“Today, the governor outlined his future plans for New Yorkers in his State of the State address. From expanding access to telehealth services statewide to reforming our election system, I’m eager to build upon what was laid out today and fight to ensure the needs and concerns of North Country families are heard loud and clear.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put a strain on our health care system like nothing that came before it, forcing us to modernize our approach to patient care and fully take advantage of the technology that’s accessible to us. While I support the governor’s plans to take the lessons we learned from this past year and continue expanding access to telehealth services, I believe we must first focus on expanding broadband access for our families in rural communities to ensure these services can benefit every New Yorker.

“The struggles of North Country residents has not been fully realized, and while the Governor’s eviction moratorium seeks to help those in vulnerable housing and employment situations, we have yet to provide direct support to small landlords leaving them without the rent income they need to pay their own bills and maintain housing. Further, it is clear that small businesses have born significant hardships throughout this pandemic. As the backbone of the North Country economy, I am committed to ensuring small businesses get the help they need to get back on their feet.

“This public health crisis also led to changes in our election process to ensure every voter can safely make their voice heard. I’ve always supported making no-excuse absentee voting an option for all New Yorkers and believe permitting state Board of Elections to count votes earlier will allow for a more trusted and efficient system. While I support the governor’s election reform initiatives, I don’t believe mandating extra hours for local BOE workers is the answer and will work with my colleagues to find other solutions.

“One of the most pressing issues facing our state and the North Country is the budget deficit. I support the governor’s plans to legalize mobile sports betting, which will help create much-needed revenue to fund critical services that help our communities thrive. I also would like the Governor to explore revenue raising approaches that provide no hardship to already tax burdened residents. I have proposed that New York State allow the registration of Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV’s) over 1000 pounds, which many residents own but are unable to register them; this is a simple way to address the deficit without overtaxing the hardworking men and women of the North Country. However, I think the legalization of marijuana should not be rushed for economic reasons and we must consider the potential impact this decision could have on the safety and well-being of New Yorkers, especially those in recovery.

“While these proposals provide a starting point, we have much more work ahead of us. I’ll continue working hard to help the North Country build back stronger than before so we can all look forward to a brighter future.”