What Andrew Gounardes Failed to Tell Brooklyn About the NYS Budget He Voted For
Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus voted against the stadium.
Andrew Gounardes failed to tell us about the NYS Budget he voted for. Andrew does not believe it is part of his job to tell us what was in the budget.
Here is what you need to know about the $220 billion budget that was nine days late and funds a stadium for the Buffalo Bills football team owned by Terry Pegula, who is worth $5.8 Billion. (See here)
1) Free daycare for some, but not undocumented workers. You can’t call it universal daycare when it isn’t for some mothers – see here.
*Andrew Gounardes was silent over this, even though he represents women who need this. They pay taxes so Gounardes should have fought this.*
2) A change to bail reform that allows judges to consider whether an alleged crime caused serious harm to anyone. This should stop repeat offenders. (Source) The police union said this repeal is just a skillful use of words and it will not provide real public safety.
** We asked Andrew Gounardes and Mathylde Frontus to change the bail laws last year and both refused.
3) For a long time, Governor Hochul talked about allowing businesses to sell liquor “to go,” but never did anything about it. Restaurants in our area benefitted from this during the pandemic. Lobbyists for liquor stores worked hard to push against this last Summer. (See here) This is only temporary for three years. (Source) *Andrew Gounardes did not push for this or speak out against liquor store lobbyists (this is probably the first time you are hearing this.)
4) The only other win for NY was that 421a was not extended. (See here) Many developers have been enjoying huge tax breaks in NYC for years. (See here)
5) A temporary suspension on some of the tax on gas. This will reduce the price about 16 cents per gallon. (Source) It is suspended until after the November election because Democrats are trying to get re-elected.
6) In September 2021, students and teachers returned to life after the pandemic, but NYC politicians wants to teleconference for the next two years. Gounardes did not tell us this was part of the budget. *This is politicians not wanting to do their job!*
7) Three casinos for NYC. There are already two casinos in Queens. (See here) and one is planned for Manhattan. It was in the plans for next year, but Kathy Hochul wanted it sooner because the three owners will pay NYS a minimum of $500 million for a license. (Source)
8) Artist and musicians will be able to provide for aide. Get ready for people to exploit this! (Info)
9) Money for the environment. Our NYC politicians are not environmentalists so they don’t care that most of this is not for NYC (See here)
Assemblyman Phil Steck spoke out against it not doing enough to meet the goals, but Gounardes and Frontus did not:
People will be asked to vote about this in November. No one is going to vote against a measure called Clean Air and Water. (More info)
10) $800 million in relief for renters at risk of eviction. Gounardes did not rally for this like many other politicians did. He was mocked for his failure to help renters:
11) $250 million for people to pay overdue utility bills. Again, Gouanardes did not rally for this with other pols.
12) $1.2 billion to give frontline healthcare workers bonuses. Healthcare workers who worked during two specific periods during the pandemic will be able to receive up to $1500 for each period they worked (for a total of $3000). (Source)
13) The minimum wage of home health care workers is increase by $3 an hour. (Source) *This sounds good but it isn’t good. Home care workers can’t afford rent, grocery, gas on $13.20 per hour. $15.20 per hour pushes them off food stamps.
14) Health care for undocumented immigrants over 65. (No info on this)
15) Money for Schools to have a mental health staff and implicit bias training for the staff. The NYS Teachers Union liked this:
Days before the budget was voted on Gounardes tweeted about it.
Brian Benjamin also took credit for restoring money to SUNY & CUNY.
Gounardes wanted free tuition for students – that didn’t happen. The state decided that for the next three years there will be no tuition increases.
Other politicians asked for part time students to receive TP (Tuition Assistance Program) – which was agreed upon.
This was Kathy Hochul’s first budget as governor. People didn’t come first. New Yorkers were denied healthcare and homes because Andrew Gounardes and other politicians like him, thought a stadium was more important.
.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »