\M\M >>> I WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY, LIKE I'VE ALWAYS DONE.

\M\M >>> WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW" BRINGING YOU LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

IN A FEW MINUTES WE WILL TAKE YOU LIVE TO THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AT THE CAPITAL WHERE GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS GOING TO GIVE HER THIRD STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

STICK AROUND AFTER THE SPEECH FOR ANALYSIS AND INSIGHTS FROM CHANTEL SMITH AND MORGAN HOOK, A MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH SKDK.

BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR WE WILL STAY IN THE STUDIO TO SET THE SCENE FOR TODAY'S SPEECH AND CONSIDER WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

MORGAN, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A HAND IN CRAFTING ONE OF THESE SPEECHES BEFORE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS GOVERNOR HOCHUL HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE SPEECH.

>> >> IT'S THE SAME THING THAT I THINK ANY GOVERNOR IS LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH.

THE STATE OF THE STATE IS MEANT TO KICK OFF THE POLICY AGENDA, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND SET THE TONE FOR ALBANY FOR THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS, BOTH FOR THE BUDGET AND THEN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS TO DO WITH THIS SPEECH IS COME OUT WITH SOME SORT OF BOLD VISION FOR THE STATE, RIGHT?

INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC POLICIES THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE ADVOCATING FOR, YES, BUT ALSO JUST A SORT OF GENERAL THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THINGS, DEMONSTRATING HER LEADERSHIP FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO SEE, FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, AND, AGAIN, JUST SORT OF SETTING THAT AGENDA UP FOR ALBANY.

THIS IS THE FUN PART, RIGHT?

THE STATE OF THE STATE IS WHERE YOU GET TO BE A BIT -- A LITTLE BIT OF RHETORICAL FLOURISH, TALK ABOUT YOUR VISION.

>> -- FOR ALBANY LAWMAKERS.

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN TWO WEEKS WITH THE BUDGET, WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD AND ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR LIKE THIS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE LESS FUN.

TODAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE BIG PICTURE TALK BEING HER VISION.

>> CHANTEL, HAVING WORKED FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS IN A PREVIOUS LIFE, WHAT IS THE LEGISLATURE LISTENING FOR?

>> I THINK THEY'RE LISTENING TO SEE WHICH IDEAS THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY CHAMPIONED BEFORE ALL INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR MAY HAVE IDEAS, BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT'S JUST IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR A WHILE, FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OR MUCH ATTENTION WASN'T PLACED ON IT.

I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING TO SEE HOW SHE WANTS TO SET THE TONE FOR THE YEAR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL FOLLOW HER TONE, BUT I THINK, OKAY, LET'S HAIR WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS.

IT'S A BIG HEFTY BOOK, I THINK IT'S 188 PAGES.

A MEMO SUMMARIZING IT, BUT THE BUDGET IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

THERE'S ACTUALLY LEGISLATION TO ACCOMPANY, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET, WHERE THIS IS JUST LIKE THESE ARE MY HIGHLIGHTS, THIS IS WHAT I'D LOVE TO ACCOMPLISH, I HOPE I ACCOMPLISH IT.

I DON'T KNOW, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

>> RIGHT, THE GOVERNOR CAN ONLY GET SO MUCH DONE BY HERSELF, SHE NEEDS THE LEGISLATURE TO WORK WITH HER.

>> SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE, THEN, THE RELATIONSHIP THE GOVERNOR HAS WITH THE LEGISLATURE HEADING INTO A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, HER -- WERE INTERESTING TO ME AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE, IT WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW TO THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE CARED ABOUT.

THAT MAY HAMPER RELATIONS.

HER PRESS SECRETARY HAD A STATEMENT ABOUT HOW THE BILLS WERE PASSED WITHOUT DISCUSSION.

PART OF THAT VISION TO HER POINT IS WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP GOING TO BE LIKE WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A VARIETY OF THINGS THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH.

IS HE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM?

MAYBE THAT WILL BE THE PEACE OFFERING, WE NEED TO GO TACKLE THIS AND IS SHE GOING TO BE GIVING CREDIT TO PUBLIC POLICIES THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR.

PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE GOING TO PICK UP ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

NOW, THE MEMORABLE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND IS ONE THAT LASTED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT WAS DAVID PATTERSON WALKING OUT AND JUST BURNING THE BUILDING DOWN AND GOING TO WAR WITH EVERYBODY AND ATTACKING THE GOVERNMENT GROUPS AND IT WAS LIKE DURING THE MIDST OF IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SENATE COUP AND MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICITS.

THAT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT -- THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A VISION THERE OTHER THAN WE'RE GOING TO CUT EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS ALSO SETTING A TONE.

IT WAS LIKE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER.

>> RIGHT.

>> NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT KATHY HOCHUL WANTS TO DO THAT OR IS GOING TO DO THAT TODAY, BUT IT IS ONE OF THESE THINGS, TO YOUR POINT, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR THAT TODAY.

HOW IS SHE GOING TO BE -- HOW IS SHE GOING TO SET THE TONE ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATION TOUR WHICH SHE NEEDS TO DO TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AS A PROSPECTIVE SPEECH BUT SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2023, THIS IS HER BIG PLATFORM TO TRUMPET THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN NEW YORK STATE.

MORGAN, YOU ARE A PR STATE, WHAT WOULD OR SHOULD THE GOVERNOR FOCUS ON IN HER SPEECH?

IN 2023 SHE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY.

SHOULD SHE TRY TO HIGHLIGHT WINS IN THAT AREA?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THERE'S ALWAYS SOME THROW BACK TO THAT.

I THINK WE SAW WITH ANDREW CUOMO, THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT WINS FROM TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO, WINS FROM HIS DAD FROM TWO DECADES AGO.

THERE WAS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF BRINGING UP YOUR GREATEST HITS.

SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT A GOVERNOR WILL DO AND I DO THINK THAT THAT WILL BE THERE.

I DON'T KNOW, FOR ME USUALLY WHEN I WATCH THESE SPEECHES IT'S KIND OF LIKE, RIGHT, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SETTING UP, YOU TALK ABOUT THE PREVIOUS VICTORIES, TO SET UP SOMETHING ELSE.

I WILL SAY I HAVE ALSO SEEN SPEECHES -- AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS FOR SUNNI, FOR EXAMPLE.

IN A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR WHEN YOU CAN'T RULE OUT BIG EXPENSIVE POLICY PROPOSAL MAYBE YOU SPEND MORE TIME UNTIL THE SPEECH TALKING ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT REELS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TIME A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT IS SHE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT?

I THINK SHE WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND MAYBE SOME VICTORIES, BUT, AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF NOT WHAT I'M PAYING ATTENTION TO OR WHAT I'M EXPECTING TO BE HEARING BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE THE FOCUS TODAY.

>> RIGHT NOW THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER THEY'RE STARTING TO GET PROCEEDINGS UNDER WAY WITH CARL HASTY WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THAT WILL KICK OFF AN ARRAY OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

CHANTEL, WE MENTIONED THE BUDGET WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN ALBANY.

IN TERMS OF SETTING THE STAGE IN THE FALL STATE BUDGET OFFICIALS PROJECTED A 4 PLUS BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO CONSTRAIN THE GOVERNOR MOVING FORWARD?

>> I WANT TO SAY THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE NEW SENATE DEMOCRATS -- THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE DEALT WITH DEFICITS BEFORE, THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL BEFORE, BUT STATE DEMOCRATS WILL DEAL WITH A REALLY SUBSTANTIAL DEFICIT SINCE TAKING POWER.

YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THE HOLE BY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUT THANK GOD FOR THE SPENDING.

FEDERAL -- THE FEDERAL NUMBER IS GONE AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE CUTS.

IN 2018 THEY HAD LIKE A MILLION OR TWO -- THEY HAD LIKE A SMALL NUMBER TO PLAY AROUND.

AND MEMBERS WERE PISSED OFF.

SO LIKE WHEN THERE'S NO MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP BECAUSE THERE IS NO MONEY AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT SERVICES CUT.

IF YOU CAN'T CUT THEN -- IN THIS YEAR IN AN ELECTION YEAR EVERYBODY IS GOING TO WANT SOMETHING AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING HOW THEY NAVIGATE THE NEW CODES.

NOTHING MAKES PEOPLE CRAZIER THAN CUTTING PROGRAMS.

THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

IT'S REALLY BAD.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STATE OF THE STATE PROPOSAL WE'VE SEEN IS ABOUT 180 PAGES LONG BUT IT IS LIGHT ON ACTUAL DETAILS.

WE WILL GET THE DETAILS NEXT WEEK, THAT'S WHERE THE INFORMATION AND HOLES ARE.

STATE BUDGET, RIGHT?

>> IT'S GOING A REDUCTION IN STAFF OR REDUCTION OF PROGRAMS OR ELIMINATION OF PROGRAMS.

MAYBE THERE'S NEW WAYS TO FIGURE OUT REVENUE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PRETTY ADAMANT SHE DOESN'T WANT ANY NEW TAXES SO I JUST DON'T SEE THIS BEING [ INAUDIBLE ].

LAST YEAR THE BUDGET WAS LATE.

HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH POLICY CAN YOU GET THROUGH THE BUDGET?

THE BUDGET WILL BE [ INAUDIBLE ] AND FINISH THE BUDGET MAYBE MID-APRIL BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE CALENDAR -- YOU KNOW -- >> VACATION.

>> THE ORIGINAL MAPS BEING THROWN OUT.

THE STATE LOST DEMOCRATIC SEATS IN CONGRESS, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATS COULD WIN BACK CONGRESS IN NEW YORK STATE ALONE IF LIKE THE MAPS ARE DONE WELL, RIGHT?

AND WHAT DO WE MEAN BY WELL?

IF THEY ARE GERRYMANDERED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE THROWN OUT BY THE COURTS BUT JUST ENOUGH SO WE CAN WIN A FEW MORE SEATS.

LET'S JUST BE CLEAR WHAT I MEAN THERE.

IF THEY'RE DONE WELL THAT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THIS LEGISLATURE TO GET THAT DONE AND TO GET IT DONE RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME AROUND?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A DUBIOUS COURT POSITION MYSELF, BUT THAT WAS A COURT DECISION AND IT INFLUENCED THE MAPS, RIGHT?

SO I ALSO THINK BECAUSE OF THOSE RACES AND ALSO I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO BOTH OF THE LEADERS IN THE ASSEMBLIES AND THE SENATE, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT THEIR MARGINAL NUMBERS, RIGHT?

SO YOU WILL HAVE CERTAIN MEMBERS IN BOTH HOUSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY OUTSPOKEN.

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS AND THEN YOU ALWAYS HAVE THOSE MEMBERS, 10 TO 15 MEMBERS DEPENDING ON THE HOUSE, THEY DON'T SAY MUCH OF ANYTHING.

