Lawmakers respond to governor

There are five state lawmakers whose districts cover portions of Washington County. Here are their responses to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address in January in regard to the housing crisis:

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (Democrat)

“The need for attainable housing, across all ages and stages of life, from small starter homes to senior housing communities, is also needed to support economic development in upstate New York. People want to come work and live in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, but they need a place to call home. I look forward to many productive and more specific conversations with Governor Hochul and others to achieve this goal.”

Assemblyman Scott Bendett (Republican)

“Governor Hochul promised to make our communities safer and more affordable. My hope is she will keep her promises to our residents. In such difficult times, it is important that we can lean on each other for support and all work together.”

Assemblyman Matt Simpson (Republican)

“We heard a lot of talk about building affordable housing in New York City; how about we do something meaningful to make it more affordable for all New Yorkers to own what they have now? I hope the majority in Albany can deliver during this legislative session and fulfill the promises made to the deserving residents of New York.”

Sen. Dan Stec (Republican)

“Expanding affordable housing is a top priority in communities across our state. The governor simply mandating an expansion of affordable housing treats the symptom of the issue and not the cause, which are the high price of regulation, construction, energy and labor. These are the biggest drivers in housing costs and the major impediments in expanding affordable housing.

“Affordability did not receive the full attention it deserves. The governor’s plan to increase minimum wage and index it to inflation will simply drive up prices on residents and businesses at a time when we currently face economic uncertainty and an escalating cost of living. We’ve seen an exodus of New Yorkers over the past several years, and failure to address the affordability issue will only allow this trend to continue.”

Sen. Jake Ashby (Republican)

“While I’m pleased that the governor has acknowledged that housing is one of the many drivers of our state’s affordability crisis, addressing the problem is all about the details. This isn’t as simple as throwing tax dollars at developers who build condos in New York City. Increasing our housing supply statewide means tearing down the regulatory and tax hurdles that discourage investment. In cities, it means reimagining some vacant commercial space as affordable units. And in every community, it means creating a better business climate where young people can see themselves settling down, purchasing a home, and enjoying a rewarding career. That won’t happen until state government starts spending within its means, reduces waste and focuses on programs that actually get results. We need to build affordable communities worth investing in, and we’re competing against the whole country.”

– NYVT Media

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