Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

1) Promote Youth Employment and Apprenticeships: There are too many students graduating from our local universities, who studied hard and paid dearly for their education but cannot find work or are underemployed. Young people now accept the idea that you have no choice where you live; you often have to follow a job out-of-state or even overseas. This is a particular crisis in upstate New York where we need to keep our graduates in the region and have them invested in our community's future. While at the NYS Department of Labor, I developed a concept paper to provide businesses tax credits for hiring young people. Governor Cuomo championed this proposal, NY Youth Works, and it became law in December 2011. It gives New York businesses more incentive than ever to invest in local talent. I will pursue every creative avenue available to develop our workforce and give our young people a chance to work hard and contribute to our community. Jobs and education are fundamental to our economy and worth fighting for.

2) Raise the Minimum Wage: Ever since the minimum wage was proposed in the 1930s, we've heard folks claim it would create runaway inflation and massive unemployment. That hasn't happened. When you raise the minimum wage, little or no money leaves the local economy. Those working at minimum-wage jobs, however, can afford more of things like rent, food and clothing that they need to take care of their families. These jobs account for a rapidly increasing sector of our economy, and many families -- our neighbors here in the 109th -- have multiple members making minimum wage. The minimum wage needs to be raised now, and I will fight for that raise in the Assembly.

3) Expand the Tax Credit for Restoring Historic Buildings: In 2010, New York State introduced an expanded tax credit for rehabilitation of old buildings, which we have throughout our downtowns, main streets and older neighborhoods in the Capital District. The credit incentivizes private reinvestment in the reuse / rehabilitation of both historic homes and commercial structures listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. This responds to all kinds of community and financial needs, including job creation, economic development, and municipal reinvestment, not to mention smart growth and historic preservation. The credit is restricted to distressed census tracts, so it is not available throughout the new boundaries of the 109th district, but I am committed to leading the effort to secure final improvements to this program so that it works effectively for my home region and throughout New York State.

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