In anticipation of the annual State of the State address, a coalition of progressive groups held their 23rd annual People's State of the State on the steps of the Capitol in Albany.
Dozens of people from labor, faith, and community groups gathered to push for a legislative agenda this year that includes raising the minimum wage, closing corporate tax loopholes and reforming campaign finance.
Kaseem Moultrie is a labor organizer who spent years barely scraping by as a janitor making minimum wage.
"I think that government needs to be more responsive to the people, and not corporate America. I think they're being bought off by corporate America. We need fair elections, and we're going to keep mobilizing and continuing to build until they hear us loud and clear," said Moultrie.
A proposal to raise New York's minimum wage to $8.50 an hour failed last year, but the Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to renew the push for it in his State of the State address.