times of trouble and anxiety,
the premise that made America great still guides us. That we do not seek
to raise ourselves by pulling another down, but rather believe we succeed
by raising each other up,” he said.
New York is facing a $4 billion deficit plus another $2 billion because
of federal actions, Cuomo said. To reduce that, he wants to promote more
shared services among municipalities, restructure the method of taxation,
among other means. He said because of the new health law adopted by Republicans
in Washington, the state is in an “economic civil war.”
In talking about infrastructure improvements, he mentioned growth at Stewart
Airport and the Woodbury transit hub and he referred Legoland in Goshen
as part of tourism expansion.
Other points in Cuomo’s state of the state include cashless tolling
on the Thruway, expanding free tuition for SUNY college students and building
a new Penn Station in Manhattan.
