Kathy Hochul is Sworn in as 57th Governor of New York State Officially.

 

Earlier today, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the 57th Governor of the State of New York, joined by immediate family members, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

You’ll soon find that brevity is the hallmark of my administration. I also want to thank everyone for joining us this morning, and particularly, Chief Judge DiFiore who graced me by wearing the same robe that was worn by the first female Court of Appeals judge, Judith Kaye, so there is some symbolism in her attire this morning as well. Also, I want to thank Pastor Solomon Dees from Wilborn Temple for gracing us, reminding us of the presence of God here today. I've worshiped with him a number of times, and I wanted him to bless this gathering and bless my administration. 

I also want to thank our leadership, who's here today. Our Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Majority Leader of the Senate, my great friend Andrea Stewart-Cousins. We've been on a long journey together and I so look forward to continuing the relationships that we've had, but even deepening it. So thank you and I look forward to a conversation with you on the pressing issues of the day immediately following.

And of course my family, my beloved husband Bill, who's been at my side for 37 years, my children, Will, Katie, and their beautiful spouses, wonderful people, Matt and Christina. I also have a large extended family here, so sorry to you in the back. I have a big Irish Catholic family with six kids, but I do want to acknowledge my parents. My father is here representing in spirit my mother. Dad, I'm so honored to see you and that you could make the journey here today, as well as my siblings.

So this is an emotional moment for me, but it is one that I prepared for and I'm so looking forward to continuing the work we have to do. To that end, I spoke with President Biden last night to talk about a number of issues. He pledged his full support to my administration and anything we need. Particularly I thanked him for the support we've received from FEMA and others in terms of cleaning up after Henri and how we were prepared and I want to continue assessing the situation. 

But I do want to thank the people whose lives were disrupted as well as those who responded, not just to that crisis, but those who continue to fight on the front lines as we fight this deadly pandemic.

I also want to thank the hundreds of thousands of state workers who I have such respect for and I look forward to letting them know that I will represent them with my heart and soul as well. They are the face of government in many, many communities, and I have my utmost respect for all of them. 

So I just want to tell you briefly, I'll be sharing a number of my priorities with all of you if you would reconvene again at three o'clock today. We will also be talking about how we'll be combating COVID, getting direct aid to New Yorkers more quickly, and changing the culture of Albany. 

And that's why I'm looking forward to a fresh, collaborative approach. That's how I've always conducted myself.  It will be nothing new for me, but it's something I'm planning on introducing to the State Capitol. So I'll be heading to a meeting very shortly with our leaders here. We have much to discuss. We'll be reporting on that afterward.

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ RE: THE SWEARING-IN OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

 

 "With the swearing-in of Governor Hochul today, we will have our first female Governor in the history of New York State. I look forward to continuing the advancement of our borough with the Hon. Kathy Hochul. No stranger to The Bronx, she will lead us with sagacity. Upon taking office as Lieutenant Governor in 2015, she hit the ground running and learned of the needs of all 62 counties but knew The Bronx was unique. I congratulate her in her new role as Governor,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Attorney General James' Statement on Swearing In of Governor Kathy Hochul

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement on the swearing in of Governor Kathy Hochul:

“Today is a historic day for New Yorkers with the swearing in of our first female governor, Kathy Hochul. I congratulate Governor Hochul on this incredible accomplishment and wish her well in her new role building on the progress of our great state. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the entire incoming administration.”

Representative Adriano Espaillat to Host Virtual Back To School Town Hall With NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter

 

Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00pm  Watch the Virtual Back To School Town Hall at  Facebook.com/RepEspaillat September 13th will mark the first day of school. NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter, will provide an  overview of what students and their families can expect this  school year, new and ongoing public health protocols, and  programs available to help students and support families  during their transition back to in-person learning.

NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNAPOLI (OP-ED IN NEWSDAY) URGES LEADERS TO SEIZE THIS CHANCE TO IMPROVE NY'S FINANCES

 

New York State continues to mount a steady recovery from the depths of the pandemic’s devastation, regaining 50% of the jobs lost and surpassing financial plan expectations for state revenues by $5.2 billion through July. New Gov. Kathy Hochul and state leaders should think strategically about how to use this "surplus" – by dedicating it to rainy day fund reserves and using it to pay for critical infrastructure projects.

In April, state leaders enacted the largest budget in New York history, more than $208 billion. The spending plan benefited from the economic rebound, new tax increases and a historic amount of federal aid that virtually eliminated budget gaps for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and reduced out-year gaps to a combined $3.4 billion.

But the financial plan is not without risk. COVID-19 cases are rising again. A slowing recovery or a second economic downturn will upend revenue forecasts, and may create additional spending pressures to extend or enhance programs currently funded federally or intended to be temporary.

Personal income taxes levied on high earners will increase the reliance on this group. The top 1% of taxpayers pay an average of 40% of New York’s personal income tax liability; since high earners rely more extensively on capital gains, the change could make state revenues more volatile. What’s more, the tax increases may create a new out-migration pattern among high-income taxpayers, particularly in New York City, which has the highest combined state and local personal income tax rate in the country.

Finally, statutory debt limits were bypassed; more than $45 billion in debt issuance is now planned through fiscal year 2026. This debt will quickly exceed the statutory cap, adding significant debt service costs to future budgets.

Our state has a tremendous opportunity presented by federal relief and new resources to ensure both an equitable recovery and a stronger long-term fiscal position. To do so, policymakers should take several steps.

