Friday, February 7, 2025
As rural communities across New York face mounting challenges, a coalition of nonprofit organizations urge Governor Kathy Hochul to reinstate the Office of Rural Affairs, which was dissolved more than 20 years ago.
Advocates argue that such an office is vital not only for the state’s rural areas, but also for suburban regions like Lynbrook and East Rockaway, which depend on rural New York for resources like food, water and agricultural-based products.
Nassau County Sources a significant portion of its drinking water from Long Island’s groundwater aquifers, which are predominantly located in rural areas in Nassau County’s neighboring Suffolk County and upstate New York.
Michael J. Borges, executive director of the Rural Housing Coalition, noted that rural regions are vital to the state’s economic engine, especially for suburban areas like Lynbrook and East Rockaway, which rely heavily on resources that stem from upstate’s rural economy.
"Most of our farmland is located in rural areas. It produces the food that people eat and is also a source of water for New York City," said Borges. "Since New York City’s reservoirs are located in upstate rural areas, the food and water produced in rural New York are essential to the survival of urban, downstate populations, including those on Long Island."
Local governments in these suburban areas face an ongoing struggle to maintain and improve infrastructure, including water supply systems, roads, and sewage networks — all areas where rural New York plays a vital role, Borges said.
Borges said there remains a need for equal access to public transportation in rural areas.
"We need to see more funding dedicated to rural areas for infrastructure, particularly in transportation and water management," said Borges. "We are seeing large sums allocated for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but rural communities also need financial support for critical infrastructure, like roads, water systems, and sewer lines.”
In a letter to the Governor, the coalition highlighted the economic struggles in rural areas exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from limited access to broadband and healthcare to a shortage of affordable housing and quality education.
The coalition highlighted Hochul’s experience as the first governor from upstate New York in 100 years, and knows "first-hand the struggles that rural communities across our state have faced over the years and that were amplified by the pandemic."
To address these issues, advocates are calling for funding in the Governor's executive budget to reestablish the Office of Rural Affairs as an ombudsman for rural New York communities.
