>>> TODAY, THE SENATE MAJORITY WILL -- >> I WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY, LIKE I'VE ALWAYS DONE AND ALWAYS WILL.

♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO LIVE COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC MEDIA STATION.

I'M DAN CLARK, HOST AND MANAGING EDITOR OF NEW YORK NOW WHICH WE BRING TO YOU EVERY WEEKEND ON YOUR LOCAL PBS MEMBER STATION.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS SCHEDULED TO GIVE HER SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

HOCHUL BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER.

AND THIS SPEECH WILL LAY OUT HER PRIORITIES FOR HER FIRST FULL TERM.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALSO RETURNED TO ALBANY LAST WEEK FOR THE START OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT RUNS THROUGH JUNE.

THAT GIVES HOCHUL SIX MONTHS TO MAKE HER CASE.

WE'LL BRING THE SPEECH TO YOU WHEN IT STARTS.

BUT JOINING ME IN STUDIO NOW WITH MORE ON ALL OF THIS IS DAVID, HOST OF WCNY CAPITAL PRESS ROOM WHICH YOU CAN ALSO GET ON YOUR NPR MEMBER STATION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE, DAN.

>> I SAID THIS IS OUR FOURTH TIME DOING THIS TOGETHER.

FIRST TWO TIMES WERE ANDREW CUOMO.

OUR SECOND TIME WITH KATHY HOCHING.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> THE GOVERNOR TOLD US WHAT SHE WANTS TO PROMOTE IN HER SPEECH.

THE THREE THINGS SHE IS FOCUSSING ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, SHE'S PRETTY MUCH SIGNALED THAT SHE WILL TALK ABOUT HOUSING AS WELL AS THE RESULT OF A RELEASE EARLIER THIS MORNING, BIG MENTAL HEALTH PACKAGE.

HOUSING IS GOING TO BE REALLY THE MOST INTERESTING PART, FOR ME, BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

PROBABLY SOMETHING AROUND THE MARGIN.

STUFF WITH MINOR CHANGES TO BAIL.

BUT HOUSING IS THIS ISSUE THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY THERE IS REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

BASED ON THE WAY SHE GOVERNS AND HER POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, I'M EXPECTING SOMETHING PRETTY DOWN THE ROAD, SO TO SPEAK.

MAYBE GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE MORE HOUSING.

NONE OF THE BIG SWINGS THAT PEOPLE ON THE FAR LEFT ARE HOPING FOR SUCH AS A DE FACTO CAP ON EVICTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> RIGHT.

HOUSING IS THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

ONE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WHO ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS THAT THEY CAN'T GET BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE PAID MORE.

WE HAVE A WORK FORCE SHORTAGE.

ON HOUSING, SOME HOUSING GROUPS WILL TELL YOU WE LACK 600,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR THE DEMAND THAT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.

I IMAGINE THE GOVERNOR WILL FRAME THIS AS MORE OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE RATHER THAN JUST A HOUSING ISSUE.

WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC THAT SHE WOULD WANT TO ADD, TOO, I'M ASSUMING.

>> YEAH.

IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS ACROSS THE STATE.

THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM THAT'S LIMITED TO NEW YORK CITY.

AS YOU HAVE JOBS COMING TO AREAS LIKE SYRACUSE WHERE THERE'S HIGH-TECH DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PROMISE OF MICRON, THERE'S AN EFFORT WHERE THERE HAS TO BE EFFORTS TO CREATE NEW HOUSING.

LAST YEAR WE SAW AN EFFORT TO EXPAND HOUSING TAX CREDIT IN NEW YORK CITY, SO-CALLED 421a CREDIT THAT ENDED UP DYING.

THEY COULDN'T COME UP WITH A NEW VERSION OF THAT PROGRAM, SO WILL THE GOVERNOR TRY TO REKINDLE THAT EFFORT, OR WILL SHE LET THE LEGISLATURE LEAD ON THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT KILLED THAT LAST YEAR.

ANOTHER ISSUE ON THE HOUSING FRONT IS WHERE IS IT ALL GOING TO GO?

IS THIS GOING TO BE A FOCUS FOR NEW YORK CITY?

IS SHE GOING TO INVEST OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY, IN UPSTATE NEW YORK?

EVEN THEED A RAN DECKS HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.

>> THERE'S THIS CRISIS OF COMPANIES COMING IN AND BUYING THESE HOUSES AND EITHER FLIPPING THEM SO THE VALUES ARE FAR TOO HIGH FOR PEOPLE TO AFFORD THAT WOULD NORMALLY LIVE THERE, OR THEY'RE BUYING THEM AND RENTING THEM OUT AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SEEING IF VRBO BUT PRIMARILY THE AIRBNB THING.

THIS PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING IN NEW YORK BUT THE HOUSING WE DO HAVE IS MORE EXPENSIVE.

YOU TALK TO A LOT MORE HOUSING PEOPLE THAN I DO, I THINK.

IS THAT A FAIR WAY TO CHARACTERIZE IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A FAIR DESCRIPTION.

AND WHAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY IS THAT YOU NEED TO INCENTIVIZE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND THAT YOU ALSO NEED, AT LEAST IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE FAR LEFT, SOME SORT OF PRICE CONTROL ON HOW MUCH HOUSING IS GOING TO COST.

SO THERE IS THIS SO-CALLED GOOD CAUSE EVICTION WHICH INCLUDES A DE FACTO LIMIT ON HOW MUCH PEOPLE CAN CHARGE IN THE FUTURE.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO TOUCH THAT PROPOSAL WITH A 10 FOOT POLE TODAY.

SO THAT WILL SET UP FOR MAYBE ONE OF THE FIGHTS OVER WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM HER ON HOUSING.

AND YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE HOUSING, I THINK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORTION IS SOMETHING THAT SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S THE STATE OF THE STATE AND NOT THE BUDGET, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WE'LL HEAR ANY DOLLARS AND CENTS BEHIND ANY PROPOSALS, MAYBE GENERIC IDEAS ABOUT MAKING TAX CREDITS EASIER TO ACCESS OR HIGHLIGHTING THE PAST INVESTMENTS AND ARGUING WE'RE GOING TO BUILD UPON THOSE SAY IN SEMICONDUCTOR SPACE.

LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

SO I THINK SHE'LL TRY TO MAKE A PIVOT TO HOW DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY AFFORD HOUSING, IT'S WITH GOOD JOBS.

>> RIGHT.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO IN THE STATE IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE DO HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN NEW YORK, BUT WE ALSO HAVE VERY HIGH MIGRATION RATE.

PEOPLE GENERALLY SEEM TO NOT WANT TO LIVE HERE LONG TERM.

AND I THINK ANY PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS THAT HAS TO COME WITH LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING FOR PEOPLE.

IT HAS TO.

>> AFFORDABILITY.

>> AFFORDABILITY.

PEOPLE ARE TAXED OUT OF THE STATE VERY OFTEN.

THEY DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE IF SHE SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CAME OUT AND KIND OF ENDORSED WHAT MAY BE A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET OR ANY OTHER NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IN THE BUDGET.

BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

WE'RE AT $13 AND CHANGE UPSTATE AND $15 IN THE SUBURBS AND NEW YORK CITY RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WOULD TAKE IT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> THIS PROPOSAL IS FLOATING AROUND.

JESSICA RAMOS INTRODUCED A BILL TO KICK IT UP TO $20 IN KNOX AND TIE FUTURE WAGES TO INFLATION OR OTHER METRICS SO THEY WOULDN'T NEED TO REVISIT THIS CONTINUAL BASIS.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WILL NOT GO FOR THAT, BUT LIKE YOU SAY, I WONDER IF SHE'S GOING TO TRY TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND.

IS THERE SOMETHING MORE MODEST THAT SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BEHIND.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK SHE MIGHT GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT IS BECAUSE DOESN'T COST THE STATE ANYTHING TO ACTUALLY DO THIS.

THIS IS JUST A POLICY THAT YOU'RE HANDING DOWN.

IT DOESN'T WEIGH INTO OUR COFFERS.

THAT IS SOMETHING SHE'LL BE CONSCIOUS OF COME THE STATE BUDGET TIME WHEN SHE WAS LIMITED RESOURCES HERE IF SHE STAYS TRUE TO HER WORD OF NOT WANTING TO RAISE TAXES.

IF SHE'S LOOKING FOR LIBERAL THINGS TO DO TO APPEASE HER BASE, THEN INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS SOMETHING SHE CAN DO WITHOUT RAISING THE STAKES AND RAISING THAT BATTLE OVER TAXES.

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS NOT THE STATE BUDGET, THIS IS JUST THE STATE OF THE STATE, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF THE THINGS IN THIS WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE STATE BUDGET, WE MAY NOT GET, YOU KNOW, EXACT INVESTMENTS OF STUFF.

WE CAN AT LEAST -- WHAT I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE IS THAT A SPEECH LIKE THIS IS A STATEMENT OF SOMEBODY'S PRIORITIES.

WHAT YOU HEAR IN HERE IS WHAT SHE'LL BE FIGHTING HARDEST FOR IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN MARCH AND APRIL.

NOW, THE PRESS GETS A STATE OF THE STATE BOOK.

IT IS MORE THAN 200 PAGES LONG.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO NOT ALL OF THAT WILL MAKE IT INTO THE SPEECH.