THERE MIGHT BE A POLICY THAT THEY KNOW IS GOING TO BE POPULAR WITH THE BULK OF THE CAUCUS, BUT THEY CAN'T PASS IT IN THE SUBURBS, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S WHERE THE LEADERS REALLY STEP FORWARD AND MAY TAKE THE BULLETS AND NOT SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- I'M JUST NOT BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR AND THEY TAKE THE HEAT, WE'VE SEEN THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I THINK THERE COULD BE A LOT OF THAT THAT THIS YEAR.

THERE COULD BE THINGS THAT THE CITY DELEGATION IS GOING TO BE STRONGLY ADVOCATING MORE AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR A PEEP IN THE HUDSON VALLEY OR LONG ISLAND ABOUT IT.

THEY WANT TO WIN THOSE RACES IN AUGUST.

NONE OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH KATHY HOCHUL OTHER THAN SHE'S THE LEADER OF THE PARTY.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE, SHE'S NOT GOING TO WANT TO JAM THEM AND CREATE SOME SORT OF HEADACHE THAT WILL COME BACK AND HAUNT THEM IN NOVEMBER.

I DON'T EXPECT HER TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WITH THAT BIG EYE TOWARDS HOW CAN WE BEST POSITION OURSELVES FOR A NOVEMBER ELECTION.

>> I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR WHERE EVERYONE NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE BEST LINES, YOU NEED A STATE PARTY AND STATE APPARATUS TO HELP THE DEMOCRATS WIN THESE RACES SO HAKEEM CAN MOVE TO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

>> CONGRESSMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES.

>> YES, THE LEGISLATURE, STATE PARTY, EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

EVEN IF IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL, IT'S NOT ALL HER DOING BUT SHE IS THE HEAD OF THIS STATE SO IT SHOULD BE HER BURDEN IF SHE WANTS TO SHOW STRONG LEADERSHIP.

BECAUSE WE KNOW PREVIOUS PEOPLE [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> WE IDENTIFIED TWO AREAS WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS UNLIKELY TO WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME, A CANNABIS ROLLOUT AS WELL AS THE ASYLUM SEEKER CRISIS.

WHAT ABOUT HOUSING?

THIS WAS A MAJOR AREA FOR THE GOVERNOR IN 2023, CHANTEL, SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO LEGISLATIVELY, WE SAW SOME EXECUTIVE ACTIONS THAT HAD SOME EFFECT AROUND THE MARGINS.

DOES SHE COME BACK IN A MEANINGFUL WAY IN THIS SPEECH OR DO YOU THINK HER PITCH IT, HEY, WE STILL HAVE A HOUSING PROBLEM, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO WORK WITH ME, I'M HERE?

>> I THINK WHAT SHE -- SHE TRIED WITH THE LEGISLATURE, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

I THINK HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, COOLER HEADS WILL PREVAIL AND THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE A PACKAGE SOMETIME THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK SHE'S ALREADY DOING SOMETHING.

SHE BASICALLY -- I THINK [ INAUDIBLE ] -- AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON PROPERTY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- SO SHE'S TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATIVES AND I HAVE TO GIVE HER CREDIT BECAUSE AT LEAST SHE'S SAYING -- YOU KNOW, SHE'S SAYING THE LEGISLATURE THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH ME SO LET ME DO SOMETHING.

EVEN IF SHE DOES THE STATE STUFF, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR HOUSING.

>> AND TO MORGAN'S POINT, IT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE THERE'S RECOGNITION WHAT NEW YORK CITY WANTS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE NEW YORK CITY -- WANTS AND WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE HOUSING PROPOSALS THAT ARE NEW YORK CITY SPECIFIC, WHETHER IT'S A TAX CREDIT, WHETHER IT'S LETTING NEW YORK CITY CHANGE ITS DENSITY, WHETHER IT'S LETTING NEW YORK CITY ADDRESS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS STATEWIDE.

SAFE TO ASSUME THAT TYPE OF THING MOVES BETTER IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> THESE -- HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOREVER AND IF -- SHE'S GOING TO CONCEDE FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO NEW YORK CITY, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.

ALBANY LIKES TO BE THE CENTER OF NEW YORK.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CEDE POWER TO COUNCIL [ INAUDIBLE ] THE CITY COUNCIL S SO I DON'T SEE THAT, BUT IF SHE'S -- I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR -- I DON'T SEE THE GOVERNOR BEING THE ONE TO PUSH OUT THE HOUSING.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO WAIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO COME TO HER AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE SHE HAD A PROGRESSIVE HOUSING PACKAGE LAST YEAR AND THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.

>> SPEAKING OF NEW YORK CITY, WE KNOW THAT NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS IS ACTUALLY IN ALBANY FOR THE SPEECH AND IS PLANNING TO MEET TODAY WITH SENATE MINORITY LEADER ANDREA COUSINS, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER AS WELL, PROBABLY TALK TO THE MEDIA.

RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE COVERAGE FOR THE STATE OF THE STATE WE'RE SEEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO AT THE DICE I CAN'T SAY, HE FLANKED BY LETITIA GAMES, STATE CONTROLLER TOM DANAPOLI THE LONGEST SERVING STATEWIDE OFFICIAL RIGHT NOW AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HASTY.

THEY WILL BE GOING THROUGH A BUNCH OF THE DIGNITARIES THAT ARE IN THE ROOM, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE STATE COURT OF APPEALS AND SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S TOP STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

MORGAN, FOR MOST PEOPLE THIS SPEECH IS NOT A MAJOR PART OF THEIR LIVES.

>> 95% [ INAUDIBLE ] -- >> PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> HOW DOES THIS ACTUALLY TRICKLE DOWN TO THE MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS?

>> I DO THINK -- I DO THINK THAT THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETHING MAJOR IS HAPPENING IN ALBANY TODAY, RIGHT?

BECAUSE, YES, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE TUNING IN AND SORT OF BUILDING THEIR WEEK AROUND LIKE WE DO IN ALBANY, BUT IT WILL BE THE THING THAT LEADS EVERY 6:00 NEWSCAST TONIGHT, IT WILL BE THE LEAD AT EVERY 11:00 NEWSCAST FROM EVERY, YOU KNOW -- FROM BUFFALO TO ALBANY AND THEN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEE SOME SOUND BITE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN ALBANY TODAY AND THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR A SUMMARY ON IT.

I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS, WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING THESE THINGS, LIKE WHAT IS -- YOU TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE ONE BIG TAKE AWAY FROM THIS AND THAT'S WHY I TALKED TO KICK IT ALL OFF LIKE WHAT TONE IS SHE GOING TO SET?

IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME SPECIFIC POLICY THING THAT'S GOING TO HOP OUT, MAYBE IT WILL BE THE SWIMMING POOLS -- THAT WILL HOP OUT AND THAT WILL LEAD THE NEWSCAST.

YOU KIND OF HOPE IT'S NOT THE SWIMMING POOL.

YOU KIND OF HOPE -- I'M NOT KIDDING -- YOU KIND OF HOPE IT'S SOMETHING VISIONARY.

LIKE THAT FIRST THING OUT OF HER MOUTH WHEN SHE SAYS THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS WHAT?

YOU WANT THAT TO BE -- YOU WANT THAT TO BE THE SOUND BITE THAT LEADS THE 6:00 NEWS.

SO I ABSOLUTELY THINK THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT, BUT EITHER WAY ADVOCATES IN ALBANY RIGHT NOW, THE LEGISLATORS WHO WANT TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES WHO ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HOLD SOME SORT OF PRESS CONFERENCE OR PRESS AVAIL, THEY WANT THEIR QUOTE TO BE THE LEAD TONIGHT ON THE 6:00 NEWS AS WELL.

I THINK WHATEVER THE GOVERNOR SAYS WILL PROBABLY BE THAT LEAD THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL BE, BUT NEW YORKERS ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THIS SPEECH TODAY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER, TONIGHT OR TOMORROW, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S THE LAST TIME THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT ALBANY UNTIL THE BUDGET PASSES PROBABLY FOR A LOT OF THEM, BUT IT WILL GET IN THEIR HEADS.

>> FOR VIEWERS, A POOL REFERENCE THAT MORGAN IS MAKING, THE GOVERNOR'S PRE STATE OF THE STATE PROPOSAL WHICH IS BASICALLY INCREASING ACCESS TO SWIMMING POOLS.

BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES AS YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT, HISTORICALLY THESE ARE BOLD IDEAS AND THE GOVERNOR IN FACT WITH HER FIRST PRE STATE OF THE STATE PROPOSALS LED OFF WITH THIS IDEA OF A LOT OF KITCHEN TABLE THINGS.

THESE WERE POCKETBOOK ISSUES, THESE WERE INSULIN -- CAPS FOR COPAYS -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> THERE'S ALSO -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> STICKING WITH THE POCKETBOOK ISSUES, THERE WAS LIMITS ON MEDICAL DEBT LAWSUITS, THERE'S ISSUE USE WITH UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES, THINGS THAT ACTUALLY TRANSLATE INTO MEANING POLICIES FOR PEOPLE.

>> MAYBE THAT'S THE GOAL.

MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BOLD STUFF, MAYBE IT'S THE THINGS THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL OR PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT IMPACT THEM THE MOST.

MAYBE IT'S ABOUT YOUR KID BEING ABLE TO [ INAUDIBLE ] -- MAYBE IT IS THE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE TRIVIAL BUT REALLY IMPACT EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS.

AND IF THAT'S THE WAY SHE'S GOING, I APPLAUD HER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUS GOVERNORS [ INAUDIBLE ] BUT YOU NEVER SAW IT UNTIL YEARS LATER.

>> EVEN KATHY HOCHUL TWO YEARS AGO PROPOSALS I REMEMBER -- THE BEST UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

>> RIGHT.

>> LOOK, I LOVE SUNY, THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND TWO YEARS LATER SHE'S NOT GOING TO SAY THAT TODAY.

AND I POINT THAT OUT ONLY -- I AGREE WITH YOU.

SOMETIMES IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY WILL IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT A GOVERNOR CAN DO.

SOMETIMES WE GET BOGGED DOWN WHEN TALKING ABOUT INVESTING A BILLION DOLLARS ON WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, INFIGHTING IN THE LEGISLATURE AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO SPEND IT, WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO TO.

THOSE THINGS CAN'T BE REALIZED AS EASILY AS A READING PROGRAM OR MAKING INSULIN MORE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED T THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE.

>> WHAT ACTUALLY STANDS OUT FROM THE 2022 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IS THE GOVERNOR GOING, YOU KNOW, LIKE CHEERS, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE DRINKS TO GO.

THAT ACTUALLY RESONATED WITH PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHAT THEY TOOK AWAY AND THAT'S WHAT GOT -- THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT -- THAT SPEAKS TO THE CHALLENGE OF MOVING SOMETHING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

IS SHE SOMEONE WHO CAN ACCOMPLISH MEANINGFUL REFORM IN THE AN AREA LIKE THE STATE'S BLUE LAWS WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS -- TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE INTEREST AND IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE AND YOU HAVE TO GO PRETTY QUICKLY.

