法拉盛華人工商促進會首席顧問杜彼得與皇后區韓美協會會長 （  Korean American Association of Queens ）李賢德（Hyun T Lee）今（22）日共同發表公開信，呼籲州議會支持州長霍楚改革紐約州汽車保險制度、降低汽車保費的提案。

　　杜彼得與李賢德指出，紐約州駕駛支付的汽車保險費率已位居全國前茅。在紐約市，尤其是在工薪階層與移民社區，每年4,500至5,000元的保費相當普遍，令人憂心。對許多家庭與創業者而言，汽車並非可有可無，而是謀生、經營事業與扶養家人的必要工具。這些成本不僅沉重，更在動搖生活的穩定。

　　兩位社區領袖建議，這項議題必須納入州預算中處理。他們認為，紐約人理應獲得即時的紓困。向每位駕駛人直接退還200元汽車保費，可以為已經捉襟見肘的家庭提供具體且即時的幫助。同時，保險公司所收取的超額利潤，也應返還給投保人，而不是在家庭難以應對生活成本上升時成為大公司的獲利。

　　兩位社區領袖直言，導致汽車保費飆升的根本原因已眾所周知。保險詐欺，尤其是由有組織網絡策劃的「假車禍」，持續推高誠實駕駛人的負擔。這類行為不僅危及生命安全，也扭曲了整個制度，迫使守法投保人為詐欺行為買單。

　　杜彼得與李賢德認為，州長霍楚提出改革方案，指出嚴肅且必要的前進方向。透過加強反詐欺執法、打擊假車禍、現代化責任規則，以及更新過時的法律架構，她的計畫同時處理了短期成本與長期結構性問題。

　　兩位社區領袖敦促州議會果斷行動，將汽車保險紓困與改革納入最終州預算，提供即時的財務支持，恢復制度的公平性，保護那些讓紐約持續運轉的小商家與勞動家庭。

　　杜彼得與李賢德致州議會的公開信全文如下：

　　致紐約州議會的公開信來自：
　　法拉盛華人工商促進會首席顧問 杜彼得 
　　皇后區韓美協會會長 李賢德 Hyun T. Lee

　　紐約正處於一個關鍵時刻。奧伯尼(Albany)正在協商敲定州預算，各位正面臨的關鍵抉擇，您的決定直接影響全州勞動家庭與小商家的生存。在這場可負擔性危機的核心，有一項已不容忽視的成本：汽車保險。

　　小商家無論是在皇后區或其他地方，都是社區的基石。他們面臨來自各方的壓力：租金上漲、勞動成本提高，以及持續的通貨膨脹，早已將利潤壓縮至最低。然而，汽車保險費卻悄然成為最沉重且難以承受的支出之一。

　　如今，紐約州駕駛支付的汽車保險費率已位居全國前茅。在紐約市，尤其是在工薪階層與移民社區，每年4,500至5,000元的保費相當普遍，令人憂心。對許多家庭與創業者而言，汽車並非可有可無，而是謀生、經營事業與扶養家人的必要工具。這些成本不僅沉重，更在動搖生活的穩定。

　　正因如此，這項議題必須納入州預算中處理。紐約人理應獲得即時的紓困。向每位駕駛人直接退還200元汽車保費，可以為已經捉襟見肘的家庭提供具體且即時的幫助。同時，保險公司所收取的超額利潤，也應返還給投保人，而不是在家庭難以應對生活成本上升時成為大公司的獲利。

　　導致汽車保費飆升的根本原因已眾所周知。保險詐欺，尤其是由有組織網絡策劃的「假車禍」，持續推高誠實駕駛人的負擔。這類行為不僅危及生命安全，也扭曲了整個制度，迫使守法投保人為詐欺行為買單。

　　州長霍楚（Kathy Hochul）提出改革方案，指出嚴肅且必要的前進方向。透過加強反詐欺執法、打擊假車禍、現代化責任規則，以及更新過時的法律架構，她的計畫同時處理了短期成本與長期結構性問題。

　　然而，僅推動改革並不夠。當前紐約州需要的是急迫感與問責機制，紓困必須立即見效，而非等到數年後才體現。因此，將直接退費納入預算，確保保險公司將超額利潤返還給投保人，應成為今年預算協商的一部分。

　　這同時也是一項公平正義的議題，像我們這樣的移民社區，正不成比例地承受汽車保費上升的衝擊。當交通變得難以負擔，就業、教育與經濟機會的取得也將受到限制，進一步擴大差距，削弱紐約向上流動的承諾。

　　我們敦促州議會果斷行動，將汽車保險紓困與改革納入最終州預算，提供即時的財務支持，恢復制度的公平性，保護那些讓紐約持續運轉的小商家與勞動家庭。

　　我們的社區無法再承受拖延。現在正是行動的時刻。

　　此致

　　法拉盛華人工商促進會首席顧問 杜彼得（Peter Tu）

　　皇后區韓裔美國人協會會長 李賢德Hyun T. Lee 

　　An Open Letter to the New York State Legislature

　　New York is at a critical moment. As Albany finalizes the state budget, you face urgent decisions that will directly impact the financial survival of working families and small businesses across our state. At the center of this affordability crisis is a cost that cannot be ignored any longer: auto insurance.

　　Small businesses – the backbone of neighborhoods across Queens and beyond – are being squeezed from every direction. Rising rents, labor costs, and persistent inflation are already stretching margins to the breaking point. Yet auto insurance premiums have quietly become one of the most punishing and unsustainable expenses.

　　New York drivers now pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country. In New York City, particularly in working-class and immigrant communities, annual premiums of $4,500 to $5,000 have become alarmingly common. For many families and entrepreneurs, a car is not optional – it is essential to earning a living, running a business, and supporting loved ones. These costs are not just burdensome; they are destabilizing.

　　That is why this issue must be addressed as part of the state budget. New Yorkers deserve immediate relief. Returning at least $200 directly to drivers would provide tangible, near-term support to households already stretched thin. At the same time, excess profits collected by insurance companies must be returned to policyholders, not retained while families struggle to keep up with rising costs.

　　The root causes of these skyrocketing premiums are well known. Insurance fraud, particularly staged accidents orchestrated by organized networks, continues to drive up costs for honest drivers. These schemes endanger lives and distort the system, forcing responsible policyholders to subsidize fraudulent activity.

　　Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal offers a serious and necessary path forward. By strengthening anti-fraud enforcement, cracking down on staged accidents, modernizing liability rules, and updating outdated legal frameworks, the plan addresses both immediate costs and long-term structural issues.

　　But reform alone is not enough. This moment demands urgency and accountability. Relief must be felt now, not years from now. That is why incorporating direct rebates to drivers and ensuring that excess insurer profits are returned to policyholders must be part of this year’s budget agreement.

　　This is also a matter of equity. Immigrant communities like ours are disproportionately affected by rising insurance costs. When transportation becomes unaffordable, access to jobs, education, and economic opportunity is limited. The result is a widening gap that undermines the promise of upward mobility in New York.

　　We urge the Legislature to act decisively and include auto insurance relief and reform in the final state budget. Deliver immediate financial relief. Restore fairness to the system. Protect the small businesses and working families who keep New York moving.

　　Our communities cannot afford delay. The time to act is now.

　　Respectfully,

　　Peter Tu, Senior Advisor, Flushing Chinese Business Association

　　Hyun T. Lee, President, Korean American Association