Some North Country politicians and community leaders weighed in on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State Address Wednesday.

Senators Patty Ritchie and Joseph Griffo, as well as the presidents of SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton, released statements following the governor’s State of the State Address.

Sen. Patty Ritchie

“Today, Governor Cuomo outlined his agenda for the future of New York State,” said Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. “While it is a starting point for the upcoming session, two priorities are clear to me.

“First, we must roll back the disastrous criminal justice reforms, which went into effect at the start of the year. Already, they have resulted in far too many instances of potentially dangerous criminals being released back into our communities. Public safety has to be a priority.

“Second, with the state facing a difficult and growing budget—the result of overspending by downstate-led majorities in both houses—we must work together in a bipartisan way to address the state’s finances.

“While we wait to learn the specific details of the Governor’s plan, I am committed to working to ensure that these two items are at the top of the agenda.”

Sen. Joseph Griffo

New York State Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, released the following statement:

“There were a number of proposals outlined by Gov. Cuomo that are certainly worth further consideration and examination. While I am pleased with several of the initiatives and projects proposed by the Governor, I also am cognizant of the fact that these proposals come with a hefty price tag and that New York State is facing a growing budget deficit. With this in mind, we will thoroughly review all of these proposals, offer our own counterproposals and further discuss their fiscal implications for New York State.

“I am concerned that the Governor’s plan unveiled today did not include a potential solution to closing the approximately $6.2 billion budget gap that has resulted from rising Medicaid costs and overspending by Democrats. Just as working families across New York restrict spending and make wise choices with their hard-earned paychecks, New York State needs to rein in and control its spending. Unfortunately, some downstate Democrats have talked about raising taxes to address this year’s budget gap. This is an unacceptable solution and one that I do not support. Instead of increasing taxes and making our state less affordable, we should reexamine, reevaluate and reform the method in which the state pays for Medicaid.

“I also was disappointed that no specific proposal was laid out to address recovery and remediation efforts for regions of the state that continue to be hit hard by flooding and severe weather. While we will continue to work with our federal partners to find a solution to this problem, we must seek out new ways of dealing with this issue at the state level. This can include establishing a fund to help those affected by a natural disaster and incorporating a home buyback program, such as I have proposed.

“As we head into a new Legislative Session, I remain troubled by the direction in which our state is heading. According to estimates from the Census Bureau, New York State has lost more people than any other state for the second year in a row. We continue to see individuals, families and businesses flee our state at an alarming rate and there are no signs that this hemorrhaging of our population will end anytime soon. These people and companies are not leaving because of the weather, as some have suggested. They are leaving because of high taxes, burdensome regulations, problematic bail reform and other changes and, currently, a New York City-centric philosophy stemming from the downstate Democrats who control all levels of state government.”

SUNY Potsdam president

SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg release the following statement:

“Once again at his State of the State Address, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reiterated that SUNY is a critical partner in New York State’s progress. At SUNY Potsdam, we are particularly excited about the proposed expansion of opportunity programs. We know from firsthand experience how important opportunity programs are for disadvantaged students, many of whom have gone on to great success after completing EOP here at SUNY Potsdam. We are also excited about the proposal to expand the Excelsior Scholarship Program to families making up to $150,000 per year, allowing more students to attend our campus and others tuition-free. Governor Cuomo’s focus on combatting climate change and preparing for the new realities of extreme weather are especially vital for the North Country, and we stand ready to partner on any initiative that helps to protect our region’s beautiful environment and natural resources.”

SUNY Canton president

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran released the following statement:

“Governor Cuomo’s plan to expand the successful Excelsior Scholarship program to families making up to $150,000 per year goes hand-in-hand with SUNY Canton’s commitment to accessible, high-quality, career-focused education.

“As a College of Technology, one of our most important missions is to prepare our students to meet the technological challenges of the current and future economy. Our new degree programs in Mechatronics, Cybersecurity, eSports Management, Game Design and Development, and Technological Communication are designed to do just that. Our programs in Automotive Technology, Sustainable Energy Technology, Apprentice Training: Industrial Trades and many others directly address the areas identified in the Governor’s goals. Our high-quality online programs and our participation in SUNY Online ensure that people around the state can take advantage of these programs, whether they come onto the SUNY Canton campus or study with us at a distance.”