RECAP head Charles Darden, right, addresses the cabinet

NEWBURGH - Hudson Valley residents took out their frustrations with the state healthcare and welfare systems, among other issues, on the governor’s Economic Security Cabinet, which traveled to the City of Newburgh Thursday along its two-month long trek across the state in an effort to listen to address residents’ concerns.

“I struggle in life,” said Korrenth Cats, 34, of Poughkeepsie.  

“Single mother of two, I work part-time and receive SSI.  How do they expect you to survive if you can’t pay your rent, or pay your electricity bill, your phone bill- what do they expect you to live off of?”

Cats urged Governor Paterson to live by his words to make the state a better place to live for all residents.  “Don’t talk about the problem, solve the problem.  Don’t say something and don’t do it.”

Cats’ problem wasn’t unique at the forum.  Yonkers resident, 18 Alya Russell, 18, has a baby girl and lives with her mother in Section 8 housing in South Yonkers.  Russell said she would like to go back to school to better herself and become self-sufficient, but the system won’t let her do that.

“It’s a struggle because I really want to go to school full-time, but if I go to school full-time, Social Services won’t allow that.  They will cut me off completely.  If I go to work full-time I will never be able to go to school, and I won’t be able to get my degree and further my education and pursue my career if I’m working full-time.”

Russell said she will probably be forced to put off school and take a part-time job, so she, her child, and her mother don’t get kicked out of their current home.

Orange County Social Services Director David Jolly spoke at the forum, and his concerns focused more on property taxes and healthcare in the state. 

“At its current state, the New York State Medicaid program at a cost of $47 billion per year, continues to crowd out the state budget and increase property taxes unduly.  What we need to do is bring true Medicaid reform to the state, and that will free up dollars for things like reducing property taxes, bringing state aid to schools, and other opportunities like that.”

Governor Paterson’s Economic Security Cabinet is comprised of representatives of 20 state agencies, and was created to “focus on the real needs of the working class, with the goal of strengthening the middle class.”