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518 472-9153 . S {-; \:tc k1p ~~! ~ HENRY ~ F. MOHLER EXECUTIVE SECRET~ARI: 518 393'-52000 w. 205SEWARD. PLACE'. NEW YORKSTATiE ASSOCIATION OF' SCHENECTADY',.N,Y. TOBACCO AND CANDY' DISTRIBUTORS. 12305'. ,S' T A TE OF ZVT EjvV YORK K MESSAGE TO THE ~~G.~~'L'AT ~~~. GQTlERNF,1!R. ],ANUARx 9, 1974 MALCOLM WILSON

beqa'sTatrve Document, (1974) Noti 1 t STATEI OF NEiP.' YORI, ' GE MESSA T O~ T kl E ' LEGISLAT URE januar~ry~ 9, 1'`~74~ MALCOLM iYJILSON GOT?'ERrvOR. r

CIQNTENif S lYlessagp of the Govermor Page Part I Part II Address P'rogram. State Action to Help Meet the: Energy Crisis. ... 2 13' Preserving Public Transportation .............. 2 14 Politicall Campaign R'eform& ................... . 3 14' Consumer Protection .......................... 4: 15' The Business: Climate and Jobs ................ 4 1'6 Improved Protection for Working: P'eopl'e....... 5 16 Public and Non-Public Primary;, Secondary and Higher Education .......... 5 171 Welfare ..................................... 5 17 Improving, the Administration of Justice Court Reorganization .................... 6 1& ~ Criminal Justice ........................ 6 18 Environmental Protection .................... 7 19' Housing ..................................... 7 20. Women's Rights ............................ 8 20, Health and Mental Health ..................... 9 21. Agriculture .................................. 9' 22 Older Citizens .............................. 9'. 22' Youth ...................................... 9 22 The Lottery .. .................................. 101 23 Historic Sites and Parks ...................... 10, 23 Economy andl Efficiency in Stat'e Covernment.... 10, 24 C CT~. ~. S

State of New York. Executive Department Albany, New York January 9,, 1974 ANNUAL MES~SAGE Governor~ 1WfaYcolma~ Wilson To the Members ofi the Legislature: of the State of New York Part f ADDRESS T+Oi 'IHE' LEGllSLATURE Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: "Home is the: place our feet may leave-but not our hearts. "" This Assembly Chamber and the Senate Chamber have been home to me for 35 years.I[ sat here as a freshman legislator listening to Governor Herbert Lehman deliver lais, Annual Message. He was a G'overnor in the tradition of New York Governors:: men of' courage andd vision; -the unforgettable Alfred E. Smith-who struck his first heroic, hammer-like blows for humanity in this very Chamber ; -Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Dewey, Averell Harriman and my predecessor, the incomparable Nelson Rockefeller. Based on my experience, I[ amconviinced that whilethe, executive and legislature are independent and co-equall branchesofgovernment,, the interestsof'thep~eopleares best served when these two branches work in cooperation. This administration will seek to progress in partnership with you+-all of you. As we meet, an energy crisis hammers at every economic,, social and personal facet of our lives, while inflation con- Cji tiinues, to plague: millions of families straining to live on Q3, modest incomes. In such a tirne, the people want no extrav- ~ ~ CD

... . . . . .{~~ .°.Y,!:'.:.~`1l::. yw.y.v..w.~.~.._- 2' agant ventures adding to the crushing tax burden they already bear. They want leadership that wisely balances what we want to do and what we must do-with what the people can afford to d'o. The hallmark of this administration will be compassion for people, within a, framework of' governmental economyy and efficiency and deepsensit'ivity to the burden of taxes imposed on our citizens by every level' of government. This administration will pursue the moderate,, middle way- where most Americans place their convictions and their confidence. ' Today, I'wi1l present in general terms, with fnll'erdetailsin the printedl message, the administration program for meeting, the issues we face.. 1. STATE ACTIONTO HELP MEET THE ENERGY CRISIS while the national energy crisis demands a long; term nationall solution, there are steps a state can take: First of all„ I propose to crack down on all those who profiteer,, gouge and cheat the public in the distribution,, wholesaling and retail salle of gasoline and other fuels.. I will'' also create an Office of' Fuel and Energy; ask for special powers to, meet energy emergencies; require that any new state cars be smaller models providing better fuel efficiency and economy; and promote state research into new fuel sources. IL PRESERVING PUBLIC TRANSPaRTATEO1V The energy crisis dramatically underscores the absolute necessity of preserving public transportationL A proposal'f has been worked out among, state and Nlew York City offi- cials to hold the subway andl bus fares at 35 cents. As the first step, I am submitting a special message to you, today calling for ai $100 iuillion repayable advance of state funds to New York City for the Transit Authority. Your approval' will enable subway and bus fares in New York City to: be held at 35 cents through May first. ii 013635199