SO WHEN I'M WATCHING THIS, I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE ACTUALLY TOUCHES ON BECAUSE TO ME THOSE ARE EITHER THE THINGS SHE THINKS IS GOING TO GENERATE GOOD PRESS FOR HER, OR THOSE ARE THE THINGS SHE WANTS TO FOCUS ON.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

I THINK SHE CAN DO BOTH.

BUT IT'S REALLY A STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES.

AND LAST YEAR, DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE, ONE THING THAT REPUBLICANS POINTED OUT AFTERWARDS IS THAT SHE DID NOT TOUCH ON THE ISSUE OF BAIL REFORM OR CRIME IN LAST YEAR'S STATE OF THE STATE, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF SHE DOES THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THE BAIL REFORM DEBATE HAS KIND OF COOLED OFF A LITTLE BIT POST ELECTION, BUT I'M ASSUMING IT WILL COME BACK UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> YEAH.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHAT SHE IDENTIFIED AS NUMBER ONE ON HER LIST OF THINGS TO DO IN 2023 DURING HER INAUGURATION ADDRESS.

AND BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL, WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST, AND MAYBE MORE AROUND THE MARGINS THAT THEY CAN DO IN 2023 AND SOME FORM OF CHANGING THE WAY PRETRIAL DETENTION WORKS IN NEW YORK.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF SHE MAKES SOME SORT INVESTMENTS IN PRETRIAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN AN ARGUMENT THAT MORE INVESTMENT IN THOSE PROGRAM, MORE RESOURCES TO LOCALITIES ENSURES THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING THEIR TRIAL, THEIR DAY IN COURT, ARE LESS LIKELY TO COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME ALLEGEDLY.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE THAT PRESSURE THAT SHE FEELS, WHETHER IT'S POLITICAL ON HER RIGHT OR WHETHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE REALLY BELIEVES TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO KEEPING PEOPLE IN JAIL BASICALLY BEFORE THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

AND YOU KNOW, COURT ANALYSTS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE BIG PROBLEM BEHIND THAT COMES DOWN TO FUNDING.

A BIG PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN NEW YORK, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH JUDGES TO HANDLE ALL THESE CASES.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS CRIMINAL BACKLOG.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE SIT IN RIKERS ISLAND FOR THREE YEARS AT A TIME BEFORE THEY GET TO THEIR TRIAL.

I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY IF THAT WILL BE IN HER STATE OF THE STATE BECAUSE THAT COMES MORE FROM THE JUDICIARY BUDGET WHICH FOR OUR AUDIENCE CONTEXT IS PUT TOGETHER BY THE STATE COURT SYSTEM, GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR AND PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE WITHOUT ANY CHANGES.

THE ASSUMPTION IS THE COURT WILL GET THAT REQUESTED BUDGET.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE SHE GOES.

PROGRESSIVES WANT HER TO DOUBLE DOWN INVESTMENTS IN SERVICES, IN TERMS OF PRETRIAL, RE-ENTRY.

THE MORE MODERATES AND SOME CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS THINK THIS ANSWER LIES MORE IN BOOSTING FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE TO BE WITHOUT EACH OTHER, BUT IT MIGHT BE POLITICALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE SHE WANTS TO STRIKE THE BALANCE THERE.

>> I THINK SHE'LL TRY TO DO BOTH, DAN.

I THINK SHE WILL ARGUE THAT YOU NEED TO DO BOTH TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES IN NEW YORK.

AND I THINK THAT SHE MIGHT NOT SAY ANYTHING TODAY ABOUT JUDGES.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THERE THAT'S MORE SOMETHING FOR THE STATE BUDGET IF SHE ADDRESSES IT AT ALL, BUT WE'VE TALKED TO PROSECUTORS ON THE SHOW CAPITOL PRESS ROOM -- >> LOCAL NPR MEMBER STATION.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT NEEDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF IN TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS IDEA OF BEING TO THE LEFT ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND ON THE RIGHT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MAYBE SHE TALKS ABOUT GIVING PROSECUTORS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

ONE OF THE AREAS IS IMPLEMENTING DISCOVERY REFORMS THAT WERE PART OF THE 2019 CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES.

SO, THERE COULD BE TALK ABOUT THAT.

THEY'VE ALSO ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY TO HIRE MORE PROSECUTORS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW POPULAR THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE LEFT, THIS OPTICS OF SAYING HERE IS MORE MONEY TO HIRE MORE PROSECUTORS, BUT MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO SELL THAT IF SHE DECIDES THAT'S ANOTHER ROUTE SHE WANTS TO GO IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPACE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU BECAUSE I SPEAK TO PROSECUTORS ALL THE TIME.

>> AND THAT'S PERSONAL STUFF YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET OUT OF CONVICTIONS.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP AN IMAGE HERE.

THE GOVERNOR IS ABOUT TO MAKE HER ADDRESS.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE GIVING HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

SHE IS ENTERING THE STATE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER NOW.

>> COMING FROM THE REAR.

>> COMING IN FROM THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER SHAKING HANDS, SAYING HI TO PEOPLE.

IN A LOT OF WAYS THIS IS KIND OF LIKE OUR VERSION -- IT LITERALLY IS OUR VERSION OF THE STATE OF UNION.

>> BUT WE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS UNDER ANDREW CUOMO.

>> YES, THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT BECAUSE ANDREW CUOMO TOOK THE STATE OF THE STATE OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AND PUT IT INTO THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CONVENTION CENTER WHICH IS A GIANT SPACE.

ONE YEAR HE CONSTRUCTED A WOODEN REPLICA OF THE ASSEMBLY WHAT DO YOU CALL IT LECTERN, AND THEN PUT IT IN THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> SHE HUGGED HER FELLOW BUFFALO DEMOCRAT, SENATOR TIM KENNEDY, HEAD OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

NOW ON THE FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, CONTINUES TO SHAKE HANDS WITH ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING LAWMAKERS.

>> JUST A NOTE TO OUR AUDIENCE AS WE'RE GETTING STARTED WITH THE SPEECH, WE WILL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AFTER THE SPEECH AS WELL, LOOKING AT SOME OF HER PROPOSALS AND WHAT WE SAW, WHAT WE DIDN'T SEE, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

SO DON'T TURN THE DIAL, PLEASE.

>> DAN, COULD YOU IMAGINE STATE LAWMAKERS BEING EXCITED TO HUG AND GREET FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

SHE'S GETTING IT FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

INCLUDING SHE IS SAYING HIGH TO TIM PARKER, BUT NOW SHE IS SAYING GOOD-BYE TO STATE SENATOR MICHAEL GIANARIS AN OPPONENT TO ANDREW CUOMO.

A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENE FROM TWO YEARS AGO.

>> THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENERGY.

YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE AS IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

SOME VISITORS AS WELL, SOME GUESTS.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST NOTHING LIKE THIS DAY.

IN ALBANY.

IT'S REALLY THAT KIND OF DAY WHERE THERE'S SUCH AN ENERGY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

IT'S ALMOST CONTAGIOUS.

SHE JUST SHOOK THE HAND OF HER NOW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND NOW SHE'S GETTING UP TO SPEAK.

WE'LL TOSS TO HER NOW.

>>> THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, TO MY INCREDIBLE PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT, OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ANTONIO DELEGATE TOE.

LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ].

JUST LIKE ME, EVERY McDONALD'S AND HE IS TRAVELING THE STATE AND DOING AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK DR. RICHARDSON FOR THE BEAUTIFUL INVOCATION, REMINDING US OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AS WE DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY INCREDIBLE PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN NEW YORK WE HAVE EXTRAORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVANTS.

OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TISH JAMES WHO NEVER BACKS DOWN FROM A FIGHT.

OUR GREAT ATTORNEY GENERAL -- THANK YOU.

HELP US WEATHER THE FINANCIAL STORMS THAT MAY LIE AHEAD.

HE'S A GREAT PARTNER TO GET THE STATE THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES POSSIBLY.

OUR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, COUSINS.

HE STOOD HERE A YEAR AGO AND MADE HISTORY.

I THANK YOU FOR HER FRIENDSHIP.

OUR SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.

GREAT, GREAT ALLY.

GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT.

THE SPEAKER IS IN THE HOUSE.

TO MAJORITY LEADER, CRYSTAL PEOPLE STOKES WHO WE SERVED IN GOVERNMENT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

OUR MINORITY LEADER SENATOR ROBERT ORT.

I KNOW YOUR DISTRICT WELL.

LOOKING FORWARD TO DELIVERING TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.

MINORITY LEADER SIMON WILL BARKLEY IS HERE AS WELL.

I THANK YOU THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ATTENDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE WORLD AND OUR NATION AND OUR STATE WHO WE ARE.

MAYOR ADAMS, WE WORK TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY, MAJOR ADAMS.

WE HAVE MORE BATTLES AHEAD.

BUT FORTUNATELY NOT WITH EACH OTHER BUT AGAINST THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.

AND MAYORS AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE, I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I ALSO KNOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE FORMERS IN THE HOUSE.

GOVERNOR DAVID PATTERSON, YOU'RE CALLED GOVERNOR FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND MAKE A HOMETOWN FOOTBALL CALL AND THAT IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY MARK AND OUR MAYOR BYRON BROWN, THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

PLEASE STAND UP.

PLEASE STAND UP.

YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH THIS PAST YEAR, SO MUCH.

BUT I THINK A SUPER BOWL LIES AHEAD.

AND GOOD LUCK TO THE GIANTS, TOO.