GOVERNOR DELGADO IS UP THERE, IT SUGGESTS TO ME WE WILL SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL QUICKLY OR A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] -- LEGISLATION COMES FROM THEM AND NOT THE GOVERNOR.

THEY SET THE TONE AND PASS THE BILLS.

I REMEMBER DURING COVID WE REALIZED HOW ARCHAIC SOME OF THE ALCOHOL LAWS WERE AND THEY WANTED TO CHANGE IT -- OH, THAT'S CUTE.

>> A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT FROM -- ELEMENTARY SCHOOLING DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL BEGAN TO PUSH HER BACK TO THE BASICS READING PLAN WE MENTIONED AS PART OF THE PRE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

UP NEXT IS GOING TO BE THIS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO IS PROMOTING.

THIS IS OUR FUTURE THAT WILL HAVE HIGHLIGHTS.

I APOLOGIZE.

>> NO.

>> HE'S CUTER THAN US.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ].

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD.

THE LEGISLATURE IS CONSTANTLY THIS PUSH AND PULL ABOUT GOVERNORS WANT LEGISLATION PASSED, THE LEGISLATURE HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS.

THEY HAD THEIR RETREAT.

THEY HAVE THEIR IDEAS IN THE TYPES OF LEGISLATION THEY WANT -- POLICY TAKES A LONG TIME TO NEGOTIATE.

>> YES.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE GOVERNOR WILL DO A BUDGET IN LIKE A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

BASICALLY MARCH TO APRIL 1st [ INAUDIBLE ] WHICH IS BASICALLY SAYING THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES.

THE BUDGET IS USUALLY NEGOTIATED IN THREE WEEKS.

IT IS A LOT OF -- A LOT OF NO SLEEP AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO POLICY [ INAUDIBLE ] MATTER AND IT'S NOT LIKE, OH -- YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE IT OUT IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE ON THEIR POSITIONS.

MAYBE YOU CAN SET THE TONE FOR POST BUDGET AND CONTINUE HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS, BUT [ INAUDIBLE ] BALANCE THE BUDGET AND IF THERE'S COMPLICATED LEGISLATION OR EVEN THE BLUE LAWS, DO THAT FROM, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS ON TO THE END OF SESSION BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PUTTING THAT ALL IN THE BUDGET AND PEOPLE ARE PISSED YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

I'VE SEEN T WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE -- USUALLY [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT'S HOW YOU GET NUMBERS TO COME AROUND ON POLICIES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET EXTRA MONEY -- THERE IS NO MONEY.

I DON'T SEE HOW THE BUDGET WILL GIVE THEM TIME TO DO MUCH ON POLL.

>> I AND THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNOR AS YOU MENTIONED LAST YEAR WE WERE LATE, A MONTH LATE OR SO, THIS IS NOT A GOVERNOR WHO IN HER FIRST FEW YEARS OF OFFICE HAS USED THE POWERS OF I'M GOING TO JAM THIS BUDGET DOWN YOUR THROAT ON APRIL 1st AND IF YOU DON'T PASS IT WE'RE GOING TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN.

>> THE POWER THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS IN NEW YORK AND SHE HAS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR I THINK TO HER CREDIT FRANKLY THAT'S NOT REALLY HOW SHE WANTS TO NEGOTIATE THINGS.

RIGHT?

SHE ACTUALLY -- LAST YEAR PART OF THE REASON I THINK IT WAS RAISED IS BECAUSE THEY HAD AN HONEST NEGOTIATION, RIGHT?

IT WASN'T SCARE TACTICS AND THREATS, IT WAS WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THIS AND IF IT COMES IN A MONTH LATE IT COMES IN A MONTH LATE.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

WHICH I THINK TO SOME EXTENT IS ACCURATE, RIGHT?

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY -- AFTER TEN YEARS WE GOT THE BUDGET DONE ON TIME, EVEN WHEN THEY DIDN'T GET THE BUDGET DONE ON TIME, HAVING IT BE A LITTLE BIT LATE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T READY TO PASS A BUDGET, THAT WAS OKAY, WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR.

SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, LIKE THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT WILL BE LATE AGAIN THIS YEAR AND IF THAT MEANS GETTING A BETTER BUDGET I THINK THAT'S FINE.

>> IT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A DYSFUNCTION NARRATIVE THAT DOMINATED ALBANY IN 2009-2010.

>> AS ONE THAT WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN -- >> A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION GENERALLY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- CONTRIBUTING TO THE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, DYSFUNCTION OF ALBANY.

I WANT TO STATE THAT.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT THE BUDGET BEING LATE BECAME A SYMBOL OF ALBANY DYSFUNCTION WRIT LARGE.

EVERY TIME THE BUDGET WAS LATE IT WAS JUST LIKE THERE THEY GO AGAIN.

SO I THINK I DO -- THE POWERS -- ANDREW CUOMO BEING ABLE TO USE THOSE POWERS TO SOME EXTENT AND FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE GOT HOWEVER MANY BUDGETS HE PRETENDED HE GOT ON TIME EVEN IF THEY WERE A COUPLE DAYS LEFT IT SORT OF DISPELLED WITH THAT SYMBOL OF DYSFUNCTION AND I DON'T THINK IT APPLIES ANYMORE.

IT HASN'T BEEN PART OF THE ALBANY DISCUSSION IN A DECADE.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE HERE LATE BUDGET AND ASSUME ALBANY DYSFUNCTIONING.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

IT TAKES THAT ARBITRARY, SORRY, IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL BUT ARBITRARY DEADLINE TO GET THE THING DONE IT TAKES IT OFF THE TABLE.

IT'S LESS ABOUT HOW THE PUBLIC REACTS TO IT AND MORE ABOUT LIKE HERE IS THIS DEADLINE THAT WE'VE GOT, WE CAN WORK AROUND IT AND CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS.

THERE WAS REAL PRESSURE BEFORE FOR PEOPLE TO GET IT DONE ON TIME.

>> 2009 AND '10 WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE BUDGET WAS LATE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT IS CORRECT THEY ONLY TALK ABOUT '9 AND '10.

>> DID PATAKI EVER -- >> A BUDGET PASSED -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> BUT PART OF THE ISSUE IS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT RACE UNCOMFORTABLE OR SOMETHING IN THE HUDSON VALLEY THAT GOES AND BECOMES WHO ARE OF A DIFFICULT THING TO TALK ABOUT FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACES OR SENATE RACES IN THE SUBURBS.

SO I ABSOLUTELY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE -- WE WANT TO GET STUFF DONE.

WE WANT TO DO REFORMS, WE WANT TO FIX THE BLUE LAWS, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE POPULAR, BUT HOW DO YOU DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE -- BECAUSE THE THING THAT MIGHT BE REALLY POPULAR IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS MIGHT BE REALLY UNPOPULAR ON LONG ISLAND, RIGHT?

SO I DO THINK THERE'S ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHAT IS IT WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD, WHAT IS IT WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR AND GET PAST AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THOSE RACES?

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL ENTER THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, SHE'S BEING -- BY THE LONG-TIME ASSEMBLY -- AT ARMS -- AND NOW SHE'S VISITING AND SAYING HELLO TO SOME OF THE DIGNITARIES.

WE SEE GOVERNOR DAVID PATTERSON SHE SHOOK HANDS WITH, SHE'S WALKING INTO WHERE THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SEAT, THAT IS THE REPUBLICAN FROM THE SOUTHERN TIER AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SMILES.

SHE'S GETTING A HUG FROM IT LOOKS LIKE TIM KENNEDY, RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN BUFFALO THIS YEAR FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION.

THE GOVERNOR IS GETTING ANOTHER HUG FROM IS THAT LISA PULVIDA?

WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING YOU TO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH IN A SECOND AS SHE ASCENDS THE DAIS.

WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THEY SHOULD STICK WITH US AFTER THE GOVERNMENT IS DONE TALKING.

WE WILL HAVE MORE -- THERE WE SEE THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] WILSON WHO IS THE NEW CHIEF JUDGE FOR THE STATE'S TOP COURT.

HE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR HOCHUL AFTER HER FIRST EFFORT TO FILL THE SEAT AFTER JUDGE HECTOR LaSALLE WAS BLOWN UP BY -- >> BLOWN UP?

>> -- BY SENATE DEMOCRATS.

THAT WAS A BIG DEAL HERE IN ALBANY AND THE SPEECH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SAY GOOD-BYE FROM THE STUDIO AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU TO THE CHAMBER IN ALBANY RIGHT NOW AND JUST A REMINDER THAT PLEASE COME BACK WITH US, WE HAVE PLENTY OF HOPEFULLY THOUGHTFUL AND FUNNY THINGS TO TELL YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BACK WITH YOU IN THIS HALLOWED CHAMBER, A PLACE WHERE SOME 1879 CIVIC-MINDED NEW YORKERS HAVE WRESTLED WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION TO WORLD WARS, TO THE EVERYDAY ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO CALL NEW YORK OUR HOME.

GENERATIONS OF PAST LEADERS HAVE SHARED THE SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY, REPRESENTING THEIR CITIZENS AND I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY THE LEADER OF THAT TODAY.

FIRST LET ME THANK OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO WHO HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB, I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM.

AND I WANT TO THANK SENIOR PASTOR DARIUS [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU PERHAPS THIS SUMMER IN CHURCH.

SAVE ME A SEAT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TISH JAMES, ANDREA STEWART COUSINS, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER -- [ INAUDIBLE ].

ASSEMBLY MEMBER HASTY [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ INAUDIBLE ] -- COUSINS [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] SPEAKING OF POWERFUL [ INAUDIBLE ].

[ INAUDIBLE ].

>> THE ESTEEMED JUDGES OF THE NEW YORK COURT OF APPEALS.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY GOVERNORS DAVID PATTERSON AND PATAKI.

ALSO MANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM LABOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND CLERGY MEMBERS INCLUDING DR. BERNARD OF THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL.

MEMBERS OF MY CABINET, SECRETARY KAREN [ INAUDIBLE ] AND A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MY POLICY DIRECTOR, THE VISIONARY BEHIND MANY OF OUR GREAT IDEAS, MICHAEL ASHER.

BUT TODAY IT'S NOT ABOUT US.

IT'S ABOUT THE 20 MILLION HARD-WORKING NEW YORKERS WHO I'M PRIVILEGED TO REPRESENT, AND THAT WE CAN DELIVER FOR THEM IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

I'VE LISTENED TO NEW YORKERS WHO TELL ME ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND THE DREAMS THEY HOLD.

IT'S WITH THEM IN MIND THAT I PROUDLY SHARE MY VISION FOR 2024.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS STRONG, STRONGER TODAY THAN WHEN I BECAME GOVERNOR TWO YEARS AGO.

