Judy Griffin: Combating escalating costs on Long Island

Whether I'm at a community event, meeting with constituents or talking with neighbors, I often hear the same concern: it is increasingly harder to afford living on Long Island. Families are feeling squeezed by rising utility bills and higher auto insurance premiums, housing, health care and child care costs, all combined with the economic instability of our global markets, which drives everyday expenses up. In Albany, I prioritized feasible legislative solutions that ease this financial burden so families can continue to work, raise their children and revitalize our local economy.

Affordability isn't a single policy, but it's an issue that shapes nearly every decision made in your household. I believe the government has a responsibility to ease people's financial burden by lowering overall costs where possible, holding corporations accountable, and investing in our state's services and workforce. This legislative session reflects that commitment through practical investments, reforms and measures designed to lower costs and property taxes for working families and small businesses.

One of the biggest concerns is the rising cost of utilities. For too long, Long Islanders have wondered whether they can absorb another increase in their electric or gas bill. This year's stjhate budget, which I supported, increases oversight of utility companies by strengthening scrutiny of executive compensation, rates of return, and costs passed on to consumers. Simply put, the budget favors ratepayers over utilities when they seek rate increases, increasing transparency and accountability in a rate-setting process that all too often excludes the most important voices, ratepayers.

The budget also established the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebates program, providing energy rebate checks for eligible households. Joint filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive a $200 check, those between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive a $150 check, and single filers under $150,000 will receive a $100 check. This initiative will helps alleviate the financial pressures people are facing.

Keeping costs down also means making informed decisions about our energy future. That's why I supported a responsible pause on large-scale data center expansion while our state agencies evaluate their long-term impact on utility costs and on the resources of local municipalities. While these projects create temporary construction jobs, they also place enormous demands on our electric grid that drive up costs that shouldn't be passed on to ratepayers. Studying the long-term effects of data centers helps ensure that economic development doesn't come at the expense of higher utility bills or our quality of life.

Auto insurance is another growing burden for many families. Too often, people with clean driving records find themselves paying more because of fraud, costly litigation or outdated rating practices. I'm proud to have advanced reforms that limit excessive insurance profits and require those profits to be returned to policyholders. Just as important, insurers are no longer permitted to base rates on factors such as ZIP code, education level, occupation or homeownership status, ensuring fairness and equitable rate-setting practices across the board for prospective or current policyholders.

Affordability also means making it possible for parents to remain in the workforce. This year's budget includes a $3 billion investment in child care subsidies, along with a restored $116 million for after-school programs and community-based child care services, helping more families balance work and raising children.

Finally, we must ensure that Long Island remains economically viable for our seniors, who are facing a 62 percent increase in poverty driven by soaring utility bills and health care costs, alongside young families building their futures. I advocated for $250 million for affordable housing development in the state budget, creating more opportunities for residents to remain in the communities they call home. When our teachers, first responders, health care workers, skilled tradespeople, small business owners, seniors and young professionals can afford to live here, we all reap the benefits.

The financial challenges facing New Yorkers didn't appear overnight, and they won't disappear overnight. But by lowering utility costs, reforming auto insurance, expanding access to child care, investing in housing and providing direct financial relief, I remain fully committed to delivering on pragmatic policies that lower costs and ensure that Long Island remains a place where families can thrive. While no single program can solve the entirety of the affordability crisis we are facing, these initiatives are a good start, while recognizing that there is still much work to be done.

Judy Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.