Dear Editor,
I write to invite readers of this publication to weigh in as New York State shapes its budget for fiscal year 2026. My staff and I are currently digging into the details of the Executive Proposal to find areas of agreement with the Governor, as well as items where I feel improvements can be made to better serve us here in AD95. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing more of my opinions on different aspects of the budget online. You can sign up for my e-news at https://bit.ly/AD95E-News. If you are not already following me on social media, I encourage you to do so. I am @AMDanaLevenberg on Facebook, Instagram and most recently, Bluesky.
There are a variety of ways for you to let me know your thoughts on the state budget during this process. My contact form continues to be the best way to share your opinions on all matters with me; you can access it at https://bit.ly/AD95Contact. You can also call the office at (914) 941-1111 during normal business hours. Please also consider attending one of my upcoming Town Halls:
Affordability-focused:
Thursday, February 6 at 7 PM: Virtual. RSVP at https://bit.ly/AD95VirtualTownHall2025
Thursday, February 13 at 7 PM: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Dr., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
General Interest
Saturday, February 8:
- 10 AM: Briarcliff Manor Community Center, 3 Library Rd., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
- 2 PM: Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill, NY 10566
Saturday, February 15:
- 10 AM: Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 185 Kings Ferry Rd., Montrose, NY 10548
- 2 PM: Desmond-Fish Public Library, 472 NY-403, Garrison, NY 10524
You should also be sure to reach out to your federal representatives during this process, as a significant part of our budget each year comes from the federal government. In order to have a budget that enables all New Yorkers to thrive, we need to get our due from Washington. Early signs indicate that this will be a big fight. Even before we faced the threat of presidential interference with funds already promised to us, a leaked memo from the House Budget Committee showed that Republicans are looking at major cuts to programs that our state depends on, in order to fund additional tax cuts for corporations and billionaires. The memo also shows that they are considering eliminating tax provisions that many middle-class families rely on, like the mortgage interest deduction and the SALT deduction, while refusing to consider raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy. Now is the time to make sure your federal representatives know where you stand on these issues, before these proposals become law. Visit the websites of Congressman Mike Lawler, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to access their contact information.
Sincerely,
Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, 95th District