First, prudently and transparently use federal recovery aid. Current plans are to spread relief aid over the next four years; this multi-year use should be maintained. Most federal aid will be used to reimburse COVID-related costs and to provide temporary assistance to New Yorkers who need it; these funds should be disbursed swiftly. Federal aid should not be used to support recurring spending, which may put spending on an unsustainable trajectory.

Second, commit to further strengthening rainy day reserve funds. Increases to reserves have been minimal compared to significant increases in spending. The state plans to deposit $825 million to rainy day reserves this year; while this is positive, state reserves will total $3.3 billion – significantly less than the $6.4 billion statutorily authorized and less than 4% of general fund spending, or less than 14 days of average daily disbursements.

Third, carefully consider strategic infrastructure priorities. While New York has significant capital needs, the state capital plan is not clear about which investments are most important to improve service, enhance economic growth, or address repair needs. Debt should only be issued for state capital assets and for the most essential investments.

To the extent the state's "surplus" funds are not needed to cover unanticipated expenses, these revenues should be deposited to the rainy day fund or a similar reserve, or used as "pay-as-you-go" funding for capital projects in order to limit debt issuance.

These steps will help ensure the state limits the financial impact of future risks and is able to sustain investments through downturns, disasters, and other emergencies.

Newsday published an op-ed from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today urging New York's leaders to take steps that can help protect and strengthen the state's finances.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE INDUCTION OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

 

 "The historic weight of inducting New York's first female governor today cannot go overlooked or underappreciated. From our state's founding it has been a position held by white men, except when those men were confronted with and faced consequences for their own failure and wrongdoing. As we move forward from this latest moment of scandal, I hope we can end this pattern by realizing what the full array of leadership can look like.

"Governor Hochul's success is our success, and with former Governor Cuomo now removed from the position of power that he long abused, it's my hope that we can restore power to the people, and center our objectives on achieving justice, equity, and advancement for New Yorkers. There are immense challenges before our city and state, but as I expressed to Governor Hochul before she assumed her new role, I'm ready to work together to recover from this pandemic and renew New York. As she takes office, I wish her luck and offer her support."

Kathy Hochul is Sworn in as 57th Governor of New York State - AUGUST 24, 2021

 

At a procedural ceremony at midnight on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the 57th Governor of the State of New York.

Governor Kathy Hochul is sworn-in as New York State's 57th Governor by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore during a midnight ceremony at the New York State Capitol. First Gentleman Bill Hochul holds the Bible. 

Congressman Adriano Espaillat - The Budget Resolution Provides the Equitable Recovery and Support Families Need Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

This week, I will be returning to Washington, DC to continue our work for the American people, and look forward to supporting the rule for the FY22 budget resolution and the resolution itself which contains instructions for the budget reconciliation process. This is an important step and will allow Congress to start drafting bill language for the budget reconciliation package and will provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact critical policies for our nation and millions of Americans. As a co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Immigration Executive Orders and Budget Reconciliation Sub-Task Force, I have worked with my colleagues to ensure that immigration remains at the forefront of priorities since the start of budget considerations, and the budget resolution outline contains many of our priorities, including transformative investments in the health, well-being, and financial security of America’s workers and families. More than 11 million immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, have waited in limbo while facing numerous obstacles along the path to legal status and citizenship. This is our moment to deliver, and our nation cannot afford to miss this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the American dream remains viable and accessible to all. Immigrants are essential to our economic recovery and to the livelihood of our nation. Providing a pathway to citizenship for the millions of Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and essential workers will be monumental for our economic recovery and is clearly pertinent to the budget reconciliation process. Including a pathway to citizenship could advance our economic recovery from the pandemic, reduce our national deficit, raise wages, add a cumulative $1.5 trillion to U.S. GDP over a decade, and create more than 400,000 new jobs. In addition to immigration, the budget resolution outline continues many other provisions to tackle numerous challenges that American families continue to face amid recovery from the pandemic. Priorities that include: Tax Cuts for Families and Workers: The expansion of the Biden Child Tax Credit (CTC) enacted in the American Rescue Plan has already benefitted nearly 66 million children and is expected to help cut child poverty by more than half. This budget resolution will not only extend this meaningful tax cut, but it will also extend the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, helping families make ends meet and provide a better future for America’s children. Child Care: Our nation is strongest when everyone can join the workforce and contribute to the economy. However, many Americans – especially poor working class and communities of color – are often forced to choose between working to support their families or being caregivers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing access to safe, reliable, and high-quality childcare will help ensure more women can return to the workforce and help our economic recovery. Environmental Justice: This past weekend, Tropical Storm Henri poured a record amount of rain on New York City and some parts of our city recorded the largest amount of rain since record keeping first began. Climate change affects each of us and its impact ranges from the wildfires, record flooding, and heatwaves we see across the country. Climate change effects are being felt the hardest in under-resourced communities and communities of color. Taking strong action to combat climate change will help address environmental injustices and disparities. The budget resolution is key to building an equitable clean energy economy with historic investments that drive economic opportunities, environmental conservation, and climate resilience – especially in underserved and disadvantaged communities – including through a new Civilian Climate Corps. I look forward to returning to Washington this week and voting on passage of the rule for the FY22 budget resolution and the resolution itself to help ensure we have an equitable recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic that will help working families, children, and communities of color in New York’s 13th congressional district and across the nation. This was an Op-Ed by Rep. Adriano Espaillat Originally published in Patch.com 08/23/21