In New York, protesters with the Make Billionaires Pay campaign are demanding Governor Andrew Cuomo support a tax on the wealthy rather than cut funding to life-saving services. This is housing activist Felix Guzman speaking outside the Governor’s Mansion this week.

Felix Guzman: “I know firsthand what this means. Less services will mean the difference between life and death for some. Without housing and services, people will die. People will die. We don’t have to wait for the federal government to send money and support our state. We know what the government can do right now. Right now he could tax the rich, stop cuts to life-saving services, and save lives.”

According to Citizen Action New York, some 2 million state residents are struggling to meet basic food, housing and healthcare needs, while New York’s 118 billionaires increased their net worth by $77 billion during the pandemic.