Campaigns, and more from the world of politics. All at your fingertips. Stay current with episodes of washington journal and scheduling information for steve spann tv networks as well as podcasts. Available at the apple store and google play. Scan the qr code today or visit cspan. Org cspan now. Any time, anywhere. Democrat kathy hogle has been governor since 2021 following the resignation of governor,. For her state of the state of address in january, she highlighted public safety, homelessness, hate Crime Prevention and business as well as other topics. This in just over one hour. Pursuant to the resolution duly adopted by the houses of the legislature, the senate and the assembly of the state of new york are met and joints session for the purpose of receiving the annual message from the governor of the state of new york. Ladies and gentlemen, i am proud and honored to present the governor of the state of new york, kathy hogle. [ applause ]. [applause] gov. hochul thank you and good afternoon. Its an honor to be back in this Hallowed Chamber a place thank you and good afternoon. It is an honor to be back with you in this Hallowed Chamber. A place where since 1879, civic minded new yorkers have wrestled with everything from the Great Depression to the wars to the everyday issues that matter most to the millions of people who call new york their home. Generations of past leaders have shared the solemn responsibility of representing their citizens and i am honored to be joined by the leaders of today. First, let me thank our Lieutenant Governor who has done an amazing job. I am so proud to have him met my side. And i want to think the Senior Pastor for the beautiful indication and i hope to see you perhaps this sunday in church. Save me a seat. And the state comptroller and the Senate Majority leader cousins. You can applaud if you want. And i am going back to the majority leader, Andrea Stewart cousins. [ applause ]. We have to look out for women, okay. Speaking of powerful women, the majority leader. And the Senate Minority leader robert ort, again a western new yorker. In the Senate Minority leader berkeley. The esteemed judges of the new york heart of appeals. In the new york city mayor, eric adams. The mayors and county executives from across the state. And we are joined by former governors David Patterson and george pataki. Also, many representatives from labor along with distinguished guests and clergy including the president of our executive interfaith council. Members of my cabinet and counsel and a special tribute to my policy director, the visionary behind many of our great ideas, michael asher. [ applause ]. But, today is not about us. Its about the 20 million hard working new yorkers we are privileged to represent and what we can deliver for them in the year ahead. New yorkers have told me about the challenges they face and the dreams they hold. It is 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 is healthier, safer, more affordable. We have traversed some rocky terrain. There is still some switchbacks before we reach the summit. Across our nation with the life somewhat and reach well shootings and murders have declined by double digits. Saved we at the Grocery Store and the synagogue is always first of mind. Though we strive to take guns off the streets, too many parents are filled role as their children get on the bus each morning. Troubled individuals are discharged from the hospital. Without receiving the care they need and they go on to create violent acts. The potential creates anxiety for residents. On top of that they are frustrated with the rising cost of living. Inflation is down 9. 1 to three point 1 over the last 18 months and paychecks are finally growing. Yet, our neighbors are struggling to make a dollar go further. Sadly, no matter how hard they work, they fear they will never be as successful or get as far as their parents did. These are the reasons i fight every day. To give new yorkers a better shot at a better life. Since taking office, i have worked with this legislature to create more than 600,000 jobs and reduce unemployment from 7. 4 to 4 . [ applause ]. We did that while holding a line on taxes across the board and in fact we cut them for the middle class. [ applause ]. We boosted k12 education by 5. 3 billion. An extraordinary 18 increase. And, we fully funded Foundation Aid for the first time in history. [ applause ]. We increased healthcare funding by 20 to more than 112 billion and we gave 1. 3 billion in raises to the hard working Home Health Care aides with bonuses to healthcare workers because they deserve it. Just this morning, as the result of our hard work with President Biden and his administration, we will be able to invest over 6 billion in federal funds into our Healthcare System over the next three years. Strengthen acceso primary and behavorial healthcare, all [ applause ]. This funding will support our safety net hospitals and overcome shortages and strengthen access to healthcare which is all important to all of us. On top of that, over the last two years, we have invested over 7 billion in child care. [ applause ]. At the same time, we saved the mta from a looming fiscal cliff that was impacting the entire region while the ridership grew by 435 million new riders. [ applause ]. No administration and no legislature has invested money faster into roads and bridges and Public Infrastructure to rebuild our state. I am grateful. Grateful for your continued partnership