Fahy, Danz outline their plans for New York State Senate District 46
ALBANY—As Election Day approaches, candidates Patricia Fahy, the Democratic candidate, and Ted Danz, the Republican candidate, have shared their distinct visions for addressing the pressing issues in New York State’s 46th Senate District.
The two candidates are running for Neil Breslin’s seat in the Senate. The Bethlehem Democrat has served the Senate since 1997. In January, he announced he would not seek reelection.
Fahy and Danz squared off once before in the political arena. In 2012, in a race for the State Assembly, Fahy defeated Danz by a 64%-33% margin.
Cost of Living
Patricia Fahy highlighted her support for the 2% property tax cap, which she argues has been crucial in controlling tax increases for middle-class families. “We need to protect that tax cap from future changes,” Fahy said, adding that the cap has allowed the state to increase funding for public services without overwhelming taxpayers.
Ted Danz has taken a more aggressive stance on cutting costs by eliminating what he describes as “wasteful spending.” Danz advocates for cutting state giveaways, including $700 million to Hollywood and billions in support for undocumented immigrants, which he claims could free up significant funds to lower taxes. “With two simple measures, I just slashed $5 billion in spending,” Danz said.
Affordable Housing
Fahy stressed a multi-pronged approach to address the housing crisis, including investments in affordable and mixed-income housing as well as support for renters facing unjust evictions. “[We need to ensure] that tenants and renters can continue to remain in their homes,” Fahy explained.
Danz, on the other hand, argued for holding non-paying tenants accountable, stating that the current system, which often allows tenants to remain in homes for extended periods without paying rent, is unfair to landlords. “By holding renters who refuse to pay… responsible in a swift manner, we will make housing more affordable to everyone else,” Danz said.
Public Safety
Fahy has supported changes to bail laws and legislation excluding certain charges from the “Raise the Age” law, which prevents 16- and 17-year-olds from being tried as adults in most cases. “Competent, responsive governance requires a thoughtful response to challenges from criminal justice reform implementation,” Fahy said.
Danz has made repealing bail reform a central part of his platform, asserting that current policies prioritize criminals over victims. “There could not be a more clear example of a failed policy than Bail Reform,” Danz said, adding that the policy should be repealed entirely to restore law and order.
Economics
Fahy’s focus on job creation is centered around green energy and infrastructure. She views climate change as both a threat and an opportunity for economic growth, particularly through clean energy investments and apprenticeships in the trades. “It is …an opportunity to leverage our workforce to create the green economy of tomorrow through good-paying union jobs,” Fahy explained. She has also sponsored the NY HEAT Act, aimed at lowering utility costs for middle-class families.
Danz, meanwhile, believes reducing government involvement as a means to stimulate economic growth. He argued that lower taxes and fewer regulations would allow capitalism to thrive and bring new businesses to the state. “We need the government to get off our back and their hand out of our pocket,” Danz said. He also criticized government subsidies for green energy, stating that siting, rather than incentives, is the primary obstacle to expanding renewable energy projects.
Health Care
Both candidates recognize the need to improve healthcare access, though their approaches differ. Fahy pointed to workforce shortages in the healthcare sector as a primary issue and advocated for aggressive investments in loan repayment assistance and other incentives to recruit healthcare professionals to underserved areas. She also called for increased funding for mental health services in schools and communities.
Danz focused on the need to recruit and retain healthcare workers by revisiting licensure requirements and providing financial incentives. He underlined the importance of mental health care, particularly ensuring that services are available immediately to those in crisis. “It’s a life or death issue, and wait lists are unacceptable,” Danz said.