Exclusive Interview with Assemblyman Michael Benedetto

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Bronx Voice, New York State Assemblyman Michael Benedetto discussed Education, Public Safety, School Safety, Housing, and support for our Senior Citizens.

Public safety has been a top priority for the assemblyman. He has advocated for a fully funded police force and led efforts to install surveillance cameras in Co-op City and throughout key locations within the assembly district.

Benedetto commented, “Even though crime is going down in New York City, the perception is that people are in danger.” 

Despite a decrease in crime rates across New York City, he stressed the importance of not only maintaining a well-funded and efficient police force but also ensuring that residents feel secure. 

He added, “What we also are trying to do with making sure we have a fully funded police force and a good police force, that we also make sure that people feel safe in addition to that. So we’re trying to deal with the whole crime and feeling safe on many different levels.”

Assemblyman Benedetto, chair of the Education Committee, expressed support for the state’s recent decision to limit social media use, calling it a step in a positive direction. 

Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed legislation that would allow parents to block their children from receiving social media posts suggested by a platform’s algorithm, a move aimed at limiting feeds that critics argue are addictive.

Benedetto, who was an educator for over three decades before entering politics, praised the decision, stating, “We’re beginning to realize that and see that this is a great danger to have the kids all day long, having these phones with them, to be able to tweet out on social media, so much garbage towards other students, which might be affecting their mental health.”

He added, “And it has [done] a terrible, terrible thing to the students in their mental image of who they are.”

During his tenure, Benedetto has vigorously fought for increased school funding, securing full funding for New York state schools.

The assemblyman pointed out that because there is no statewide law in New York regarding students bringing phones to school, it should be up to individual school districts to establish policies about phone usage on school premises.

Assemblyman Benedetto also discussed the absence of a statewide law regulating student phone use in schools, suggesting that each school district should implement its own policies regarding phone usage on school premises.

Addressing financial concerns in Co-op City, which could lead to higher apartment rates due to increased maintenance costs, Benedetto revealed ongoing negotiations with the Housing and Community Renewal Department to alleviate these issues. 

He remains hopeful that a recent $50 million budget allocation will help resolve infrastructure problems in Co-op City and fund new projects such as a student teen center and additional park spaces.

During his tenure, Benedetto has also supported senior citizen programs to help them through organizations like JASA, with centers in Dreiser, Bartow, and Einstein Loop.

Regarding the proposed $15 congestion pricing fee, Benedetto expressed disappointment, noting that many working New Yorkers may have to pay this price daily, which could amount to thousands of dollars a year. 

He suggested, “If congestion pricing goes in, let it go in with a plan where the tolls on the bridges like the Whitestone Bridge and the Throgs Neck Bridge, which connects borough to borough transit, is lowered for those drivers.”

With Governor Hochul currently pausing the decision on congestion pricing, Benedetto hopes there will be a reconsideration of the idea, including exceptions for educators and doctors.