IT'S HEALTHIER, SAFER, MORE AFFORDABLE.

WE HAVE TRAVERSED SOME ROCKY TERRAIN.

THERE'S STILL SOME SWITCH BACKS BEFORE WE REACH THE SUMMIT.

ACROSS OUR NATION OUR [ INAUDIBLE ] -- IS OUT OF REACH.

WHILE SHOOTINGS AND [ INAUDIBLE ] HAVE DECLINED BY DOUBLE DIGITS, THE GROCERY STORE, THE SYNAGOGUE OR -- IS ALWAYS TOP OF MIND.

AND WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES TO TAKE GUNS OFF THE STREETS, TOO MANY PARENTS ARE STILL FEARFUL AS THEIR CHILDREN GET ON THE BUS EACH MORNING AND THROUGHOUT -- DISCHARGE FROM A HOSPITAL -- THE CARE THEY NEED AND GO ON TO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS.

THE CRIMES ARE HOW SERIOUS THIS CAUSES ANXIETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND ON TOP OF THAT THE RISING COST [ INAUDIBLE ].

INFLATION IS DOWN 9.1% TO 3.1% OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

PAYCHECKS ARE [ INAUDIBLE ] AND YET OUR NEIGHBORS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE A DOLLAR GO FURTHER.

AND SADLY NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY WORK THEY FEEL THEIR SUCCESS WON'T GET AS FAR AS THEIR OWN PARENTS DID.

THESE WERE THE REASONS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO GIVE NEW YORKERS A BETTER SHOT AT A BETTER LIFE.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE I'VE WORKED WITH THIS LEGISLATURE TO CREATE MORE THAN 600,000 JOBS AND REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT FROM 7.4% TO 4%.

[ APPLAUSE ] -- HOLDING THE LINE ON TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD, IN FACT, WE CUT THEM TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION BY $5.3 BILLION AN EXTRAORDINARY 18% INCREASE.

WE FULLY FUNDED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

WE INCREASED CHILD CARE FUNDING BY 20% TO MORE THAN $112 BILLION AND WE GAVE $1.3 BILLION IN RAISES TO OUR HARD WORKING HOME HEALTH AGENCIES, BENEFITS FOR HOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.

AND JUST THIS MORNING AS A RESULT OF OUR HARD WORK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WE'RE ABLE TO INVEST OVER $6 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS INTO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THIS FUNDING WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR SAFETY NET HOSPITALS, ADDRESS HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, ALL [ INAUDIBLE ] ALL OF US AND ON TOP OF THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE INVESTED OVER $7 BILLION IN CHILD CARE.

[ APPLAUSE ] AT THE SAME TIME WE SAVED THE MTA FROM [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT THREATENED THE ECONOMY OF AN ENTIRE REGION.

RIDERSHIP GREW BY 435 MILLION RIDERS.

AND THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE INVESTED -- FASTER INTO OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO REBUILD OUR STATE AND I'M GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF MAJORITY LEADER COUSINS AND CARL HASTY OUR SPEAKER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE WORKED TO RESTORE INTEGRITY AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND WE'VE SEEN HEADLINES -- DISAGREE, BUT THE TRUTH IS WE ARE UNITED.

UNITED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE AND TO TOGETHER WE'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED SO MUCH.

BUT STANDING HERE AND RECITING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM THEIR LEADERS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON THEIR BEHALF AND RELENTLESSLY PURSUE COMMON SENSE IDEAS THAT LIFT UP THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT STATE.

JOINING US TODAY IS [ INAUDIBLE ].

QUINTON IS THE GREAT, GREAT, GREAT-GRANDSON OF JENNY ROOSEVELT WHO TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE TO BE PRESIDENT EXACTLY 125 YEARS AGO [ INAUDIBLE ].

AT JUST 19 YEARS OLD HE IS THE YOUNGEST ELECTED OFFICIAL IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.

QUINTON, STAND UP.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> PUBLIC SERVICE RUNS IN THE VEINS.

WE EXPECT EVERY MORE.

LIKE QUINTON I, TOO, WAS INSPIRED BY THE [ INAUDIBLE ] GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.

IN FACT, I QUOTED TEDDY ROOSEVELT MY VERY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE.

I PROMISE TO ALWAYS TRY VALIANTLY ON BEHALF OF NEW YORKERS AND BE THE WOMAN IN THE ARENA.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE.

THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO TAKE ON THE CRIMES LIKE RETAIL THEFT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES.

WE ALSO WILL REVOLUTIONIZE OUR MENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE STRUCTURE SO PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

AND PROTECTING HARD EARNED MONEY FROM BAD ACTORS AND PREDATORY LENDERS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE CONTINUE TO -- NEW YORK TO REPLACE THE -- BUSINESSES, SMALL AND LARGE, FAMILY OWNED AND PUBLICLY TRADED.

WE WILL KEEP DRIVING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS LIKE THE SECOND AVENUE EXTENSION, THE [ INAUDIBLE ] CREATING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GOOD-PAYING UNION JOBS SO RESIDENTS CAN SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR MIDDLE AGE WORKERS BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK AND STILL LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND WE WILL FIGHT FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] BY EXTREME WEATHER AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.

WE WILL FIGHT FOR SENIORS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ON A FIXED INCOME.

WE WILL FIGHT FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] CAREERS.

I WILL FIGHT FOR CHILDREN JUST BEGINNING THEIR JOURNEY IN LIFE.

AND IN SO DOING, WE WILL PURSUE THE COMMON GOOD WITH COMMON SENSE, BY SEEKING COMMON GROUND.

[ APPLAUSE ] AS WE UPHOLD THESE COMMITMENTS, UNDERSTAND THIS, WE CANNOT SPEND MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE.

PANDEMIC FUNDS FROM WASHINGTON HAVE TRIED UP.

INFLATION [ INAUDIBLE ] STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AS WELL.

IT TAKES ALL OF US TO MAKE THE HARD YET NECESSARY DECISIONS TO USE TAX DOLLARS CREATIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

I WILL DISCUSS HOW I WILL ATTACK SOME OF THE TOUGHEST FISCAL ISSUES LIKE CARING FOR MIGRANTS AND THE DEFICIT IN NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET SPEECH.

BUT RIGHT NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE FOR WORKERS.

STARTING WITH THE ISSUES WE ANNOUNCED SINCE THE NEW YEAR.

LAST YEAR INFANT DEATH WERE UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS AND BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN REMAIN THREE TO FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN CHILDBIRTH.

I WON'T LET THIS CONTINUE ON MY WATCH.

I WANT TO MAKE NEW YORK THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO OFFER PRENATAL LEAVE.

WE MUST PROTECT WOMEN FROM UNNECESSARY SURGERIES THAT PUT THEM AT RISK.

WE WILL ALSO GIVE EACH OTHER THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LEAD FULL, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL LIVES.

SO LET'S START BY TEACHING THEM HOW TO READ.

I SAY IT'S TIME [ INAUDIBLE ] SCHOOLS TO GET BACK TO BASICS, USING PROVEN TECHNIQUES THAT WORK.

WE ARE ALSO COMMITTING PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING BY BUILDING POOLS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AND TEACHING PEOPLE TO SWIM.

I'M PROUD THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANTONIO DELGADO, A NEWLY CREATED OFFICE OF SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

HE AND HIS TEAM CONNECTED WORKERS WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK.

ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE TO SERVE OPPORTUNITIES [ INAUDIBLE ] AND THIS IS JUST THE START OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA FOR NEW YORK IN 2024.

WE WILL PROTECT YOU BY PLANTING 25 MILLION TREES [ INAUDIBLE ] THE EFFORTS AND EXPAND SOLAR ACCESS AND MAKE SURE OUR STATE -- THEIR EMISSION TARGETS.

JOBS IN AGRICULTURE AND INVEST IN FAMILY-OWNED FARMS.

WE WILL CONNECT WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES TO CLEAR OUT OPPORTUNITIES AND FUND RESEARCH INTO RARE DISEASES LIKE ALS, THAT ROBS MILLIONS OF THEIR VITALITY.

WHILE WE ADDRESS COUNTLESS CHALLENGES LIKE 204 -- YES, 204 POLICY INITIATIVES IN OUR 2024 STATE OF THE STATE BOOK WHICH I'M SURE HAS FOUND ITS WAY TO YOUR NIGHT STANDS THIS EVENING.

I WANT TO JUST FOCUS ON A FEW KEY COMMENTS AND THINGS OR OUR AGENDA.

CRIME, FIXING OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND PROTECTING WORKERS' HARD-EARNED MONEY.

LET'S TALK -- [ APPLAUSE ] LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

IF GOVERNMENT CAN'T KEEP THE STATE SAFE THEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

LAST YEAR WITH HE REDUCED GUN VIOLENCE, SHOOTINGS DOWN BY A THIRD ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

DOWN 21% IN NEW YORK CITY, 38% UPSTATE.

WE MADE KEY REVISIONS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO MAKE NEW YORK SAFER.

WE ENACTED GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION THAT'S A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE NATION.

BUT CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME HAVE BEEN STUBBORNLY HIGH.

GRAFFITI SCRAWLED OUTSIDE A SYNAGOGUE [ INAUDIBLE ] BEHIND BALLISTIC PANELS.

A COUPLE -- TURNS VIOLENT AND GETS PUNCTUATED BY GUNSHOTS.

AND ON THE SUBWAY PEOPLE SUFFERING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND OVERDOSE.

EPISODES LIKE THESE CAN CAUSE AN ATMOSPHERE OF ANXIETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT OUR SUCCESS IN DRIVING DOWN GUN VIOLENCE PROVES THAT TARGETED STRATEGIES DO WORK AND THAT TRENDS IS INDEED POSSIBLE.

SO TODAY I -- CRIME FIGHTING TACTICS ALONGSIDE AN ERA DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE SO NEW YORKERS CAN LIVE FREE FROM DISORDER AND FOCUS ON THE THINGS IN LIFE THAT MATTER MOST.

FIRST, ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE AT HOME AND PROTECTING THEM FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND THE RANDOM ATTACKS GET ALL THE PRESS COVERAGE BUT NEW YORKERS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE HURT BY SOMEONE THEY KNOW [ INAUDIBLE ] THE ATTACKER AND THE VICTIM HAVE A PRIOR RELATIONSHIP.

OUR SYSTEM FAILS TO [ INAUDIBLE ] SURVIVORS.

IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE 84% OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARRESTS END WITH DISMISSALS.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

BEFORE LAST YEAR TOO MANY [ INAUDIBLE ] HAD ACCESS TO GUNS SO WE CHANGED THE LAW AND NOW -- AND NOW THE SUPREME COURT IS POISED TO POSSIBLY OVERTURN A LAW THAT KEEPS GUNS AWAY FROM THE ABUSERS.

