Housing
When our communities grow, everyone can benefit when we make smart investments. That’s why I’ll advocate to increase the stock of housing in New York State through innovative solutions with sustainable building practices that save on heating costs, and provide more affordable housing options so people can live, raise a family, and retire here. And it’s also why I’ll work with local communities to find solutions to short-term rentals, insufficient housing stock, and unhoused populations through affordable housing initiatives that make our communities safer and healthier.
Childcare
Every working parent wants to know that their child is in a safe, nurturing environment. But too many parents are left making difficult choices because there is not enough quality, affordable childcare in our communities. We must increase access to local, quality child care so that parents who want or need to work can have the peace of mind that their kids are thriving, and can afford to continue to work and raise a family.
Healthcare
No matter who we are or where we live, when our loved ones are sick, we want to know that they have access to the care they need. But our rural hospitals are struggling, mental health services are hard to find, and entire counties lack basic health services like maternity wards. That’s why we must invest in our rural hospitals, support innovative programs like school-based health, improve access to in-home care, and bring down the costs of healthcare by passing the New York Health Act, so that everyone can get the quality care they need for themselves and their families. I will also fight for the right of every person in New York to have access to reproductive health care.
Transportation
Too much of the 51st contains transportation deserts, with little to no access to buses, trains, and ride shares. We need to invest in transportation in our rural communities so folks can get to work, get to school, and get their goods to market. Public transportation is good for business and good for our communities.
Family Support
As a mom of two neurodivergent kids and daughter of an aging parent, I know how important it is to have the services you need when you need them. And I also know that accessing those services can be an unnecessarily complicated process. That’s why I want to make it easier for seniors and parents of children with disabilities to get the support they need so families are not thrown into crisis.
Community Safety
No matter who we are or where we live, we all want to know that our communities are safe and that when there’s a problem, help will be available. That’s why I want to expand our centralized 911 system to include professionals in mental health, domestic violence, suicide, and drug overdoses. This change would relieve law enforcement, freeing them to focus on public safety and reducing wait times for emergency services. Because when we respond to a crisis with the right set of skills and tools, we all benefit.
Education
Every parent wants to know that their children have access to a quality education that sets them up for future success. That’s why I will fight to make sure that the state prioritizes its financial obligations to our public schools, so every school and every teacher — no matter the zip code — has the resources they need to provide every child with the education, opportunities, and support they need to thrive.
Connectivity
Whether we live in a city or the most rural part of the 51st, we are all reliant on 21st century tools like the internet and cell phones for work, education, and to stay connected to loved ones. But too many of our rural communities have been left behind when it comes to these basic services — or charged exorbitant prices with poor quality results. That’s why I’ll sponsor legislation to make WiFi a public utility for all so that people can work remotely, start and run businesses, kids can do their homework at home, and seniors can access telemedicine and other important services.
Environment
Whether we’re farmers, teachers, or small business owners, we all want to know that Upstate New York’s pristine air, soil and water will be preserved for generations to come. We know better than most that pollution, climate change, and overdevelopment can pose an existential threat to our way of life. And we also know that our rural communities are the engine of New York’s clean energy future. We must solve environmental issues in partnership with farmers, rate payers, retirees and the rural working class. We must hold industrial polluters accountable and allocate resources to help farmers adapt to a changing environment. And as New York State takes steps to address the climate crisis, I will fight to preserve home rule so that communities have a say in and benefit directly from clean energy projects they host. We should implement the lessons of the New York City watershed: rural New York must have the head seat at the table and equal benefit when it comes to the use of our resources.