Senator Addabbo comments on several parts from Mayor Adams' State of the City address

New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. was in attendance for Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City Address last month and was impressed with the four pillars of his “Working People's Agenda”. Below are statements from Senator Addabbo on some of the topics that stood out most to him.

THE MANY SPOKES OF ONE WHEEL

“Mayor Eric Adams laid out an extensive jobs program that not only creates good-paying jobs, but also lays the foundation for New Yorkers to get the appropriate training and experience for these jobs. The job plan is the central part of the wheel, and the programs that go to support the people applying for the jobs are the spokes that lead into the wheel. Programs like the Apprenticeship Accelerator program, the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project, the Nursing Education Initiative, and programs aimed at ensuring our school children receive the education they need to be successful adults, are vital in setting up the City’s future workforce.”

CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL SMOKE SHOPS

“When New York legalized recreational marijuana, the intentions were good, but there have been some unintended consequences. While we are waiting for the licensed cannabis shops to open up, more and more illegal smoke shops have been popping up all over the city, and many within my own district. I support the Mayor’s initiative to increase enforcement against these unlicensed cannabis shops. It isn’t fair to the businesses doing things the right way, and it isn’t fair to the local communities where these illegal shops are located. I want to thank NYC Sheriffs and NYPD for investigating and shutting down illegal shops.”

SUPPORT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

“I’ve always said that small businesses are the backbone of our local communities, and Mayor Adams is dedicated to supporting that backbone. The proposed Small Business Opportunity Fund will provide $75 million to help small businesses, and NYC will award $25 billion in contracts to Minority-/Women-Owned Businesses by Fiscal Year 2026, with an increase to $60 billion by 2030. By supporting small businesses, we are also supporting local jobs and the local economy.”

COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE

“Getting illegal guns off the streets is a top priority if we want to keep our communities safe, and Mayor Adams’ plan to fight against gun violence focuses on creating a stronger connection between the police and the people that they serve. I support the expansion of neighborhood safety teams, including the new Neighborhood Safety Alliance, as well as common-sense gun reform, and more violence-prevention programs in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of violent crime. By strengthening the bond between police and the community, we can all work together to end gun violence in our city.”

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A MORE FAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM

“We in Albany are looking forward to partnering with our colleagues in the City government to further improve our state’s bail reform laws, with an intense focus on repeat offenders. Through reasonable, evidence-based solutions, we can provide the resources all links in the chain of the justice system — including law enforcement officers, district attorneys, judges and prosecutors — need to work with each together to ensure that people get a fair and speedy trial, and are not sitting in jail waiting to be seen by a judge. We should work towards a balance between a fair justice system, protecting our residents and addressing issues like repeat offenders. Because when one link in the chain is broken, it jams up the legal system and causes a ripple effect that reaches our communities.”

GETTING MORE MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF NEW YORKERS

“As we approach tax season this year, residents should be aware of the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the City’s free tax prep program. The infusion of this $350 million will help even more people access these expanded benefits. By putting more money in the hands of New Yorkers, we enable them to receive the benefits they are entitled to and gain a better financial footing.”