SO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS AND IT'S MORE URGENT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT -- GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WAS ROUTINE.

SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE TO SURVIVORS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF TRAUMA.

WE KNOW THAT PROSECUTORS -- ABUSERS IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT SURVIVORS.

TAKE THE STORY OF ELIZABETH BLANCHARD WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

ELIZABETH, PLEASE STAND.

ELIZABETH LIVES RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER IN TROY.

NOT LONG AGO SHE WAS TRAPPED IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.

SHE AND HER PET SUFFERED REGULAR ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF HER EX-BOYFRIEND.

HE KILLED ONE OF HER [ INAUDIBLE ] AND THAT DAY HER LIFE CHANGED.

A VETERINARIAN TOLD HER ABOUT UNITY HOUSE, A NONPROFIT THAT HELPED SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

EVENTUALLY SHE [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO IS ALSO JOINING US.

DETECTIVE CLEMENTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

HE HELPED ELIZABETH FIND THE STRENGTH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND FILE CHARGES.

HE ASSISTED HER WITH POLICE REPORTS AND STOOD BY HER SIDE AT THE GRAND JURY.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT ELIZABETH HAS MADE A CLEAN BREAK FROM HER ABUSER.

LET'S GIVE THEM BOTH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I WANT TO HEAR MORE HOPEFUL STORIES LIKE THIS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DEDICATING $20 MILLION SO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS CAN GET EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE ABUSERS AND TAKE THEIR GUNS AWAY.

AND COMMITTING MORE FUNDING SO POLICE CAN PROTECT THOSE -- OF ABUSE AND CLAMP DOWN OR SURVIVORS BECAUSE EVERY SURVIVOR SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO BREAK THE CHAIN OF VIOLENCE AND BUILD A NEW LIFE.

ACROSS OUR NATION AND OUR STATE [ INAUDIBLE ] SURGED CREATING FEAR AMONG THE CUSTOMERS AND THE WORKERS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] OFF THE SHELVES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- BROKEN WINDOWS AND STOLEN GOODS, DRIVING MANY OUT OF BUSINESS.

THESE ATTACKS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A BREAKDOWN IN ORDER.

I SAY NO MORE.

THE CHAOS MUST END.

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE LAUNCHED A JOINT OPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALLOWING A BRAND-NEW STATE POLICE UNIT TO CRACK DOWN ON ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

AS I SAID, WE USED THIS APPROACH -- THAT HAVE WORKED.

I'M ALSO PROPOSING TO HELP THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS WITH A TAX CREDIT TO HELP THEM COVER THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY COSTS AND I WILL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR ASSAULTING A RETAIL WORKER OR FOSTERING THE SALE OF STOLEN GOODS ONLINE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE WORKERS WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW AND PUNISH THOSE WHO WHO THINK THEY CAN BREAK THE RULES WITH IMPUNITY.

AND THIS EXTENDS TO THE ILLEGAL CANNIBIS VENDORS WHO FLAGRANTLY VIOLATE OUR LAWS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] TO GO AFTER THE UNLICENSED SHOPS, PROSECUTE BUSINESSES THAT SELL TO MINORS AND PADLOCK THEIR DOORS FASTER.

FINALLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HATE CRIMES.

PARTICULARLY THE RISE IN ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMAPHOBIA.

SINCE THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS BY HAMAS AGAINST ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7th, THERE'S BEEN ROUGHLY A 95% INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST JEWISH RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK CITY AND WE'RE SEEING A SURGE OF ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIMES AS WELL.

OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING TARGETED ON PLAYGROUNDS AND SYNAGOGUES AND MOSQUES AND ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL EVERY JEWISH-AMERICAN CHILD FEELS SAFE GOING TO SCHOOL OR ENTERING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

WE PROPOSE TO MAKE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ADDITIONAL OFFENSE GANG ASSAULTS TO GRAFFITI ELIGIBLE FOR PROSECUTION AS HATE CRIMES.

THIS MEANS ENHANCED LIABILITIES, SENTENCES AND ULTIMATELY IT MEANS [ INAUDIBLE ].

WE WILL PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] SAFE AT HOME, AT PRAYER AND AT WORK.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EXPAND THEIR POWERS, NEW YORKERS ARE NOT ABLE TO LET THEIR GUARD DOWN UNTIL WE FIX OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- MANY NEW YORKERS ARE SUFFERING.

MENTAL ILLNESS DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE, IT TOUCHES THE RICH AND THE POOR, THE SCHOOLS AND SENIORS CITIZENS -- THE SAME SEVERITY.

EVEN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE SUFFERING.

THEIR EXPERIENCES ON THE JOB EXPOSE THEM TO HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE SUICIDE RATES AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ABOUT 60% HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

AND TOO OFTEN THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN VIOLENT INCIDENCES ON OUR STREETS AND SUBWAYS ARE VICTIMS THEMSELVES, VICTIMS OF A SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO PROVIDE THEM THE TREATMENT THEY NEED.

HIGH QUALITY CARE MUST BE [ INAUDIBLE ] ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE.

[ APPLAUSE ] ONCE A DECADE THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IS DEPRIORITIZED AND DEFUNDED.

TEN YEARS BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH GROWN BY 2%.

NOT EVEN KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.

THE RESULT, TOO FEW PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, TOO FEW MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS [ INAUDIBLE ] FAILING SYSTEMS.

COMBINE THIS WITH PANDEMIC ISOLATION, OPIOID ADDICTION AND THE TOXIC ALGORITHMS THAT GOVERN SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S NO WONDER WE HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS THE DEFINING CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME AND THAT'S WHY MY ADMINISTRATION WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY MADE UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE, A 33% INCREASE JUST OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE BOOSTED FUNDING BY $1 BILLION LAST YEAR ALONE.

HERE IS WHAT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO, TARGET HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR OUTPATIENT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, CREATE MORE THAN 3,500 HOUSING UNITS FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, INCREASE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS BY 1,000, INITIATE [ INAUDIBLE ] TO HELP OUR CHILDREN INCLUDING MILLIONS WITH SUICIDE PROVINCIAL, EATING DISORDER, SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

THEY'RE FOCUSING ON OUR KIDS IS EVERYTHING, IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE AND INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG MEANS THEY WON'T BE RELEGATED TO A LIFETIME OF NEEDING CARE LATER ON.

WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSE DURING THE PANDEMIC KIDS TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

AND DARKNESS IS ON THOSE PLATFORMS.

CONTENT OFTEN PROMOTES FEELINGS OF SADNESS, ALIENATION, EVEN SUICIDE.

THE ALGORITHMS THAT MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA SO ADDICTIVE PUSH THAT DARKNESS ON TO YOUNG USERS.

I'M THINKING ABOUT NEW YORKERS [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO GREW UP ON LONG ISLAND, SHE TRIED INSTAGRAM WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND IMMEDIATELY THE ALGORITHM STARTED SUGGESTING IMAGES AND VIDEOS ABOUT EATING DISORDERS AND -- PROMOTING LOW SELF-WORTH.

AT THE TIME SHE WAS 15, YOUNG ALEX WAS SPIRALING.

SHE WAS LOSING WEIGHT, SHE DIDN'T SLEEP, HER LIFE WASN'T HERS ANYMORE, IT BELONGED TO THE ALGORITHM.

AFTER HER PARENTS INTERVENED AND AFTER TWO WEEKS OF A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY WITHOUT HER PHONE SHE WAS A CHANGED PERSON.

ABLE TO ASSERT HERSELF AGAIN.

TODAY SHE ADVOCATES FOR OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK AND DREAMS OF A DAY TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT -- >> YOU'RE WATCHING WMHT'S COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S 2024 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> HER MOTHER KATHLEEN IS WITH US TODAY.

KATHLEEN, PLEASE STAND.

[ INAUDIBLE ] SOCIAL MEDIA IT'S A SILENT KILLER OF OUR CHILDREN'S GENERATION.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC MORE THAN [ INAUDIBLE ] CONSIDERED SUICIDE, DOUBLE THE FIGURE JUST A DECADE AGO.

TEENAGE GIRLS [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THE SCOURGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HAS HARMED SO MANY YOUNG MINDS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES, THE TWO OF US TOGETHER CONTINUE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.

WE'VE PASSED LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN'S PRIVACY AND REGULATE THE ALGORITHMS THAT TARGET THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] PROGRAMS SO KIDS CAN SHARE SAFE SPACE WAS OTHER KIDS WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES.

MEANTIME, WE HAVE TO HELP THE KIDS -- RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL START WITH HISTORIC INVESTMENTS TO MAKE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL-AGED CHILD.

ENSURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL THAT WANTS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC WILL GET ONE.

I'M GLAD TO BE JOINED TODAY BY MOTHER GREAT NEW YORKER BREEN YANINA BLINKERMAN.

BRIE ANNA SUPPORTS SCHOOL-AGED NEW YORKERS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED YOUTH ACT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] MENTAL HEALTH TO STAY IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WHILE RECEIVING INPATIENT TREATMENT.

THANK YOU, BREEN ANNA.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE PROGRESS SHE ALREADY MADE.

EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT HEALTHY CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO GROW INTO HEALTHY ADULTS BUT TOO MANY GROW UP WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND POSE A DANG TORE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING COMPREHENSIVE REFORMS TO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

STARTING IN 2024, WE WILL REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO SCREEN PATIENTS' MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS FOR RISKS LIKE SUICIDE, VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER COMPLEX NEEDS.

WE WILL ALSO REQUIRE THAT FOLLOW-UP PSYCHIATRIC CARE BE RECORDED BEFORE PATIENTS CAN LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.

IT'S COMMON SENSE BUT IT HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING.

AND LET'S SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH COURTS WHICH ARE PROVEN TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

THE MENTAL HEALTH STRUCTURE [ INAUDIBLE ] GET HELP.

CYCLE IN AND OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND AS YOU KNOW THE MOST EXTREME CASES INVOLVE PEOPLE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES, OFTEN LACKING THE CAPACITY TO LIVE SAFELY ON THEIR OWN.

JUST TWO WEEKS AGO AT GRAND CENTRAL STATION ONE OF [ INAUDIBLE ] PULLED A LIFE AND STABBED TWO YOUNG TOURISTS.

THANKFULLY, THE INJURIES ARE NOT LIFE-THREATENING, BUT THESE EXTRACT A VAST PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND EVERYONE ELSE.

JUST AS THAT ACT OF VIOLENCE WAS ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT AND INEXCUSABLE, SO, TOO, ARE REPEATED -- THAT ALLOWED THE PERPETRATOR TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

DIAGNOSED WITH VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS INCLUDING SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISCORD.

HE HAD A HISTORY OF -- THOSE HE LOVES [ INAUDIBLE ] MENACING EPISODES.

HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED HELP LONG AGO.