3: To hold the line on public transportation fares in New York City and elsewhere throughout the state beyond 1VIay first, I will submit a proposall composed of three equally essential parts-$T00 million in state funds,, $100 million in local funds and $200: milli'on in federal funds which can be used for public transportation operating costs. If youu approve, and local and £edleral governments do their share, this plan can hold the line on faresstatewidle£or anotheryear., III. POLITICAL CAMPAIGN REFOItMS _ Energy and public transportation are material chal- lenges. This nation also faces a moral crisis. The edges of ethics have become blurredL A stain of cynicism is spreading throughout the fabric of American democracy„ not onlyy marring its appearance before the world, but, like acid, eating; into, the very fibers that give it strength. We must reverse this corrosion of confidence and restore the people's belief in the integrity of government. After I have received and considered the report of your Select Committee on the Election Law and its citizenss advisory commit'tee, I will recommend' reforms in campaigm, spending, and reporting requirements.. The plain fact is that we presently have a state election law that hugeliy magnifies the risks of electoral abuse and questionable financing-in large part because! the law stretches political campaigns to absurd lengths: Uniess this law is changed, party nominating conven- tions this year will have to take: place in mid-Ni~arch, well before the Legislature will have adjourned--making every- thing,wedo thereafter suspect of partisan political motiva- tion. Primaries are set for J'une. Elections take place: in Nlovember. This means a campaigiilasting eight months in 1974. Lengthy campaigns inevitably drive up campaign costs w and encourage questionable methods and sources of finan- ~ cing. And, quite frankly, in these days of' instant'communi- w cation, long, dragged out campaigns only bore the voters., ~ 4 0

4 I will'Y therefore, recommend limiting political campaignso to reasonable lengths by rescheduling convention and pri- mary dates,, beginning, this year. IP1l. CONSUMER PROTECTION In these days of' soaring prices we must do everything, possibi'e to give consumers gxeater protection. I' am sub- mitting, legislation requiring unit pricing, on grocery items& so that consumers can make intelligent price comparisons. I am~ also: submitting proposals giving, consumers greater protection in their dealings with banks on lfome mortgages, with installment sellers and in buying prescription drugs.. V. THE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND JOBS The health of t'he state's economy demands our constant vigilance. Our Commerce Department is actively selling job-producing, industries on the advantages of New York State. Through successful programs, including significant tax incentives and financing assistance, we have: kept our, business climate attractive and competitive. Over the past 15 ' years,.more than 9,400 major plants have expandedd or located in New York State, compared to 2,500 that con- tractied or closed-a ratio of' four-to-one in favor of eco. nomic growth in New York. All this is not to say that we do not face serious problems,. While total employment has gone up substantiallyover thee past 10 years, especially j!obs in the service sector, manu- facturing, employment is down-due largelyto the loss of' such jobs in New York City, particularly in the garment trades. We mustl increase our efforts to i'2nprov.e the attractive- ness of'New York to job-producing industries.. To that end, I will propose doubling to two percent the tax credit for in- vestment in new or expanded industrial facilities. Iwill' also propose legislation~ giving inner-city smalll businessmen a better break in getting the insurance protec- tion they need to survive and succeedl 03635201

