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,” Cuomo said. “That we do not seek to raise ourselves by pulling another down, but rather believe we succeed by raising each other up.”
New York is facing a $4 billion deficit plus another $2 billion because of federal actions, Cuomo said. He said he will sue Washington over its new tax plan.
To reduce that deficit, 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 included cashless tolling on the Thruway, expanding free tuition for SUNY college students and building a new Penn Station in Manhattan.
