Rob Ortt, Minority Leader in the New York State Senate and decorated Afghanistan veteran, shared a series of posts on social media reflecting on police memorials, state budget negotiations, and the migration of residents and businesses from New York.
On May 7, 2026, Ortt posted about a ceremony at the Empire State Plaza Memorial: “At the Empire State Plaza Memorial, we honored the lives and sacrifice of our fallen police officers. Behind every engraved name is a hero, a family, and a legacy of courage that will endure forever. We will never forget them. God bless all who protect families across New York.”
The following day, he commented on ongoing state budget discussions: “You have to keep your head on a swivel during budget season. The Governor said there is a deal. Albany Democrats denied it. Folks, it doesn’t matter. I’ll save you the suspense: spending will explode, taxes will go up, and billions will be blown on illegals. There you go.” This post was made on May 8.
Later that same day, Ortt addressed economic concerns in another post: “Why would job creators and families stay? They were told they weren’t welcome and to ‘get out of town’ and leave for Florida. Apparently, a lot of people listened.”
Ortt’s career includes focusing on veteran reintegration efforts and support for those experiencing post-traumatic stress (official website). He received the Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan (official website) and has worked to assist middle-income families with debt reduction and retirement planning (official website). Additionally, Ortt became the first official to hold the combined title of Clerk-Treasurer in North Tonawanda (official website).
