For Immediate Release: January 5, 2022
Contact: Mike Sandmel, New Economy Project, mike@neweconomynyc.org,
NYS Community Equity Agenda Statement on Governor Hochul’s Economic Development Proposals in Today’s State of the State Address
“As low-income, Black, brown and immigrant communities across the state continue to reel from economic devastation caused by the pandemic, New Yorkers are demanding that state lawmakers put forth a bold vision that reimagines the state’s failed approach to economic development. For years, New York has prioritized corporate tax giveaways and corrupt development deals over cooperative and community-led development initiatives, like worker-owned businesses, community land trusts, and community solar, that create good jobs and build wealth in neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by COVID-19.
“We look forward to working with Governor Hochul to flip the script on economic development in New York. We’re encouraged by the Governor’s announcement of a pilot program for community-controlled housing, and urge her to build on today’s State of the State address by supporting the New York Public Banking Act; funding New York’s robust network of community development financial institutions; investing in worker-owned businesses; cracking down on persistent redlining and racial wealth extraction; and further supporting social housing through the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act and Fair Taxation for Community Land Trusts Act.”
The NYS Community Equity Agenda is a broad-based coalition of more than 40 community, labor, legal services, civil rights, and cooperative organizations from across the State fighting for economic democracy and racial justice in New York.
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