and for the majority leader, Andrea Stewart cousins and our speaker. Thank you to both of you. [ applause ]. We have worked hard to restore integrity and trust in our government. Here is what i no, you will always see more headlines about the handful of places we disagree but the truth is we are united. United in our commitment to the people of this state. Together, we have already achieved so much. Standing here and reciting accomplishments is not what people want from their leaders. We will continue to fight the right fights on their behalf and relentlessly pursue common sense ideas that lift up the people of this great state. Joining us today is quentin roosevelt. He is the great, great, grandson of Teddy Roosevelt who took the oath of office exactly 125 years ago in a place called buffalo. At just 19 years old, he is the youngest elected official in our nations capital. Stand up. Thank you. [ applause ]. A great future and i told him Public Service runs in his veins and we expect even more. Like quentin, i was inspired by the 33rd governor of new york. In fact, i quoted Teddy Roosevelt my first day in office. I promise to always strive valiantly on behalf of new yorkers and to be the woman in the arena. That is exactly what we have done. [ applause ]. That is why i am willing to take on stubbornly persistent crimes like retail theft, Domestic Violence and hate crimes. To revise our insurance structure so people actually get the help they need. [ applause ]. We will be protecting your hard earned money from bad actors and predatory lenders. At the same time, we will continue to build new york as a place that welcomes businesses. New and existing, small and large. Family owned and publicly traded. We will develop transit projects like the Second Avenue subway extension and the i81 viaduct in the kensington expressway. Creating thousands of good paying jobs so workers can support their families. We will fight for minimumwage workers because no one showed labor 40 hours per week and still lives below the pottery poverty line. [ applause ]. We will fight for our farmers gripped by extreme weather and workforce shortages. We will fight for seniors on a fixed income and we will fight for women balancing motherhood and careers. We will fight for children just beginning their journey in life. 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 dried up and inflation did not just hit families, it hit State Government operations as well. It is up to all of us to make the hard yet necessary decisions and use taxpayer dollars creatively and responsibly. I will discuss how i will tackle the fiscal issues like caring for migrants and the structural deficit in next weeks budget speech. Right now, lets talk about how we provide a better life for new yorkers. Starting with initiatives we announced since the new year. Last year, infant deaths were up for the first time in 20 years. Black and brown women remain three to four times more likely to die in childbirth. I will not let this continue on my watch. We must ensure and moms and healthy pregnancies. I want to make new york this first date in the nation to offer premade aleve. We must protect women from unnecessary surgeries that put them at risk. We are also giving children the resources they need to live full, healthy, and successful lives. That starts with teaching them to read. I say it is time to get rid of debunked curriculums in schools and get back to basics using phonics and techniques that work. We are promoting physical health and wellbeing by building pools and underserved areas and teaching people to swim. I am proud that the Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado and a newly created office of service and civic engagement. He and his team will give back. Especially to young people with Service Opportunities across the state. This is just the start of a comprehensive new agenda for new york in 2024. We will protect the environment by planting 25 Million Trees and fund the resiliency efforts and fund solar access and make sure that our state meets our bold emission target. [ applause ]. We will promote jobs in agriculture and invest in family owned farms. We will connect to Career Opportunities and Fund Research into Rare Diseases like als that robs millions, like my mother, of their vitality. We will address countless challenges with 204, yes, 204 policy initiatives in our 2024 state of the state book which i am sure will find its way to your nightstands this evening. Today, i focus on a few key items for our agenda. Fighting crime, fixing our Mental Health system and protecting new yorkers hard earned money. [ applause ]. Lets talk about crime. If government cant keep our citizens safe, then nothing else matters. Last year, we reduced gun violence bringing shootings down by one third across the state. Murders are down in new york city and 30 down across the state. We have made key reforms across the state and gun control legislation which is a model for the rest of the nation. Certain types of crime of an stubbornly high and new yorkers see it every day. Graffiti outside a synagogue. Baby formula locks behind plastic panels. A couples argument turns violent and is punctuated by gun violence. On the subway, people suffering a mental breakdown or overdose. Episodes like these can cause an atmosphere of anxiety and our communities. Our success in driving down gun violence proves that targeted strategies do work and that changing trends is indeed