Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 30 - The Indian EYE 032726
P. 30

    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                MARCH 27, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 30

                     Faith, Community Leaders Rally For Auto

                    Insurance Reform; Coalition Urges Albany

                Lawmakers To Deliver Relief In State Budget

                          New Yorkers Paying $4,000 Per Year – Nearly Double the National Average

                                              – As Poll Shows 86 Percent Support for Reform

            OUR BUREAU
            ALBANY, NY
                 aith and community leaders
                 from across New York State
            Fgathered  today  at  the  State
            Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase to
            call on the Legislature to pass Gov-
            ernor Kathy Hochul’s auto insurance
            reform plan in the final State Budget
            and deliver meaningful relief for driv-
            ers. Speakers highlighted the Gover-
            nor’s proposal to direct the state to
            use the Excess Profit Law to ensure
            savings  from  these  reforms  benefit
            consumers before insurers.
                The coalition of faith and civic
            leaders  noted  the  growing  financial
            burden auto insurance costs are plac-
            ing on working families across the
            state, particularly in communities of
            color. Advocates emphasized that
            New Yorkers now pay an average                                                                        today’s politics, and it should send a
            of roughly $4,000 per year for auto                                                                   clear message to lawmakers that the
            insurance – about twice the nation-                                                                   time for action is now.”
            al average, with premiums reaching                                                                       “New Yorkers deserve a system
            $5,000 to $7,000 in some areas.                                                                       that works  for  honest  drivers, not
                Speakers also pointed to a re-                                                                    one that forces them to pay thou-
            cent poll showing 86 percent of New                                                                   sands more than people in other
            Yorkers support reforms aimed at                                                                      states. If leaders are serious about
            lowering premiums and ensuring ex-                                                                    making  New  York  more  affordable,
            cess insurance profits are returned to                                                                including auto insurance reform in
            policyholders. At the event, coalition                                                                the final budget would be a big step
            members urged lawmakers to work                                                                       towards putting real money back into
            with the Governor to pass reforms                                                                     people’s  pockets,”  said  Amina  Idu-
            that target fraud and system abuse,                                                                   ma, owner of Lami African Market
            increase transparency, and ensure                                                                     in Nassau County.
            savings are passed on to drivers.                                                                         Governor Hochul has proposed
               “New Yorkers are in an afford-                                                                     reforms  to  lower  auto  insurance
            ability crisis and paying $4,000 a year  “When families  are choosing be-  climb into the thousands of dollars   costs by cracking down on fraud, lim-
            for car insurance on top of every-  tween paying for car insurance and   each year, that’s money that could be   iting payouts for drivers engaging in
            thing is simply an unsustainable bur-  paying for groceries, something is   going toward rent, education, or sup-  unlawful behavior, and modernizing
            den for working families,” said Tuu-  very wrong. Addressing the auto in-  porting local businesses. Reforming   litigation rules. Notably, the plan
            likki Robertson, Executive Director   surance affordability crisis is not just   this broken system is about restoring   directs the state to re-examine the
            of the Black Institute. “Faith leaders   a common sense policy, it’s the right   fairness for everyday New Yorkers.”  Excess Profit Law to ensure savings
            and community advocates from Buf-  thing to do for the people we serve   “The public is overwhelmingly on   from these reforms benefit consum-
            falo  to  Brooklyn  are  speaking  with   every day.”               the side of reform,” said Rev. Conrad   ers before insurers. The plan also in-
            one voice: lawmakers must use this   “For many working families, a   Tillard,  Senior  Minister  Congrega-  creases transparency on rate changes
            year’s  budget  to  deliver  real  relief   car isn’t a luxury – it’s how they get   tional Church of South Hempstead.  and rewards safe driving.
            and put money back into the pockets   to work, take their children to school,  “Recent polling shows 86 percent of   Citizens  for  Affordable  Rates
            of drivers across our state.”     and  care  for  loved  ones,”  said  Rev.  New Yorkers support efforts to bring   (CAR) is a coalition of citizens, ad-
               “Budget decisions reflect our val-  James A. Lewis, President of Buffa-  down car insurance costs and return   vocates, and organizations dedicated
            ues as a state,” said Rev. Dr. Robert   lo/Niagara National Action Network.  excess profits to policyholders. That   to tackling the root causes of high
            Waterman,  Antioch  Baptist  Church.  “When auto insurance premiums   level of agreement is unheard of in   auto insurance costs in New York.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 |