WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

The COVID-19 outbreak reminds us that New Yorkers deserve a responsive government and dedicated public servants.

The pandemic is shining a light on the inadequacies and inequities within our healthcare system, and the need to protect everyday families who are worried they won’t be able to pay for their prescriptions or afford groceries. We need leaders who we can trust to stand up for our families, for our workers, for our small businesses, and for our entire region.

OUR JOBS AND ECONOMY

The future of our region depends on a thriving economy. We know that too often economic development programs have failed to provide the good-paying jobs that were promised. We need a smarter approach to economic development that strengthens our economy, generates living wage jobs, and benefits our entire community.

The pandemic has revealed to us how close to the edge many in our community are living—with wages and benefits that have eroded over time. We can take this opportunity to strengthen protections for working families, grow and support small businesses, retain top talent from our nationally renowned universities, and invest in infrastructure and technology--such as high-speed broadband--that attracts new businesses.

OUR SCHOOLS

A good education is the surest path to a secure future. Our state needs to provide all schools with the resources they need to thrive. Decades of underfunding have kept too many young people from reaching their full potential and enjoying rewarding careers. 

Our local schools and universities are facing tremendous financial and operational challenges during this pandemic. The safety of students, teachers, and staff is critical. We know our students will need more support, not less, as they rise to the challenges of learning in new ways through this pandemic. Our state government has a responsibility to ensure an excellent education for every child, no matter their zip code. Throughout the 55th Senate District, our schools are already owed over $100 million in education funding. We must send a fighter who understands the value of education to Albany to get our fair share of funding for public schools and quality child care.

OUR HEALTH CARE

Our families deserve the security and peace of mind that comes with knowing their health care needs will be met. Nobody should lose their savings or take on debt just to afford a basic medical procedure. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many of the gaps and weaknesses in our health care safety net. 

We must ensure timely and quality care for every New Yorker, regardless of preexisting condition or ability to pay. This includes full reproductive care for women, mental health care, and culturally responsive care for people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Our hospitals and community health centers must have the resources and supplies to care for us during public health emergencies. We need to curb the runaway costs of life-saving medicines and prescription drugs.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

From lake flooding in Irondequoit to changing weather patterns in Naples, our communities already experience the impacts of climate change. To protect our Western New York region, we need to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy, improve the energy efficiency of our homes and businesses, and upgrade our infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events. With every passing month, the federal government rolls back environmental regulations that would protect New York’s clean water, clean air, and clean soil. We need to strengthen climate protections in our state to keep our families safe and healthy.

OUR AGING COMMUNITY

Seniors in our community should be able to enjoy their retirement on their own terms. People should be able to age in place, if they so choose, and have ample opportunities for recreation and social activity. The COVID-19 pandemic has put our most vulnerable seniors at risk for economic hardship and isolation. We need to make sure our seniors can get the health care they need when they need it by improving access to home and community-based care, telemedicine, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

OUR DEMOCRACY

For a state government that works for all of us, we need a democracy that uplifts all of our voices. Big money has dominated the political process for too long. When everyday people don’t have a meaningful voice in the process, we end up with policies that don’t reflect our values. It’s time to bring our democracy back into balance. We must increase the power of small donors, lower contribution limits, and strengthen voting rights through voting-at-home measures, automatic voter registration, and same-day registration.

EVERYONE IN, NO ONE LEFT OUT

Everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome in their community. We respect the rights of people to be who they are, live their lives with dignity, and have an equal voice in community decision-making. We will work to ensure policies are inclusive, and that all people have the same rights, access, and protections.