By Assemblyman Matthew Simpson
The year 2023 presents an opportunity for the state of New York to put the COVID-19 emergency era governing behind us. The biggest priority for lawmakers in Albany this year will be to undertake a fundamental shift from responsive governing and pivot to rebuilding a foundation which allows New York families and businesses to thrive.
We need to acknowledge the elephant in the room: The state’s population loss is a big deal. Stability and prosperity are easy goals to talk about but if the people don’t see a viable path towards success, they will seek it elsewhere. From 2021 to 2022, New York saw a reduction of 180,000 citizens.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the state’s share of this country’s millionaires has also declined from 12.7 percent in 2010 to 8.9 percent in 2020. Why should we pay attention to this? A large percentage of the State’s revenues generated from personal income taxes come from a proportionately small group of high earners.
The top 1 percent of earners in New York whose bottom dollar figure begins at around $656,000 contribute 46 percent of the State’s income tax revenues. Additionally, the mean household income from those who left during the last Census was in excess of six figures. Fiscal policy relying on politically charged maxims like “tax the rich” is not a sustainable path.
Individuals and families continue removing themselves from the State’s increasing over-reliance on them to fund rising spending. Opportunities for a prosperous life for our outgoing neighbors does not outweigh the cost of pursuing one. Simply put, the juice is not worth the squeeze.
New York has an affordability problem that will not be solved by policy predicated on transferring wealth and not on creating an environment of opportunity. We need to unleash the potential of New York’s residents and allow them to fully participate in the modern economy. The state can have a positive role in this and restore their ability to lead a prosperous life on their own.
The first step is continuing the push for quality reliable broadband and cellular access. Modern connectivity is a pre-requisite for economic growth. Last year, New York passed a budget that included well over $1 billion to build out our broadband capabilities. Absent are any programs or means for communities to access these funds. Setting these resources aside was a monumental first step.
Now we need to follow through by unlocking these funds. Removing unnecessary red tape and government mandates like Department of Transportation Survey fees that inflate costs of expensive rural and last-mile buildouts are also encouraged. There are still too many tax-paying hard-working New York families and businesses that remain disconnected from the modern economy.
Consider the potential for entrepreneurs with modern connectivity now having access to markets outside their communities to sell their goods or services. Think about the advantages trades technicians have with the ability to troubleshoot problems on-site and order materials in real-time.
We even have potential for true work-from-home employees living hundreds of miles from their employer if properly connected. From skilled labor in the construction and service trades to qualified care providers in our hospitals and nursing homes to entry-level openings for individuals pursuing broader long-term goals, introducing these options to our future workforce is achievable by preparing our youths for modern careers.
Enhanced investment is needed to develop and expand access to our Career and Technical Education (CTE) & Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs.
We must also amplify the dialogue regarding the benefits of introducing these programs to elementary and middle school students. Our state must be proactive in expanding practical and innovative curriculum that offers viable paths for student success and post-graduation opportunities. Workforce development and skill building leads to stronger students, stronger adults, and greater preparedness for opportunity.
Skilled individuals in proximity to modern broadband and cellular capacity with the ability to enter the workforce during and immediately following high school graduation would fill an urgent need for the entire regional economy. However, persistent difficulty sourcing this help is tied directly to the current housing affordability crisis.
We cannot realistically expect individuals to stop leaving the State if they cannot afford a place to live. Providing public monies for affordable apartment units cannot be the only way in which this problem is addressed. Albany must look at it from the perspective of all stake holders including and explore how regulations contribute to prohibitive building costs resulting in developers only seeing value in high-end homes and rental complexes.
We must leverage more partnerships with both private and non-profits developers such as Habitat for Humanity and explore comparable models for housing variety that provides opportunities for individuals and families to build personal equity and generational assets coupled with a review of tax policies that hinder long-term affordability. From this, entry to the middle-class becomes possible and vibrant communities can take root.
New York’s outmigration stops when rooted individuals, families, and businesses create vibrant communities.
Having a strong and skilled workforce connected to a modern economy with a modern education system and the added security of stable housing are great incentives to keep people from leaving their community. However, we cannot ignore the critical infrastructure underneath our feet that ensures we can experience these benefits in a healthy manner. New York has some of the oldest water and sewer infrastructure in the country. The state and its Agencies have legislated or promulgated new rules and standards to rectify this issue for good reason.
What lags are the matching resources for communities to meet these standards. While it must be noted that state funding has been made available in recent years, it has simply not been enough, nor is it easily obtainable.
Critical water and sewer infrastructure are essential to industry and commerce, not just the health and well being of residents. This infrastructure is so critical that businesses will not move into a region without them. New York must take a thorough look at how we are deploying resources to update and modernize our communities to ensure proper water infrastructure.
Making New York state an attractive place to live will require plenty of work. From a policy perspective, it is disadvantageous to lose population year after year. It diminishes our voice at the federal level, and it harms our economic diversity and viability. Nevertheless, there are remarkable people who have remained after having built a prosperous life. Together, we will turn this trend around and create an environment that allows individuals to build their version of the American Dream right here in the State of New York.