State Sen. Christopher J. Ryan, D-Geddes, represents the 50th Senate District, which includes parts of Onondaga and Oswego counties.
Throughout Central New York — from communities across Onondaga and Oswego counties to neighborhoods throughout our region — one issue rises above the rest: affordability. I hear it far too often from students stretching their grocery budgets, parents deciding which bills can wait, and small business owners trying to keep their doors open. For too many families, it’s not a matter of getting ahead, it’s a question of simply getting by.
Just outside of my Senate district, the city of Syracuse is already contending with the nation’s highest child poverty rate among cities with more than 100,000 residents. Across the broader region, families are feeling the strain. According to a new poll by No Kid Hungry New York, a majority of Central New York residents said their physical health (55%) and their mental health (68%) have suffered due to the rising cost of food. The study also found that more than half (53%) have taken on additional debt in the past 12 months just to afford groceries. Every one of us should find these numbers unacceptable…