AND TO MY MEMBERS OF MY CABINET, THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY -- I WANT THEM TO STAND UP, EVERY MEMBER OF MY CABINET BECAUSE WE HAVE PUSHED YOU SO HARD.

YOU HAVE WORKED SO TIRELESSLY AND YOU ARE THE TEAM THAT I CAN GOVERN THE STATE WITH AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE CABINET.

LET'S GIVE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO LABOR.

AND MANY, MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WHO TRAVELED HERE TODAY.

YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BACK IN THIS CHAMBER AND SEEING YOU.

ONE YEAR AGO I STOOD HER, GAVE THE ADDRESS.

THE SPEAKER WASN'T HERE.

WE HAD CRYSTAL PEOPLE STOKES UP HERE.

WE HAD THE LEADER.

AND WE SPOKE TO AN EMPTY AUDIENCE.

IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN THIS ONE YEAR FROM THAT TIME WHEN I LITERALLY HAD TO ADDRESS EMPTY SEATS.

BUT I DID GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, NOT A LOT THAT DAY, FROM MY LOYAL STAFF IN THE BACK WHEN I ANNOUNCED DRINKS TO GO.

SO THEY WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, ENTHUSIASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

AND TODAY I SPEAK NOT JUST DIRECTLY TO ALL OF YOU BUT TO THE PEOPLE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING.

MY FELLOW NEW YORKERS, AFTER THREE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL, TRAGIC YEARS, I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE AND SAY THAT THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG.

BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

LAST YEAR IN THE FACE OF IMMENSE HARDSHIPS AND UNCERTAINTY, WE ENDURED.

WE PROVED TO THE WORLD THAT WHEN NEW YORK GETS KNOCKED DOWN, WE ALWAYS, ALWAYS GET BACK UP.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS UPCOMING YEAR AND ABOUT THE FUTURE.

OH, WE HAVE SOME BIG CHALLENGES AHEAD.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE FIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IS ALWAYS WORTH PURSUING.

AND I'M STEELED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IF WE COME TOGETHER IN THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT AND THOSE OF US IN POSITIONS OF POWER DO WHAT'S WE NEED FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK, OUR SHARD POTENTIAL IS LIMITLESS.

AS I SAID IN MY INAUGURAL ADDRESS, WHEN WE'RE UNITED, THERE'S NO STOPPING US.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOUNTAINS YET TO BE CLIMBED, WE'RE READY TO SCALE THEM THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PEAKS WE ALREADY SUMMITED LAST YEAR.

IN 2022, WORKING WITH OUR LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF YOU, WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN, UPGRADE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUILD A WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.

CREATE STRONG PUBLIC EDUCATION.

CONFRONT CLIMATE CHANGE.

FORTIFY OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVERY FROM COVID AND SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE LANDED THE LARGEST INVESTMENTS IN STATE HISTORY, 20 BILLION FROM IBM AND $100 BILLION FROM MICRON CREATING 50,000 MUCH-NEEDED JOBS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

[ APPLAUSE ].

WE EXPEDITED TAX CUTS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, GAVE PROPERTY TAX REBATES.

WE SUSPENDED THE GAS TAX WHEN PRICES AT THE PUMP HIT RECORD LEVELS.

YOU'VE PASSED AND I'VE SIGNED OVER 840 BILLS.

THAT'S A LOT.

BUT IN RESPONSE ALSO TO TRAGEDY AND THE SPREADING PLAGUE OF GUN VIOLENCE, WE STRENGTHENED OUR GUN SAFETY LAWS, WHICH WERE ALREADY THE STRONGEST IN THE NATION.

WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT, HERE IN NEW YORK, WE REAFFIRMED OUR COMMITMENT THAT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE REMAINS A HUMAN RIGHT.

AND THOUGH WE HAD UNPRECEDENTED REVENUES AND WE WERE FLUSH WITH ONE-TIME FEDERAL AID AND THAT'S THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN WASHINGTON STARTING WITH MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, OUR SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND AND MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION, WE ALSO KNEW ON THAT BRIGHT SUNNY DAY A YEAR AGO THAT RAINY DAYS COULD BE AHEAD.

SO WE PUT MONEY AWAY.

AND LOOKING BACK, THAT WAS CLEARLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE ONE YEAR LATER, WE STAND NOW A MAJORITY OF ECONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING A RECESSION.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S CLEAR TO ME WHY WE WILL NOT BE RAISING INCOME TAXES THIS YEAR.

AND I THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR BEING PARTNERS WHEN WE ADDRESSED THOSE CHALLENGES IN 2022.

WHEN I WAS LAST YEAR I SPOKE OF THE NEW YORK DREAM, FOR GENERATIONS PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THAT DREAM WAS REALIZED BY MY FAMILY.

AND I WANT MORE NEW YORKERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT MY FAMILY HAD.

THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT.

THE GREAT FRANCES PERKINS, FDR'S LABOR SECRETARY ONCE SAID, A GOVERNMENT SHOULD AIM TO GIVE ALL THE PEOPLE UNDER ITS JURISDICTION THE BEST POSSIBLE LIFE.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE JOB.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.

AND I CANNOT STAND HERE AND SAY WE'RE DONE YET BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE SET THE TABLE FOR WHAT SHOULD BE THE MOST PROSPEROUS TIME IN NEW YORK HISTORY, IF NEW YORKERS DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A FORM OR PAY THEIR RENT, THEN THE DREAM STAYS OUT OF REACH FOR THEM.

AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SIGNS ABOUT MIGRATION THAT WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE.

SOMETHING I KNOW ALL TOO WELL FROM GROWING UP IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

TIMES WHEN JOBS WERE SO HARD TO FIND.

WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

BUT I'LL DISCUSS TODAY A BROAD OVERVIEW OF KEY POLICIES THAT WILL MAKE NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE LIVABLE AND SAFER.

SO LET ME TELL YOU JUST HOW WE PLAN TO DO THAT.

MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY HAS ALREADY BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE.

THE DAY HAS NOT GONE BY WHERE I HAVE NOT BEEN LASER FOCUSSED ON THIS OBJECTIVE.

THE PANDEMIC CAUSED SO MUCH HAVOC IN OUR STATE, IN OUR COUNTRY, IN SOCIETY.

AND HAD A PROFOUND AFFECT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT PERVASIVE UNEASE THAT WORMED ITS WAY INTO OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES, THE SOCIAL LIFE ELATION, THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS LED TO A NATIONWIDE RISE IN GUN CRIMES, IN VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE STILL COMBATTING.

AND TO RESPOND, WHAT WE SAW RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK, WE HAD TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES AND INVEST IN NEW PROGRAMS AND STRENGTHEN OUR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION LAWS.

PASSING EVEN STRONGER ONES AND CLOSING LOOPHOLES.

LIKE BANNING GHOST GUNS.

I WANT TO THANK OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR HER WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT THE RED FLAG LAWS ARE EXECUTED.

EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR GUN CRIMES.

WE HAD TOUGHER PROSECUTIONS OF GUN TRAFFICKING.

AS I MENTIONED, THE RED FLAG LAWS.

WE HAD OVER 5,000 EXTREME RISK ORDERS OF PROTECTION.

ASTRONOMICALLY HIGHER THAN BEFORE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT, 5,000 PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A GUN BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE DONE HARM SOMEWHERE ELSE WERE PREVENTED.

THAT KEPT INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM BEING HURT.

THOSE ARE THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE WORKING.

WE ALSO AFTER THE MASSACRE IN MY HOMETOWN, WE RAISED THE AGE TO 21 TO BUY A SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPON, JUST COMMON SENSE.

WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST IN THE NATION, NINE STATES, FIRST TIME IN HISTORY NINE STATES WORKING ON GUN TRAFFICKING AND GUN INTERDICTION.

THAT EFFORT TOOK OVER 10,000 ILLEGAL GUNS OFF OUR STREETS.

[ APPLAUSE ].

WE TRIPLED OUR INVESTMENTS IN GUN VIOLENCE DISRUPTION PROGRAMS ON THE STREET, CONNECTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND WE COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

FROM PUTTING MORE COPS ON THE SUBWAYS, WORKING WITH THE MAYOR, TO WORKING TO BRING DOWN BARRIERS IN PLACES LIKE ROD CHESTER AND SYRACUSE, SO STAKE HOLDERS ARE FINALLY WORKING TOGETHER AND OUR EFFORTS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO PAY OFF.

LAST YEAR WE SAW DOUBLE-DIGIT DECREASE IN BOTH HOMICIDES AND SHOOTINGS, BUT WE'RE STILL FAR FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

SO OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.

THERE HAS BEEN NO ASPECT AROUND THE DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAN BAIL REFORM.

AND AS WITH SO MUCH IN POLITICS TODAY, THE CONVERSATION QUICKLY TURNS TO A DEBATE BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING CAMPS WITH NO COMMON GROUND.

BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE CAN AGREE UPON.

FIRST, THAT THE SIZE OF SOMEONE'S BANK ACCOUNT SHOULD NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SIT IN JAIL OR GO HOME.

EVEN BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

THAT WAS THE GOAL OF BAIL REFORM.

IT WAS A RIGHTEOUS ONE.

AND I STAND BY IT.

[ APPLAUSE ].

SECOND, BAIL REFORM IS NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF A NATIONAL GUN WAVE OR A CRIME WAVE.

