Child Support Reform: Putting Children's Needs First
AD - 52
As a candidate for New York State Assembly District 52, I am committed to policies that strengthen families, reduce child poverty, and ensure every child has the stable support they deserve-no matter their parents' relationship status.Right now, New York's child support system often fails the very children it is meant to protect. When a non-custodial parent, usually a father, loses a job through no fault of their own (layoffs, illness, economic downturns), it is extremely difficult to get a fair modification of support obligations. This creates impossible situations: arrears pile up, enforcement becomes harsher, and the result is often less money actually reaching the child.
In an intact family, when income drops, everyone adjusts together to make ends meet. The same common-sense flexibility should apply when parents are separated. Rigid rules that ignore real-life hardship don't help single mothers or their children-they trap families in cycles of financial stress, resentment, and reduced support over time.
Worse still, current law allows the state to suspend or revoke professional licenses (for doctors, lawyers, tradespeople, and others) when someone falls behind due to genuine inability to pay. This doesn't collect more money for kids-it destroys earning potential. A skilled professional forced into low-wage work or unemployment ends up contributing far less over the long term, leaving children with less stability, fewer opportunities, and greater risk of poverty. Punishing hardship this way is counterproductive and hurts the children we all want to protect.
We can do better. Smart, progressive reforms would:
- Allow prompt, fair modifications to child support orders when a parent's income genuinely and substantially decreases (just like in two-parent households).
- Prioritize alternatives that actually get money to children-such as wage garnishment or bank attachments for those who can pay but won't-while stopping license suspensions that sabotage future earning power and deepen debt traps.
- Focus enforcement on willful non-payers, not struggling parents trying to rebuild.
- Support programs that help non-custodial parents get back on their feet through job training, mental health resources, and mediation-so they can contribute consistently and meaningfully.
These changes aren't about letting anyone off the hook. They're about ensuring children receive reliable, sustainable support instead of short-term collections followed by long-term shortfalls. Single mothers deserve partners who can actually provide, and kids deserve parents who aren't permanently crippled financially by outdated, one-size-fits-all penalties.
When elected, I will introduce and fight for legislation to modernize New York's child support system-making it more equitable, more effective, and truly child-centered. Because when children thrive, families heal, communities strengthen, and we all move forward together.
Join me in building a fairer future for New York's families. Contact me to discuss how we can prioritize kids over outdated punishment.