By Michael V. Cusenza
“Making Progress Happen.”
That’s the title of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s exhaustive 10th State of the State address, delivered last Wednesday up in Albany, and boasting “nation-leading proposals” such as a domestic terrorism law focusing on the recent spike in hate crimes, a $3 billion environmental bond act to fight climate change, legalized cannabis and historic infrastructure and economic development investments.
“Our ship of state is stronger than it has been in decades, but the ocean we navigate is as tempest tossed as we have seen. Waves of anxiety, injustice and frustration are being fanned by winds of anger and division, creating a political and social superstorm, but these are the times when New York is called upon to show leadership and set a course for a troubled nation,” Cuomo said. “New York is the progressive capital of the nation and we must fulfill that destiny again this year. Working together, we have achieved the best progressive state government in the nation. We have accomplished more together than we could have imagined and now we must do even more. Our current challenges are daunting – but it is nothing New York can’t handle. This year we will continue to address the issues causing anxiety and frustration with an agenda that fosters economic growth and social progress, proposes a nation-leading response to climate change and keeps New Yorkers safe. This is a robust agenda—but we can do all of this. Our State government has accomplished the impossible—over and over again and we will do it again this year.”
Highlights of the 2020 State of the State address:
“Restore Mother Nature” Bond Act: This year, Cuomo pledged to launch Restore Mother Nature—the nation’s most aggressive program for habitat restoration and flood reduction, funded in part by a $3 billion environmental bond act.
Paid Sick Leave for Working New Yorkers: Cuomo promised to ensure that all working New Yorkers have access to sick leave. Businesses with five to 99 employees will provide their employees at least five days of job-protected paid sick leave per year and businesses with 100 employees or more will provide at least seven days of paid sick leave per year. Smaller businesses, with four or fewer employees, will guarantee five days of job-protected unpaid sick leave to their employees every year. Small businesses already providing paid sick leave will be able to so.
Legalizing Cannabis: Cuomo proposed a comprehensive regulatory approach to legalize cannabis, creating an Office of Cannabis Management to specialize in regulation—overseeing the medical, adult-use and hemp programs. The proposal will administer social-equity licensing opportunities, develop an egalitarian adult-use market structure and facilitate market entry through access to capital, technical assistance and incubation of equity entrepreneurs. The proposal will also correct past harms to individuals and communities that have disproportionally been impacted by prohibition, Cuomo noted. To safeguard public health, the proposal limits the sale of cannabis products to adults 21 and over and establishes stringent quality and safety controls including oversight over the packaging, labeling, advertising and testing of all cannabis products. These efforts will be done in coordination with neighboring states Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Cuomo also proposed creating a Global Cannabis and Hemp Center for Science, Research and Education with SUNY and other expert partners.
Continuing Middle Class Tax Cuts: Cuomo pledged to continue to lower Personal Income Tax rates for middle-class New Yorkers. In 2020, the third year of the multi-year tax cuts enacted in 2016, income tax rates have been lowered to 6.09 percent from 6.85 percent for taxpayers in the $40,000-$150,000 income bracket, and to 6.1 percent in the $150,000-$300,000 income bracket. These cuts are expected to save New Yorkers over $1.8 billion this year. Furthermore, income tax rates will continue to drop to 5.5 percent for taxpayers in the $26,000 to $150,000 tax bracket and 6 percent in the $150,000-$300,000 bracket.
When the cuts are fully phased in, Cuomo said, middle class taxpayers will have received an income tax rate cut up to 20 percent, amounting to a projected $4.2 billion in annual savings for six million filers by 2025. As the new rates phase in, they will be the State’s lowest middle-class tax rates in more than 70 years.
Addressing Veteran and Law Enforcement Suicides and Homelessness: Cuomo said the State will invest $1 million to partner with organizations to help veterans, law enforcement and first responders with suicide prevention efforts. The governor indicated that he will also direct State agencies to expand suicide-prevention strategies for veterans, law enforcement, correctional officers and first responders, including a new campaign by the Office of Mental Health to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Additionally, the State will convene a panel of stakeholders and experts at its annual Suicide Prevention Conference to develop and implement strategies for preventing suicide among these special populations. Cuomo said he will also invest $5 million to expand permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans through the State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.
Following the State of the State address, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) pledged to work with the governor on the “Making Progress Happen” agenda.
“As we go into a very difficult fiscal year, facing a State budget deficit of more than $6 billion, and working on many initiatives mentioned in the governor’s State of the State, I look forward to working with Gov. Cuomo and my legislative colleagues to identify new sources of revenue to help close the budget gap, revitalize our economy, support local families and businesses, increase educational funding and continue to provide vital services to New Yorkers in need,” Addabbo said.
