“Costs are rising for essentials, and many families are struggling to make ends meet. While we’ve taken steps in recent years to ease the burden on New Yorkers, there’s more work to be done. I was pleased that Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address focused on making our communities more affordable for hardworking families.

“We must make housing more affordable so we can maintain the fabric of our communities and attract new residents to our region and state. I support lowering home insurance rates, enhancing renter protections and easing building restrictions for new housing. Additionally, I am supportive of a range of energy efficiencies and power alternatives. These efforts are necessary to reduce housing costs for residents across New York.

“For too long, families have been burdened by the cost of childcare. Making childcare more affordable and accessible through measures like truly universal pre-K will be a boon for families and the economy. We have been working toward this goal for years, and we must find the money to make it a reality. The governor has already put forward some promising funding sources, but I will work to identify efficiencies and savings within existing programs to reallocate funds for this initiative.

“In communities like ours, owning a car is often a necessity. Unfortunately, the towering cost of auto insurance has only further strained budgets. As the governor pointed out in her address, part of these high costs stems from insurance fraud. Her plans to crack down on auto insurance scams and fraud, as well as requiring insurance companies to reward safe driving, are a promising start to address out-of-control rates.”