BELMONT – More than 100 people attended a joint town hall hosted Thursday by state Senator George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, state Sen. Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, at Genesee Valley Central School in Belmont.

“We had a great turnout, especially for such a nice spring evening. I want to thank everyone who came to the town hall for spending some time with me, Senator Borrello and Senator O’Mara to talk about what’s going on in Albany and for sharing their concerns and advice and with us,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said.

Topics included the late state budget, which is now three weeks overdue, New York’s high cost of living, the crisis at understaffed state prisons caused by Gov. Hochul’s decision to fire more than 2,000 corrections officers and Albany’s renewable energy policies that are driving up utility costs and running roughshod over local control of wind and solar projects.

The joint town hall gave constituents an opportunity to talk to all three of their state Legislature representatives at one event.

Sempolinski represents all of Allegany County, Borrello represents western Allegany County and O’Mara the eastern part of Allegany County.

“We heard passionate, substantive input on issues that hit close to home, from massive solar installations consuming prime farmland and clear-cut forests, to rising violence in our correctional facilities, rampant Medicaid fraud, and a tax burden that is driving families and businesses out of New York. These aren’t abstract policy debates, they are real consequences being felt by real people in our communities. This is exactly the kind of honest conversation that representative government should reflect, and we are grateful to the residents of Allegany County for showing up, speaking out, and making their voices heard. We will keep fighting to make sure Albany hears them too,” Borrello said.