I recently received an email from Gov. Kathy Hochul in which she told me and several million others about her Affordability Agenda that she unveiled in her recent State of the State address. In the email she assured New Yorkers of her commitment to every one of us and that our families’ well-being is her fight for which she has a concrete blueprint for the future.

To begin she promised a sweeping middle-class income tax cut, which I will not hold my breath waiting for. Next she wrote that she will be sending out the nation’s first-ever “inflation refund” of up to $500 which seemed a blatant attempt to buy my vote in the 2026 election. Then she promised that she would increase the child tax credit to $1000 per child.

After that she went on to promise working parents more affordable and reliable childcare, universal school breakfast and lunch, which begs the question of why we don’t just throw in dinner at school while we are at it. Next came a promise to provide mental health support at schools although I have had the impression that was what school psychologists provide. She also wrote that she wants to help New Yorkers get the education they need for a new career and proposed to make community college completely free for students 25 to 55 years of age that might be seen as discriminatory by students 18 to 24 or over 55 years of age.

Not to be out done the Republican minority announced their plan called Liberate New York which might take an effort akin to the D Day landings to liberate us from our Democrat overlords (no pun intended). They propose to do this by improving affordability for average New Yorkers, making the government more accountable, ending the migrant crisis, although we would have to ditch our virtue signaling Sanctuary State statutes to do that, and to protect students and parental rights from those attempting to intervene in healthy family relationships.

Senate Minority Leader Rob Ott in presenting the plan said, “Endless taxes, migrant spending and out of touch energy mandates to name a few Democrat driven policies are driving the state into the ground.”

Senate Deputy Republican leader Andrew Lanza added the Republican plan “will allow New Yorkers to prosper and protect them from failed one party rule.” He went on to say that “Democratic policies have given New Yorkers high inflation, high crime, high energy bills, high insurance bills, high tolls, and high grocery prices that have made it virtually impossible for people to get ahead.” That is as clear an explanation I have heard of why many New Yorkers are becoming ex-New Yorkers.

Our own Sen. George Borrello, said in a statement “Letting radical activists and special interests dictate policy has put our state into a downward spiral.”

The governor made her generous promises because she will probably have several primary opponents in 2026 including her own lieutenant governor. This is what led her to announce in her State of the State address and in my email her Affordability Agenda to make New York more livable and affordable before we all move to Florida and other states where people can afford to live and get ahead and of course to save her job.

Several of the governor’s proposals are laudable, but if the Democrat-controlled legislature buys into them, it’s going to cost a lot of money. What the Governor really should do is to encourage Democrats in the legislature to cut our taxes, control spending, reduce onerous regulation, institute bail reform and ensure that dangerous criminals are jailed. They should also end the state’s financially and technologically unachievable green energy programs that would lock New York into dependence on unproven energy sources. If they do that it will be the most New Yorker friendly action they have taken in 70 years.

What I have advised the governor to do is much like the Republican Senate plan that In the past might have been a hard sell to Democrats. However, following the November election which shocked many Democrats because Trump and the Republicans made inroads amongst minorities, lower middle class groups, union members while holding on to several New York House seats won in 2022. The Republican Party is no longer the party of the wealthy but the party of the middle class, the American worker and of American values.

Based on the changes that are taking place even left wing downstaters might be willing to do what was thought impossible at one time and cut taxes, get rid of pie in the sky green energy programs, and back off on overwhelming regulations lest they lose their grip on New York.

This is also a time of opportunity for the Republican Party to grow again in New York by attracting those groups that President Donald Trump attracted to the party. The party’s plan to make New York more affordable and citizen friendly is proof that a small but aggressive minority is important for responsive government in New York.

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com.