“New Yorkers had high hopes for this budget process as outlined by our new governor, Kathy Hochul. However, this process, just like so many others dominated by one-party rule, was crafted in secrecy with no transparency, opportunity for public input or for the people to weigh in. Here lawmakers are yet again passing a downstate-driven agenda in the middle of the night. This budget is not sustainable, is bloated and imposes record spending at the same time people are leaving our state and those who can’t afford to move are barely scrapping by. For these reasons, I am voting no against the entire budget.”