ALBANY, N.Y. -- As expected, it was a mixed reaction from local representatives to Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget address.
"I thought the budget speech was a very good effort at trying to meet some challenging conditions," said Assemblyman Phil Steck.
"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's not a duck; in New York, it's a new tax, and this is a billion-dollar new tax," said Senator Jim Tedisco.
Some notable items were left out of the budget, including the $12.5 million the city of Albany has come to rely on to fill its own budget gap.
"This cut would have a devastating impact on public safety, youth programming, and the services Albany residents rely on," said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan in a statement. "We are asking Governor Cuomo to do what is right, stand with us, and correct this in his 30-day budget amendments."