A rally held in Ossining on Saturday demanded Gov. Kathy Hochul help New Yorkers struggling with affordability.

Demonstrators and the grassroots organization Citizen Action of New York called on Hochul to forge a budget that prioritizes financially struggling New Yorkers while raising taxes on the state's wealthiest.

Comparable rallies with similar demands have been taking place across the state, including a student demonstration last week at SUNY Purchase.

The students and their supporters called on Hochul to include nearly $4 billion in capital funding to address infrastructure failures, maintenance and campus building repairs.

The rallies have taken place ahead of the state budget deadline of March 31.

"People are relying on our government to protect us in a time of chaos and we need elected leadership who's going to do that. Kathy Hochul has refused to raise taxes on the rich and while we're negotiating the state's budget, we're going to face cuts to things like healthcare, we're not going to be able to afford universal childcare, we're not going to be able to fund transportation things," said Isiah Fenichel, of Citizen Action Network.

Kaelin Horton, of Poughkeepsie, joined the fight for the budget funding that would be used to help New Yorkers deal with rising rents, underfunded schools, housing and healthcare.

"Seeing what I grew up in and seeing what my friends are going through, there needs to be a change...I try to put that into my friends as well," she said.

"I see what happens when ultra rich people, and I'm not like putting them down. I don't care if they're rich, good for them, but fair taxes," said Jeanne Shaw, of Ossining.

News 12 reached out to Hochul's office for comment on the latest citizen demonstration regarding the fiscal year 2027 state budget but had not heard back as of Saturday night.