Cuomo State of the State calls for Federal Aid, Affordable Housing, Mental Health First Responders

NYAPRS Note: Following are some of the priorities listed by Governor Cuomo in the first of several State of the State presentations this week. NYAPRS is particularly supportive of his calls for:

• federal funding to aid hard pressed state and local aid services

• increased availability of supportive and affordable housing (see below)

• an approach where 911 emergency calls lead to the use of a mental health first responder component. NYAPRS supports funding for the deployment of mental health and medical first responders in place of police wherever possible, similar to models currently underway in Yonkers. We are especially supportive of the use of peers in this capacity; see https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/opinion/guest-column/2020/09/30/essay-send-emt-and-peer-crisis-counselor-mental-health-calls/5872768002/.

 Some details of Governor Cuomo’s seven pillar plan include:

1. Beat COVID: a Medical Supplies Act to prioritize buying American-made PPE and medical supplies.

2. Vaccinate New York: creation of a New York State Public Health Corps, in partnership with Cornell University, that will train 1,000 volunteers to help with vaccine distribution efforts.

3. Manage short term economic crisis

   1. The federal government must provide significant funding to the states…’don’t pass the buck without passing the bucks…

   2. Legalizing recreational marijuana to bring in around $300 million in state revenues

   3. Allowing online sports betting to bring in about $800 million

   4. The Governor resisted a wealth tax that is supported by NYAPRS and our colleagues.

4. Invest in the future

   1. Infrastructure: “We will commence the most aggressive construction and transportation development program in the United States of America. New air, road and rail systems, upstate and downstate, more affordable housing, and more economic development (will) create jobs, jobs and more jobs.”

   2. Affordable housing: “We should convert vacant commercial space to supportive and affordable housing” by creating a five-year period during which property owners may convert office buildings and hotels in New York City to residential use. Stimulating housing conversion will create thousands of good-paying jobs, increase housing affordability, and support long-term economic growth.”

5. Transition to Green Energy

6. Understand the long-term effects of COVID

7. Address Systemic Injustice: require all local governments and police forces to develop a plan to modernize their policing strategies and strengthen relationships with the communities they serve. Localities are required to engage their community and ratify a plan by April 1, 2021. Failure to complete this process will result in loss of State funding.

 Additional State of the State proposals would

• Expand and extend telehealth

• Increase broadband and more it more affordable

• Make it harder for people convicted of misdemeanor offenses to buy guns.

• Eliminate health premiums for 400,000 low-income people (“the COVID-19 pandemic showcased the persistent, staggering healthcare disparities in this country and in New York State. Blacks, Latinos, Asians and poor communities paid the highest price for COVID-19.”

• Give voters 45 days rather than 30 days to apply for absentee ballots, extend early voting hours and allow county boards of elections to count ballots as they arrive rather than waiting until after Election Day.

• Impose a commercial eviction moratorium through May 1, ban fees on late payments, allow tenants to use their security deposits to make rent and impose penalties on utilities that shut off services during an emergency.

More details as we get them…