OPINION: New York Needs to be a Future-Focused State
By: Assemblyman Ed Ra (R) and Assemblymember Alex Bores (D)
In April, the Millennial Action Project launched the New York Future Caucus — becoming the 33rd state to officially join the MAP State Future Caucus network. As part of this large network of Future Caucuses across the country, young New Yorker leaders will help build efforts that bring civility to the political discourse and prove that good governance begins with meaningful collaboration. The op-ed below is a penned piece written by the Republican and Democratic co-chair of the caucus, explaining their “why” behind the launch.
For decades, New York has led the country — paving the way in technological innovation, transportation, health care, business, and the arts. It is why folks from across the country, and around the world, have started businesses and made their homes here; showcasing to the rest of the nation what a state which prizes diversity, opportunity, and inclusivity can look like.
As young lawmakers in New York, we want to ensure this legacy continues. We recognize the unique challenges our generation faces in the state and nationwide. Our state has been a place for fresh starts, growing families, innovation, and progress — but those distinctions cannot persist without dedicated effort towards shaping our collective future. In order to ensure a bright future for the Empire State, we need to ensure there is ample opportunity for families and communities to grow and thrive, and take on novel solutions to the cost of living challenges we face statewide.
We believe it is time for a new approach to politics — one that focuses on the future and the needs of the next generation. That’s why we’re proud to announce the creation of the New York Future Caucus: A bipartisan group of young lawmakers dedicated to addressing the issues that impact millennials, gen Z, and the generations to come.
The New York Future Caucus will bring together lawmakers across party lines and act as an incubator for new policy ideas to help our state retain and attract young people so we may continue to put delivering results for our constituents first. A few areas we are excited to work to address together include: technological development, housing affordability, childcare, and developing the guardrails to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into business, government, and our daily lives, without sacrificing our liberties or ignoring the needs of working people. We believe New York is in a unique position to lead in these areas, and set the tone nationwide for how we create a future which leaves no one behind.
We will not always agree on everything. We come from different backgrounds, different parties, and different parts of the state. Working together does not mean sacrificing our values — But we believe that by listening to each other’s perspectives, we can find common ground and generate policies to benefit not only our constituents in New York City and Nassau County, but the state as a whole.
We are excited to see colleagues, and lawmakers from across the state, join us in this effort to put the needs of the future first.