WE CAN NO LONGER [ INAUDIBLE ] THE LAST SHOT [ INAUDIBLE ] BEFORE SOMEONE BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION BECAUSE BY THEN IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE.

A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE NEED INTENSIVE CARE, FIND SPECIALIZED HOUSING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.

OFTEN NEW YORKERS ARE DISCHARGED BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES NOT BECAUSE THEY RECOVERED BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE ROOM IN OUR HOSPITALS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE CREATING 200 BEST IN CLASS PATIENT BEDS FOR THOSE WITH THE MOST SERIOUS NEEDS.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS NOT JUST FOR THOSE IN CRISIS, WHETHER IT'S ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, GRIEF, ADDICTION, WE ALL NEED SUPPORT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER TO GET THROUGH THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE.

BUT SEEING A THERAPIST CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND SOME PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT.

FOR TOO LONG MANY INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE REFUSED TO ADEQUATELY PAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

THAT CHANGES NOW.

I WANT -- I WANT TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR ALL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE INSURERS TO PROVIDE OUT OF NETWORK COVERAGE [ INAUDIBLE ].

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- MORE STAFF, MORE DISCRETION TO INCREASE FINES ON INSURANCE WHO FLOUT THE RULES.

I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T.

THIS MATTERS BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE DON'T GET HELP THEIR STRUGGLES ONLY BECOME MORE INTENSE.

ADDICTION IS THE SAME.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN LIVES IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE [ INAUDIBLE ] DEPENDENCE.

MY OWN FAMILY HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS EPIDEMIC OF PAIN.

I'M STILL MOURNING THE LOSS OF MY NEPHEW AND THE MILLIONS OF OTHER LIVES NEEDLESSLY CUT SHORT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROMISING OVER $200 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS SECURED BY OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES [ INAUDIBLE ] TO SUPPORT OUR [ INAUDIBLE ] ADDICTION TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS, TO GROW OUR STREET OUTREACH EFFORTS TO DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE AND TEST STRIPS.

SPENDING THEM QUICKER THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

I ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE NO PARENT EVER WILL AGAIN HAVE TO FIND THEIR CHILD LIFELESS AND GLASSY EYED ON THE FLOOR.

THAT THEY WILL FEEL SAFE WALKING THE STREETS OR TAKING THE SUBWAY AND OUR CHILDREN HAVE EVERY RESOURCE TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.

PROTECTING FINANCIAL HEALTH, NEW YORKERS HAVE TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR US AS WELL.

WE'VE WORKED HARD TOGETHER IN OUR LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE NEW YORK MORE AFFORDABLE.

SINCE I TOOK OFFICE WE'VE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE AND TIED IT TO INFLATION.

WE'VE DELIVERED [ INAUDIBLE ] SAVINGS TO MILLIONS OF MIDDLE CLASS NEW YORKERS, WE'VE INCLUDED WORLD CAPITALS COMPANIES BRINGING THEIR HIGH-PAYING JOBS TO NEW YORK.

LAST WEEK -- ACTIONS TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS FROM CHEATS AND SCAMMERS.

RIGHT NOW I'M PROPOSING THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO OUR CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS IN OVER 40 YEARS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] ABUSIVE PRACTICES LIKE STUDENT LOAN SERVICES PUSHING BORROWERS TOWARDS THE MOST EXPENSIVE REPAYMENT OPTIONS AND DEBT COLLECTORS WHO MANIPULATE SENIORS INTO GIVING UP THEIR PROTECTED INCOME.

WE WILL ESTABLISH REGULATIONS ON THE BUY NOW PAY LATER LOAN INDUSTRY WHICH OFTEN -- CUSTOMERS SPENDING I DON'T THINK THEIR MEANS.

AND WE ARE TAKING ON MEDICAL DEBT AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASING PAID DISABILITY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, DISABILITY HAS NOT BEEN RAISED A PENNY IN 35 YEARS.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF PAYING FOR THIS BENEFIT YOUR WHOLE LIFE IF IT ONLY GIVES YOU A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU NEED TO RECOVER.

WE HAVE TO RIGHT THIS WRONG.

AND INCREASE THIS BENEFIT FROM A PALTRY $170 A WEEK WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE GET RIGHT NOW TO ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION $1,250.

SEVEN TIMES MORE AND I'D SAY THAT'S ABOUT TIME.

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW ANY OF US CAN GET STRUCK WITH ILLNESS OR WEIGHTLIFTING MISHAP IN THE GYM, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] A RIDE IN AN AMBULANCE OR MINOR SURGERIES CAN LEAD TO PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL RUIN.

WE'VE SEEN T I'VE ALREADY SIGNED SOME NEW BILLS AND THANK YOU SCRUBBING MEDICAL DEBT FROM COURTS -- GARNISHING WAGES.

I'M PROPOSING WE PROTECT LOW INCOME WORKERS FROM BEING SUED BY THE MEDICAL DEBT THAT THEY CANNOT PAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] EXPAND HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

THE COST OF LIFESAVING MEDICINE FOR NEW YORKERS, THE 1.6 MILLION NEW YORKERS DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE INSULIN.

ONE IS HEATHER WHITNEY WHO HAS NEEDED INSULIN EVERY DAY TO SURVIVE FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS.

HEATHER JOINS US TODAY.

HEATHER, PLEASE STAND UP.

SHE SPENT HER LIFE MANAGING HER DIABETES WHILE FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.

TO HAVE TO RATION THEIR INSULIN OR SKIP ENTIRE DOSES AND DIABETIC PARENTS HAD TO GO WITHOUT INSULIN TO MAKE SURE THEIR OWN SICK CHILD HAS WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THANK YOU.

[ INAUDIBLE ] I WANT A BAN ON COPAYMENTS FOR INSULIN FOR ANYONE IN A STATE-REGULATED INSURANCE.

NO ONE ASKED TO BECOME A DIABETIC AND THEY DESERVE OUR CARE AND COMPASSION.

LET'S GET TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABILITY.

READY?

THE EXCEEDING HIGH COSTS OF RENT AND MORTGAGES CAUSED BY THE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING IN NEW YORK.

IT'S ONE OF THE [ INAUDIBLE ] EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE.

MIGRATION IS A PROBLEM WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

FOR 50 YEARS WE'VE BEEN HAVING FAMILIES WHO NO LONGER CAN RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE SAME COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE BORN.

AND THIS DECLINE SHOWS NO SIGN OF STOPPING.

HERE IS WHAT'S SO INTERESTING, PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY MOVING FOR WARMER WEATHER OR LOWER TAXES, MANY ARE MOVING NEXT DOOR.

THE TOP FIVE STATES THAT NEW YORKERS ARE MOVING TO, THREE OF THEM SHARE A BORDER WITH LESS TAXES.

PEOPLE ARE EARNING IN NEW YORK, THEN LIVING IN NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA AND CONNECTICUT.

WE'RE LOSING POPULATIONS TO OTHER STATES.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

A LOSS OF INFLUENCE.

WE'VE HEARD FROM 43 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO JUST 36 TODAY.

THAT FOR DECADES NO ELECTED OFFICIAL IN NEW YORK HAD THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO EVEN START A CONVERSATION ABOUT BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

BIG CITIES AROUND THE NATION INCLUDING OUR NEIGHBORS SHOWED AMBITION.

FROM 2011 TO 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C.

DEVELOPED 72 NEW HOUSING UNITS PER 1,000 RESIDENTS, BOSTON DEVELOPED 37.

NEW YORK CITY, THRIVING METROPOLIS, 27.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.

SO UNTIL WE ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY.

ONE YEAR AGO I PUSHED WHAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" DESCRIBED AS THE MOST AMBITIOUS HOUSING PLAN SINCE THE ROCKEFELLER ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1960s.

UNFORTUNATELY MANY DID NOT SUPPORT IT.

I KNOW I'M NOT LIKELY TO WIN THIS FIGHT IN OVERNIGHT OR EVEN IN ONE YEAR BUT THE DIRE SITUATION MATTERED AND I DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT AROUND UNTIL THE NEXT LEGISLATURE SESSION.

WE FOUND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS USING EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

55 UNITS IN GAWANNIS THAT HAD BEEN LANGUISHING.

WE OFFERED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES PEOPLE ASKED FOR, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR COMMUNITIES THAT DEMONSTRATE A WILLINGNESS TO BUILD.

TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING A PLAN TO EXPAND ON THOSE EFFORTS BY DEVELOPING SITES OWNED BY STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING CORRECTION FACILITIES [ INAUDIBLE ] STATIONS AND I'M GOING TO -- UNDERUTILIZED CITY PROPERTIES.

THIS INITIATIVE ALONE COULD CREATE UP TO 15,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS.

I KNOW IT'S A GOOD START BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FIX HOUSING PRICES.

LET'S BE HONEST WITH NEW YORKERS.

THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS BUILDING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES.

NEW YORK ONLY SPENDS [ INAUDIBLE ] OUR CAPITA PLAN IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS IN HISTORY DEPLOYING STATE AND PRIVATE DOLLARS ADDING UP TO $25 BILLION IN FUNDING.

WHAT DOES THAT COUNT AS?

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, RIGHT?

THAT RESULTS IN 100 THOUSAND NEW PRESERVED UNITS.

VERY IMPORTANT, BUT STILL A FRACTION OF WHAT WE NEED.

HERE IS WHAT I KNOW, SPENDING MORE MONEY ON NEW REGULATIONS WILL NOT GET US OUT OF THE DEEP HOLE DUG BY DECADES OF INACTION.

OVERCOME THE LACK OF COURAGE THAT SIMPLY IS REQUIRED.

[ INAUDIBLE ] REGULATED HOUSING STOCK THAN ANY OTHER STATE BUT STILL MORE HOMES FOR PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHERE THE STATUS QUO HAS STALLED.

IT'S A BAND-AID BUT WE NEED RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

[ INAUDIBLE ] APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT IN THE MEANTIME THERE ARE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS WE CAN AND MUST TAKE NOW.

I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, THE LOUDEST VOICES IN OPPOSITION [ INAUDIBLE ] CONTROL.

OKAY.

LET'S PUT THAT TO THE TEST.

THE CITY OF NEW YORK, WHICH IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WANTS TO BUILD 500,000 MORE HOMES OVER A DECADE.

I AGREE.

OUR PLANS FOR NEW YORK CITY INCLUDE FOUR [ INAUDIBLE ] LAST YEAR.

RESTORING TAX INCENTIVES TO BUILD HOUSE THAT IS INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ELIMINATING OUTDATED RESTRICTIONS ON RESIDENTIAL DENSITY THAT PREVENTS THE CITY FROM BUILDING MORE, SUPPORTING IDEAS [ INAUDIBLE ] COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INTO HOMES.

THAT CAN'T BE HARD.

AND LEGALIZING NEW YORKERS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] EVERY OTHER STATE THAT MET THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

IT TOOK DECADES.

BUT I APPROACH THIS CRISIS WITH THE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT IS REQUIRED.

SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

LET'S UNLEASH NEW YORK CITY'S POTENTIAL BEGINNING THIS SESSION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, MAYOR ADAMS?

SO NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

NEW YORKERS ARE TIRED OF WAITING, I'M TIRED OF WAITING AND I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS.

IT TAKES POLITICAL WILL, IT TAKES COLLABORATION, IT TAKES A COMMITMENT TO DELIVER WHAT NEW YORKERS DESPERATELY WANT AND -- ARE UP TO THE TASK BECAUSE POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, NURSES AND TEACHERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

AND OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO ONE DAY BUILD A LIFE IN THE TOWNS AND CITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP AND THAT BUILDING MORE HOUSES IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD PAYING LONG-TERM JOBS SO PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I KNOW THAT [ INAUDIBLE ] LIVED THROUGH DECADES OF DECLINE AND JOB LOSS.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN OUR GREATEST EXPERT WAS OUR CHILDREN.

I'M GLAD TO REPORT THOSE DAYS ARE FINALLY OVER.

AS A GOVERNOR I KNOW IT'S HARD TO IMPROVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INTENTIONAL TARGETED INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND WE CAN BEAT OUT ALL THE OTHERS, ALL THE OTHER STATES AND LAND COMPANIES.

I KNOW WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ATTRACTED MICRON WITH THE 50,000 JOBS AND $100 BILLION IN INVESTMENT.

BUT THE SAME [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT SUPPORTS OUR HOMEGROWN COMPANIES LIKE CROWNING, IBM AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT JOBS IN TECH, IT'S THE RIPPLE EFFECT WHEN THEY COME.

THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION JOBS THAT ARE CREATED, THE RESTAURANTS, THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT FLOURISH AS A RESULT.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE I'VE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE, LIKE SEMICONDUCTORS ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT NOW WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CATAPULT NEW YORK AHEAD OF ITS COMPETITION.

I PROPOSE NOTHING SHORT OF MAKING NEW YORK THE [ INAUDIBLE ] AI RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, A LEADER FOR THE NATION, A LEADER FOR THE WORLD.

OUR REPUTATION ACROSS THE GLOBE [ INAUDIBLE ] SYNONYMOUS WITH INNOVATION TO IN NEW YORK THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

AI IS ALREADY THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL COMMERCIAL ADVANCEMENT SINCE THE INVASION OF THE INTERNET.

AI HAS ALREADY BEEN VALUED AT $100 BILLION JUST LAST YEAR AND IT'S BRAND-NEW AND IT'S PROJECTED TO REACH $1.3 TRILLION BY 2030.

OTHER STATES WANT IT, TOO.

NOT TO MENTION POWERS LIKE CHINA.

WHOEVER DOMINATES THE AI INDUSTRY WILL DOMINATE THE NEXT ERA OF HUMAN HISTORY.

THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN NEW YORK.

THIS NEXT GENERATION [ INAUDIBLE ] THE POWER AI THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE HANDS -- JUST A HANDFUL OF PRIVATE COMPANIES, GOOGLE, META, MICROSOFT, OpenAI.

I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT NEW YORK WILL BE THE FIRST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO -- THAT TYPE OF COMPUTING POWER DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF LEADING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WHO [ INAUDIBLE ] TO PARTICIPATE, CORNELL, NYU, COLUMBIA AND OUR ENTIRE SUNY AND CUNY SYSTEM.

WE HAVE GENIUSES AT THOSE SCHOOLS JUST READY AND POISED TO INNOVATE AND LAUNCH NEW COMPANIES AND NOW THEY WILL HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE THE WORLD IN ORDER TO WIN THIS RACE FOR THE FUTURE WE NEED THIS SPECIFIC HARDWARE.

THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THE EMPIRE AI CONSORTIUM TO PURCHASE AND ENSURE AI COMPUTING POWER RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK AND MORE THAN $125 MILLION FROM PHILANTHROPIC AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AND OVER THE NEXT DECADE THE STATE WILL COMMIT UP TO $275 MILLION TO THE CONSORTIUM.

[ INAUDIBLE ] FOR NEW YORKERS BUT JUST LIKE SILICON VALLEY EXPLODED IN THE 1980s WE -- WE WILL BE THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTLESS NEW STARTUPS, SPINOFFS AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE.

JUST IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES.

AI CAN HELP [ INAUDIBLE ] CANCER AND CURE DISEASES.

IT CAN PREDICT DANGEROUS STORMS [ INAUDIBLE ] ADVANCED -- WE COULD USE THAT TODAY, UNCOVER SOLUTIONS FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC -- IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] IS WITH US HERE TODAY IS WORKING ON.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> SHE'S CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON HOW AI CAN IMPROVE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT INCREASING BLACK WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN COMPUTER SCIENCE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

SCHOLARS AT UNIVERSITY TO HELP BUILD THIS [ INAUDIBLE ] OF THE FUTURE AND WITH THIS NEW CONSORTIUM WE CAN DRIVE ETHICAL AI DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS OUR WORKERS AND MAKE IT A FORCE FOR GROWTH IN THE WORLD.

WE WILL BE THE VERY FIRST [ INAUDIBLE ] THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ACADEMIA AND GOVERNMENT TO GALVANIZE AND SHARE THIS POWER AND MAKE IT ABOUT THE PEOPLE, INNOVATING FOR THE GOOD OF SOCIETY.

THAT'S HOW WE CHANGE THE WORLD.

TOGETHER [ INAUDIBLE ] A NEW INNOVATION, A COMPETITIVE AI DRIVEN ECONOMY CREATED RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.

[ INAUDIBLE ] DIRECT TO NEW YORKERS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] -- THE WAR IN ISRAEL AND GAZA, WHITE SUPREMACISTS ATTACKING OUR HOUSES AND SCHOOLS AND GROCERIES STORES, UNFETTERED THEFT AT THE LOCAL DRUGSTORE AND A STACK OF BILLS ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GO AWAY.

NEW YORKERS LOOK AT THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS WONDER HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE RENT OR INSULIN FOR THEIR CHILD TO SURVIVE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] CAN BE SO LONG, SO DARK AND -- BUT IN THOSE MOMENTS I CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE FEEL THE SUN SETTING ON THE EMPIRE STATE.

BUT I DON'T DESPAIR BECAUSE I SEE LIGHT ON THE HORIZON.

[ INAUDIBLE ] IN OUR VEINS, NO MOUNTAIN IS TOO HIGH FOR US TO SUMMIT AND OUR STRENGTH IS FORGED IN THE DIVERSITY AND THE INDUSTRY OF OUR PEOPLE.

WHEN WE SUCCEED BECAUSE OF OUR CONTRASTS AND OUR DIFFERENCES BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE MORE POWERFUL TOGETHER THAN ON OUR OWN.

[ INAUDIBLE ] OUR GREAT STATE IS HOME OF THE WORLD'S LEADING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO SUPPORTS THE TINY MOM AND POP SHOPS, THE MAIN STREETS [ INAUDIBLE ].

NEW YORK IS A LIVING, BREATHING BODY WITH ALL THE FLAWS AND IMPERFECTIONS, IT'S STILL EXTRAORDINARY AND MAGNIFICENT BEING.

IT'S THE KIND OF MINDS [ INAUDIBLE ] BROADWAY AND ACTION TO OUR SCREENS, TO STRONG BACKS OF PROUD MANUFACTURING WORKERS WHO MAKE PRODUCTS FOR AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S THE HANDS OF THE MOST GIFTED SURGEONS FIGHTING CANCER AND SAVING LIVES.

IT'S A STRONG SHOULDERS OF OUR HARD-WORKING FARMERS CULTIVATING THEIR FOOD AND GIVING TO OUR PEOPLE.

IT'S THE SPIRIT OF OUR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND TEACHERS WHO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IT'S THE CONCERNED EYES OF OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS STRIVING TO HEAL THE SICK AND COMFORT THE DYING.

[ INAUDIBLE ] MAKING A BACON, EGG AND CHEESE IN THE MORNING.

YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE GOOD.

I'VE HAD THEM.

[ INAUDIBLE ] FOR TAYLOR SWIFT.

SHE MINDS US THAT EVERYBODY HERE [ INAUDIBLE ] AND I KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT LIVE DIFFERENT LIVES, BUT WE STILL STAND SIDE-BY-SIDE ON THE SUBWAY PLATFORM OR IN THE DINER UPSTATE -- WE ALL WANT OUR GREAT STATE TO SUCCEED.

IT ALSO MEANS LENDING A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED.

ANOTHER ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS, FDR, SAID THE PATH OF OUR PROGRESS IS NOT WHETHER [ INAUDIBLE ] TO THOSE WHO HAVE MUCH, IT'S WHERE WE PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TOO LITTLE.

THAT'S WHY -- THAT'S WHY WE MUST -- MORE PEOPLE INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS, TO GIVE THEM THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR IMMIGRANT GRANDPARENTS HAD AND MANY OF YOUR PARENTS, EVEN YOU.

WE DON'T WANT A HUGE GULF BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR.

WE WANT A BRIDGE TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND BEYOND.

TODAY I'VE TOLD YOU HOW TO BUILD THAT BRIDGE IN 2024.

WE'RE -- A VISION OF NEW YORK WHERE [ INAUDIBLE ] CAN EMBARK ON INCREDIBLE CAREERS, FIGHTING CLIMATE CRISIS AND NEW ENERGY, OFFSHORE WIND.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS RESILIENT TO WITHSTAND THE 100-YEAR STORMS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO HAVE PATHWAYS TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

WHILE OUR LGBTQ+ -- ARE FREE TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES WITHOUT DESIGNATION.

WE WILL BE HONORED -- OUR FIRST NATION'S COMMUNITIES AND [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY WILL ALWAYS FEARLESSLY PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ABORTION [ INAUDIBLE ] SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT.

[ APPLAUSE ] MY FRIENDS, WE WILL NEVER COMPROMISE OUR PROGRESSIVE VALUES AS NEW YORKERS BECAUSE [ INAUDIBLE ] IT SHINES AS BRIGHTLY AS THE MONTAUK LIGHTHOUSE.

OUR NEW YORK STANDS AS RESOLUTE AS LADY LIBERTY AND OUR COMPASSION RUNS AS DEEP AS GLACIER LAKE.

IN OUR STATE WE STAND WITH NEW YORKERS EVEN ON THE DARKEST DAYS AND WE SUPPORT ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH OPTIMISM AND HOPE AND IF WE -- IF WE [ INAUDIBLE ] OUR COMMITMENTS AND OUR PROMISES THEN THIS IS THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY.

TO ALL NEW YORK WELCOME TO OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND THAT WAS GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL WHO JUST DELIVERED HER THIRD STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TO A PACKED HOUSE IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AT THE CAPITAL.

AS WE CONTINUE OUR SPECIAL "NEW YORK NOW" COVERAGE.

