“Last week, we gaveled in a new legislative season, and suddenly, everyone is talking about affordability — an issue the Assembly Minority Conference has been vocal on for years.

“During the height of inflation, we introduced the Inflation Relief and Consumer Assistance Plan to save New Yorkers money by reducing taxes on everyday items. Last year, I proposed A Blueprint for Childcare, which would save families $2,300 annually in child care costs.

“We’ve also fought against Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing plan, making New Yorkers the guinea pigs for the first program of its kind in the U.S. This plan now imposes a $9 toll on vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours, with higher fees for trucks and additional per-trip surcharges for taxis and rideshare vehicles.

“Despite claiming to focus on affordability, Gov. Hochul’s proposals clearly tell a different story. Her ‘cap-and-invest’ plan could drive gas prices up by 12 cents per gallon. That doesn’t sound like affordability to me.

“Public safety is another major concern that New Yorkers have repeatedly voiced, yet it remains absent from our governor’s agenda. I am committed to fighting for a more affordable and safer New York. Enough with the lip service — we need real solutions.”