Jul 23

Jul 23 Reflections on the 2020-21 legislative session by Assemblymember Brian Miller

While this past legislative session was certainly different, with some of our colleagues joining virtually and some in person, we did manage to get a lot done. That being said, in my eyes, not everything passed was for the good of our local communities.

Some of the highlights we saw included movement in the push to get broadband internet for all New Yorkers through the Comprehensive Broadband Connectivity Act. This is something we have been fighting for a while now, and something that all New Yorkers deserve. We need to continue to push this issue and deliver results soon. We also saw the Nourish NY program, which connects farmers to families in need to provide for them, receive additional funding through the end of July. This in turn will help the agriculture industry, which has struggled this past year with the pandemic. Additionally, I was pleased to see safe staffing laws finally pass to help ensure our healthcare workers get the proper help and support in their fields as putting too much weight on their shoulders can be detrimental to both their health and that of their patients.

Another help to local communities was a $10.6 million increase in operating aid for upstate transit systems and a $100 million increase in the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) to help keep our local roads and bridges in good condition. The Extreme Winter Recovery program also remained in place, despite proposals to eliminate the program. Coming off the COVID-19 pandemic, there was also a more than $3 billion increase in total state support for school aid. This came an such an essential time, as our children have also gone through a lot with this pandemic and deserve their schools to be properly funded.

Sadly, the budget also brought about a number of tax hikes, which I believe are the last thing New Yorkers need right now as we continue the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional low points during this legislative session included a number of anti-firearm bills, including one, which will negatively affect the Remington Arms Co Plant in my district. The governor’s emergency powers also were left in place for far too long.

Furthermore, while financial aid for small businesses totaled $825 million, far less than some other programs, it certainly did not come soon enough, as a large number of small businesses have already shuttered their doors for the last time due to the pandemic. Even so, businesses still struggle because many people would rather collect unemployment than take one of the numerous jobs available. We need to push people to get back to work in order to truly help the economy and our state heal.

Unfortunately, there were also some lost and untouched issues this session, such as amendments on fixing bail reform, which is still plaguing our communities. Crime has risen across the state, partly due to the pandemic, but also because of this awful piece of legislation that is letting offenders get back out on the streets to recommit crimes again and again.

All in all, while session looked different this year, it was more of the same, a mixed bag. I hope that we can accomplish more next year and help New York continue to heal in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Brian Miller represents New York Assembly District 101

Special thanks to The Genesis Group for facilitating this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York. For more information on this type of analytical and analysis and data collection technologies, please visit the Genesis Center for Analytical Analysis website at TheGenesisGroup.org