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH WE WILL DISCUSS WHAT WE JUST HEARD, WHAT WE DIDN'T HEAR AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN ALBANY.

TO DO THAT WE'RE JOINED BY CHANTEL SMITH, HEAD OF THE NEW YORK PRACTICE FOR TUSK STRATEGIES AND MORGAN HOOK, A MORTGAGING DIRECTOR FOR SKDK.

MORGAN, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FOR THIS SPEECH?

WHAT MIGHT RESONATE WITH NEW YORKERS?

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME A DIFFERENT QUESTION SO I HAD A DIFFERENT ANSWER.

NO, I'M GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

TAKING A STEP BACK AND WATCHING THAT SPEECH, FROM MY PR PERSPECTIVE AS YOU SAID, IT WAS KIND OF -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT -- IT WAS KIND OF DEPRESSING AND DOWER.

SHE STARTED OFF THE SPEECH SAYING THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG AND HEALTHIER THAN IT'S BEEN BEFORE AND SAFER.

TRYING TO SAY THINGS ARE ACTUALLY NOT AS -- AND THIS IS TRUE BY THE WAY OF POLLING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE ARE DOWN ON THE ECONOMY EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY DOING PRETTY WELL.

CRIME AS SHE POINTED OUT ARE DOWN AND YET PEOPLE THINK THINGS ARE LESS SAFE.

THAT IS A REAL THING THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING.

SO I THOUGHT SHE WAS -- WHEN SHE STARTED OFF AND SAYING WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT WE'RE STRONGER AND HEALTHIER AND SAFER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO LEAN INTO THAT AND TRY TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RAISE THE SPIRITS.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE -- JUST LIKE THE WHOLE TONE OF IT FELT VERY LIKE HEAVY AND DOWER IS THE WORK I HAVE FOR THIS.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF ENERGY IT FELT LIKE.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S LAST TWO YEARS, IT WAS LIKE I'M TAKING OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS -- >> I DON'T EVEN MEAN IT THAT WAY.

I MEAN IT MORE LIKE -- LIKE IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SHE WAS LIKE, LISTEN, I KNOW THINGS ARE BAD, BUT I PROMISE THEY'RE GOING TO GET BETTER.

AND THAT'S NOT THE TONE I EXPECTED.

I EXPECTED MORE THINGS ARE A LOT BETTER AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET EVEN BETTER.

DOES SHE -- SHE WASN'T ADDS ENERGIZED AS I THINK.

LIKE ALMOST LIKE YOU WANT TO RALLY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT FEEL DOWN.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE SHE WAS -- SHE WAS SAYING, YEAH, YOU'VE GOT REASON TO FEEL DOWN, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START TO TURN IT AROUND.

THAT WAS AN ODD TONE I FELT LIKE BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE ARE THINGS IN HERE THAT THEY CAN GET DONE, THINGS THAT AREN'T GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE SOME OF THE GUN LAWS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I THINK THAT -- NO PROBLEM GETTING THAT, THAT WILL BE A GOOD BILL SIGNING DAY FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND FOR THE GOVERNOR ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, MEDICAID -- MEDICAL DEBT, TIGHTENING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAL DEBT, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DO.

ANY MONEY THEY SPEND FROM SETTLEMENT MONEY THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAPTURES, THAT'S AN EASY THING TO SPEND MONEY ON.

>> I'M SURE IT'S MANDATED.

>> RIGHT.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD MANDATES IN HERE THAT I THINK SHE WILL BE ABLE TO GET DONE.

BUT I JUST -- LIKE I WAS -- THAT WAS A VERY HEAVY SPEECH IT FELT LIKE AND I WAS JUST A LITTLE SURPRISED BY THE TONE I GUESS.

>> MAYBE SHE'S USING THE SPEECH TO SET THE TONE FOR THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE NOT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

I THINK SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT MIGRATION, SHE SAID WE HAVE SOME -- INCREASED JOBS, INCREASED THE MINIMUM WAGE BUT THERE'S INFLATION, NO MORE PANDEMIC MONEY.

THAT IS TRUE.

SOMETIMES I THINK STATE OF THE STATE'S ARE LIKE POLLYANNISH, NEW YORK IS THE BEST, NUMBER ONE.

WE'RE NOT.

LIKE WE'RE NOT IN SOME CASES AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS MAYBE A MORE REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE.

I THINK [ INAUDIBLE ] FEELING BECAUSE, YES, IN TERMS OF JOBS AND, YES, WE MAY HAVE CERTAIN THINGS BUT -- CRIME RIGHT NOW.

I DO THINK IT WAS HAPPY BUT I THINK THIS IS A HEAVY TIME AND THE LEGISLATURE IN ALBANY HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLY -- DEEP DIVE.

>> >> CHANTEL, MORGAN MENTIONED AREAS WHERE THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

HOW ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN, WERE THERE SOME ISSUES WHERE YOU FELT LIKE THAT ARE NONSTARTERS FOR THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT STATE OF THE STATE, HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE SOME ISSUES FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE LOCAL CONTROL -- I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PRESHOW, PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT FORM OF THE TAX ABATEMENT THAT EXPIRED IN TWO YEARS.

RESTRICTIONS, DO COMMERCIAL CONVERSIONS.

THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO COMMERCIAL CONVERSIONS SINCE I WORKED AT THIS LEGISLATURE, AN ISSUE THAT'S COME UP -- AND WILL KEEP -- IT CANNOT BE ALIGNED ON THE APPROACH.

BASEMENT PARENTS, SHE DID THAT LAST -- IT WASN'T REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

I DON'T KNOW -- I GUESS FOCUSING ON NEW YORK CITY HAVING LOCAL CONTROL BUT I STILL THINK THAT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO GO WELL.

SHE TALKED ABOUT THE BAD CANNABIS PLAYERS.

YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE THAT THE CANNABIS SHOPS ALL OVER THE STATE, THEY HAVE LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH ENFORCEMENT, BUT UNLESS YOU ADD SOME TYPE OF CRIMINAL PENALTY TO THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL GET FINED AND BRING THE SHOP BACK UP AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS.

USUALLY SOMETHING THAT BRINGS TREPIDATION TO [ INAUDIBLE ] SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.

SHE TALKS ABOUT GRAFFITI AND GANG CRIMES, TWO ADDITIONAL CHARGES.

I THINK FOR HATE CRIMES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS -- I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, BUT THEY'RE TRICKY IN TERMS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND I DON'T SEE -- I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE.

>> YEAH, IN TERMS OF ISSUES WHERE SHE MIGHT RUN INTO SOME PROBLEMS, THERE WAS ALSO THE ISSUE WE TALKED ABOUT OF LIMITING COPAYS FOR INSULIN THAT'S BEEN KICKING AROUND THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S MOVED IN THE SENATE IN THE PAST, THAT VERSION OF THE BILL DIDN'T PASS THE ASSEMBLY.

MORE DETAILS ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, NOW THAT IT'S LIMITED TO CERTAIN PLANS THAT ARE REGULATED BY -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> THAT'S A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PLANS.

I THINK THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THAT HAS ANY SORT OF BACKLASH.

ALSO ON THE CANNABIS FRONT THERE ARE -- NOTHING PROSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE RECREATIONAL MARKET.

THERE'S CLAMORING FOR THE STATE TO ADDRESS THAT BUT NOTHING ON THAT.

ANOTHER AREA THAT I THINK IS PROMOTED MORE IN THE BOOK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN A COPY OF THAT IS NOT PART OF THE SPEECH IS LOOKING TO OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS AND MAKING IT SO THAT IF WE WANT TO HIT OUR GREEN ENERGY GOALS WE CAN DEVELOP THOSE PROJECTS FASTER.

IS THAT A BIG DEAL AT THE END OF THE DAY, MORGAN?

>> ENERGY IS SOMETHING THAT I WORK IN QUITE A BIT.

NONE OF THE NEW ENERGY THAT IS -- IS SET TO BE PRODUCED, OFFSHORE WIND, FOR EXAMPLE, OR ANY NEW SOLAR, IT DOESN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD IF YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY GET IT TO THE PLACES WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE USED.

IF YOU BUILD MASSIVE WIND FARMS OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND YOU ACTUALLY NEED THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO GET IT TO NEW YORK CITY AND JUST LIKE IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO THE CITING FOR A BIG PROJECT -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> -- YOU HAVE TO DO THAT SAME AMOUNT OF CITING FOR TRANSMISSION LINES AND ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE GETTING BOGGED DOWN IN THE MANY, MANY LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY THAT IS NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT TO GET ANYTHING APPROVED.

SO IT'S THIS INTERESTING THING WHERE, YOU KNOW, IN ONE SENSE YOU DO THESE THINGS TO PROTECT LOCAL COMMUNITIES, YOU ALLOW LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A SAY IN WHETHER THESE PROJECTS ARE BUILT.

THAT'S A GOOD THING, RIGHT, ON A CERTAIN DAY YOU'RE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A VOICE IN THIS PROCESS AND PEOPLE USUALLY DO THAT WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A GARBAGE DUMP BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MASSIVELY OVERHAULING THE ENTIRE WAY THE STATE GETS ITS POWER AND THAT SAME LOCAL COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT BIG POWER LINES GOING THROUGH THEIR OPEN SPACE, THEY'RE GOING TO SHUT IT DOWN.

WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT NEW YORK IS THERE IS NO PROJECT THAT SOMEONE AROUND HERE CAN'T SAY NO TO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GOOD IT IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GREEN IT IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW CLEAN IT IS, I PROMISE YOU SOMEONE WANTS TO SAY NO TO IT.

YOU CAN'T DO ANY OF THE GREEN ENERGY STUFF WITHOUT OVERHAULING SOME OF OUR -- NEW YORK HAS GOT SOME OF THE OLDEST TRANSMISSION LINES IN THE COUNTRY.

IF YOU LOOK IT UP TO THE OFFSHORE WIND STUFF THOSE LINES WILL LITERALLY CATCH ON FIRE.

YEAH, THIS HE NEED TO SPEED UP THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HIT ANY OF THESE GOALS IF THEY DON'T DO A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL TO GET THAT POWER INTO NEW YORK CITY AND TO GET THAT POWER COMING FROM UPSTATE DOWN INTO THE CITY AND COMING THROUGH LONG ISLAND AND, AGAIN, THOUGH, SOME OF THAT STUFF IS NOT GOING TO BE SUPER POPULAR WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE DIGGING UP THEIR BACK YARDS AND PUTTING UP BIG POWER LINES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE GET TO WATCH WITH THE BUDGET BUT WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR TODAY'S COVERAGE.

TUNE INTO "NEW YORK NOW" ON FRIDAY FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS ANDS REPORTING ON THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THANKS TO CHANTEL SMITH AND MORGAN HOOK FOR SPENDING THE AFTERNOON WITH US, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "NEW YORK NOW."

>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.

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