The New York State County Executives’ Association convened in Albany this week ahead of Governor Hochul’s State of the State address for a strategic conference addressing critical issues impacting New Yorkers at the local level.
The bipartisan group of county executives from across the state focused on several urgent priorities, including ending unfunded state mandates, improving the distribution of state and federal emergency disaster aid, supporting homeless families, investing in infrastructure to enable housing and business development, and addressing the community healthcare crisis affecting nursing homes and hospitals.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
This annual meeting provides a forum for county leaders to preview the state’s legislative and budgetary priorities while sharing insights and strategies to tackle challenges within their communities.
“This is an opportunity for all county executives to come together, raise awareness of pressing issues, find common ground, and collaborate on ways to better serve our communities,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, president of the New York State County Executives’ Association.
Enhancing Emergency Response
A key focus of the discussion was improving state and federal support for emergency response and recovery, especially in light of increasingly frequent severe weather events.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus recounted his experience managing a 5,000-acre forest fire that tragically resulted in a fatality. He highlighted the critical role of mutual aid and swift resource deployment in controlling the blaze. Similarly, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente detailed the extensive damage caused by two tornadoes, which took a significant toll on homeowners, businesses, and local governments.
“We moved $5 million overnight to assist with recovery efforts because the City of Rome lacked the capacity to respond effectively,” said Picente. “The state’s response was inadequate, and this must be addressed by both the Governor and federal leaders. We need a better mechanism to provide relief to communities during natural disasters.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine stressed the importance of collective responsibility: “Disasters happen. When they do, we must all come together to rebuild. Federal and state governments must step up to a greater degree—it’s common sense that we’re all in this together.”
Supporting Homeless Families
The homelessness crisis, particularly among families, was another key topic. Executives described efforts to provide immediate housing support through the use of hotels as shelters, despite the challenges of high costs and limited capacity.
“We have an unprecedented number of unhoused residents, including entire families living in cramped motel rooms at great expense,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “It’s a broken system that demands comprehensive reform.”
Counties are also working to enhance services for homeless families, including access to healthcare, transportation to schools, and human services to support their transition into stable housing.
Investing in Infrastructure
The group underscored the critical need for infrastructure investments to address housing shortages and fuel economic growth. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello highlighted his county’s success in securing funding for a new transformer to support both a manufacturing facility and housing development.
“Modernizing the electrical infrastructure is essential to meet the growing demand for housing and attract new businesses and Governor Hochul has assured us this is a priority of the state,” Bello noted.
Tackling the Healthcare Crisis
Executives also addressed the severe shortage of nursing home and hospital beds, which is straining healthcare systems statewide. They called for innovative solutions and increased funding to ensure communities have access to essential healthcare services.
A Unified Vision
“New York’s county leaders bring valuable experience from living and working in our communities,” said NYSCEA President Garnar. “We’re ready to partner with state and federal officials to find practical solutions that move our communities forward.”
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaboration and advocacy for the resources and policies needed to address these pressing challenges and improve the lives of all New Yorkers.
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