IT WAS CREATED BY A CONVERGENCE OF FACTOR, INCLUDING THE PANDEMIC, ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT ALSO, I WOULD SAY WE CAN AGREE THAT THE BAIL REFORM LAW AS WRITTEN LEAVES ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AND AS LEADERS, WE CANNOT IGNORE THAT WHEN WE HEAR SO OFTEN FROM NEW YORKERS THAT THEIR TOP CONCERN IS CRIME.

AND SO TO MY PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT, IN THE LEGISLATURE, LET'S START WITH THIS BASE OF SHARED UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION, NOT THIS, BUT THIS.

AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT LAW.

OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT WON'T AUTOMATICALLY BRING DOWN CRIME RATES.

WE DON'T EXPECT THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE LAW IS CLEAR FOR OUR JUDGES AND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AND WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE.

BUT THE SAME TIME WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE MAKING RECORD INVESTMENTS, IN AREAS WHERE IT AFFECTS THE OUTCOMES.

EDUCATION, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, ALL OF THESE GO TOWARDS STABILIZING COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESSING HISTORIC INEQUITIES.

THOSE INVESTMENTS MUST CONTINUE.

I'M ALSO PROPOSING THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER IN A STATE GUN-INVOLVED VIOLENCE ELIMINATION INITIATIVE KNOWN AS GIVE.

IT'S SAVES LIVES IN THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY GUN VIOLENCE.

TO SIMPLY PUT IT, WE'RE WORKING ON AND INVESTING IN WHAT WE KNOW WORKS.

SHOOTINGS IN BUFFALO ARE DOWN 32%.

MAYOR BROWN, YOU KNOW THIS.

YOU'RE WORKING HARD.

IN LONG ISLAND, THEY'RE DOWN 29%.

IN WEST CHESTER, DOWN 27%.

THESE ARE ALL GIVE-PROGRAM JURISDICTIONS WHERE WE'RE PUTTING STATE MONEY TO HELP OUR LOCALS ON THE GROUND.

I'VE ALSO DIRECTED OUR STATE POLICE TO PLAY A MORE DIRECT ROLE AS THEY STARTED LAST YEAR.

THERE'S MORE THEY CAN DO.

WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE RANKS OF OUR STATE POLICE.

IN COMBATTING VIOLENCE CRIME ACROSS COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE STATE POLICE COMMUNITY STABILIZATION UNITS TO 25 TARGETED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND PROTECTING THEIR WELL BEING, FIXING NEW YORK STATE'S MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL AND LONG OVERDUE.

[ APPLAUSE ].

EVEN BEFORE COVID, THE RATES OF MENTAL ILLNESS HAD BEEN ON THE RISE.

BUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, MORE THAN 1 IN 3 NEW YORKERS HAVE EITHER SOUGHT MENTAL HEALTH CARE OR KNOW ONE WHO HAS.

THAT'S STAGGERING.

AND THE FACT THAT TOO MANY CAN'T GET IT.

THE BARRIERS JUST SEEM ENDLESS.

NO APPOINTMENTS CLOSE TO HOME.

INSURANCE WON'T COFFER THE CARE.

LONG AWAITS FOR PSYCHIATRIC BEDS IN HOSPITALS.

WHAT HAPPENS?

PEOPLE SUFFER IN SILENCE, ILLNESS GROWS WHEN IT'S NOT TREATED.

SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ALSO CONTINUES TO GROW.

WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR SO LONG AND ALLOWED THE SITUATION TO BECOME SO DIRE THAT IT ALSO HAS BECOME A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AS WELL.

NEW YORKERS ARE ANXIOUS ON THE SUBWAYS AND IN OUR STREETS WHEN THEY SEE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP.

PEOPLE UNABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES PROPERLY.

PEOPLE COULD CAUSE HARM TO THEMSELVES OR OTHER.

NOT ALL, JUST SOME, A FEW.

BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALSO AT RISK OF BEING VICTIMIZED THEMSELVES.

SO I'M DECLARING THE AIR OF IGNORING THE NEEDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS OVER.

BECAUSE OUR SUCCESS AS GOVERNMENT LEADERS IS MEASURED BY OUR ABILITY TO LIFT UP AND SUPPORT ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

SO TODAY MARKS THE REVERSAL IN THE STATE'S APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

THIS IS A MONUMENTAL SHIFT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THIS WILL BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE THE DEINSTITUTIONAL AREA OF THE 1970s.

AND I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL WE'RE PREPARED TO INVEST $1 BILLION, MAKING CRITICAL POLICY CHANGES TO FULLY MEET THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

OUR PEOPLE NEED THIS.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE CALLING ON US TO DO THIS.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

LET'S GET IT DONE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 3,200 NEW YORKERS STRUGGLING WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTION, WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS OR IN OUR SUBWAYS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS AND SERVICES.

WE WILL ADD 1,000 INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS BY FUNDING 150 FROM THE STATE AND BRINGING 850 PSYCH BEDS IN HOSPITALS BACK ONLINE.

BECAUSE THAT WILL BE HALF -- THAT IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE BEDS WE LOST SINCE 2014 WHEN ALL THE DISINVESTMENT WAS HAPPENING.

AND THEY'LL SERVE OVER 10,000 NEW YORKERS EVERY YEAR.

THESE ACTIONS ARE LONG OVERDUE.

BUT HERE IS THE CHALLENGE, LAST YEAR IF WE WERE ASKED TO INCREASE HOSPITAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO ENABLE MORE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS WE BROUGHT BACK ONLINE.

WE DID THAT.

MY PARTNERS, ALL OF YOU, $27.5 MILLION PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE HOSPITALS TO BRING PSYCHIATRIC BEDS BACK ONLINE.

YET A YEAR LATER, HUNDREDS OF THOSE BEDS ARE STILL OFFLINE.

AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO INSIST THEY COME BACK ONLINE.

I'LL ENSURE FULL COOPERATION IN MEETING THESE OBJECTIVES.

THIS IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE AND A PUBLIC SAFETY IMPERATIVE.

WE'LL ALSO INVEST IN SERVICES TO ALLOW PATIENTS TO BE REINTEGRATED IN A WAY THAT'S SAFE FOR THEM AND SAFE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

FOR OUR INPATIENT BEDS DON'T GET BACKED UP BECAUSE MORE APPROPRIATE OUTPATIENT CARE IS UNAVAILABLE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL PREVENTION AND RECOVERY.

THAT'S WHY MY PLAN PROPOSES BUILDING 3,500 RESIDENTIAL UNITS SUPPORTED BY INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PATIENTS MOVE FROM ONE KIND OF CARE TO THE OTHER THEY DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND.

THEY DON'T FALL OFF.

OUR PLAN REQUIRES FACILITIES TO DISCHARGE HIGH RISK PATIENTS INTO INTENSETIVE, WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

WRAP AROUND SERVICES NOW.

I'LL PROPOSE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES CANNOT BE PROHIBITED FROM COVERING THESE SERVICES.

THEY CAN NO LONGER DENY MENTAL HEALTH, CRITICAL LIFE-SAVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE ON OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE TOO MANY SCHOOLS PROVIDE NO LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

AND OUR CHILDREN NEED PREVENTIVE SERVICES NOW TO STOP THEM FROM NEEDING INTENSIVE SERVICES IN THE FUTURE.

WE AIM TO MEET THIS NEED AND REDUCE IT BY HALF OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS DONE.

AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD WITH BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES OR ADULT SUFFERING FROM SEVERE DEPRESSION, NO ONE SHOULD GO WITHOUT A SCREENING OR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR COUNSELLING AND COSTS SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE A BARRIER.

AND THAT INCLUDES THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION, ESPECIALLY THOSE STRUGGLING WITH OPIOIDS.

THERE'S TOO MANY FAMILIES INCLUDING MY OWN WHO ENDURED THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

THAT'S WHY WE'LL DO MORE.

WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL, LOCAL PARTNERS TO STOP THE FLOW OF ELICIT DRUGS INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, ADDRESS THE NEW DEADLY ADDITIVES.

WE'LL SEND RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO HARD TO SHUT DOWN THE FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO OUR STREETS.

AND WE'LL KEEP EXPANDING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY SO THEY CAN DETECT DEADLY ADDITIVES LIKE FENTANYL BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN USED.

THAT'S HOW YOU SAVE LIVES.

AND WE CAN REVERSE OVERDOSES.

I'LL CREATE A NEW INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE THAT WILL EXAMINE EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE SOLUTION AND COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE WE MUST MEET THIS CRISIS WITH THE URGENCY THAT IT DEMANDS.

AT THE OUTSET I SAID WE HAVE TO WORK ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NEW YORKERS.

BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IMPROVING SOMEONE'S QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

INFLATION IS SOARING.

PRICES GOING UP ON EVERYTHING THAT FAMILIES NEED TO BUY FOR THEIR KIDS, DIAPERS, FORMULA, SNEAKERS.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, HOW DO YOU PAY THE MONTHLY RENT OR THE MORTGAGE?

IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING FOR OUR FAMILIES.

SO WE'LL TALK NOW ABOUT EVERYONE'S LARGEST EXPENSE, HOUSING.

AND I THINK ABOUT MY OWN FAMILY'S STORY.

MY FAMILY STARTED MARRIED LIFE IN A TRAILER PARK ON MY DAD'S SALARY.

THEY EVENTUALLY MOVED TO AN UPSTAIRS FLAT, TINY BUT HELD A FEW OTHER KIDS.

