On Wednesday, January 21, Governor Cuomo gave his State of the State and Executive Budget proposal address in Albany. The governor outlined proposals that addressed the social and economic well-being of the state, and he did focus on some critical social needs issues.

Some of his proposals are right for our district and for New York. Some need to be adjusted to make sure the people they are intended to help get the most out of the proposal. But some miss the mark entirely.

Immigrant Students & Education Tax Credit

• I applaud the Governor's proposal to provide relief to our immigrant and undocumented students who are pursuing their American Dream in New York and to give families sending their children to private schools a tax credit for the tuition paid.
• Families and individuals must have a choice with regard to education, from primary through higher education, and the Governor took a meaningful step in this direction.

Minor Offenders to be Charged as Juveniles

• The Governor is absolutely right to propose treating children like children instead of adults.
• I support his proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility under the law to 18 from 16, meaning less young men and women will be at the mercy of the state prison system, and hopefully have a chance at real reform in their lives for wrongdoing rather than punishment in a system in need of tremendous overhaul.

Minimum Wage

• The Governor is right to propose a minimum wage hike, but it doesn't go far enough.
• The current minimum wage is set to increase to $9 an hour next year, but the Governor is proposing a hike to $10.50 for non-New York City residents and $11.50 in New York City.
• We need a higher minimum wage, and we need it sooner than next year. It hardly keeps up with inflation and falls short of the $13 an hour the Governor proposed that led to the current, small and regular increases in the minimum wage.

Teacher Tenure and Failing Schools

• The Governor's education proposals don't match with the reality of what our schools, students and teachers need.
• Targeting teachers as the reason for why students fail misses the complex and tough reality students in failing school districts face, from problems outside of the schoolhouse to learning issues and resources inside.