Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her State of the State address...

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her State of the State address Jan. 14 in Albany. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address is a classic vote-buying scheme “Gov plans tax aid for middle class,” News, Jan. 15]. Give away money, free food and tuition, and cut taxes.

What she should be focusing on is cutting costs. With all the tax cuts she proposes, we still have one of the highest tax burdens in the country. The tax cuts are just a mirage. All her proposed programs increase costs to residents.

Instead of sending out checks, just lower the taxes in the same amount. It will save money by not having the accounting effort to process checks, print them and mail them out. Simple act to save money.

When I was growing up, we did not have much, and we survived on peanut butter and jelly and bologna sandwiches for lunch. Only the real needy should be helped with school lunches, not everyone.

For those looking for free tuition, they should be forced to work as unpaid interns in their specific field of study while at school as part of the requirement.

Promising to cut taxes and giving things away free at the same time does not work. At the end of the day, someone needs to pay the bills.

— Kevin McGrath, Northport

Hochul is proposing lower taxes and rebates for the middle class. That sounds appealing on the surface.

As a native Long Islander, I have seen road repairs gone undone and discarded garbage along our roadways. And the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can’t seem to put enough money together to electrify the Port Jefferson rail line.

Finally, there are vacant buildings all over Long Island that could be purchased for affordable housing.

It is not just the cost of living that is driving people out of New York; it is also the quality of state government services. Let’s address the whole issue.

— John Darr, Port Jefferson

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