Buffalo – “I’ve witnessed countless State of the State addresses through the years. Yesterday’s struck me as being different in a meaningful way.

There were no frills or theatrics. There were no dramatic accompaniments. It was the sort of blue-collar, ‘down to business’ approach that is Buffalo through and through. Gov. Hochul’s State of the State address was focused not on her own accomplishments, but rather on the collective health of our state and the work that will be required in order to lay out a vision for the betterment of all New Yorkers.

It certainly hit home in many ways. Many Western New Yorkers, myself included, can relate to the anecdote of her grandparents leaving their home in Ireland behind in search of better opportunity, before finding it in Lackawanna — an area I am proud to represent today.

It’s an experience that speaks to New York as a state of opportunity and resiliency. As people from all over the world continue to call Buffalo home, they will send their children to public school, eventually attend SUNY schools, and later begin a career or open a business. They will have high quality healthcare, clean waterways and properly maintained infrastructure to enjoy with their families. All of these steps and paths toward accomplishing their dream were touched on yesterday.

From the Kensington Expressway to the Great Lakes, the governor integrated plans and projects from WNY to Albany, and as the 2022 legislative session commences, I look forward to working together to deliver critical funding and legislative victories for families here in Western New York and the 149th Assembly District.”