THEY HAD A FEW MORE KIDS AND THEY EVENTUALLY MOVED TO A TINY CAPE COD.

BUT AS WE GREW OLDER, MY DAD CHANGED JOBS.

I WATCHED MY PARENT'S SUCCESS UNFOLD THROUGH THE PROGRESSION OF HOMES THEY COULD AFFORD.

AND THEY ALSO KNEW HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING WAS.

THEY RAISED US TO FIGHT FOR CHANGE.

MY PARENTS WERE ACTIVISTS.

BACK IN THE '60ED, A LOT OF MARCHES, A LOT OF PROTESTS.

AND THEY VOLUNTEERED FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL, WHICH IT JUST STARTED BACK THEN.

I ASSURE YOU WHERE I LIVED IT WAS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL THING TO DO.

BUT MY PARENTS SAID, EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT.

AND THEY UNDERSTOOD FOR SOCIETY TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL, EQUAL ACCESS TO HOUSING IS A MUST.

BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S NOT SUFFICIENT HOUSING PEOPLE AT ALL INCOME LEVELS STRUGGLE.

IF THINGS GET BAD, THEY LEAVE.

THEY SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE.

OVER THE LAST DECADE, NEW YORK STATE HAS CREATED 1.2 MILLION JOBS.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT ONLY BUILT 400,000 HOUSES.

MANY FORCES LED TO THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS, BUT FRONT AND CENTER OUR LOCAL LAND USE POLICIES THAT ARE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE NATION.

THROUGH ZONING AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO HOLD ENORMOUS POWER TO BLOCK GROWTH BETWEEN FULL BANS ON MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND ONEROUS HOUSING AND THEY MAKE IT DIFFICULT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD NEW HOMES.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE.

THEY HAVE JOBS HERE.

BECAUSE OF LOCAL DECISIONS TO LIMIT GROWTH, THEY CANNOT.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN AND SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I SPENT 14 YEARS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MANY OF YOU CAME THROUGH THAT ROUTE AS WELL.

AND OUR COMMUNITY HAD A CITIZEN-DRIVEN MASTER PLAN THAT ALLOWED FOR TARGETED HOUSING AND ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILE PRESERVING GREEN SPACE.

SO I KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN.

BETWEEN 2010 AND 2018, NASSAU, SUFFOLK, WEST CHESTER, PUTNAM COUNTIES EACH GRANTED FEWER HOUSING PERMITS PER CAPITA THAN VIRTUALLY ALL THE SUBURBAN COUNTIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

WHEN IT COMES TO NEW YORK CITY, OTHER METRO AREAS ARE CREATING HOUSING TWO TO THREE RATES THE TIME THAN WE ARE.

BOSTON IS ALMOST DOUBLE.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

TRIPLE.

SEATTLE FOUR TIMES.

SO WITH LESS SUPPLY, DEMAND DRIES UP, WHO GETS SQUEEZED?

MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES LOOKING TO MOVE UP, LOW INCOME FAMILIES, CAN'T GET THE STARTER HOME ANYMORE.

THAT'S WHY SINCE BECOMING GOVERNOR, HOUSING HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER OF MY AGENDA.

THE BUDGET WE WORKED ON TOGETHER, WE PASSED IT.

FIVE-YEAR, 25-BILLION PLAN TO CREATE AND BUILD 100,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES.

THAT'S THE SINGLE LARGEST HOUSING INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

WE UNLOCKED BILLIONS FOR NYCHA.

MAKING SURE VULNERABLE RENTERS HAD THE REPRESENTATION THEY NEEDED IN COURT.

WE INVESTED $539 MILLION IN THE HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND.

WE MADE $100 MILLION IN RENT SUPPLEMENTS AVAILABLE.

SO WE'VE DONE ALL THIS TOGETHER.

I WANT TO THANK LEADER COUSINS AND SPEAKER HASTY FOR ALSO PRIORITIZING HOUSING.

THEY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

THEY RIGHTLY RECOGNIZE THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO FIND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO US FOR BOLD LEADERSHIP.

DECISIVE ACTION IS CALLED FOR NOW.

TODAY, I'M PROUD TO SPRO DEUCE THE NEW YORK HOUSING COMPACT.

A GROUND-BREAKING STRATEGY TO CAT LYSE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WE NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE, FOR OUR ECONOMY TO GROW AND OUR STATE TO PROSPER.

THE COMPACT PULLS TOGETHER A BROAD MENU OF POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL COLLECTIVELY ACHIEVE THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF 800,000 NEW HOMES BUILT OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

THE COMPACT SETS CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GROWTH WE NEED WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GIVING LOCALITIES THE TOOLS, THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE RESOURCES TO STIMULATE THAT GROWTH.

EVERY SINGLE LOCALITY ACROSS THE STATE WILL HAVE A TARGET FOR BUILDING NEW HOMES.

UP STATE, THE TARGET FOR THE CURRENT HOUSING STOCK TO GROW 1% EVERY THREE YEARS.

BELIEVE ME IT'S VERY MANAGEABLE.

DOWN STATE, 3% EVERY THREE YEARS.

MANY LOCALITIES ARE ALREADY HITTING THESE GOALS.

ALREADY HITTING THESE GOALS.

MANY OTHERS ARE JUST FALLING A LITTLE BIT SHORT.

AND FOR OUR SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES, JUST LITERALLY A HANDFUL OF NEW HOMES WILL HELP US HIT OUR STATEWIDE TARGET.

BUT THE REALITY IS, THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO AFFECT REAL CHANGE TO BUILD THE HOMES WE NEED.

SO IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN MEET THESE TARGETS ANY WAY THEY WANT.

THEY CAN SHAPE BUILDING CAPACITY, CAN REDEVELOP OLD MALLS, OLD BUILDINGS, OFFICE PARKS, INCENTIVIZE NEW HOUSING PRODUCTION OR JUST UPDATE THE ZONING RULES TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS.

WE KNOW THIS IS A BIG ASK.

THAT'S WHY LOCALITIES WILL GET HELP FROM THE STATE.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.

WE HAVE TO GET IT DONE.

WE WILL OFFER SUBSTANTIAL NEW FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS, SEWERS ALL NEEDED TO SUPPORT GROWING COMMUNITIES.

AND WE'LL CUT THE RED TAPE TO ALLOW PROJECTS TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY WHILE STILL PROTECTING THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT WHEN COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT MADE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO GROW, WHEN PROPOSED HOUSING PROJECTS ARE LANGE WISHING, FOR NO LEGITIMATE REASON, THE STATE WILL IMPLEMENT A FAST-TRACK APPROVAL PROCESS BECAUSE DOING NOTHING, DOING NOTHING IS AN ABDICATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

HOUSING CONTRACT IS ALSO LASER FOCUSSED ON TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

WE ALL KNOW THE MTA IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN REGION.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVEST AND ENSURE THE MTA'S LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

OUR INVESTMENTS HAVE CREATED VIBRANT DOWNTOWNS AND THAT'S WHY IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE TO BUILD NEW HOUSING IN THOSE SAME AREAS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN CITY ACE CROSS THE GLOBE.

AS PART OF MY COMPACT, ANY MUNICIPALITY WITH A TRAIN STATION WILL REZONE THE AREA WITHIN A HALF MILE TO ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF NEW HOUSING WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

FINALLY, WE CANNOT, CANNOT MEET THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING WITHOUT AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM LIKE WE HAD WITH 421a IN NEW YORK CITY.

WITHOUT IT, DEVELOPERS ARE ONLY BUILDING CONDOMINIUMS.

OR BUILD ELSEWHERE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE RESULT WE NEED TO MEET OUR HOUSING GOALS.

WE WILL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO COME UP WITH A REPLACEMENT FOR THIS CRITICAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

WE HAVE TO.

OVERALL, THIS PLAN IS AMBITIOUS, BUT THAT'S WHAT NEW YORKERS EXPECT FROM THEIR LEADERS.

TODAY I SAY NO MORE DELAY.

NO MORE WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

AND ENSURING -- AND ENSURING ENOUGH HOUSING IS BUILT IS HOW WE PROTECT THAT RIGHT.

THE SAYING IS, NEVER LET A GOOD CRISIS GO TO WASTE AND WE WILL NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WE JUST NEED EVERYONE AND EVERY COMMUNITY TO DO THEIR PART.

SO PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE CAN AND THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

SOLVING OUR HOUSING CRISIS WILL BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN MAKING OUR STATE MORE AFFORDABLE.

BUT AS PART OF A BROADER APPROACH, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS WORRY ABOUT PAYING THEIR ENERGY BILLS BECAUSE RATES ARE AT RECORD HIGHS.

DRIVEN BY GEOPOLITICAL FORCES OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL BUT HITTING OUR WALLETS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

AND THIS WINTER, WE'RE FACING ENERGY COSTS 20 TO 30% HIGHER THAN JUST LAST YEAR.

THAT FORCES SO MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND OTHER FAMILIES TO SAY DO I KEEP THE THERMOSTAT UP TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE?

WHAT A HORRIBLE CHOICE.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

DOESN'T HELP THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS THE OLDEST HOUSES IN AMERICA.

SOME OF THE OLDEST FOR SURE.

THEY'RE LESS INSULATED.

THEY'RE HARDER TO HEAT AND HAVE HIGHER GREENHOUSE OMISSIONS.

