What’s the biggest issue facing NY-17? According to Cait Conley, Mike Lawler’s opponent in the upcoming NY-17 race, cost-of-living is the answer. She states that it is “crippling families that are here, and preventing a generation from coming back home to raise their families.” Conley cites the high interest rates and increased construction costs caused by tariffs as a major culprit making home ownership difficult for many Americans, a country where the average home-buying age is now 40. One of her solutions to making home ownership a bit more attainable includes creating a loan for public servants like teachers and nurses, similar to VA loans. But there’s also more to this picture; “I think a big part of this is when you have people who are former utility lobbyists and political consultants in elected office putting the priorities of these corporate interests and special interests ahead of their people,” said Conley.