New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith is the ranking Republican on the Education Committee in Albany. He’s heard from plenty of angry parents, PTA members, teachers, administrators, and stakeholders on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed cuts to education funding.
“Governor Hochul proposed to withdraw funding from 337 schools, cutting millions of dollars from programs that kids need. We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, and she wants to cut millions from schools. They would have to layoff 100 teachers in my district,” said the Brookhaven based lawmaker who represents the 5th NYS Assembly District.
Anger over proposed education cuts is just one reason why Assemblyman Smith and many other Republicans believe Governor Hochul’s poll numbers are sinking across the Empire State.
According to a recent survey released by Siena College, Governor Hochul is now “underwater” concerning her favorability ranking.
Right now Hochul’s favorability rating is 41% compared to 46% who view her unfavorably, according to the survey results released by Siena College. Those numbers are down from last month when 45% of New Yorkers viewed the Governor favorably compared to 42% who previously viewed her as unfavorable.
“This demonstrates that the failed Democratic, left-wing, progressive policies like cashless bail, which handcuffs cops and judges, and gives a ‘get out of jail free card to criminals,’ is not viewed favorably by New Yorkers,” said Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia.
Governor Hochul’s job approval also dropped in the Siena College poll, which is now at 48% approve and 47% disapprove of the way she’s managing the government. Hochul’s previous rating was 52% approve and 43% disapprove of the job she’s doing leading the Empire State.
“New Yorkers believe that their quality of life has declined under Governor Hochul, and 43% say she is out of touch with their lives. The sky-high cost of living in New York, crime, and the ongoing migrant fiasco are unsurprisingly eroding confidence in Mrs. Hochul’s leadership,” said New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerald Kassar.
Almost half of those polled by Siena College said cost of living was their biggest concern here in New York State. Next on the list of priorities for New Yorkers: the migrant crisis, crime, and affordable housing.
“This is the highest taxed state in the union. You can’t create jobs here. It’s not safe. It’s not affordable,” added Garcia.
The news went from bad to worse for Hochul in the Siena College poll, with 56% of respondents believing the quality of life in New York is getting worse, compared to only 14% who think it’s getting better.
“New Yorkers have had it with the precipitous decline in quality of life under Governor Kathy Hochul and one-party Democratic rule,” concluded Chairman Kassar.