possible. Today we are unveiling a series of crimefighting tech six alongside a defining Mental Health initiative so new yorkers can live free from chaos and disorder and focus on the things in life that matter most. First, we must ensure everyone is safe at home by protecting them from Domestic Violence. The random attacks get the press coverage but new yorkers are more likely to be hurt by someone they no. One third of assaults, the attacker and the victim have a prior relationship. Our system fails too many survivors. In new york city, many Domestic Violence arrests in with dismissals. Think about that. Before last year, too many abusers had access to guns and so we changed the law. Now, the Supreme Court is poised to possibly overturn a law that keeps guns away from abusers and we need to strengthen the protections. It is more urgent now than ever before. [ applause ]. You may have heard me talk about how my mother grew up in a home where Domestic Violence was routine. She dedicated her life to survivors to break the cycle of trauma. We note that prosecuting violent abusers is the best way to protect survivors. Take the story of Elizabeth Beecher who is here with us today. Elizabeth, please stand. [ applause ]. Elizabeth lives across the river in troy. Not long ago she was trapped in an abusive relationship. She and her pets suffered regular abuse at the hands of her exboyfriend. He killed one of her kittens and then her life changed. A veterinarian told her about unity house, a nonprofit that helps survivors of Domestic Violence. Then she met up Police Detective who is also joining us. Detective. [ applause ]. Thank you. He helped elizabeth find the strength to pursue justice and file charges. He assisted with Police Reports and stood by her side at the grand jury. With support, elizabeth made a clean break from her abuser and is rebuilding her life. Lets give them a round of applause. [ applause ]. I want to hear more hopeful stories like this. That is why we are dedicating 20 million so district attorneys can gather evidence to prosecute abusers and take their guns away. And, we are committing more funding so police can protect those most at risk of abuse and clamp down on repeated offenders. So every survivor has a chance to break the chain of violence and build a new life. Across our nation and state, retail theft has searched. Fear among customers and workers. Thieves tear items off the shelves and minutes employees. Owners go broke replacing broken windows and stolen goods, driving many out of business. These are attacks are nothing more than a breakdown of social order and i say no more. The chaos must end. Fire getting a for the very first time, we are wanting a joint operation between federal, state, and local Law Enforcement. Along with a new state police unit to crackdown on organized retail theft. We use this approach with illegal guns and it worked. Im also proposing to help Business Owners with a tax credit to help them cover the additional security costs. I will work with the legislature to strengthen penalties for assaulting a retail worker or for fostering the sale of stolen goods online. Lets get it done and back our businesses and the workers with the full force of the law. And punish those who think they can break the rules with impunity. This extends to the Illegal Cannabis vendors who flagrantly violate our laws. We will empower localities to go after the unlicensed shops and prosecute those who sell to minors and prosecute them faster. [ applause ]. Finally, regarding crime, i want to talk about how hate crimes, particularly the rising tide of antisemitism and islamophobia. Since the attack on october second, there is a 95 increase in hate crimes against jewish residents of new york city. We are seeing a rise in muslim hate crimes as well. Neighbors are targeted on playgrounds and mosques and the college campuses. I will not rest until every jewish and muslim child feels safe going to school or entering a house of worship. We propose to make more than two dozen additional offenses from gang assaults to graffiti eligible for prosecution as hate crimes. This means enhanced liability sentences and ultimately it means we are standing for what is right and we will protect the people of this state. We will carry this fight until every new yorker feels safe at home, at prayer, and that work. No matter how much we spend on Law Enforcement or expand their powers, new york will not be able to let their guard down until we fix our Mental Health system. [ applause ]. Here is the truth , from brooklyn to buffalo, many new yorkers are suffering. Mental illness does not discriminate. It touches the rich and the poor and it reaches into schools and Senior Centers with 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. Too often, the people in violent incidents are victims themselves. Victims of assistance. High quality care must be accessible and affordable. Yet, for decades, the Mental Health system was the prioritized and defunded. In the 10 years before i took office, funding for Mental Health fell by 2 . Not only not only keeping up with inflation. The result was too few psychiatric beds and too few practitioners and failing support systems. Combine this with pandemic isolation, opioid addiction and the toxic algorithms that govern social media. It is no wonder we have such a serious problem on our hands. Make no mistake, this is the defining challenge of our time. That is why my Administration Working in par