GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES A SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC SECURITY

Public Input Sought on Ways to Improve Economic Well-Being of New Yorkers

13 Meetings Scheduled Across New York State

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that his Economic Security Cabinet will hold a series of Town Hall meetings throughout the State this summer to present its ideas for improving the economic wellbeing of low-income families and to get input from the public who will ultimately be affected by its decisions. The first of 13 meetings will be held today in the Capital Region, at Schenectady Community College.

The cabinet has four clear-cut objectives: To reduce New York’s high cost of living; establish education and workforce development opportunities for a highly competitive economy; strengthen the social safety net for low-income New Yorkers; and bring jobs into our communities.

“These are difficult economic times for the state and the country, and nobody feels it more than low-income families across New York State,” said Governor Paterson. “For too long, these families have been ignored, leaving them precariously close to falling through the cracks. We want to reassure them that this Administration is firmly committed to helping hard-working New Yorkers weather these difficult economic times by empowering them to make the strides necessary to improve their lives.”

The Economic Security Cabinet is comprised of 20 State agencies and was established to not only implement this agenda but to focus on the very real needs of working families, with the goal of strengthening and growing the middle class.

The meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to hear about the State’s commitment to protecting and enhancing economic security for New York families. Suggestions from employers, labor representatives, researchers, advocates, and the general public are a vital part of this effort, and interested individuals are invited to provide written submissions and/or 3 minutes of in-person testimony.

The meetings will begin promptly at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. They will be held as follows:
June 12 Capital Region – Schenectady Community College
June 19 Western NY Region – Erie Community College-Downtown
June 25 Finger Lakes Region – Rochester City Hall
June 26 Central NY Region – Onondaga Community College
July 1 Southern Tier Region - Broome Community College
July 7 Mohawk Valley Region - Mohawk Valley Community College
July 16 Watertown - Jefferson Community College
July 16 Plattsburgh – Clinton Community College
July 24 Mid-Hudson Region – Orange County Community College
July 28 New York City - Brooklyn Borough Hall
July 28 New York City - Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Art Gallery 163 West 125th Street
July 30 Long Island Region – Farmingdale State College
July 31 New York City – York College/CUNY

David Hansell, Commissioner of the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), who serves as co-chair of the Cabinet, said: “The Cabinet has accomplished much in a short time and these meetings will allow us to communicate new programs and innovations to communities throughout the State and to learn where we can, and should, be doing more.”

M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner of the Department of Labor (DOL), who also co-chairs the Cabinet, said: “New Yorkers who work hard for themselves and their families deserve a living wage, a good education and an affordable cost of living, but unfortunately many are struggling during this time of economic uncertainty. The partner agencies that comprise the Economic Security Cabinet will travel the State, listen to the concerns of these New Yorkers, and work together to develop common sense solutions to help improve their lives.”

New York State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said: “Ensuring New York’s economic viability requires all students to be educated to world class standards. That’s why the Board of Regents raised standards a decade ago and why they are renewing them now. I am very pleased the Governor has asked the Education Department to participate in the Economic Security Cabinet and look forward to gathering public input at the upcoming Town Hall meetings.”

For more information concerning the Economic Security Cabinet and Town Hall meetings, visit the Cabinet’s website at http://economicsecurity.us.

The 20 agencies that comprise the Economic Security Cabinet are:

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
City University of New York
Department of Agriculture and Markets
Department of Health
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of Taxation and Finance
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Division of Human Rights
Division of Veteran’s Affairs
Empire State Development Corporation
Higher Education Services Corporation
New York Banking Department
New York State Education Department
New York State Housing Finance Agency
New York State Insurance Department
Office of Children and Family Services
Office for Technology
Public Service Commission
State University of New York