Invest in Our NY
NYPAN has signed on to the Invest in Our New York coalition, and Assemblymembers Michaelle Solages and Phil Ramos recently joined local activists and union members for the Long Island launch of the Invest In Our New York Act.
The Invest In Our New York Act is a historic state legislative package to rebuild New York’s economy and end tax breaks for the wealthiest New Yorkers. Solages and Ramos were joined at Thursday’s event by local activist and NYPAN member Joseph Sackman, representatives from Make the Road New York, New York State Nurses Associate, New York Communities for Change, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Long Beach Reach, and STRONG Youth, in addition to impacted community members.
If passed, the Invest In Our New York Act would represent the single largest measure taken to close New York’s inequality gap in decades, marking a massive reversal away from years of budgets that have decimated public schools, affordable housing, healthcare, immigrant workers, and localities, while providing tax breaks to the wealthiest New Yorkers.
“During one of the most tumultuous times in our modern history, some individuals were able to add massive amounts to their wealth as everyday working-class people fell farther into financial ruin. It is time for each of us to do our part in building back a better and more equitable New York. To that end, we cannot allow any draconian cuts to our schools,” stated Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages, Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus. “We know how effective a quality education can be in promoting social mobility and greater health outcomes. We have to maneuver strategically and keep investing in the sectors that produce the most returns on our investments. That is why I join this diverse coalition of Long Islanders today in calling for our wealthier New Yorkers to pay their fair share.”
“The road to recovery for New Yorkers is gonna be a difficult one if our State doesn’t take bold action to address the impacts that COVID-19 has had on immigrant, Black, brown, and TGNCIQ+ communities across our state. This week, outside of Cuomo’s office, the Invest In Our New York Coalition showed that we have a solution to help New York State not only get out of this pandemic efficiently, but also help the communities hit the hardest thrive for months and years to come. We have a legislative solution to help address our current economic crisis. Today, our Long Island members and allies call on the Governor and legislators to support the Invest In Our New York Act, to help raise the $50 billion needed to ensure a just recovery for all,” said Deborah Axt, Co-Executive Director at Make the Road NY.
“Gov. Cuomo’s New York leads all other states in inequality thanks to years of austerity policies that have grinded down the working class but shielded the rich, who have seen their already massive fortunes soar,” Lisa Tyson, director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “From education to housing, the pandemic has exacerbated every pre-existing inequity in our state, and some folks in Albany would be happy to cut our way out of this crisis by slashing already decimated essential services. This is unconscionable, especially as millionaires and billionaires exploit peoples’ suffering to make record profits. It’s time to stop giving the wealthy a free ride, which is why the Long Island Progressive Coalition has joined this statewide call to raise new revenue by taxing the rich.”