IN FACT, BUILDINGS ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE OMISSIONS IN OUR STATE, ACCOUNTING FOR ONE THIRD OF OUR GREENHOUSE GAS OUTPUT.

ALSO STRESSES THE POLLUTION, CAUSES ASTHMA AND ENDANGERS OUR KIDS.

SO TODAY I'M PROPOSING ANOTHER SERIES OF PROPOSALS TO INSULATE OUR MOST VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS FROM EXORBITANT ENERGY COSTS AND CLEAR THE PATH FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

WE'RE CALLING THE EMPOWER PLUS PROGRAM.

IT WILL HELP LOW INCOME FAMILIES RETRO FIT THEIR HOMES BY ADDING INSULATION, UPGRADING APPLIANCES, SWITCHING FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO CLEAN ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEMS.

AND THIS PROGRAM WILL REACH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN A YEAR.

AND, HOMES THAT ELECTRIFY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST IN THE NATION ENERGY AFFORDABILITY GUARANTEE.

A PROMISE THAT THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TO SPEND MORE THAN 6% OF THEIR INCOME ON ELECTRICITY.

WE ALSO WANT TO REDUCE THE OVERALL BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS, SO PROVIDING AT LEAST $165 MILLION IN RELIEF FOR OVER 800,000 NEW YORKERS.

WE KNOW THAT LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR WALLETS AND FOR OUR PLANET COMES FROM WEANING OURSELVES FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

AND TO SET US ON THAT PATH, I'M PROPOSING A PLAN TO END THE SALE OF NEW FOSSIL-POWERED HEATING EQUIPMENT BY 2030, BY CALLING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION TO BE ZERO EMISSION STARTING IN 2025 FOR SMALL BUILDINGS AND 2028 FOR LARGE BUILDINGS.

AND WE'RE TAKING THESE STEPS NOW BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE REMAINS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR PLANET.

BUT ALSO TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

IN 2019, THIS LEGISLATURE AGGRESSIVE MANDATES AND DEADLINES FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS.

AND NOW WE'RE EXECUTING ON THAT PLAN.

OF COURSE WE MUST DO IT THOUGHTFULLY IN A WAY THAT PRIORITIZING AFFORDABILITY, PROTECTS THOSE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO GET BY AND CORRECTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES OF THE PAST.

AND WITH THIS IN MIND, WE'RE PURSUING A NATION-LEADING CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM TO CAP GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS, INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY AND PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF OUR FAMILIES.

BIG EMITTERS WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE PERMITS TO SELL POLLUTING FUELS.

THE DIRTIER THE FUEL, THE BIGGER THE PRICE TAG.

AND THE INVEST PART OF THE PROGRAM WILL ACCELERATE THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION AND INCLUDE UNIVERSAL CLIMATE ACTION REBATES THAT PROVIDE OVER $1 BILLION THE REVENUE WE BRING IN TO ALLOCATE TO LOWER UTILITY BILLS AND COVER TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND OTHER DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP OUR NEW YORKERS.

THAT'S HOW WE HELP NEW YORKERS GET THROUGH THE TRANSITION.

AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT CAP AND INVEST BECAUSE IT HAS GREAT FLEXIBILITY SO WE CAN FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THE BIGGEST POLLUTERS AT THE SAME TIME ENSURE OUR FAMILIES, OUR FARMERS, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AREN'T CRUSHED BY THE COSTS.

AND WE'LL HELP FAMILIES WITH ENERGY COSTS TRANSITION TO THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT FUTURE BELONGS TO OUR KIDS.

AND AS THE FIRST MOTHER TO LEAD THIS STATE, I KNOW FIRSTHAND -- I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE CAN DO TO A FAMILY.

BUT AS A GOVERNOR, I ALSO KNOW THE IMPACT ON OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

MORE THAN 35 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG STAFFER WORKING FOR SENATOR DAN.

I LOVED MY JOB.

BUT THERE WERE NO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO MY FAMILY.

SO I PUT MY CAREER ON HOLD.

RAISED THE FAMILY.

AND SO OFTEN WE KNOW IT'S THE MOMS IN PARTICULAR WHO ARE FORCED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

AND WITH THAT EXPERIENCE I WAS SO PROUD WE WORKED TOGETHER LAST YEAR TO ANNOUNCE $7 BILLION OVER FOUR YEARS TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE IN OUR BUDGET.

WE WORKED TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE BROUGHT DOWN OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR MORE FAMILIES.

WE EXPANDED CARE IN AREAS THAT WERE SEVERELY LACKING.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, TOO MANY FAMILIES JUST AREN'T ACCESSING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONLY 10% OF FAMILIES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE ARE ACTUALLY ENROLLED.

NOW, IT MAY BE THAT IT'S THE LEGACY OF THE SYSTEM THAT WAS BY DESIGN DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.

THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

OUR PLAN WILL STREAMLINE AND CENTRALIZE THE CHILD CARE APPLICATION PROCESS, WILL ALSO EXPAND MORE ACCESS TO VULNERABLE FAMILIES, WILL INCREASE INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR MORE FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AS THEIR INCOMES INCREASE, BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR HARD-WORKING, UNBELIEVABLE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WHO ALLOW US ALL TO GET DONE WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THEY'RE INDISPENSABLE.

INDISPENSABLE.

NOW WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, TALKED ABOUT A LOT TODAY.

BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO TACKLE THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS HEAD ON, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE LOW-WAGE WORKERS THAT WE REPRESENT ACROSS THIS STATE RURAL, SUBURBAN, URBAN, THEY'RE ALL OVER.

THEY'VE BEEN THE HARDEST HIT BY INFLATION.

THE AVERAGE COST OF GOODS AND ENERGY FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS JUMPED OVER 13% OVER TWO YEARS, AND THEY WERE BARELY MAKING IT BEFORE.

THIS PUSHES OUR FAMILIES ALREADY ON THE MARGINS TO THE BREAKING POINT.

SO AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, I'M PROPOSING A PLAN TO MINIMUM COST TO INFLATION.

COSTS GO UP, SO WILL WAGES.

SO WILL WAGES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR FAMILIES DESERVE THIS.

AND LIKE OTHER STATES THAT IMPLEMENTED THIS POLICY, WE'LL PUT ON GUARDRAILS TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYERS, THE INCREASES ARE PREDICTABLE FOR THEM.

I UNDERSTAND THIS.

WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN THE EVENT OF A RECESSION.

BUT THIS IMPORTANT CHANGE WILL GIVE OVER 900,000 MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS A LIFELINE.

AND THESE WORKERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE WOMEN.

MANY TIMES MOMS.

THE STRUGGLES ARE SO GREAT.

AND MORE LIKELY BE PEOPLE OF COLOR EARNING THE LOWEST WAGES IN OUR STATE.

BY PUTTING MORE MONEY BACK IN THEIR POCKETS, IT HELPS OUR ECONOMY OVERALL.

IT GOES BACK INTO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES.

WHEN THEY GO TO THE STORES.

THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP THINGS GOING.

THESE INITIATIVES AND POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS AND NEW APPROACHES ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

BUT I'VE KEPT YOU LONG ENOUGH.

WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME TODAY ARE JUST SOME OF MY TOP PRIORITIES AS WE IMPROVE THE LIVES OF NEW YORKERS, BUT THIS IS NO WAY AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.

IN FACT, I KNOW MOST OF YOU CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE 275-PAGE BOOK, 147 POLICY PROPOSALS, THANK YOU MICHAEL ASHER AND MY DREAM TEAM AND MY ENTIRE CABINET FOR HELPING MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WITHOUT FOR MY STAFF IN THE HALL.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY SLEEP.

THEY'RE EXHAUSTED.

THEY WORKED SO HARD ON THIS.

I'M THANKFUL.

I'M GRATEFUL.

BUT TO RECAP, MY GOALS ARE STRAIGHT FORWARD AND CLEAR.

WE WILL MAKE NEW YORK SAFER.

WE WILL MAKE NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE.

WE WILL CREATE MORE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEW YORKERS OF TODAY AND THE NEW YORKERS OF TOMORROW.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE DOORS TO MORE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.

ESPECIALLY THOSE HISTORICALLY BLOCKED FROM EQUAL CHANCES OF SUCCESS.

AND AS OTHER STATES SLIDE BACKWARDS WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING BASIC FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSHRINE AND PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE NATION LEADING.

THE TASK AHEAD OF US MAY SOUND DAUNTING.

THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER.

BUT I'M FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A HOME ONCE OCCUPIED BY ONE OF OUR GREAT LEADERS AND THINKERS NAMED ROOSEVELT.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ONCE SAID -- [ APPLAUSE ].

YOU WHO ARE GOING TO BUILD A NEW WORLD MUST GO FORWARD WITH COURAGE.

WE WILL BUILD A NEW WORLD.

AND WE WILL BE COURAGEOUS.

WE WILL DO THE HARD THINGS, THE NECESSARY THINGS TO LIFT UP AND SUPPORT NEW YORKERS.

AND CLEAR A PATH FOR THEM TO REALIZE THE NEW YORK DREAM.

THAT IS MY PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK.

AND I WILL WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THIS LEGISLATURE DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO KEEP THAT PROMISE.

MY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK, AND MY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

THANK YOU.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ].

>>> WE JUST HEARD FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ON HER SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN ALBANY IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

THERE'S A STANDING OVATION THERE FROM DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE I'M SEEING ON THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

I CAN'T SEE THE REPUBLICANS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING FOR A MORE TRADITIONAL THEY STAY SEATED AND DEMOCRATS APPLAUD STYLE.

