As chair of the New York State Assembly’s mental health committee, I was encouraged to hear Gov. Hochul highlight the need to focus on livability, affordability and safety. Expanding and improving access to clean energy, health care, childcare and housing are key factors if we are to help our families. 

The governor’s call for a $1 billion investment in mental health access and treatment is encouraging after years of not prioritizing mental health. COVID-19 pushed our families further into trauma, and the need for services has grown exponentially. The governor’s proposal calls for a billion dollars in funding to rework the mental health care system and staffing shortages in the state. There are critical workforce shortages in the public mental and behavioral health, and in the substance use disorder systems of care across New York State. There is more work to do in this area, as the governor mentioned. We must make our most vulnerable our top priority and provide them with the resources they need. 

We must continue to invest in our community, economy and the state, and I am committed to working with my legislative colleagues, Gov. Hochul, and stakeholders from across the region to ensure that federal and state recovery funds will be used to create opportunities for the benefit and economic prosperity for all New Yorkers, including those individuals and families historically left on the economic sidelines. 

The governor’s proposed investment in our families continues in her plan for increasing affordable housing, and making sure families have a safe place they can afford. The governor’s call to build 800,000 affordable houses throughout the state over the next 10 years will help bring us closer to our goal. 

Additionally, the proposal would create 2,150 new residential beds meant to aid people with mental illnesses. Housing is more than just an address, it’s a human right. 

The budget proposal would also increase child care assistance by $7.6 billion over four years, and grant instant eligibility for families that are already receiving government support. Co-pays would be lowered, and more support is being proposed for child care providers. 

Across the state and the country, concerns about public safety continue to rise. I am ready to work with the governor to continue our collaboration among state, local and federal law enforcement to respond to the unacceptable level of violence. The governor’s proposal includes $12.8 million to expand community stabilization with the expansion and help of New York State troopers. 

We must also invest in preventative measures. We need root-cause solutions; real solutions mean investing in high-quality mental health services, youth engagement programs, job programs and violence intervention programs. 

Strengthening bail reform and granting judges more sentencing discretion will help repair the fractured state in which bail reform currently sits. If judges don’t have the authority or information available to keep our community safe from violent and repeat offenders, how can we expect families to feel safe? We need to continue to strengthen bail reform and make New York safe for all of us. 

As we continue to move past the pandemic and forward as a state, expanding mental health care, affordable housing and living wages needs to be at the forefront of our efforts. For too long, we have overlooked our most vulnerable and at-risk people. I look forward to working with the governor and my legislative colleagues in the coming weeks as we create a budget that works for all New Yorkers. 

Aileen Gunther (D,I,WF-Forestburgh) is the New York State assemblywoman for District 100.