Cashman eyes affordability, safety priorities for 115th District

PLATTSBURGH | The 2026 State Legislative Session begins Jan. 7. The Sun connected with newly elected District 115 Assemblymember Michael Cashman to find out what he anticipates from Albany in the New Year. The freshman state lawmaker has already introduced his first bill. "The North Country is home to hard-working people and family businesses that keep our economy vibrant. What I've been doing is focused on a bill to help stabilize electric costs for New Yorkers and restrict rate and fee increases, while establishing additional auditing and enforcement authorities. "We need to push back on our utility companies. I told people from day one that the legislative session is right around the corner, and I promised I wouldn't waste a single day. "I wanted to make sure that is the first legislative item to consider," he said in an interview on Dec. 23. "The rising costs of utilities is universal, it is affecting everyone in the district in some way or fashion, people of all ages and all demographics. Life has to be affordable," Cashman said. He is now building a coalition of cosponsors and signatories. "I'm very much looking forward to engaging with colleagues and across the aisle in ways that look to make life in New York State more affordable." Protecting the rural character and quality of life in the North Country is very important, Cashman said. "That means expanding affordable child care; funding the rate hikes on heating and electricity and addressing those expenses. We have to focus on housing affordability. We have to help renters; expand opportunities for first-time homeowners; and make sure seniors can stay in their homes." Achieving parity across the state is a challenge, he said. "I am looking to identify best solutions for North Country needs. The realities are different. Rural America is different than high-density population centers and suburban areas. Main Streets in the North Country are not like the streets of New York City. It creates a difference in infrastructure need. It's about travel distance. You know, our students can be on a school bus for an hour or more just going to and from school. On every topic -- it is different here than on the eastern tip of Long Island." Cashman set his approach to Albany on three points: affordability, being serious about safety, and protecting the future. "We have to set priorities that keep our police, corrections officers and prison personnel, as well as our first responders -- firefighters, Emergency Medical Services personnel -- safe." That means lawmakers have to frame legislation balanced across challenges faced by both rural and urban communities. "We also have to provide the resources that allow rural North Country services the ability to recruit and retain individuals, that includes corrections officers and volunteer first responders. Safety in our region is dependent on protecting the protectors." Cashman said he is advocating for reform of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. "This is one of the topics that I have been engaging in discussion with my peers. I continue to advocate for reform," he said, acknowledging the ten-step legislation enacted in December to improve safety and security in state prison and jail facilities. Protecting the future sets priorities laws for things like affordable health care, investing in education for the trades, and investing in infrastructure for everyone, he said. "We also have to connect all of our communities with affordable high-speed broadband. Everybody calls it 'the last mile', but in reality, it's the last 20 miles in our region. We still have great stretches with no connectivity." Asked about property tax concerns for 2026, Cashman said the state needs to see reform in property tax structure. "We have to work in partnership, legislators with local leaders, such as the state Conference of Mayors, to bring about reform that supports our shared constituencies." He is anticipating time for careful review of Gov. Kathy Hochul's Executive Budget, which is outlined generally in the governor's address in late January. "I want to examine what the governor presents in her state-of-the-state, as budgetary items are revealed." The past few months since Election Day have been busy. In addition to establishing district offices at the U.S. Oval in Plattsburgh, the legislator has been meeting with various groups and visiting people and businesses around the region. He received three committee assignments: the Committee for Agriculture; the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sport Development; and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. Asked about the start to America250 and the Semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence, Cashman anticipates commemoration in the North Country will unfold with meaningful and evocative events. "Our region is steeped with history. Our region has been involved in the preface of the American story into the early chapters," he said. "It's what makes the North Country so special. It embraced the very values of democracy from the beginning. One of the most powerful statements is to see how committed our region has been to protecting that freedom by the large number of active military and military veterans here." To help keep people in the 115th Assembly District informed, Cashman has begun publishing a weekly newsletter. People can sign up and join the email list on his Assemblymember web page: assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Michael-Cashman "I am also keeping people updated on social media," he said. Cashman's Facebook page is: facebook.com/CashmanNYS Residents with concerns can contact Cashman at his office, which is located at 202 U.S. Oval in Plattsburgh, or by calling 518-562-1986. To reach Cashman by email: cashmanm@nyassembly.gov

Signup for our newsletter

Cashman eyes affordability, safety priorities for 115th District

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS