New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers State of the State addresses
NEW YORK -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul presented an election year agenda with more than 200 proposals to make New York safer, more affordable and more livable Tuesday.
There was an underlying mantra in the governor's State of the State.
Hochul wants to make sure that when voters go to the polls in November, her Democratic party remains in control of the legislatiure, and that Democrats can take back Congressional seats.
So her mantra is simple: Don't give Republicans issues to clobber her party's candidates with, like bail reform.
"I've listened as New Yorkers told me about the challenges they face, and the dreams they hold," Hochul said.
She faced a number of hard realities as she unveiled her 2024 agenda, including a $4 billion budget shortfall, the influx of migrants sucking up resources, and demonstrations relating to the war in the Middle East that are stoking antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Nevertheless, she strove to be upbeat.
"In our state, we stand by New Yorkers on their darkest days," Hochul said.
She offered proposals to combat hate crimes, stop shoplifting, allow the city to padlock illegal pot stores and deal with climate change. And since she didn't want to give Republicans issues in a year where 213 assembly and senate seats, and 26 congressional seats are on the line, she never mentioned the words congestion pricing.
Instead, her agenda included proposals to stop fare beating, and prevent motorists from avoiding the fee to enter the Central Business District. She sought new fines for defacing or obscuring license plates, and allowing DAs to charge fare evaders with the crime of theft of services.
After her controversial housing plan was ignored by the legislature last year, she proposed new ideas for getting the job done, including 15,000 units of housing built on state-owned land near train stations and prisons, and a new effort to help New York City build affordable housing, convert office buildings, and legalize basement apartments.
"So what are waiting for? Let's unleash New York City's potential, beginning this session. Do you agree with that Mayor Adams?" Hochul said.
Adams, who was in Albany for the speech, responded with a smile and a thumbs up.
The governor also called for automatically admitting the top 10% of high school seniors to SUNY and CUNY, ridding the state capital of offensive representations of indigenous people, planting 25 million trees in the next decade, having the state buy up homes in flood zones, and allowing New York City to lower the speed limit to 20 mph.
"We support all people to live their lives with optimism and hope," Hochul said.
Adams will have to wait until next week to see if he'll get more from the state for migrants. Hochul said it would be in the new budget she unveils Wednesday, though the mayor may be too busy to notice - in an unusual development, he's announcing his own budget the same day.