Democrats New York State Budget Proposal Includes Good and Bad For The Jewish Community

by CrownHeights.info

A “One Budget” proposal by the Democrats in Albany outlined a series of major changes to the way the State will operate, and many of those changes may be very good.

One major, and obvious change in the proposal, is the attempt to raise social welfare program limits to allow for the change in cost and income. With rising inflation and higher costs, naturally people would need more money to get the basics, and to lose social welfare while being unable to purchase more would be counter produtive.

Two other changes, among many in the lengthy proposal, would directly impact New York City. Some might say those changes would be for the good, while others would say that one purposefully targets the Jewish community.

In a new proposed amendment, the Senate advances language that would prohibit school buses from parking on streets in the City of New York on nights and weekends. Critics of this proposal point out that such practice takes place nearly exclusively in Jewish areas, where schools provide their own busing. Others say that such a rule is long overdue, especially in the Jewish communities, where street parking is already scarce, and school buses only compound the problem.

Areas that would be impacted by such a rule would be primarily Williamsburg and Boro Park, where buses are parked on the streets every night.

Another proposed amendment affecting New York City would be the implementation of coordinated traffic control lights, known as scramble crosswalks, around school arrival and dismissal times.

While actions to protect our children is always laudable, critics note the already difficult traffic situation throughout the city, and the possibility that adding more traffic slow downs would just make the situation worse.

These proposals were put forward in a resolution response to the 2022-2023 Executive Budget submission, and will be reconciled and debated over before the budget is officially passed.