I am starting this petition due to the high rental cost in UPSTATE NEW YORK. I have posted on Craigslist Albany by multiple ads about the rent I've gotten a lot of feedback from this ad and with the feedback I was asked to start a petition. The people that were emailing me would explain there situation these are SENIORS people working 2 jobs people with disability. They can't afford to live in UPSTATE ny anymore These are tax paying people that don't get tax breaks these are the people that really run the country not some desk jockey making 60k a year. My area alone use to be cheap to live in 3 bedrooms were $800 a month now this has raised up to $1200 or more. No one working 2 jobs and kids can afford this especially SENIORS who are on fixed incomes and need to live in more popular areas to get to the places they need to be example doctors grocery store pharmacy and family. Now we have the minimum wage part yes it is going up the problem is so is everything else so no one's really making out here if anything we are not even breaking even. The only ones really making out from this is out politicians and big corporate companies who will get tax breaks and kick backs from this and the LANDLORDS who take advantage of the minimum wage hike not taking into consideration that the cost of our everyday needs is going up with it and that not everyone got a raise from this only people that are benefiting from this are the people who work minimum wage jobs and 80% of the people working these minimum wage jobs are high school kids and college students. So where does that leave the people only making between $20k-$30k a year let's break this down to only the everyday needs here we go Single parent of 2 ..Say you bring home $350 a week $1400 a month your rent is $900 2 bedroom, electric estimated $120 a month, heat $89 to $130, car insurance depending on your record $50-$150 we are gonna say your record is good so $75. Cell phone $50 Now this next thing internet all depends in today's world it has become an everyday need so I am adding this in there. Internet $30 for lowest speed but just enoigh, groceries with 2 kids $300 a month that's if your a deal shopper. Gas let's say $100 a month maybe less than that but gas prices go up and down all the time. Now this is with out any assistance because trust me I know I was denied because I made 75 cents to much THANKS NYS glad you are looking out for me and thank you for giving the rich tax breaks...ok sorry let's add all this up Pay $1400 Rent -$900 Electric-$120 Heat-$100 Car insurance-$75 Cell-$50 Internet-$30 Grocery-$300 Gas-$100 Equals = -$275 You are left in debt with -$275 that's $3,300 a year your in debt now thank God for tax refunds and because you have 2 kids you get a nice chunk back so we are gonna say you are a good parent and your not blowing that money at Wal-Mart on stuff you don't need and your actually using it to catch back up so Take $3300 out of that tax money that pays off your debt for the year now your kids need clothes stuff for school your car needs repair after all of that is done you are probably left with just enough to maybe take your kids somewhere fun to play or a nice dinner or movie. So you try to get assistance and get denied because you make too much and when I say make to much I'm not talking about your take home pay they go based I'm your before taxes is taken out pay. So all this tax money you pay to your great government to help others get assistance and abuse the system you can't even use because your annual yearly income says you make too much but your after taxes paycheck days different So with all that said something needs to be done for the people that work to live There needs to be a cap or needs to be a company that estimates what the cost of the apartment the landlord is renting should really be then the landlord will have to sign and agree to the appraisel and send it in to the county and the county will have to approve it. then There should be a separate assistance through the county that would determine how much assistance someone really needs and the assistance should be offered to someone that makes up to $35k a year.. And the assistance will not be based on annual pay but rather take home and cost of bills that are needed to live such as electric,heat,insurance,cell and grocery bills. With all that accounted for then the percentage of help will be paid out to landlord electric car insurance cell and a food stamp card for groceries with a limit on what you can get steaks and lobster is not a form of assistance buy that with your own money...the assistance will never go to the tennet only to the creditors it is up to the tennet to pay for the remaining So if you agree with this petition please sign it thank you for your support