Let’s face it, the cost of living is not cheap. Whether you’re shopping for groceries, paying rent, or juggling childcare, it can feel like your paycheck is stretched to the limit each week. But Governor Kathy Hochul is committed to improving the quality of life for you and the more than 20 million residents who live in New York State. He fought for a State Budget that prioritizes it and makes New York a more affordable and livable state.
We call it the Affordability Agenda and here’s what it means for you: more money in your pocket, less stress on your pocketbook, and real investments in your future. We know that too many families across the state are struggling to make ends meet. As the federal government continues to tinker with reckless and unauthorized tariffs that have saddled businesses with exorbitant costs that have been passed on to consumers, the Governor’s Affordability Agenda focuses on making life easier for New Yorkers.
As Secretary of State, I travel throughout New York. I speak directly to local leaders and residents from the northern United States to Long Island, to Syracuse, Bufalo, Mid-Hudson, New York City and many communities in between, and they all tell me the same thing: “We need help.” Prices have risen, inflation continues, and Washington’s economic policies are making the situation worse. But here in New York, we don’t sit idly by. We are acting. It’s our job.
The Governor’s Affordability Agenda was recently approved in the New York State Budget, achieving victories on issues that matter most to working families. He fought for real relief, especially for low- and middle-income New Yorkers who go out daily to meet the needs of their families.
But what does all this mean for you?
These are just some of the reliefs coming:
• Inflation refund checks up to $400which will benefit more than 8 million New York homes.
• Lower taxes for the middle classwith $1 billion annually in tax relief for 8.3 million families.
• Expanded child tax credit, providing up to $1,000 per child to 1.6 million families, which since 2023 have included children under four years of age.
• Free school meals for more than 2.7 million students.
• Safer, more affordable child care through large investments that benefit both parents and providers.
• High-speed internet access for $15 a month for low-income householdswhich helps close the digital divide.
• $2.5 billion in STAR rebates to provide relief to homeowners. • The most significant state housing plan in decades, giving families access to affordable housing and protecting homeowners and renters across the state.
• Jobs created and tuition assistance increasededucation funding and investments in public transportation at the highest levels in history so that families have the best opportunities for success.
And we won’t stop there, because New York needs to be the most business- and worker-friendly state in the country.
His economic and workforce development plans include new access to low-interest capital for small businesses, free community college for adults pursuing education in high-demand areas, enhancing the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit with a new tier for companies in the semiconductor supply chain, and protecting workers from wage theft.
Currently, there are more than 400,000 jobs available in New York State. At the same time, more than 4 million adults between the ages of 25 and 55 lack a college degree or credential, which is often the key to accessing better-paying jobs.
So, this is what we will do: the State will finance community college studies for adults between 25 and 55 years old who study high-demand careers, such as health, education or technology. Because we know that cost is often an obstacle. If you’re working minimum wage, trying to pay for childcare, and covering the cost of community college to get ahead, it doesn’t add up. With this plan, you won’t have to choose.
And we are investing heavily in our small businesses and urban centers. The Affordability Agenda works together with the successful economic development programs we already have in our state, such as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the NY Forward program, to boost local businesses, improve housing and create places where people want to live, work and play.
We are rewriting New York history, where working families not only survive, but thrive. We fight for New York State workers and families and to make life more affordable for everyone.
Walter T. Mosley is the Secretary of State of the State of New York