The American Rescue Plan provides some breathing room for New York to make some good, or bad, choices.

“This moment gives the state an opportunity to take stock and figure out how to correct the structural imbalance that even predated the pandemic,” Patrick Orecki, senior research associate for the Citizens Budget Commission told Capital Tonight.

Nearly $24 billion in total is earmarked for various levels of government in New York. Orecki says state leaders need to think about the $12-plus billion in unrestricted money coming to New York state as “an opportunity” to address both immediate and long-term problems.