State Sen. George Borrello hosted a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the Gerry Rodeo Community Center. Borrello discussed the migrant crisis, bail reform and support for local farmers, among other topics, during his hourlong visit. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

GERRY — State Sen. George Borrello wasted little time during a town hall meeting this week decrying the “far left” and liberal-sponsored policies he claims are ruining the state.

Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, spent an hour Tuesday talking and answering constituent questions at the Gerry Rodeo Community Center. The town hall-style gathering drew a near-capacity crowd.

During his opening remarks Tuesday, Borrello lamented the “one-party rule” led by the state Legislature and governor’s office. “We are seeing, unfortunately, the bigger influence of the far-left here in New York state,” said Borrello, who noted he comes from a family of Democrats.

“Now we’re seeing something just so off the rails,” he continued. “It’s so far from the values as American people, and that’s the part that probably disturbs me the most is to see how far we’ve gone in what seems to be a relatively short period of time.”

In the state Legislature since November 2019, Borrello touched on several conservative talking points: the “attack on our Second Amendment rights,” including background checks for ammunition; the need to repeal bail reform; the migrant crisis expanding across New York state; and supporting local farmers.

Regarding gun control laws, Borrello said, “If you want to control violence, gun violence, you need to control the people that wish to commit violence. And that’s where my colleagues have failed miserably with things like bail reform and discovery reform and ‘less is more’ — make it easier and easier for people to commit crimes over and over and over again.”

Borrello criticized a new law that went into effect last month that changed how the state handles background checks for firearms and ammunition purchases. He believes the law was designed to be cumbersome and “not work” when it comes to background checks for ammunition.

“If they could, they would just outlaw guns altogether in New York state,” Borrello said of state lawmakers. “Only criminals would have guns if they had their way. But they can’t do that — they know that. So, instead, it’s death by a thousand cuts.”

He was asked about the cost of housing migrants who have arrived in New York. In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams said 122,700 asylum seekers have come through the city’s intake system since the spring of 2022.

Adams has petitioned the Manhattan Supreme Court to ask for more “flexibility” in right-to-shelter rules.

Borrello, meanwhile, said housing migrants in the state’s “self-created” crisis is taxpayer-funded.

“New York state is still a Sanctuary State. New York City is still a Sanctuary City, which sounds nice at cocktail parties for liberal elite,” Borrello said. “What it means is, New York state has thrown out the welcome mat from wherever you are. We will not report you to the federal authorities. We will ensure you don’t get deported. We will protect you, even if you commit a crime. … And we’ll pay for your food, your housing, for your kid’s education, your health care, all that. That’s what sanctuary means.”

Among other topics discussed Tuesday:

¯ Energy sources: Borrello said he has been the “most vocal opponent of the radical and costly climate agenda being pursued” by Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state lawmakers.

Beginning in 2026, newly constructed buildings will be barred from using natural gas stoves and furnaces in favor of devices like induction ranges and heat pumps that run on electricity. The law, which was included in the budget and negotiated by Hochul and fellow Democrats in the state Legislature, applies only to new construction and will not impact existing buildings.

Borrello said he will “continue to lead the charge against this reckless climate agenda.”

¯ Polarization in government: “There’s a difference between, I think, being civil. You should always be civil. I think you should understand, though, that there are folks out there that have a very interesting agenda that is not good for us. I would love to see more compromise.”

Despite differences elsewhere in the state Legislature, Borrello said there are moments of compromise. He pointed to the bipartisan-backed Nourish New York program that provides food to struggling families while also helping farmers.

¯ Government overreach: Borrello was a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the validity of a state Department of Health push that would expand the state’s power to isolate and quarantine state residents suspected of having a communicable disease.

¯ Incentives, tax breaks given to businesses: Borrello said it’s difficult to attract businesses to New York state without offering subsidies or other incentives.

“We have to compete because New York state has made it so expensive to build something,” he said. “The cost of building a warehouse in New York state is much more than it is a few miles down the road in Pennsylvania. … Our competition isn’t China. Our competition is Pennsylvania, it’s Ohio.”

He alluded to the Great Lakes Cheese plant currently being built in Cattaraugus County. Once complete, the state-of-the-art plant will employ hundreds of workers.

“They could of very easily built this in Ohio,” Borrello said. “The bottom line is, as much as the state stepped up and supplied some money, what that money typically does most of the time is just even the playing field to what it would cost them to do it in another state with no incentives. So, it’s a difficult thing.”

¯ COVID mandates for health care workers: Borrello said the mandate, which has since ended, was a “cheap shot, to say the least” toward workers who otherwise were celebrated during the years-long pandemic.

“At the end of the day we can’t prove that having a vaccine protects someone else, let alone yourself,” he said. “It was just a tragedy that those guys lost their jobs. If they didn’t get them back they should get them back.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said trials have shown that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, especially against severe illness, hospitalization and death.