Monthly Archives: February 2019

Legislative Leaders Stand with Refugee Resettlement Agencies and Allies

Legislative Leaders Stand with Refugee Resettlement Agencies and Allies in Seeking $4.5 Million in FY 2020 Budget For Immediate Release: February 26, 2019 Media Contact: communications@fiscalpolicy.org, 518-786-3156 Assemblymembers Sean Ryan, Pat Fahy, and Marianne Buttenschon stood in the Capitol today with all 14 of the refugee resettlement agencies in the New York State Enhanced Services to Refugees Program (NYSESRP), the Fiscal Policy Institute, and the New York Immigration Coalition to recognize the success of NYSESRP and to urge that it be funded at $4.5 million in [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:37-05:00February 26th, 2019|Press Releases|

Advocates in Albany Urge Lawmakers to Support Refugees with NY State Budget Aid

February 26, 2019. Refugee service providers from across the state rallied on the Capitol's Million Dollar Staircase Tuesday to urge the legislature to double funding to support newcomers as the federal government cuts refugee arrivals and aid. On Tuesday, refugees, representatives from each of the 14 organizations, and Fiscal Policy Institute Deputy Director David Dyssegaard Kallick joined Democratic Assembly members Patricia Fahy from Albany, Marianne Buttenschon from Utica and Sean Ryan from Buffalo to rally for funding. Find the article on The Times Union.

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:37-05:00February 26th, 2019|FPI in the News|

$4.5 Million for a Unique NYS Program Would Help Refugees and Grow Communities

February 22, 2019. The New York State Enhanced Services to Refugees Program began in 2017, as a remarkable response to the federal government’s radical retreat from refugee resettlement. New York took on what no other state did: it helped resettlement agencies to get through a difficult period, and also to rethink their role in their communities. The first two years of funding were $2 million; this year the Fiscal Policy Institute, the resettlement agencies, and the New York Immigration Coalition are requesting $4.5 million. The program, known [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:37-05:00February 22nd, 2019|Blog|

Media Roundup: The New Hope Budget Goes On Tour, Stops in Saratoga Springs, Port Jervis, and Binghamton, and Calls for State Reforms

February 21, 2018. The New Hope Budget coalition is a group of advocates across the state calling on lawmakers to adopt a "morally responsible" state budget that addresses the ever-widening gap between the "haves and have-nots." The coalition calls for taxing the wealthy, raising the two percent state spending cap, reducing local property taxes, and campaign finance reform among other socioeconomic issues. The coalition is currently on a 13-stop statewide tour, meeting with community members and state legislatures. This week, the group was in Saratoga Springs, [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 21st, 2019|FPI in the News, State Budget|

New Hope Budget Tour: Coalition Visits Ithaca to Build Support for a Just State Budget

February 21, 2019. Continuing on their 13 stop tour across New York, the New Hope Budget advocates stopped in Ithaca to discuss a state budget that levels the playing field for all New Yorkers. "A budget is a moral document when you think about it. A budget is about priorities," Ron Deutsch, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, said to an audience including Tompkins County legislators and members of various political, labor and religious organizations. Find the article about the stop in Ithaca at the [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 21st, 2019|FPI in the News, State Budget|

FPI Supports Bill to End Company-Specific Subsidies

February 20, 2019. Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Ron Kim were joined by Senator Michael Gianaris, the Fiscal Policy Institute, and community-based organizations as they introduced new legislation to end corporate welfare packages. The proposed bill would enact a collective agreement between all states that join, an interstate compact, to end the costly Race to the Bottom between different cities and states, which has cost many of them billions annually in taxpayers’ money for several decades. The legislation can be viewed here. “When states compete against each [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 20th, 2019|Press Releases|

Advocates Push to Get Illegal Immigrants NY Drivers’ Licenses

February 19, 2019. This article discusses the rally where advocates, the New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, and the Fiscal Policy Institute came together to show support for a bill that would all undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses if passed. The author highlights that there is a possibility that the bill will pass since the whole government is now controlled by Democrats. Advocates opened a new push Friday to get drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants now that the entire state government is controlled by Democrats. [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 19th, 2019|FPI in the News|

Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented: Benefit for Some or All?

