Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Today’s Lead: Cuomo’s State of the State


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Gov. Andrew Cuomo used his fourth State-of-the-State Address to further his credentials as a fiscal conservative and social liberal while revisiting his past successes. Many observers saw the speech as a safe, election-year speechHe touted $2.2 billion in tax cuts including: property tax breaks; corporate tax cuts for upstate businesses, and a renter's tax credit. He unveiled a state trial of medical marijuanain select hospitals. He said the state should provide universal pre-kindergarten but he did not offer how to pay for it. He asked to take over the refurbishing on JFK and La Guardia, promised an extension of Metro-North and the addition of three new stops in the Bronx. Cuomo used a conciliatory tone when discussing ethics and campaign finance reform, telling the legislature that the public’s trust is like "rocket fuel" and expands the legislature's capacity to get things done. He also reaffirmed his support in a quick but passionate nod to the Women's Equality Act that he assembled and backed in last-years’ State-of-the-State. He announced to the boos of Sen. Kevin Parker that former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly will be involved in a state school for emergency responders. He also pushed for juvenile justice reform and backed for a policy that would mandate that all school officials must tell the state of discrimination in their schools or lose their jobs.He ended his speech framed by a picture of the Statue of Liberty praising New York's history of embracing diversity.Cuomo did not mention his good friend Mayor Bill de Blasio or his plan to raise taxes on the city's wealthiest to fund pre-k. De Blasio began his post-speech press conference by preemptively praising Cuomo before reporters could ask any questions. 

 


Other Stories We're Following

De Blasio Hits Albany With Tax Plan as Cuomo Ignores It (Bloomberg)

New Council Speaker Promises to Heal Divides (Gotham Gazette)

After Winning a Raise, 175 Casino Workers in Queens Lose Their Jobs (NY Times)

New Jersey Governor Faces Scandal on Traffic Jam Aides Ordered (NY Times)

Speaker Vote Represents Major Victory for de Blasio (Daily News)

The Last Hour of the Mark-Viverito Campaign (Capital)

De Blasio Tangles With Eric Cantor on Charter Schools (Capital)

Testimony in Assemblyman’s Bribery Trial Continues (Wall Street Journal)

Interfaith Hospital Patients Go Without Heat as City Freezes (DNAinfo)

Brooklyn, Queens Housing Markets Surge (Crain's)

 



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