Roads and Bridges

While in the Navy, I traveled to 20 countries and through 49 US States. It frustrated me that New York’s infrastructure is in such poor shape compared to the rest of the country and the world. Crumbling roads, dated transit systems, and bridges in dangerously bad condition are posing a threat to our safety and hold back the engine of commerce every single day that the problem isn’t fixed.

Why does it have to be this way? Why do moms and dads struggle with traffic getting their kids to and from school and appointments? Should our senior citizens sit in traffic on their way to the drug store? Should Long Island’s commuters be forced to spend hours every week, in addition to their jobs, just trying to get to and from work instead of spending that time with their families?

Our infrastructure problem is made worse by the fact that for every dollar in federal taxes New Yorkers send to Washington, we only get ninety-three cents back. Only five states (Delaware, New Jersey, Minnesota and Ohio) have ratios which are worse. We need Members of Congress who will stand up, and fight back for our fair share.

As a Village Trustee, I started the first major road repaving project in 20 years, giving motorists a smoother and safer ride home. I worked to ensure the paving contracts were awarded to the most responsible bidder and did so without raising taxes.

In Washington, I will support Congress allocating funds to each state so that they can adequately address their own infrastructure needs, followed by a federal survey of the repairs made to assess the quality of improvements made. By properly addressing Long Island’s - and the nation’s - infrastructure needs, we would greatly improve the means of transportation that we all depend on while avoiding certain disaster in the future.