JUST FOR OUR LISTENERS ON PUBLIC RADIO, IT IS 2:00 P.M. AND YOU ARE LISTENING TO COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER IN ALBANY.

I'M JOINED IN OUR STUDIO IN ALBANY BY DAVID LOMBARDO HOST OF THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM.

DAVE, THANKS AS ALWAYS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> IT WAS A SPEECH LIGHT ON DETAILS BUT FULL OF BIG IDEAS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

BIG THING THAT JUMPED OUT TO ME, I MEAN, NEAR THE END OF THE SPEECH WAS THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE, TO A NUMBER WE DON'T KNOW JUST YET OR SHE MAY KEEP IT STAGNANT AT THE 15 AND TIE IT TO INFLATION.

NOW, WHEN WE WERE -- WHEN WE PASSED THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE IN NEW YORK IN, GEEZ, 2015, SOMEWHERE RIGHT AROUND THERE.

>> YEP.

>> THE REPUBLICANS HELD THE STATE SENATE.

SO IT WAS A TOUGHER LIFT TO GET THAT.

BUT YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION THIS TIME WITH DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME THAT THAT GOT A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FROM DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN THE ROOM.

IT GOT A STANDING OVATION.

I NOTICED THAT THE SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE CHAIR JESSICA RAMOS STOOD AND THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE SHE HAS HER OWN PROPOSAL WHICH IS MUCH MORE AMBITIOUS THAN THIS.

LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, WHILE THEY ARE BOTH TIED TO THE COST OF LIVING IN THE FUTURE, THE SENATOR'S PROPOSAL WOULD INCLUDE ABOUT A $5 AN HOUR INCREASE TO START THINGS OFF.

SO THIS SETS UP FOR AN INTERESTING BACK AND FORTH DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AND SIGNIFIES THAT, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN NEW YORK.

THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT AND WHEN WILL IT START TO GET PHASED IN I THINK IS REALLY JUST THE BIG QUESTION.

>> RIGHT.

I WOULD IMAGINE IF THEY DID SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE WOULDN'T SEE AN INCREASE UNTIL 2024 AT THE EARLIEST.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE OPTIMISTIC.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN A POSITION IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT BUSINESSES DON'T ALWAYS LOVE BEING HERE.

WE TAX THEM AT HIGHER RATES THAN OTHER STATES AND WE PROVIDE INCENTIVES LIKE THE BIG MICRON DEAL OUTSIDE OF SYRACUSE THAT THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE SPEECH, 50,000 NEW JOBS.

THAT COMPANY JUST HAD LAYOFFS.

SO WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

SO THAT'S THE COST OF LIVING CONVERSATION.

I DIDN'T SEE ALL THAT MUCH OUTSIDE OF THAT ON COST OF LIVING.

I THINK IT WAS SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE OTHER PROPOSALS.

AND THE BIG HEADLINE OUTSIDE OF THE MINIMUM WAGE I THINK IS A BIG DEAL, BUT THE BIG HEADLINE I THINK WAS THE HOUSING PLAN.

AND AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE WERE THINKING OF, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH A FEW OF MY NOTES HERE, SHE HAS A PLAN TO CREATE 800,000 NEW UNITS OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

AND SHE NOTED THAT THE STATE HAS ONLY CREATED 400,000 OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON INVESTMENTS FOR SURE.

AND THIS PLAN ALSO CREATES THIS REALLY INTERESTING SYSTEM WHERE THE STATE -- I DIDN'T HEAR THE WORD MANDATE, BUT THE STATE IS GOING TO SET GOALS, HOUSING GOALS, FOR EVERY LOCALITY THAT HAS ZONING CONTROL.

AND I IMAGINE THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST NEWS FOR SOME LOCALITIES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT MAKES ME THINK OF THE PRESS BRIEFING WE GOT PRIOR TO THIS SPEECH, EMBARGOED BRIEFING WHERE WE GOT A SNEAK PEEK AT SOME OF THIS HOUSING STUFF.

AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT OUR CAPITOL COLLEAGUE ASKED WAS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL CHALLENGES.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WITH MANDATES FROM THE STATE WHERE YOU WANT TO SUPERSEDE LOCAL CONTROL.

AND LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE OF CHANGING LOCAL ZONING RULES TO ALLOW FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, ESSENTIALLY THESE IN-LAW APARTMENTS IN SOME CASES AND SHE PULLED OFF -- SHE BACKED AWAY FROM THAT POLICY WHEN SHE FACED OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THIS PROPOSAL IS SOMETHING THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THAT EXPERIENCE IN 2022, THAT SHE IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE FORCING ANYTHING DOWN ANYONE'S THROATS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE INCENTIVES.

THERE'S GOING TO BE GOALS.

I THINK THE ONE AREA WHERE WE SAW THE POSSIBILITY FOR MANDATES HAS TO DO WITH TRANSIT HUBS, ESSENTIALLY MAKING THEM MORE HOUSING FRIENDLY THAN THEY ARE NOW.

THE BIG TAX CREDIT IN NEW YORK CITY THAT EXPIRED LAST YEAR 421a WHICH INCENTIVIZES AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHE WANTS TO HAVE A SUCCESSOR BUT SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE LEADING THE WAY ON THAT, THAT SHE'S GOING TO WORK WITH HER FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CRAZY ABOUT THIS.

SO I THINK WHATEVER THEY'RE WILLING TO DO, THAT'S WHAT SHE'S REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO ACCEPT.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN ALBANY THAT SHE ALSO TOUCHED ON AT THE TOP OF HER SPEECH.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WITH THE IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.

SHE MENTIONED HOW THEY HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

THAT'S NOT TYPICAL OF GOVERNORS AND MAYORS A LOT OF THE TIME.

THE INTERESTING DYNAMIC HERE IS THAT THE MAYOR HAS A BIT OF TENSION WITH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES, PARTICULARLY TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS THAT DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE DON'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT.

AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT SHE BROUGHT UP AS WELL, CHANGING THE BAIL LAW, THE WAY THAT SHE SAID SHE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE IT IS TO ELIMINATE THIS LANGUAGE THAT WAS PUT IN THE BAIL LAW WHERE FOR BAIL-ELIGIBLE CHARGES, JUDGES HAVE TO -- WOULD HAVE TO USE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS.

THAT'S HOW IT'S SAID IN THE STATE LAW.

AND THAT WAS CREATING SITUATIONS WHERE JUDGES THOUGHT THAT THEY COULDN'T SET BAIL FOR SOMEBODY BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS.

SO THIS WOULD KIND OF GIVE JUDGES A MORE CLEAR DIRECTION ON THAT.

DO YOU SEE IT BEING ANOTHER BIG ARGUMENT THIS YEAR?

>> YES, DAN.

YES, I DO.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WHEN YOU POINTED OUT THE DYNAMIC.

I THINK THE DYNAMIC THAT I WAS STRUCK BY AND COME BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY A BUFFALO BILL'S STATE AND THE NEW YORK GIANTS ARE AN AFTERTHOUGHT AS SHE MADE CLEAR BY HER GOOD LUCK TO THE GIANTS, TOO, COMMENT.

I THINK THIS PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM HER AND SHE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT LOOKING FOR A CONSENSUS, SPLITTING THE BABY IN HALF IS GOING TO MAKE NO ONE HAPPY, TO HER IDEA ABOUT INCREASING STATE POLICE RANKS WHILE MAYBE THAT'S A GREAT POLICY IDEA, THE LEFT IS NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS IDEA THAT YOU WANT TO POLICE YOUR WAY OUT OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT CHANGES TO THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE LANGUAGE, I READ THE BRIEFING BOOK, THAT WILL APPLY TOWARD MORE VIOLENT CRIMES.

YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS FROM THE LEFT THAT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE STAY BEHIND BARS FOR CRIMES THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF.

IT'S ALL GOING TO FALL SHORT OF WHAT REPUBLICANS WANT, WHETHER THAT'S A POLITICAL TAX OR WHETHER THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY BELIEVE.

SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO BE SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THIS, INCLUDING LOOKING TO TRIPLE FUNDING TO THE AID TO PROSECUTION PROGRAM IN ORDER TO HIRE HUNDREDS OF NEW PROSECUTORS AROUND THE STATE.

>> RIGHT.

>> PROSECUTORS ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

MAKE THEIR OFFICES FUNCTION BET E BUT HER LEFT BLANK IS NOT GOING TO BE TOO WILD ABOUT THIS.

>> THOUGH IT'S INTERESTING.

I COVERED BAIL REFORM WHEN I WAS WORKING AT A NEWSPAPER BEFORE THIS.

>> YOU KILLED IT.

>> I KILLED IT.

>> CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE SENSE THAT I GOT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IS THAT IF YOU INVESTED IN PROSECUTORS, THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER ABOUT THE BAIL REFORM AND THE DISCOVERY REFORM BECAUSE A BIG PROBLEM IS THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO PROCESS A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

SO, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF MAYBE PROGRESSIVES AREN'T THAT UPSET ABOUT NEW FUNDING FOR PROSECUTORS.

THAT'S THE THING.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON PAPER, THEN THE FAR LEFT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HATE THAT.

THERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THIS THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH TO IN TERMS OF NOT SO MUCH THE CRIME ARENA BUT THERE IS CRIME INVOLVED IN IT.

