With a new president and new Congress in place, a lot of municipal officials are probably wondering how that might impact federal aid for various programs.
Mayor Lovely Warren doesn't sound particularly negative about the prospect for continued funding of federal programs even though the president and both houses of Congress are now dominated by Republicans.
Warren is a Democrat in a traditionally ‘blue’ state, but the mayor notes that one of New York’s two U.S. Senators will be the Senate Minority Leader this year..
“When you think about Senator Schumer, who’s leading in the caucus, in the minority caucus in the Senate, I think that’s good for New Yorkers. He has always been able to reach across the aisle and to talk to people and to build those coalitions and I think that, that’s very important.”
Warren is also confident in the ability of longtime local Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter to fight for programs that benefit Monroe County.
The mayor says any discussion of key programs affecting the day to day lives of local people really needs to move beyond politics.
“It’s really what’s best for the people and at the end of the day our legislators will put that in the forefront of their minds to develop policies, develop programs and the resources to help us to be able to take care of the citizens that we represent in our communities.
Governor Cuomo, another Democrat, met recently with President Trump just before he took office, to talk about getting federal dollars for state infrastructure projects as well as voicing concerns about the impact on New York State if the affordable care act is repealed.
