Governor Kathy Hochul (D) gave her state of the state address Tuesday night and updated the State Legislature, statewide elected officials, and the public on how exactly New York is doing.
The address marks roughly two-and-a-half years in office for the governor after she ascended to the position in the wake of Andrew Cuomo’s (D) resignation in August 2021. She won her first full term in November 2022 against former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in an unusually competitive gubernatorial race.
The Constitution of the State of New York requires the Governor to deliver an annual address regarding the state of the state to establish legislative agenda.
“The State of New York is stronger, healthier, safer and more affordable than it was two years ago when I became Governor, but there is more work to do,” Governor Hochul said. “Every proposal announced today serves to improve our state and ensure our communities are not just surviving, but that they are thriving. Our New York is our future, and the future is brighter than ever.”
“My first day as Governor, I quoted Teddy Roosevelt. I promised to always “strive valiantly” on behalf of New Yorkers, and to be that woman in the arena,” said Hochul. “How do I intend to keep that promise in the coming year? By taking on persistent crime, like retail theft, hate crimes, and domestic violence. By revolutionizing our mental health infrastructure so people can actually get the help they need. And by protecting your hard-earned money from bad actors and predatory lenders, and from politicians who want to raise your taxes.”
The Messenger reached out to several elected officials in the Assembly and Senate from Suffolk County to hear their takes and what the Governor had to say.
The Messenger first heard from Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), whose sprawling First Senate District encompasses all of northern and eastern Brookhaven and the five eastern townships.
“Governor Hochul touched on several concerns that Long Islanders are focused on right now including the high cost of housing, increased crime, especially retail theft, and New York leading the nation in outmigration due to the state’s affordability crisis driven by high taxes and burdensome regulations,” said Palumbo. “Surprisingly, missing from her State of the State speech, was a plan to address the migrant crisis, the biggest issue facing the state and impacting the budget. Her failure to focus on this major issue during her State of the State is very concerning – especially as it is an issue with no end in sight and no comprehensive plan to solve it other than temporarily reusing state properties as sites for migrant camps…I look forward to working with the Governor to meet the needs of Long Islanders but will also work hard to ensure that spending is kept in check and that the suburbs get a fair share of the state resources.”
Also from the Senate is Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), of the Fourth Senate District, which stretches from Hauppauge to Amityville.
“I welcome the proposals outlined by Governor Hochul in her State of the State address and await the upcoming budget presentation as it traditionally provides a clearer understanding of the vision presented at the State of the State,” said Martinez. “I will review the Governor’s budget in full detail and offer my own proposals to better serve our mutual constituents such as infrastructure that will support Long Island’s housing needs, water quality, and flood mitigation as well as investing in communities who are falling victim to the opioid crisis. I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues to create a path forward to many of these initiatives.”
The Messenger also heard back Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) of the Third Assembly District. Regarding provisions on which he agrees with the Governor, he mentioned mental health investments and initiatives to address teen cyber-bullying. However, he felt that affordability and public safety were not addressed in detail.
“While Governor Hochul has numerous things she would like to get done, there’s never any mention as to how it will be paid for,” said DeStefano. “Also, she blames out-migration on lack of affordable housing when in reality it is the cost of living, taxes, unfriendly small business climate, among other factors. While there is a need for more housing, we still must leave that to local governments to decide whether or not it fits their neighborhoods. There is no mention as to how to curtail the rise in crime and the drug epidemic such as fentanyl. She should stop her tax-and-spend approach.”
DeStefano also notes that while he believes Hochul is “well-intentioned, she is being guided in the wrong direction by progressives. She is long on promises, short on results.”
Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) also gave his thoughts on the address.
“As with every State of the State, we witnessed a lot of showmanship and a lot of self-congratulations, but there was little in the way of substantive plans for improvement,” said Gandolfo. “While there are a number of her proposals I do believe are worth considering, the devil is in the details. The Governor offered no clear plan to address the ongoing migrant crisis in New York, she arrogantly scolded those of us fighting to prevent the overdevelopment of the suburbs, and failed to outline any substantial measures to ease the burden of inflation on Long Island families. With her Executive Budget address on the horizon, I’m hoping my concerns will be addressed, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station) of Fourth Assembly District also gave his thoughts.
“I did like that Governor Hochul addressed the retail theft crisis that is plaguing New York’s businesses,” said Flood. “However, instead of calling to make persistent offenders of retail theft a bail eligible offense, she wants to put together a task force. It seemed like a lot of window dressing, but at least an acknowledgement of a serious problem.”
Flood also says that the Governor failed to address the migrant and opioid fentanyl crises, stating that her sparse words on the migrant crisis were “insufficient for the biggest address of the year.” Flood mentioned that the “right to shelter” law only applies to state residents, not anyone from around the world. He also says that reverse New York’s status as a sanctuary state. Regarding the opioid and fentanyl crisis that is killing over 100,000 Americans a year, Flood said Hochul “simply ignored it.”
Flood also agrees with some of her spending proposals, such as additional funds towards mental health issues, but he says she failed to mention where she would cut spending and address the debt the state faces. Regarding criminal justice reforms in general, Flood called for judges to be returned their discretion on holding individuals on bail.
“I do not believe that Governor Hochul is delivering for the residents of New York,” concludes Flood. “Middle class and economically-challenged families are not getting the support they deserve. Our cost of living is the highest in the nation. The move towards a carbon neutral footprint, though laudable, is unrealistic and overly burdensome to the taxpayers. We need to move at a speed that is cost-efficient and will ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support the energy demands of the state.”
Finally, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) of the Smithtown-based Seventh District sat down with The Messenger for his take.
“Normally, in my twenty-one years up here, the State of the State has always been uplifting and forward-looking; this is a glass half-empty speech,” says Fitzpatrick. “I don’t mean it as a harsh criticism, but that’s what the Governor said. We’re losing people and our wealthiest taxpayers to out-migration, the housing issue is a problem, shoplifting and retail crime are out of control.”
Fitzpatrick then discussed his recent prevention of a shoplifting attempt at the Target in Setauket. Just two days prior, he was in Albany crafting a bill to address how retail workers’ hands are tied in addressing shoplifting.
Fitzpatrick says the new definition of insanity is “returning Democrat majorities to the Asm and Senate every two years and expecting NY to become affordable.”
“It’s all about taxes,” he says. “We have high mortgage rates, but even with low mortgage rates, people are still leaving and people aren’t moving in because taxes are too high. Capital and labor are mobile and will go where they’re best treated.”
“I’ve had legislation to cap and close defined benefit pension platforms to all elected officials,” he adds, addressing the high compensation state lawmakers receive. “No one is going to put that at risk and take a tough vote. You’re wasting your time thinking you’re going to do something about affordability in New York if you’re not working to get the legislature out of the defined benefits package.”
Fitzpatrick did offer some kind words for the governor, namely in her focus of phonics and increasing the number of children who can read at grade level. However, he said it “would have been nice if she called for more charter schools.”
Fitzpatrick said the big dynamic in Albany is between the governor and the progressive wing of her party.
“She’s boxed in by the radical left wing of her party. There’s a struggle for control of the majority in the Assembly. We do have a few moderates, but they’re hiding because they’re afraid of the radical left. She has to show she’s willing to throw some elbows with the legislature.”
All eyes now point to the April 1 deadline for the state budget, a process delayed last year by Democratic intraparty fighting.
