Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his first of six State of the State addresses Monday morning at 1 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Here are some key takeaways and a video of the speech.
- Overhaul New York’s bail system, ensure access to a speedy trial, improve witness identification procedures, record police interrogations, raise the age of criminal liability from 16 to 18, and extend the Hurrell-Harring settlement reforms statewide.
- Early voting, automatic registration, same day registration.
- Eliminate the wage gap by adopting salary history blind hiring practices and requiring state contractors to disclose data on gender, race and ethnicity of employees – leveraging taxpayer dollars to drive transparency and advance pay equity statewide. Steadfastly supporting a woman’s right to choose.
- Fight homelessness with $20 billion affordable housing plan.
- Launch of statewide task force to investigate and deter instances of bias and discrimination and the formation of an Interfaith Advisory Council led by Cardinal Dolan to achieve a greater tolerance and understanding of all religions and cultures.
- Invest record amount in Environmental Protection Fund, close Indian Point, lower RGGI emissions cap by 30 percent by 2030, develop off shore wind power.
- Launch Empire State Immigrant Defense Fund to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to representation and due process, regardless of citizenship status. Advance passage of the Dream Act to finally open the door to higher education to thousands of New Yorkers.
- Create jobs and build infrastructure, increase access to education and lower taxes
- Increase education funding to a record level across the state with New York City receiving more education aid that ever before.
- Free tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools to families making up to $125,000
- New pilot after school program to extend school hours to provide mentoring, tutoring
- Invest in industries of tomorrow. Adopt a regional approach
- Specific NYC investments: $650 million in life sciences economy (Genome Center)
- Make Brooklyn a model for wellness
- New LGA
- $10 billion plan for JFK
- $50 million investment in Montefiore Hospital
- Invest in Knightâs Bridge Armory and Orchard Beach, Institute for Behavioral Research becomes part of CUNY
- Toll reduction for Staten Island residents at the Verrazano crossing
- Middle Class Child Care Tax Credit which will double the child tax credit for more than 200,000 hard-working families. Governor Cuomo will announce a plan to address property tax relief later this week.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvXk1DRTjA
