FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2023
The following statement is from Assemblymember Michael Reilly (R,C-Staten Island) in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 executive budget proposal:
“At $227 billion, Governor Hochul’s budget proposal is the most expensive in state history and, if enacted, would be the largest in the nation, only second to California’s. I’ve said it time and time again, we cannot continue down this path; we cannot continue to expect New York’s working families to shoulder an increased tax burden, the result of wasteful, reckless government spending, especially at a time when the cost of everyday supplies like groceries and fuel remain so inflated.
Among the many concerns I have regarding the Governor’s proposal, the biggest red flag for me is her attempt to expand the infamous New York City speed camera program to enforce speed limits on all Triborough Bridge and Tunnel crossings. I’ve long believed that speed cameras have nothing to do with traffic safety and everything to do with generating revenue. This is nothing more than another tax on working families and I cannot support it.
Instead of finding ways to save money, reduce the tax burden on taxpayers, restore public safety and protect New Yorkers, this Governor and Albany Democrats have only found more ways to spend money — your money!
While I am pleased to hear the Governor propose solutions to address the crime crisis, such as re-visiting bail reform, and responding to the worsening fentanyl, migrant, homelessness, and mental health crises that trouble our state, these proposals, quite frankly, do not go far enough. I continue to call for changes to be made to the disastrous criminal justice reforms passed by Albany Democrats in 2019 — including for amendments to be made to the state’s “Raise the Age” law so that juvenile offenders caught in possession of a loaded firearm can be tried in the criminal court. If the Governor insists on including policy in the budget, then we must address the elephant in the room which is public safety. That said, I was also pleased to learn that the Governor’s budget proposal included language that finally exempts retired peace officers from the state’s excessive concealed carry restrictions. This was an unfortunate oversight that I have been fighting to fix since last year and I hope to see it worked into the final budget.
In this year’s budget, I’ll be fighting to secure funding for two important public safety initiatives — the first is for a recommitment of funding to train Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) at local law enforcement agencies across the state. The legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana has presented law enforcement with a new challenge in combatting impaired driving. Training our law enforcement officers to be able to detect impaired driving as a result of marijuana is a crucial step in protecting our communities. I successfully secured $10 million to fund this important program last year with bipartisan support and I am confident we can do it again. The second public safety initiative I would like to see funding for is the installation of license plate readers on the New York side of all Port Authority (PANYNJ) crossings. With auto thefts on the rise in suburban neighborhoods like the ones I represent on Staten Island, license plate readers have become an essential tool for law enforcement agencies in tracking and recovering stolen vehicles. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) fitted their crossings with them and it is now time for the Port Authority to do so as well.
As the budget season begins in Albany, let’s make sure we have our priorities set straight so that the outcome is one that benefits the millions of everyday New Yorkers we were elected to fight for.”