Brown Critical of Gov.’s Housing Plan, Lack of Bail Changes in Budget Address

A Statement from Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) following Gov. Hochul’s 2023 Executive Budget Address

“While I agree that education and mental health services must receive adequate funding this year, I am concerned that the lack of federal funding and the Governor’s ambitious spending plan will put New York in a fiscal bind. We cannot ask New Yorkers to spend more in the face of record inflation and cost of living increases.

“The Governor also continues to bury her head in the sand on public safety. Anything less than a full repeal of dangerous cashless bail laws continues to put New Yorkers at risk and is unacceptable.

“When it comes to housing, the Governor is dangerously mistaken in her messaging today, that is, to double down on her reckless housing plan. Not a single penny should be spent to overrule local zoning laws and her plan to deny a municipality of home rule. Her plan will dismantle the character and quality of our small communities, and I will fight to see that it is removed from the final budget.”