5' I 9 I VL I1kIPRDVED! PROTECTION FOR WORKING' PEOPLE Reeent lay-offs due: to the energy crisis dramatize the: fact that increases in unemployment insurance and other worker benefits-which have: not been raised since 1970- are long overdue. I am recommending increases in unem* ploymentinsurance and other worker benefits and an in- crease in the minimum wage for farm, workers. I[ al'so will ask you to approve the state's plan of improved' occupational safety and health. VII. PUBEIC' AND! NON-PUBEIC PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION Since last summer, an informal task force composed of representatives of both, houses of the Legislature,, the Regents and the Governor has been meeting in an endeavor to: reach a common position on clearly needed adjustments in state aid for elementary and secondary edncation. The goal of' this group is to develop, recommendations which can be submitted to the Regents; the Legislature, and the Governor during the.1974 Legislative Session. As soon aspossibleafterreceiving, such r~ecommendia- tion:s-or if the task force reports it cannot reach agree- ment- T will make my recommendations for action at thisl session on this vital issue of' school aid. In other messages I will submit the administration pro- gram covering, other elementary, secondary and higher edu- cation matters. Last year,, G'overnor Rockefeller established the Office: of Education Performance R'evieav" headedl by Daniel Klepak, to recornmend ways of getting more value out of the billions of doilars our taxpayers spend on elementary and secondary schools every year. Mr. Klepak will con- tinue his work withi my strong, backing,, 0!3f'i3520Z VIII. WELFARE I am also giving, full support to the state''& Welf'are][nspector General. George Berlinger has done a remark-

6'. able job of exposing, and rooting out welfare eheats and chiseler~s., The~ w:elf'arecheatnot only pihzndersthe, public till and picks the pocket of the working, taxpayer who is struggling to make end's meet. These chiseler& also disT tort the public view of the deserving people on welfare. Despite inflation, deserving people in this statle, who need' welfare assistance to survive,, have been receiving pay- ments based on the same standard of need since 1970. ][ am recommending, an increase to bring these payments up to a more realistic level. IX. IMPROVING TH'E' AD1V1INISTRAT'I(JN - OF JTISTICL. A. Court Reorganization After receiving the anticipated' recommendations of your Joint Committee on C'ourt Ii~~;eorganization, I will'' submit the administration program for improving the operation and org,anization of our courts., R. Criminal Justice In the meantime,, however;there aresome, immediate: steps we can take to improve the administration of justice. I am submitting legislation to speed up the selection of' juries, reduce pre-trial delays, facilitate the prosecution of' racketeers and extend the life of the Temporary State Coan- mission of Investigation. One major incentive to organized crime is the: high New, York City cigarette taxes„ piled on top of' the: state taa, which have made that city the promised land for cigarette ~ bootleggers:, Cigarette bootlegging costs our taxpayers $K million annually in lost tax revenues from legitimate sales: It puts small, honest storekeepers out of business and costs people : their jobs. It provides the front money for loan -sharking,; the drug traffie and other enterprises of organized crime.,, I pr~opos& a, one-year,, experimental repeal ofN'ew Yorlk~City's taxes on cigarettes., The state will!make appropriate adj'ustnients, to make! up thecity''snet direct lossfromth repeal ofthesetaaes:, 03635203 ,

I Thi's action will; not promote cigarette smoking: It will merely take cigarette saies f rom the black market, where they destroy honest men"s jobs and prodhice crooked profitls; andl shift these sales to the open market,, where they wi111 preserve jipbs, produce honest profits and provide needed public revenues.. We also have to have tougher hand gun regulation. I will submit legislation to tighten the criminal penalties forillegal possession of hand guns and to regulate the issuancee of' pistol permits to minors.. Last year, New York adopted a tough program~ to~ drive hard drug pushers-for-profit out of business and to encour- age the pusher-for-habit tol get treatment. In November,, drug arrests were, down 45 percent from a year ago. Dur- ing the months ahead' we will intensify our efforts to get addicts& into treatment and, if' the need appears, I will pro- pose additional step& to~ make our anti-drug laws even more effective. X. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The quest for a cleaner environment-and the harsh real- ity of the energy crisis-demonstrate the necessity of bal- ancing competing social objectives. Unquestionably, the energy crisi& will force some temporary readjustments, but: the basic thrust of' our commitment to clean water and clear air and the preservation of' open spaces must and will continue. As another initiative,, I am recommending legisla, tion requiring gravel, sand and stone excavators whosee operations scar the landscape to restore these land's to an attractive and useful condition. xi. HOUSING No sensitive and concerned citizen of New York could be anything but appalled by the wretched housing i'n which so many thousands of oiur~ people live,, The home, the ~ neighborhood,, is where our hopes are molded. A decaying GJ slum, builds ontv frustration, despair and resentment., I am w determined to, do all in mypower to improvehous~ingforG1the poor. ~ O ~