New Assemblyman Vows to Fight Budget Cuts

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in this month's issue of the Tremont Tribune, on the streets and online now.

FILE PHOTO BY JAMES FERGUSSON

Eric Stevenson is barely into his first term as an assemblyman, but he’s already pledged to take Albany on, swinging.

His first battle? Tackling Gov. Cuomo’s proposed budget cuts, which take an axe to funding for state agencies and programs across the board in an attempt to reduce the state’s huge deficit.

“There’s going to be some uprising from the South Bronx, and the 79th District,” the new legislator said during a phone interview from Albany.

“He’s talking about $1.5 billion in cuts to education, and then $2.8 billion to Medicaid," Stevenson said. "What is that going to do to a district like mine? If I don’t stand up, what do my constituents say?”