HAD ENOUGH? WE DESERVE BETTER!

NYS Budget Forum 2024-25

February 8, 2024

Greenburgh Town Hall

Oral Testimony About the Proposed 2024-25 NYS Budget

Authored By Khris Kerr

First, I would like to commend and thank our Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner for speaking out about the school aid formula causing student inequity. Westchester schools have been shortchanged for many years due to the unfair school aid formula. Our schools are overcrowded, understaffed, unsafe, and student academic performance continues to decline.

Second, New York must end its sanctuary state status because the current migrant crisis is unsustainable and inhumane. Many migrants are being forced to sleep on the streets, trains, tents, waiting rooms, and/or any place they can find to keep warm, with no place to shower, and begging for food. On the other hand, some migrants have no respect or regard for law enforcement. Just last week, migrants attacked 2 police officers and were released without bail.

Third, with energy costs continuing to rise Indian Point power plant should be reopened. Closing the plant has decreased our clean energy supply, cut jobs, raised taxes, and increased our energy costs. Even with solar panels, my household energy bill has gone from $125 to $401 a month. Also, the offshore wind turbine project should be canceled because sea life is being killed including endangered species, toxic chemicals are being released, and wind turbines become useless after 20 years. The wind turbine budgeted funds should be reallocated to implementing subsidized solar panels on all residential houses and commercial buildings wherever feasible.

In summary, your proposed budget will destroy New York and make more people and businesses leave our state. Ending New York’s Sanctuary State Status and urging President Biden to close down the Southern border to more illegal immigration of unvetted people should be your number one priority since these actions will free up many billions of dollars to fund what your constituents need and want.  I urge you to have more discussion before you finalize our budget because we deserve better.

Our slogan used to be: “I love NY!” Now, everyone is looking to leave NY.