Sanghvi and Tedisco Clash in 44th State Senate District Forum

November 1, 2024

Updated: November 1, 2024

In the 44th State Senate ‌District, a self-proclaimed government watchdog and a self-styled candidate for ⁢change took to ‌the screen.

State Sen. James Tedisco, R-Ballston Lake, and Democratic challenger Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi engaged in‍ a spirited debate on a ⁢variety‍ of topics,⁤ from outmigration ⁤to climate goals, during a Wednesday night Zoom forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Sanghvi utilized the platform to challenge the long-standing incumbent, who first entered ‍public office‌ when he joined the Schenectady ‌City Council in 1977.

“Our world has evolved since then: the era has changed, our district has transformed, our needs ‍have shifted,” Sanghvi stated. “We require a fresh, bold⁣ vision for this district.”

Tedisco argued that he already possesses the blueprint for⁣ positive change — a sentiment echoed by upper chamber Republicans seeking⁣ to undermine the bicameral Democratic supermajority.

“I request your ‍support to continue serving as your senator, to voice strong opposition against increasingly oppressive state governments,” Tedisco declared. “I am ⁢as enthusiastic as ever to work each day and advocate for you.”

Proposition 1

Tedisco criticized the approval of Proposition 1, also known as the Equal ⁢Rights Amendment, for the ballot. While Democrats ‍champion the proposition ⁢as a way to ⁤enshrine anti-discrimination protections into the state Constitution,⁣ opponents ⁢like Tedisco see it as a gateway to extremism.

“Now, children ⁢who are not yet ⁤fully mature will be making decisions about invasive surgery and self-modification, but‍ it goes beyond this,”⁣ he argued.

Sanghvi, a gay woman, views the opposition to the ERA as a recurring pattern against measures once considered radical,‍ such ⁢as suffrage and marriage equality.

“These are basic rights to be free from discrimination based on your age, disability, national ⁤origin, and abortion — pregnancy outcomes,” she said about the ERA.

Bail Reform

In⁣ 2019, under the governorship of Andrew Cuomo, a‌ law was passed eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanors and several non-violent felonies. The law has been ‌revised multiple‌ times to broaden judicial discretion and increase the number of offenses eligible for‍ bail.

During the LWV forum, Tedisco proudly spoke about his ongoing efforts to⁢ repeal bail reform, believing that ‍the legislation is fundamentally flawed. He ‍highlighted cases such‍ as the alleged Lola boutique burglary in Saratoga Springs, where all three out-of-state repeat offenders were released.

“We cannot allow individuals to walk away ⁤from a crime, and this⁤ is what is happening,” he stated.

Sanghvi expressed concerns about what she perceives⁢ as⁤ significant loopholes in how the reform handles domestic violence cases. ⁢However, she believes that the law’s framework⁤ is crucial to prevent a disproportionate‌ number of low-income‌ and minority defendants from being held in jail.

Spending & Taxes

When asked about⁣ tax cuts, Sanghvi, a‍ business professor at Skidmore College, suggested⁢ that New York ⁢should generate more revenue from cannabis and online betting.

“We don’t need to cut taxes to increase ‍revenue,” ⁣Sanghvi argued. “And by the way, cutting taxes doesn’t curb inflation. It will just inject more money into the system, which will actually escalate inflation.”

Tedisco countered ⁢that the state needs to “rectify⁢ this inflation by ⁢allowing people to⁢ retain ⁣more money” and impose a cap on state spending. ⁤He added that the state’s spending decisions need to be reevaluated.

“We ask local governments⁢ to cap⁤ spending, but what’s‌ good for the goose should be good‌ for the gander,”‌ he ⁢said. “We’re not imposing a cap on ⁢ourselves here and ⁣we need to prioritize our spending.”

Environmental Protections

Sanghvi stressed that she‌ views climate change as a critical issue that demands “immediate action.”

“My son plays Little League baseball and [last summer] ‌they couldn’t play for many days because ⁢of the dense, thick wildfire smoke that we were all inhaling,” she shared. “So ⁣to believe that the planet is safe is a fallacy.”

She expressed her willingness to serve on the state Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, if⁤ elected, to‍ lead on climate action.

Tedisco, however, had a ‌different perspective.

“Well, I believe the planet is fairly safe⁤ at the moment,” Tedisco said. “I’m not sure if this ‌election will be safe because we have a problem here and it’s the one issue that ⁤people‌ keep bringing up‌ to me about ⁢the personal attacks during elections from‍ one side to another.”

Returning to ⁢the topic, Tedisco expressed skepticism about the state’s electrification and renewable energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and⁢ Community Protection Act of 2019, questioning their realism and efficiency.

Child Care

According to Tedisco, the state needs to reassess its spending priorities to⁣ provide adequate support for child care centers.

Child care costs have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic due to a shortage ⁣of ‌providers. This issue has⁣ become a hurdle for parents seeking to enter the workforce.

“The state problem ‌is we spend too much, we tax too ⁣much, we borrow too much, and we don’t prioritize our spending,” ⁤Tedisco⁣ said. “And when we build programs, we ⁤don’t provide the staffing to open the day cares. We need to make them affordable.”

Sanghvi argued that investing more in child care is crucial to retaining and attracting new residents in the state.

“Not only will ⁤this attract young families and professionals⁤ from other states back into New⁢ York, but‌ [it] will actually help alleviate some of the issues,” ⁣Sanghvi said. “Day care is really expensive.”

Undocumented Immigrants

When asked if ‍she considers undocumented immigrants as‍ constituents, Sanghvi responded, “Everyone who is here,‌ who is visiting — we are very grateful they‍ are here and it is our ⁣duty ⁣to serve them.”

She highlighted ⁤the need to attract more migrants‍ to Saratoga County to fill jobs, as the population grows and⁢ the demand for labor rises.

Meanwhile, Tedisco used the opportunity⁤ to ⁤address ⁤the migrant crisis, which peaked last year following the expiration of a COVID-19⁣ era policy that allowed federal agents to‌ easily reject migrants ⁢seeking ‍asylum⁣ at the southern U.S. border.

New York City Mayor Eric⁣ Adams, now under scrutiny, dispersed hundreds of asylum-seekers across the state in an effort to conserve resources.

Some of them were sent to motels in Schenectady and ⁣Albany counties. Tedisco said he asked‍ the‍ state to assist with education expenses, but Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t respond.

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Emily Stanton

Emily Stanton, a skillful journalist previously based in Boston, is adept at covering a diverse array of stories. Her thorough and engaging reporting style, honed with a Master's in Journalism from Boston University, focuses on community-relevant stories.