The cost of getting ready for work, going to work, and eating at work continues to rise at alarming rates.

Wages aren’t, generally speaking.

As inflation and demand have risen to an all-time high, it’s time to take action to help our hardworking middle-class families who are struggling to make ends meet. That’s why I’m proud to support the Assembly Minority Inflation Relief & Consumer Assistance Plan to suspend state sales tax on a variety of everyday items like gasoline, personal care products, housekeeping supplies and food purchases.

According to the Consumer Price Index, a family of four has seen a monthly increase in their bills of $388 on average. Many New Yorkers continue to experience financial hardships from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, our state has had more revenue come in than we originally expected, we estimate $10.3 billion. Let’s do what’s right and give some of it back to New Yorkers to help with everyday essentials. It’s the very least the state Legislature can do to help ease this burden felt by so many.

As we head into the 2022 Legislative Session, I hope my colleagues in the Assembly will join me in supporting this paramount bill to ease the burden for New Yorkers.

However, we can’t stop there. We must accept and address the harsh reality that New York isn't what it once was. New Yorkers continue leaving in droves, and it is incumbent upon us to ease governmental burdens by enacting legislation that will make New York a more friendly climate for businesses, our current residents and future families looking for a new place to call home. If there’s anything the pandemic taught us, it’s that we need to be more dynamic, creative and adaptive to changing market needs to remain competitive. Our state government is no different. We have to take more aggressive action before it’s too late.

That’s why the Inflation Relief & Consumer Assistance Plan is a great first step to provide help with essential expenses for New Yorkers. It’s proactive. It’s direct and meaningfully addresses tangible concerns New Yorkers have in an urgent way. It provides some security and peace of mind. Couldn’t we all use a little bit of that right now?.