OVER 112,000 MESSAGES FROM NEW YORKERS TO LAWMAKERS DEMAND ACTION TO LOWER AUTO INSURANCE COSTS AND PUT MONEY BACK IN DRIVERS’ POCKETS
Ongoing Program of Emails and Calls Poised to Send Even More Messages to Lawmakers
ALBANY – After roughly one month of sustained grassroots advocacy, Citizens for Affordable Rates today announced a surge of engagement from across New York State, with more than 112,000 messages sent to state lawmakers demanding action to lower car insurance costs and return money to drivers.
Since launching this campaign in February, New Yorkers have sent 102,466 emails and completed 10,080 phone calls to Senate and Assemblymembers – bringing the current total to 112,546 constituent contacts. The number of calls and emails are expected to increase by thousands more in the latest reporting update later this week.
Amid a statewide affordability crisis, New York drivers currently pay about $4,000 per year for auto insurance – nearly double what drivers in many other states pay. Experts widely agree these high costs are fueled by rampant insurance fraud, including staged car accidents and exploitation of the legal system.
“New Yorkers work hard for their money and they shouldn’t be forced to pay hundreds of extra dollars every year to prop up a broken system,” said James Freedland, spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates. “More than 112,000 contacts from New Yorkers are delivering a clear message to lawmakers: crack down on fraud and abuse, lower costs, and ensure the savings are returned directly to drivers and small businesses where they belong.”
The groundswell of outreach reflects overwhelming public support for Governor Hochul’s proposal to tackle the root causes of rising premiums – including insurance fraud and legal abuse – while ensuring that savings generated by reforms are returned directly to consumers and small businesses. A recent poll found 86% of New Yorkers are in favor of the Governor’s plan to lower car insurance costs.