THE OPIOID ADDICTION CRISIS IN NEW YORK, SHE TALKED ABOUT COMBATTING THE FLOW OF FENTANYL AND XYLAZINE.

>> I'M NEVER GOING TO SAY THAT ON THE AIR.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

CLEARLY I HAVE SOME RESEARCH TO DO.

BUT I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING ISSUE, TOO.

THAT COULD BE BIPARTISAN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON HOW SHE GOES ABOUT IT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HEAVY APPROACH, WE'RE GOING TO CRACK DOWN, GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS TO POLICE THIS, THEN YEAH.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE, MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THIS IDEA OF ADDRESSING THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC THAT WE HAVE, SPECIFICALLY WITH OPIOIDS, I THINK WHERE THIS SPEECH AS WELL AS HER ADMINISTRATION MORE GENERALLY HAS COME UP SHORT IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE THIS ISSUE IS THE TOPIC OF HARM REDUCTION.

HER BRIEFING BOOK HAS A PARAGRAPH WHERE THEY SAY WE LOVE HARM REDUCTION, WE'RE INVESTED IN HARM REDUCTION AND THERE'S NO MENTION OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS WHICH ARE SEEN AS REALLY ONE OF THE KEY TOOLS IN FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC THAT WE HAVE.

THERE'S THIS IDEA OF ACCESS TO LOW THRESHOLD -- BESIDES THAT -- >> WELL, I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS FOR A SECOND.

IT'S AN INTERESTING ISSUE BECAUSE NEW YORK CITY HAS THREE OF THEM NOW, I BELIEVE.

>> TWO OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> TWO OF THEM.

THE ONLY TWO IN THE STATE SO FAR.

>> YEP.

>> THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WHO HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR.

SO I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE THAT HARM REDUCTION CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE STATE'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT GOING TO BE ALLOCATING FUNDING TO THOSE CENTERS.

>> DESPITE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> RIGHT.

SO I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHERE SHE'S GETTING THAT.

LIKE WHERE SHE'S HEARING THAT SHE SHOULD NOT INVEST IN THOSE SPACES, OR MAYBE SHE'S NOT AND IT'S JUST AN ISSUE NOT ON HER RADAR.

>> SHE FINDS IT POLITICALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WOULD BE MY BEST BET ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SHE HAS A COMMISSIONER FOR THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION AND ABUSE ALCOHOLISM SUPPORT SERVICES, WHATEVER THE ACRONYM IS THESE DAYS WHO IS DEFINITELY PROPONENT.

SHE IS A HARM REDUCTION ADVOCATE.

SHE HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD AND SHE GETS THIS.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN HER EYES THAT IT PAINS HER THAT SHE IS NOT BEATING THE DRUM FOR THIS ALONG WITH THE ADVOCATES.

>> GOOD SEGUE INTO HEALTH CARE.

WE'LL WRAP UP IN A FEW MINUTES.

JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW OTHER THINGS.

HEALTH CARE, WE WERE TALKING BEFOREHAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

OUR HEALTHCARE CRISIS IN TERMS OF STAFFING.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO ESTABLISH A NEW COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE.

>> THAT'S BOLD LEADERSHIP.

BLUE RIBBON PANEL.

>> IT IS -- EXACTLY WHAT NEW YORK DOES.

I MEAN, WE CREATE COMMISSIONS AND PANELS THAT TAKE TWO YEARS AND ARE TOLD TO CREATE REPORTS AND THE REPORTS ARE ABOUT A YEAR LATE AND THEN WE DON'T GET THE IMPLEMENTATION UNTIL TWO YEARS AFTER THAT.

>> YOU'RE SO CYNICAL, DAN.

>> WELL, I'VE SEEN IT A LOT.

NEW CAPITAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CARE, TOO.

I KNOW IT'S A BIG DEAL ACROSS THE STATE ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THESE SMALLER RURAL HOSPITAL.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO -- FOR YOUR CAPITAL, WHICH CAPITAL MEANS MORE LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY, THAT KIND OF THING.

IMPROVED COVERAGE UNDER THE ESSENTIAL PLAN, INCLUDING EXPANDED COVERAGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND EXPANDED MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR PREVENTIVE COVERAGES.

THAT MAY BE A PROBLEM.

>> I THINK THIS IS ALL AROUND THE MARGINS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE SPENDING.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CAPITAL SPENDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM SAY THE OPERATING PORTION OF THE BUDGET.

YOU BASICALLY BORROWING CAPITAL DOLLARS.

AND THESE OTHER AREAS OF SPENDING REQUIRE ACTUAL STATE INVESTMENTS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES WHICH IS A BIG THING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING CARE AND IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SEEING FEWER AND FEWER PROVIDERS IN SOME AREAS.

SO THIS IS NOT A BIG SWING AT CHANGING HEALTH CARE.

ONE PROPOSAL I DID NOTE IN THERE IS THAT SHE IS LOOKING TO INCREASE TAXES ON CIGARETTE PACKS, GOING FROM 4.35 TO $5.35.

WHAT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE ANY SORT OF INCREASE IN TOBACCO CONTROL FUNDING OR WHETHER ALL THAT MONEY, IF IT GETS ADOPTED, JUST GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

MY CYNICAL HAT SAYS NO, THAT MONEY JUST GOES RIGHT INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

>> THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING POINT TO MAKE AND SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY WATCH.

I REMEMBER SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THAT ARENA IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ENOUGH TO SAY.

ON MENTAL HEALTH, SHE CAME OUT WITH A PROPOSAL THIS MORNING THAT I'LL JUST RECAP.

IT'S NOT -- IT IS A BIG PROPOSAL.

I MEAN, IN TERMS OF INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE THAT THE STATE HAS HISTORICALLY NOT DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

CERTAINLY -- >> TRANSITION FROM INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS AWAY FROM THAT HAS BEEN BAD.

>> IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE.

AND I MEAN, THIS IS ALSO A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, BUT FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO SHE WANTS TO INCREASE IN-PATIENT TREATMENT BY 1,000 BEDS AND THEN CREATE 3,500 NEW HOUSING UNITS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

WHICH IS INTERESTING, AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE THE DATA THAT REFLECTS THAT BECAUSE AS SOMEBODY WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, I WOULD EXPECT MORE HOUSING UNITS WOULD BE NEEDED.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS IN THE MORE DETAILED PROPOSAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO CONCERN SPENDING.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON CLIMATE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND NOT TOUCH ON CLIMATE.

WHAT DID YOU NOTICE?

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS TO NOTE ON THE CLIMATE FRONT.

ONE THE BIG PROPOSAL THAT SHE PIVOTED TO HERE WAS THIS CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM, BASICALLY MAKING PEOPLE WHO ARE EMITTING GREENHOUSE GASES PAY TO DO SO.

THIS WAS RECOMMENDED IN DECEMBER BY THE CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL WHICH HAS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN NEW YORK.

THEY'RE GOING TO TASK THE STATE AGENCIES, DEC AND NYCERTA TO DO THIS.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE AWAY HERE THIS DOESN'T COST THE STATE ANYTHING TO IMPLEMENT.

WE DIDN'T HEAR ON HER VISION TO MAYBE FUND SOME OF THE GREEN INITIATIVES IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE ON THE LEFT IN THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT ARE HOPING FOR WHICH IS TO RAISE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I WILL SAY I WAS STRUCK BY HER PROPOSAL IN THE BRIEFING BOOK TO PUSH FOR A WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ACT FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING IN THE LEGISLATURE TO DO EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PUTTING THE ONUS OF RECYCLING ON THE PRODUCERS AND NOT MUNICIPALITIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

THIS HAS BEEN A FIGHT IN THE PAST BUT THERE'S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK THEY'LL BE MORE INTERESTED IN COMPROMISING THAN THE ASSEMBLY CHAIR IN THE PAST.

SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS DONE.

IT HAS REAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO COMPROMISE.

>> I THINK SO, TOO.

SHE ALSO HAS A PROPOSAL THAT I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO BE POPULAR AMONG MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND DEFINITELY REPUBLICANS TO BUILD ZERO EMISSION CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN 2025 FOR SMALL BUILDINGS, HOMES.

AND THEN 2028 FOR LARGER BUILDINGS.

JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT FOR OUR VIEWERS, I MEAN, IF YOU TALK TO THE STATE DEC COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE'S ENERGY AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT BUILDINGS ARE THE DRIVER OF FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS IN THE STATE.

>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAD HER OWN PROPOSAL.

THE SENATE REALLY SEEMED INCLINED TO MOVE ON THIS, BUT THE ASSEMBLY WAS THE ONE SORT OF KICKING AND SCREAMING ALONG THE WAY HERE.

I THINK NEW CONSTRUCTION AS OPPOSED TO RENOVATING EXISTING CONSTRUCTION IS VIEWED AS LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

SO IF STATE LAWMAKERS AREN'T ABLE TO GET THIS DONE THIS YEAR, THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HITTING OUR CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS SHOULD BE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE THIS IS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

>> SIT.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE WILL WRAP IT UP THERE.

WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE READY FOR YOU THIS WEEKEND ON "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU, DAVE, FOR ALL OF YOUR ANALYSIS.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

WE DO AIR "NEW YORK NOW" ON YOUR LOCAL PBS MEMBER STATION.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THIS WEEKEND OR FIND OUR SCHEDULE RIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE AT NYNOW.ORG.

ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY AND BE WELL.

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