March 30, 2008
Tracey Brooks Focuses on Capital Region Economy Calls for Investment in New Technologies and a
Departure from Failed Bush Policies
Congressional Candidate Tracey Brooks pointed to recent
reports of a surprisingly high local unemployment rate and a potential local
sub-prime mortgage crisis in calling for immediate action to address our
struggling local economy and help Capital Region working families.
“We must immediately reinvigorate our economy with a
short-term stimulus plan that can bring jobs back to the Capital Region and
ease the squeeze on middle-class families,” said Brooks, a Democratic candidate
in the 21st Congressional District. “Our area can’t afford to wait
any longer with gas prices creeping towards $4.00 per gallon, home heating
costs through the roof, and a local unemployment rate that’s higher than the
state average – we must act now.”
The Capital Region’s February unemployment rate hit 5.1
percent, while the State’s rate hit 5 percent. In February 2007, the State’s
rate was 4.8 percent and the Capital Region’s rate was just 4.4 percent.
Meanwhile, local media reports also warned that the nation’s sub-prime mortgage
crisis might show up late in New York
-- due to a longer foreclosure period -- but hit hard nonetheless. Both
indicators are bad news for families and the local economy.
“What we’re seeing in the Capital Region and across the
nation is the direct result of so many failed policies of the Bush
administration,” said Brooks. “From spending $10 billion a month on an
unpopular war, to economic policies that have cost us jobs, to energy policies
that have led to high fuel prices and delayed renewable energy efforts, to an
utter disregard for a crumbling housing market and a sub-prime mortgage
debacle.”
Brooks continued: “To say we need change and new priorities
in Washington
just might be the understatement of the decade. I’m not sure which cliché is
getting used more -- ‘it’s the economy stupid’ or ‘deja vu all over again’ but
I do know we need to re-focus on the right priorities, right now.”
While calling for a short-term stimulus package, Tracey
Brooks has a three part plan for long-term growth. First, diversify our local economy
and create new jobs with real opportunity for workers and their families.
Second, support our growing technology industry, generating good jobs today and
better jobs for tomorrow. Third, encourage the development of alternative
energy technologies; creating jobs that lessen our dependence on foreign oil
and put our country on the road to energy independence.
As the Capital Region Director for Senator Hillary
Clinton for the last three years, Brooks worked with local companies to add
jobs, local unions to protect those jobs, and local families to help them make
ends meet. Brooks recently received the endorsement of EMILY’s List, the
nation’s largest political action committee and a significant financial
resource for women running for elected office. -30-
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