“I will continue the work we have been doing to ensure a sustainable future, environmentally and economically.”
— Assemblymember Didi Barrett, D-106
With the dawning of 2025, lawmakers at the county and state levels have set out their plans for the year ahead.
For Assemblymember Didi Barrett, D-106, her targets remain on area-specific needs which set Northern Dutchess apart from the downstate communities. She said the region’s challenges can be addressed, but only with a collective understanding of the particulars of her district.
“I will continue the work we have been doing to ensure a sustainable future, environmentally and economically, for our region,” Barrett said. “Affordability is top of mind … and my goal is to ensure that our region’s unique needs are being addressed when we look at statewide solutions. My district has nearly 30 municipalities — many of them rural towns and small villages — and the scale of these communities is very different from both downstate municipalities and the upstate cities.”
One of Barrett’s challenges — housing — is on the minds of many people. She supports the rights of all area residents having access to safe and affordable living spaces, but a suitable framework must also be in place. “When we look at the need for more housing, we also must look at adequate water and sewer infrastructure,” Barrett said. “But it’s often challenging for small rural towns to access state and federal funds for water and sewer infrastructure, so we must educate the state agencies.”
For the coming months, Barrett is looking at employment, education, energy and the environment — among other things — as target areas on which to focus, saying, “We must prioritize an approach that recognizes the diversity of our state, and brings the whole state along with us to reduce our carbon footprint and create good-paying green jobs.” Barrett is also grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve her constituents. “It is a joy and an honor to represent this very beautiful and historic district and the wonderful people who live here,” she said. “I’m looking forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.”
Coming together for a common purpose is something New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey, D-41, also supports. Said Hinchey at the transition of 2024 to the New Year, “I’m reflecting on all we’ve achieved together and the work ahead. Representing the Hudson Valley and Northern Dutchess is an honor, most of all because it’s a partnership with every neighbor, every local leader and every family who calls this region home.”
Over the past year, progress has been made in areas of concerns to the district. “We made important strides in several priority areas, like enacting my bill to help EMS get paid for treating patients on scene and authorizing ambulances to give blood transfusions,” Hinchey said. “We had major wins for agriculture, too. My legislation laid the foundation to create the first-ever protections for prime agricultural land through the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, ensuring that our local farmlands are protected in an evolving landscape.”
As with Barrett, Hinchey’s focus is on remaining cognizant of evolving community needs. She explained how keeping the lines of communication open with her constituents has guided her work, saying, “I’ve met with countless neighbors and heard about what’s working, what isn’t and where we can do better. Some of our best legislative ideas have come directly from those conversations — whether improving healthcare access, expanding cell service, supporting EMS, or ensuring every family has a safe place to call home.”
For Hinchey, the transition to January is a chance to continue the work she’s started for Northern Dutchess. “A new year is always an opportunity to come together and build on the progress we’ve made with renewed energy and focus,” she said. “I’m confident that in 2025, we’ll continue to deliver practical solutions that bring positive changes to our daily lives.”
Republican County Executive Sue Serino, whose first year in office saw her undertake initiatives in transportation, veterans affairs, EMS, composting and farmland preservation, is also working on plans for the upcoming year. She is continuing her support of ThinkDifferently, an initiative focusing on individuals of varying abilities, mental health programs and the launching of the Real Time Crime Center. Continuing to partner with residents and Dutchess-based businesses and organizations is important to Serino in meeting her targets in the coming months. “I’m grateful to so many people throughout Dutchess County who have been instrumental in helping us achieve these goals in the past year,” she said. “Through their continued collaboration, and as we engage new partners in 2025, I’m certain the New Year will bring even more success stories.”
Democratic New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has many of the same priorities as Barrett, Hinchey and Serino. In a statement from her office, her spokesperson weighed in, saying, “As we look toward the New Year, Gov. Hochul is laser-focused on advancing efforts like the state’s first Inflation Refund to improve affordability and put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets … Whether increasing access to affordable housing in the region, investing in infrastructure improvements to ensure access to clean drinking water, investing in the agricultural industry, or traveling to the county to sign Melanie’s Law to better protect victims of domestic violence, Gov. Hochul is delivering for Dutchess County residents.”
