Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Foodlink on Monday, April 21, to discuss the state budget and its impact on local families.
Surrounded by elected officials and local dignitaries inside Foodlink’s distribution center, Hochul announced key measures to “making New York more affordable,” including her Inflation Refund initiative, middle-class tax cuts, the expanded child tax credit, access to child care and universal school meals.
“I have a plan to put $5,000 back in families’ pockets,” Hochul said. “I will not sign a budget that doesn’t focus on affordability. I will not sign a budget that doesn’t focus on public safety. I am asking you to join me today and let’s stop talking … let’s act.”
PHOTOS: Gov. Kathy Hochul visits Foodlink
Foodlink relies on significant funding from the state budget to fuel its food-banking operations. Specifically, the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and the Nourish NY program supply millions of dollars to ensure Foodlink and its member agencies can purchase healthy food throughout the year.
Foodlink’s Advocacy Committee spoke with several elected officials earlier this year in Albany about the importance of increased funding for both programs, as well as other policy priorities such as an increased minimum SNAP benefit, funding for benefits outreach through the Nutrition Outreach Education Program (NOEP) and Universal School Meals. Hochul threw her support behind healthy meals for all students in her executive budget months ago.
Whitley Hasty, Foodlink’s Benefits Navigation Manager — whose work is funded through NOEP — was invited to give remarks after Hochul spoke.
“This is really meaningful work for me — especially for someone who has used nutrition and benefits programs in the past,” Hasty said. “I know how difficult it is for young parents trying to raise and nourish their families — especially now at a time when 2.4 million New Yorkers are food insecure. This is a growing crisis in every rural, urban and suburban zip code in the state.”
With the cost of living continuing to rise, Governor Hochul’s Affordability Agenda includes:
- Middle-class tax cuts across five of the State’s nine tax brackets, cutting rates to their lowest level in nearly 70 years for New Yorkers who file jointly and earn up to $323,000 annually
- Expanding the Child Tax Credit over two years, giving eligible parents $1,000 for kids under 4 years old and $500 for kids ages 4-16
- Providing Inflation Refund checks of up to $500 to 8.6 million New Yorkers
- Providing free school breakfast and free school lunch for every student in New York
- Fighting for the full repeal of the State and Local Tax deduction, which costs New Yorkers up to $12 billion each year
“Foodlink’s mission is to end hunger and build healthier communities,” said Foodlink President & CEO Julia Tedesco. “The demand for our services has never been greater, and that is directly tied to the high cost of living right now. We are grateful that the New York State budget is making significant investments to provide economic relief for the communities that we serve through expanded tax credits and universal school lunch. We are particularly thankful that NYS continues to lead the nation in its support for food banks and the emergency food assistance network that we convene in Rochester.”
