On this Labor Day, a commitment to recovery and rebuilding

Labor Day has always been a meaningful and steadfast day of tribute across this region, a region that has been built on and where we have long honored a deep-rooted respect for so many of the foundations of this nation: agriculture and craftsmanship, manufacturing and small business, tourism and hospitality, outdoors and recreation, education and health care, and on through the anchors of the modern high-tech economy in research and development, and technology.

It is a remarkable local history of working men and women, and a great source of pride for all of us.

We do well every year to recall and pay tribute to all of the workers across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes who day after day, year after year, generation after generation, build, care for, educate, grow, manufacture, protect and serve and strengthen our communities in so many different ways through so many different walks of life.

We are grateful for your dedication, your perseverance and your excellence.

 In 1887, New York was one of the first four states to establish a Labor Day holiday.

In its overview, the U.S. Department of Labor frames the historical significance of Labor Day this way, “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”  

This tribute is especially true this year, at a time which has taken and continues to take an enormous toll on workers in so many fields but where American workers, here at home and across this land, have kept us going.

For me, as a legislator, it means that government faces a particular challenge and responsibility moving forward to help our workers and our local economies rebuild and recover. I know that I share this sense of responsibility with so many of the men and women I work with in government, at every level, to pursue the goals we share for the future of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes.

This work of recovery and rebuilding is underway at the moment in many places and numerous ways. I look forward to seeing it through. It will be a challenging road back, to say the least. Together, however, I fully believe we can and we will find solid ground again.

Without question, this road back will demand a renewal of New York State government’s focus on and commitment to economic growth, job creation and fiscal responsibility – in short, to opening the doors to a stronger future for workers.

This commitment and focus has lost its way in recent years in New York -- and remains at risk -- however the pledge continues on this Labor Day to keep working to ensure that it finds its place again in this government in the months and years ahead. 

My best wishes to all of you.