The first day of school always fills me with joy. I always look forward to seeing students excitedly come back from their summer vacations, eagerly seek out their old classmates, make new friends, and yearn for the possibilities of the year ahead. And as the parent of a pre-schooler, this year I’ll get to witness that excitement in our family firsthand.
It’s a great reminder to me that the wonky and abstract policy and budget fights that take place in Albany have a direct and measurable impact on the daily lives of families right here at home, and how deeply personal the stakes are for all of us to win those fights.
During the four terms you’ve sent me to Albany, I’m proud of the work I’ve done to support students and families across our education system, including:
But I know our work is still not done. I’m committed to expanding childcare options for young families so we can achieve universal childcare. Families’ needs don’t stop at the dismissal bell, so we need to fight for universal after-school care as well. And because success in the classroom begins at home, we need to build more housing to meet the needs of growing families so they can enjoy housing stability.
Now more than ever, too many families are feeling the pinch in their pockets from a tepid economy, stagnating wages and increasing costs from Trump’s tariffs. That’s why I believe so strongly in expanding the family safety net with my Working Families Tax Credit, which would expand the child tax credit and lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, and by passing common sense laws like my bill to grant a sales tax holiday on school supplies.
I know many of these issues are personal for you. They’re personal for me, too. I want you to know that for as long as I have the privilege to serve you in Albany, I’ll never stop fighting for our families
