ALBANY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her first State of the State address from Albany Wednesday, hitting on a massive range of topics that included to-go drinks, term limits, education and health care workers.
Hochul, New York's first female governor, gave the speech to a limited, socially distant crowd at the State Capitol. She called her proposals a "New era for New York."
"The days of governors disregarding the rightful role of this legislature are over. The days of the governor of New York and mayor of New York City wasting time on petty rivalries are over," Hochul said, directly hitting out at ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Hochul proposed a limit of two, four-year terms for New York governors during her speech. New York is one of about a dozen states without term limits for governors.
Hochul’s proposed term limits would apply not only to the governor but also to the statewide elected positions of lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller.
Hochul announced a set of benefits for businesses -- leading with that she'll introduce legislation to permanently allow bars and restaurants to sell to-go drinks again, as the state allowed earlier in the pandemic.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance welcomed the move with open arms, saying, "The drinks to go policy provides critically important revenue streams to struggling restaurants and bars and is extraordinarily popular with the public, unsurprisingly. We commend Governor Hochul for her leadership, and we look forward to toasting her administration and the state legislature once this important policy is reinstated.”
The governor also detailed the "Inter-Borough Express," -- a new rail service that will connect Brooklyn and Queens. It'll utilize a 14-mile, old, unused freight line.
"I am directing the MTA to immediately commence an environmental review, so we can get this project rolling down the track," she said.
The project would use the existing right of way of the Bay Ridge Branch, connecting the neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. The project could connect to up to 17 subway lines and the LIRR, officials said.
"This project would smartly repurpose existing infrastructure to add mass transit and create access to jobs, education, and opportunity for so many residents of Queens and Brooklyn," said MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
Also part of her "Billion Dollar Rescue Plan" is a new tax credit aimed to providing relief for small businesses taking on COVID-related expenses and a lending initiative that'll provide accessible loans to expanding small businesses.
Hochul also said the state will provide $100 million in tax relief for 195,000 small businesses by widening eligibility and increasing a tax return adjustment that reduces a small business's gross business income.
On the education front, Hochul is looking to "rebuild New York's teacher workforce" -- emphasizing recruiting and retaining teachers ahead of a "retirement cliff" in the coming years.
Hochul said the state's Education Department will add staff to its certification office to accelerate the process and waiving the $35,000 income limit for retirees in hopes of some returning to the workforce.
"We must do more to support students and teachers in our state and encourage a new generation to enter the field of education so that New York never again faces the chronic staffing shortages we are seeing today," said Hochul.
In the healthcare field, the governor said the state needs to avoid "hemorrhaging" more workers, and they'll do that by paying up.
Hochul said the state will invest $10 billion over the next five years in hopes of expanding the health care workforce by 20%. The plan includes tuition assistance and stipends for workers those who remain in New York after schooling.
The state also plans to accelerate over $1 billion in middle class tax cuts for 6 million people. Hochul is also seeking to deliver a $1 billion property tax rebate.
The Hochul administration is focusing on avoiding another year with hordes of people moving elsewhere. She said a comprehensive housing plan that includes create and preserving 100,000 affordable homes and 10,000 supportive housing units is part of that plan.
The governor also proposed a ban on outside income for statewide elected officials while they serve in office, with an exception for academic positions that must receive ethics board approval.
The move takes direct aim at her predecessor Andrew Cuomo, who earned roughly $5.1 million for a memoir he wrote about the pandemic while serving as governor. Last month, the state ethics commission gave Cuomo 30 days to turn over all money he was paid by a publisher for the book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
“I want people to believe in their government again,” Hochul said. “With these bold reforms, we will ensure New Yorkers know their leaders work for them and are focused on serving the people of this state.”
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