Social Policy

Federal Funding is Essential to Health Care Coverage for New Yorkers

Strengthening Medicaid and protecting health coverage for New Yorkers is critical to ensuring that our state can respond effectively to the coronavirus public health crisis and the current economic recession. The Urban Institute has projected that Medicaid caseloads could increase by as much as 1,204,000, or 22.5 percent, through FY 2021—an unprecedented spike. New York needs help to cover those who are newly unemployed and expected to enroll in Medicaid and offset extra Medicaid costs related to coronavirus. Without proper funding, the state will be [...]

Anthony Troia2020-12-30T10:07:31-05:00June 20th, 2020|Blog, Fact Sheets, Health Care|

Local Government Reliance on Fines and Fees to Raise Revenues Hurts Residents and Communities

Across New York State, fines and associated fees are relied upon by local governments as a source of local revenue. Decreased aid from the state coupled with the 2-percent property tax cap, which was enacted in 2011 and restricts annual property tax increases to the lesser of 2-percent or the rate of inflation, has led to decreased revenues for local jurisdictions. To make up for budget shortfalls - which have worsened during COVID-19 - local governments may be tempted to raise additional revenue through fines [...]

Anthony Troia2021-03-23T09:42:05-04:00June 10th, 2020|Blog, Governance, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

Strengthen Medicaid and Protect Health Coverage for New Yorkers

May 20, 2020 This time last year, New York celebrated its lowest rate of residents without health insurance to date at 5 percent. A historic low that is a continuation of nearly a decade of decline in people who lack health insurance, this record-breaking success set New York apart from the national trend of rising uninsured rates. The public health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threatens past success in reducing the rate of the uninsured in New York State. We must strengthen [...]

Anthony Troia2020-12-30T13:40:32-05:00May 15th, 2020|Blog, Health Care, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

Unemployment Insurance Taxes Paid for Undocumented Workers in NYS

May 14, 2020 In the midst of a pandemic, there has been a growing call for undocumented immigrants, who make up five percent of the New York State labor force, to be covered by some form of unemployment insurance. What is often overlooked in discussions of unemployment insurance is the extent to which undocumented immigrants are already part of paying into the existing system, even when they are excluded from collecting benefits. Undocumented immigrants face the same challenges as other workers. It does not serve [...]

Anthony Troia2021-04-06T09:48:24-04:00May 13th, 2020|Blog, Employment, Unemployment & Job Quality, Health Care, Immigration, New York State, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

Fines and Fees: Raising Revenue at the Community’s Expense

As New York State looks toward restarting the economy in the wake of COVID-19, a new report from the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) warns local governments not to rush to build revenue through the use of fines and fees – a long-standing, inequitable source of funding primarily drawn from low-income communities and communities of color. Between 2010 and 2017, 31 city governments, out of 62, in New York State reported an increase in expected fine revenue in their annual budgets, with a median increase of [...]

Anthony Troia2020-12-30T13:59:11-05:00April 17th, 2020|Blog, Governance, Must Read, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

NY’s Best Prescription? An Accurate Census Count

While the coronavirus is upending our daily lives, we must not let this public health crisis derail our state’s census participation. New York must have an accurate count because it will affect our lives for the next 10 years - including the resources our state has to combat the next health threat or climate crisis. All New Yorkers should complete a census form - either by mail, phone, or online. More information on completing the census is available from the Census Bureau. Learn more by [...]

Anthony Troia2020-12-30T14:05:16-05:00March 30th, 2020|Blog, Governance, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|

With “rent burdens” on the rise, advocates urge changes to state laws

May 1, 2019. This article looks at the problem of rent burdens in the Rochester area in advance of the NYS Assembly hearing on May 10. The article highlighted the disparities "2 out of 5 renters -- and 60% of minorities -- in the Rochester area are rent-burdened. Others upstate cities face similar numbers, but Rochester’s are the highest." A recent study by the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute says nearly half of New York renters are “rent-burdened. Ron Deutsch, the group’s executive director, said housing – not [...]

Anthony Troia2021-01-06T10:28:06-05:00May 1st, 2019|FPI in the News, Housing|

Investing in census outreach pays off

April 23, 2019. This opinion piece was written by Betsy Gotbaum, executive director of Citizens Union, details the importance of fully funding census outreach: "A low count in New York City and state could cost us one or two representatives in Congress and billions of dollars in federal aid. The accuracy of the 2020 census is not a small matter. The Trump administration is doing its best to ensure that states like New York wind up with an undercount. The Constitution requires that all residents [...]

Anthony Troia2021-01-06T10:25:57-05:00April 23rd, 2019|FPI in the News, Governance|

The rent is too high! Rochester housing advocates rally for rent reforms

April 11, 2019. This article covered a demonstration highlighting local support for rent regulation by the Rochester Housing Coalition, members of the City-Wide Tenant Union, the Rochester Homeless Union, VOCAL-NY, House of Mercy, and St. Joseph's House of Hospitality participated in the event, which began at the Liberty Pole and ended at the former Hotel Cadillac, where numerous low-income tenants were evicted last year so building owners DHD Ventures could renovate the property. Legislation has been introduced in Albany that strengthen tenant protections allow cities across the [...]

Anthony Troia2021-01-06T10:24:10-05:00April 12th, 2019|FPI in the News, Housing|

The Unclear Path For New York’s Belated Census Effort

April 11, 2019. This article covers the concerns that New York is underfunded for outreach for the 2020 Census. The article notes that state legislators had wanted to spend $40 million to make sure all New Yorkers are counted, but Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the commission $20 million. The $40 million estimate was calculated by David Dyssegaard Kallick, deputy director of the Fiscal Policy Institute. He says with spending at $2 per person, each person would get about eight minutes of outreach, which may be fine for [...]

Anthony Troia2021-01-06T10:23:42-05:00April 11th, 2019|FPI in the News, Governance|

$20M Enough for NY Count?

April 7, 2019. This article discusses the concerns about a possible failure to properly account for New York's population in the 2020 Census which could result in the potential loss of 2 seats in the House of Representatives and billions in federal funds. Deepening the worry is Governor Andrew Cuomo's delay in filling his appointments to the Complete Count Commission which was done after the Commission's report was sue and the state budget allocation of $20 million - an amount reached without formal input from [...]

Anthony Troia2021-01-06T10:20:59-05:00April 8th, 2019|FPI in the News, Governance|