New Yorkers are in grave danger. That was the message of today's State of the State address. Tell me something I don't know.

While I do like Governor Paterson, and I think he has some bold ideas, I think I was more impressed by the fact that he memorized an hour-long speech than by what he actually said.

We all heard last month how bad our economy is and the drastic measures that need to be taken to help bring it back to life. So, today just seemed like more of the same.

I actually think Democrats taking over the State Senate for the first time in 44 years was the more interesting story today.

In his first State of the State address, Governor Paterson described New York's condition as "perilous." Paterson declared the economic crisis to be one of the greatest challenges in our history.

In his hour-long speech, Paterson endorsed a plan to toll the free East River bridges, outlined a plan to battle childhood obesity that includes a tax on soda, and called for an overhaul of New York's energy economy. The speech comes as Democrats take complete control of Albany for the first time since the 1930s.

How would you describe the state of the State? Do you agree with the proposals outlined by Paterson today? Do you trust the new Democratic leadership to get the State out of its economic slump, or do you expect more of the same in Albany?

Send us your thoughts using the link above.

New York state was guilty of putting all their eggs in one basket. Relying on the massive revenues from the financial sector. A small group of people that drove up the cost of housing and services, outside of the average working professional. Now we have to pay for a predictable short fall. I would like to see the state ALSO do what it can to develop alternate industries like bio tech, green tech, and other future growth industries.

Jon
UES

The state of the State is a mess. I do not agree with the Gov's solutions-especially the tolls on the bridges. The Dems have to do a better job than the Repubs, or else we are all up a creek without you know what!

TOM
JACKSON HGTS

The State is a mess. I think he is trying to do the right thing but Shelly and the new guy will block him at every turn because of special interests. And the tax payers will get screwed.

Rich
Midtown East

STATE OF THE STATE SUGGESTS WE ARE IN "PERILOUS" STRAITS. THE TAX ON SODA TO REDUCE CHILD OBESITY IS A JOKE. WITH THAT REASONING, WHEN A CHUBBY KID PURCHASES THE SODA..TAX HIM OR HER. IF A SKINNY ADULT BUYS THE SAME SODA, THE ADULT SHOULD BE EXEMPT. THIS NOTION OF PENALTY TAXES HAS TO STOP. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TAX ON PEOPLE FILING TAXES? I'M NOT KIDDING. EMPIRE STATE HAS BECOME QUAGMIRE STATE.

JOE
BAY TERRACE

I hope the Governor address the ballooning healthcare crisis in this city and do for NY what Gov Romney did for Massachusetts. We already had more people without coverage using local area emergencies rooms for their basic medical care without being able to pay, causing certain hospitals to go bankrupt or put on the brink. Now with more people unemployed and losing coverage, that number will go up.

Perhaps he can create a needs test based on what citizens can afford to pay, with the excess subsidized by the lottery system, or a new weekly lottery, along with a small surcharge of co pays from those who have coverage, say $2.50 for every $20 dollars of co pay. This could create a fund that would allow NYers to afford coverage, avoid illness (a burden on all NY), allow business to increase for insurance companies and curtail the red ink for area hospitals.

David
Lakewood NJ

the empire state is in disarray. The obesity tax is absurd. and the Democrats should eschew overreaching or the voter may have buyers remorse. My guess is that with their eyes closed it will be an improvement over the other side of the aisle. This is not the time to maximize third-party payments, however.

John
Kissena Park

It will be nothing more than the same. It's just all talk. I still say what we eat and how we dress is our business, because maybe whatever the choices we make is all that we can afford. It's in very bad taste. I still see the same old faces there and by the way I don't remember seeing our two famous senators there, maybe I missed them, good job if you can get it.

Always excellent shows John

Maxxiee
MP

More of the same mind set from Albany; "Charge more money, add taxes to east river crossings, and that should fix the fiscal crises"-I don't think so!

Gentleman, we need to get qualified and responsible government, to revamp the system and the way city government and city agencies operates. Only then can you trim the fat from this convoluted system.

I am a strong believer, that if the MTA can not manage to get buy on the budgets allocated, that I am more than confident that a private company would be more than capable to operate within the existing budgets.

Responsible privatization, during this fiscal crises would allow the system to operate with greater efficiency, much lower budget costs, and provide better services.

I would more than welcome the idea of a Private Company that can manage the money and improve on the services. Lets face it, selling off the system, will also raise much needed revenues, upfront money, for the City of NY, without putting the strain on the lower and middle classes!

Yours Truly,

Angelo Lemodetis of Astoria, Queens.

RE; Gov. Patterson wanting to put tolls on East River Bridges because the state needs money.

Why doesn't he tax drivers coming in from Pennsylvania upstate, or charge tolls on Upstate New Yorkers using Route 81 going through, Binghamton, Syracuse or Watertown.

Why does downstate have the burden for making money for the whole state?

Jim

Some of Patterson's proposals are within reason. But the East River Tolls are down right outrageous, I've heard that they are considering charging five dollars each way and as a working class New Yorker, I can not afford it. Its a crying shame, the way these politicians want to balance they're budget on the backs of the working class and poor.

It is time we demand change. Before we add an additional tax on people to support the MTA, we need to force the union to institute over $300 million in productivity savings at the MTA . If the MTA were allowed to implement the same changes other major cities made, thre would be NO BUDGET SHORTFALL

John Sheeoshead bay

Patterson delivered a great speech, now the state waits for action - as it has for the pst for 4 decades!

Liz
Rosedale