Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was a crystalizing moment for Rev. James Lewis.
One of the parishioners at his Sycamore Street church, Miracle Missions Full Gospel Church came to him, literally in tears, because skyrocketing auto insurance premiums put the person in a dreaded economic position of either paying the bill or buying food.
"This is right up there in terms of social injustice," Rev. Lewis said.
Rev. Lewis is one of several prominent East Side leaders that have joined ranks with the Buffalo/Niagara Chapter of the National Action Network to lead a lobbying effort that may, hopefully, convince state lawmakers to force insurance carriers to lower auto premiums across New York.
The effort is part of growing chorus on groups protesting and demanding auto insurance premiums be reduced.
"Yes, it is a 'David vs. Goliath' fight but you know what, David won in the end," Rev. Lewis said.
According to Insurance Business America - a respected insurance industry think tank, New York has the second highest auto premium rates in the country trailing only Florida by a few dollars.
The average New York resident, with good to excellent credit, pays - on average $3,840 annually in insurance premiums. That's more than 45% of the national average of $2,638.
Someone with a bad credit rating, could be looking at annual auto insurance premiums of more than $8,000, according Insurance Business America,
"Every week, more families tell us they can't keep up with rent, groceries or their car insurance bills," Rev. Lewis said.
Rev, Lewis and members of the Buffalo/Niagara NAN chapter have met with such state lawmakers as Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Assemblyman Jon Rivera and Assemblywoman April Baskin.
Their message: Insurance rates impacts everyone regardless of where in New York they live or their income level.
"People are being forced to decide whether they want to drive their car or buy food and that's a shame," Lewis said.