Faso talks about Met Life move

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Faso held a roundtable discussion with local media at the Cup Diner in Astoria on Monday, September 18, discussing state-wide issues while also touching upon more local ones, such as the possibility of Met Life relocating its headquarters from Queens.
In regards to Met Life, Faso said he would investigate the reasoning behind their desire to relocate, which would include seeing if they were receiving incentives.
After saying that he heard scuttlebutt that getting to the facility was an issue with some, Faso transitioned into talking about improving mass transit. He said that he would take the $600 million dollars in taxes that New Yorkers pay on gasoline and diesel fuel out of the general fund and put it towards road, bridge and mass transit improvements.
Decrying that New Yorkers pay 53 percent more in taxes than anywhere else in the nation, Faso also said that cutting taxes, along with fiscal restraint and reform, is a major point in his campaign. He said cuts need to be made in individual taxes, corporate taxes, property tax and income tax.
&#8220I think it's very important for us to cut taxes,” said Faso, who attended Archbishop Molloy High School.
Education was also a prominent topic that Faso talked about, saying that he is in favor of charter schools and education tax credits. He said that he is &#8220skeptical” of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. Faso listed some ways that the education system could be reformed by measuring performances, creating a system of accountability, giving incentives to teachers and creating alternate certification methods.
&#8220I just fundamentally don't believe that just shoveling more money into the existing system is a recipe for improving results,” said Faso, who visited Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria the same day as the roundtable.
Although Faso trails opponent Eliot Spitzer in the polls, he said he is hoping to &#8220reach enough voters to make it a competitive election.
&#8220I knew right from the get go that this was the position I was going to be in September,” he said. &#8220People, not polls, vote.”