“I again want to congratulate Gov. Hochul for her historic election as New York’s first female governor. With that said, her speech today to the state Legislature was a good first 

step in recognizing the state’s most pressing issues—crime, housing, out-migration and the rising cost of living. However, more work needs to be done on these issues. Crime continues to plague our communities. As our status as the highest-taxed state in the nation also continues, the rising cost of groceries and high gas prices are forcing North Country residents to make difficult decisions. We need to address these issues, along with job opportunities and education, to stem the mass exodus of our residents. I appreciated her comments on mental health and look forward to working with her and my legislative colleagues in improving mental health services across our state.

“I came to Albany to find solutions to the challenges facing northern New Yorkers, and I will work with anyone, on either side of the aisle, to accomplish that. We must reverse course, and now the real work begins. We must find solutions to our challenges, and from today forward, we need more details on the initiatives put forward by the governor in her State of the State address.”