February 19, 2019. This article discusses the need and support for New Jersey to pass a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. According to the article 76,204 arrests were made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that were the result of traffic offenses. The author highlights the fear that undocumented immigrants have to drive due to the threat of deportation, but they need to for daily activities such as going to school, buying groceries and medical emergencies. The article also highlights [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 19th, 2019|FPI in the News|

Undocumented Immigrants in NYC May Soon Be Able to Get a Driver’s License

February 15, 2019. This article discusses the New York's City Council's efforts to allow undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses, through passing a resolution. The author highlights the testimonies of many undocumented immigrants who talk about the fear that they have when driving because they face possible arrest and deportation if they get pulled over. However, undocumented immigrants have to drive in order to obtain basic necessities, take their children to school, go to the hospital and for other daily activities. The report also highlights FPI's new [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 15th, 2019|FPI in the News|

Media Roundup: Patriotic Millionaires and Advocates Call Upon State to Raise Revenues from the Wealthy to Support Critical Services

January 14, 2019. On February 12th, 2019, the Patriotic Millionaires joined several organizations from across the state, including the Fiscal Policy Institute, outside the Joint Legislative Hearing on Taxes in in the Legislative Office Building in Albany to urge New York's elected officials to raise additional revenues by asking the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay a little more. The press event was featured in several media outlets, which are listed below. New York Nonprofit Media: Several nonprofits appeared at the state Capitol Feb. 12 to advocate for higher [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 15th, 2019|Blog|

Driving Together: Benefits of Allowing All New Yorkers to Apply for Licenses

February 15, 2019. Suddenly, with a new legislature in office, New York is poised to join 12 other states plus Puerto Rico and D.C. and allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses.A report by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) estimates that 265,000 undocumented immigrants statewide would obtain driver’s licenses, including 64,000 north of New York City and 51,000 on Long Island. FPI also estimates that $57 million in annual revenue and $26 million in one-time revenue would be generated from the purchase of driver’s [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 15th, 2019|Blog, Migration, Press Releases, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

Press Release: Patriotic Millionaires and Advocates Call Upon State to Raise Revenues from the Wealthy to Support Critical Services

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2019 Media Contact: communications@fiscalpolicy.org, 518-786-3156 Patriotic Millionaires and Advocates Call Upon State to Raise Revenues from the Wealthy to Support Critical Services Albany, NY. Patriotic Millionaires Chairman Morris Pearl joined numerous organizations from across the state outside the Joint Legislative Hearing on Taxes, to urge our elected officials to raise additional revenues by asking the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay a little more. Far too many New Yorkers have been left behind in this economic recovery, while the number of [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 12th, 2019|Press Releases, State Budget|

New York’s Pathway to Shared Prosperity: Economic and Fiscal Outlook for FY 2020

February 12th, 2019. The Fiscal Policy Institute released its 29th annual New York State budget briefing book, New York's Pathway to Shared Prosperity: Economic and Fiscal Outlook for FY 2020. FPI's budget briefing book analyzes the Governor's FY 2020 Executive Budget and makes policy recommendations that would benefit all New Yorkers in the areas of taxes, human services, immigration, education, and more. You can find the sections of the report below: Policy Recommendations Financial Plan and Income Inequality Local Government Economic Development Human [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 12th, 2019|Blog, State Budget|

Support For a Pied-à-Terre Tax in NYC Grows After $240M Penthouse Sale

February 11, 2019. Last month, billionaire Ken Griffith closed on a penthouse at 220 Central Park South for over $239 million, making it the most expensive home ever sold in the United States. Griffin, the founder of the hedge fund Citadel, said he will not use the pricey pad as a primary residence, but instead as “a place to stay when he’s in town.” The staggering sale has renewed support from public officials for a pied-à-terre tax, which would place a yearly surcharge on homes worth $5 million and up, and [...]

Fiscal Policy Institute2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 11th, 2019|FPI in the News, Tax Policy|