NYS ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 95 ISSUES

The Top Issues in District 95: Energy, Affordability, and Housing

The biggest challenges facing District 95 are taxes, utility costs, local affordability, and environmental concerns. These issues are deeply connected — and at the center of all of them is energy.

Energy costs affect everything. They determine how much families pay to heat and cool their homes, how much businesses pay to operate, and how expensive housing construction becomes. High energy costs also slow progress on green transportation by making electric vehicles and charging infrastructure less affordable.

Simply put: lowering energy costs is an act of compassion. When energy is expensive, everyday life becomes unaffordable.

The Local Energy Problem

Residents of Putnam County and Westchester County pay significantly higher energy bills than many other counties. This is not primarily because of energy generation costs — energy itself is part of a broader regional market across the Northeast.

The real issue is local: delivery costs, municipal taxes, bureaucracy, and mismanagement and we all know - the foolish closing of Indian Point. These county-specific expenses are driving up utility bills for residents.

Energy production may be debated at the regional level, but the excessive costs burdening District 95 families are local and solvable.

Taxes: The Core Affordability Crisis

For families in Westchester County and Putnam County, the affordability crisis doesn’t start with groceries or gas — it starts with property tax bills.

Property taxes and school taxes in our counties are among the highest in New York State. For many homeowners, these bills rival — or even exceed — their mortgage payments. Retirees on fixed incomes feel it acutely. Young families feel it when deciding whether they can afford to stay. Small businesses feel it in their operating costs.

These taxes are not isolated from the energy problem — they are part of it.

High municipal spending and local tax structures directly contribute to elevated utility delivery costs. Bureaucracy, overlapping authorities, and inefficient administration all show up in monthly bills. When taxes rise, delivery costs rise. When delivery costs rise, energy becomes less affordable. And when energy becomes less affordable, everything else becomes more expensive.

Lowering taxes is not about cutting essential services. It’s about demanding efficiency, accountability, and value for money.

Compassion means recognizing that people are being priced out of communities they love — not because they failed, but because the system has grown too expensive.

If District 95 is going to remain a place where middle-class families can thrive, we must confront property taxes, school taxes, and the cost structures that are driving them. Affordability is not just about building more housing — it is about making it possible to stay in the homes people already have.

Housing and Development

Beyond energy, there is room to lead on one additional defining issue: Housing and Development.

District 95 is a low-density suburban area located near a major city. Residents chose to live here for its character, quality of life, and community feel. They want to preserve and improve what they have — not see it compromised nor see their own property values decrease.

At the same time, compassion (but not state mandates) must guide housing policy. Lower-income families and seniors deserve the opportunity to live in safe, attractive, well-built communities — not in cheaply constructed, poorly located developments. Affordable housing should mean high-quality, architecturally appealing homes integrated thoughtfully into existing neighborhoods if the community votes for it.

It is also important to recognize demographic reality. New York State’s population has been declining — falling roughly 2% per year. Growth in District 95 should not outpace the state overall. Development should be measured, sustainable, and aligned with community needs.

A Practical Focus

Energy generation is largely a regional issue across the Northeast United States. Because energy is portable, changing how it is produced will not by itself fix the unusually high bills in Putnam and Westchester.

The real opportunity for leadership lies in addressing the local drivers of cost: delivery fees, taxes, and regulatory inefficiencies.

Lowering energy costs is compassion in action. Sensible housing policy is compassion in planning. Together, these issues define affordability, environmental progress, and the long-term quality of life in District 95.