The Governor does not understand Long Island

The Governor has no idea what we need on Long Island. That was the consensus of those attending a presentation by the Special Advisor to the Secretary of State, Jorge Montalavo, on the proposed state budget. The Oceanside Civic Association hosted an evening of explanation that brought frustration over what people heard.

The spending plan calls for two story parking facilities at LIRR stations at a cost of $150 million, creating “Start-Up New York” tax free zones around Republic airport, raising the minimum wage for $10.50 per hour, plus changes in education. The rest of the budget was aimed at upstate communities.

Calling this the “state of opportunity” the Governor is proposing:

• cutting the tax on small business by four percent.

• property tax relief program for 340 thousand “qualifying” Long Island households, saving them $1,000 per year.

• Explaining that Hempstead and Freeport are areas where internet access was not “great” or not affordable, $500 million in state monies and leverage that with the same amount from the private sector to guarantee broadband internet access for the entire state.

• $50 million for tax free zones near State University schools and a $100 million venture capital fund to create a pipeline so students, as they graduate, can stay and work here. He also wants to teach local businesses how to market overseas.

• $4.5 million to expand emergency food access for food pantries.

• $500 million for affordable housing, for young people and seniors.

• purchase 30% or $2.4 billion in goods and materials from minority and women owned business.

Under the proposed budget if you go to college and then take a job in N.Y. and make less than $50 thousand a year, the state will pick up the first 2 years of your student loans.

To reform our education system:

• $20 thousand bonus for the best teachers, have those teachers act as mentors to others.

• State will pay the tuition for top program candidates in state universities who commit to teaching in N.Y. for 5 years.

• to evaluate teachers an accurate mix of tests and observations.

• evaluate students, 50% on the state exam and 50% on independent classroom observation.

• pass laws to remove ineffective teacher from the classroom.