Be part of the conversation. Cspanshop. Org is cspans online store. Browser latest collection of cspan products. Apparel, books, home to core, and accessories. Theres something for every cspan fan. Shop now, anytime at cspanshop. Org. Ph new York Governor Kathy Hochul app state of the state address highlights public safety, homelessness and other topics. Pursuant to a resolution duly adopted in each of the houses of legislature, the senate and the assembly of the state of new york are met in joint session for the purpose of receiving the annual message to the legislature from the governor of the state of new york. Ladies and gentlemen, i am proud to to present the 57 governors of the state of new york, kathy hochul. [applause] [audible conversations] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] thank you and good afternoon. And honored 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 two world wars, to the every day issues that matter most to the millions of people who call new york home. Generations of past leaders have shared the solemn responsibility of representing their citizens and im honored to be joined by the leaders of today. First, let me thank Lieutenant GovernorAntonio Delgado. Hes done an amazing job, so proud to have him at my side. I want to thank Senior Pastor for the beautiful invocation and i look forward to seeing you this sunday in church, save me a seat. State controller tom dinapoli, state attorney general james, Senate Majority leader Andrea Stewart cousins which Assembly Speaker policies of dc. [cheers and applause] the majority leader, Andrea Stewart cousins. [applause] have to look out for women. Speaking of powerful women, Crystal Peoples stokes. Senate minority leader robert lorch, western new yorker. Assembly minority leader will berkeley. Barclay. [applause] the esteemed judges of the new york court of appeals. New york city mayor eric adams. Mayors and county executives from all across the state. We are also joined by former governors David Patterson and george pataki. [applause] many representatives from labor, distinguished guests, clergy leaders including doctor a. R. Bernard of the interfaith council. Members of my cabinet, council liz stein and a special tribute to my policy director, the visionary behind many of our great ideas, michael asher. [applause] today it is not about us. It is about the 20 million hardworking new yorkers we are privileged to represent and what we can deliver for them in the year ahead. I have listened as new yorkers told me about the challenges they face, the dreams they hold. The 7 minds 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. Weve traversed some rocky terrain and there are still some switchbacks before we reach the summit. Across our nation and our state, safe and affordable life is somehow out of reach while shootings and murders have declined by double digits, safety at the grocery store, the synagogue or the subway is always top of mind. And always made Great Strides to take guns off the streets, too many parents are still fearful their children get on the bus each morning, too often. Troubled individuals are discharged from the hospital without receiving the care they need and go on to commit violent acts. The potential of a crime no matter how serious is causing anxiety for our residents and on top of that, they are also frustrated with the rising cost of living. Inflation is down 9. 1 , 3. 1 over the last 18 months. Paychecks are finally growing and yet our neighbors are struggling to make a dollar go further. Sadly no matter how hard they work, they fear they will never be a success or succeed as their parents did. These are the reasons that i fight every day to give new yorkers a better shot at a better life and since taking office ive worked with this legislature to create more than 600,000 jobs, and reduce unemployment from 7. 4 , to 4 . And we did that while holding the line on taxes, we cut them for the middle class. [applause] we boosted k12 education by 5. 3 billion, an extraordinary 18 increase. [applause] and we funded Foundation Aid for the first time in history. We increased healthcare funding by 20 , to more than one hundred 12 billion and we gave one. 3 billion in raises to our hardworking Home Healthcare rates and bonuses for healthcare workers, because they deserve it. And just this morning get, as a result of our hard work, with president biden, his administration, we will be able to invest over 6 billion in federal funds into our Healthcare System over the next three years. This funding will help support our safety net hospitals, address workforce shortages, strengthen access to primary health care, all important primaries, all of us. On top of that we invested 7 billion in child care. At the same time, we save the mta from a looming fiscal cliff that threatens the economy of an entire region while ridership grew by 435 million new riders. No administration and no legislature invested more money faster into roads and bridges and Public Infrastructure to rebuild our state. I am grateful for your continued partnership and our majority leader, Andre Stewart cousins. Thank you to both of you. Thank you. We have worked hard to restore integrity and trust in government, and the face we disagree, the truth is we are united in our commitment to the people of this state and we have achieved so much. Standing here and reciting accomplishments is not what people want from their leaders. We will fight the right fight on their behalf and relentlessly pursue common sense ideas that lift up the people of this great state. Joining us today is quinton colon roosevelt, the greatgrandson of Teddy Roosevelt who took the oath of office to be president exactly 125 years ago. At just 19 years old, clinton is the youngest elected official in the nations capital. Clinton, stand up. [applause] a right future of Public Service runs in his veins and we expect more. Like clinton, i was inspired by the 33rd governor of new york. I quoted Teddy Roosevelt my first day in office. To always strive valiantly on behalf of new yorkers and be the woman in the arena. And thats exactly what weve done. [applause] thats why im willing to take on the stubborn persistent crime like retail theft and crimes. We have were going to also revolutionize our Mental Health insurance structure so people actually get the help they need. And well be protecting your hardearned money from bad actors and predatory lenders. And at the same time, wellll continue to build new york to a place that welcomes businesses, new and existing, small and large, familyowned and publicld traded. Well keep driving the longdelayed infrastructure in Public Transit projects like the Second Avenue subway extension, the interboro express, the i81u viaduct, the kensington expressway, creating thousands and thousands of goodpaying union jobs so our workers canat support their families. And well fight for minimum wage workers because no one should labor 40 hours a week and still live below the poverty line. [applause] and well fight for our farmers threatened by extreme weather and workforce shortages. Well fight for seniors trying to make ends meet on a fixed income. Or well fight for women balancing motherhood and careers. Well fight for children just beginning their journey in life. And in so doing, well 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. Inflation didnt just hitt families, it hit State Government operations as well. So its up to all of us to make the hard yet necessary decisions and use taxpayer dollars creatively and responsibly. And ill discuss how ill tackle some of the toughest fiscal issues like caring for migrants and a structural deficit in next weeks budget speech. It but right now, lets talk about how we provide a better life for new yorkers. Starting with the initiatives we already announced since the new year. Last year, infant deaths 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 wont let this continue on my watch. [applause] we must ensure moms have healthy pregnancies. So 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. And were also giving children the resources they need to live full, healthy, successful lives. And that starts with teaching them how to read. I say its time to get rid of debunked curriculums in schools and get back to basics using phonics and proven techniques that work. Were also promoting physical health and wellbeing by building pools in underserved areas and teaching people to swim. [applause] and im proud that Lieutenant GovernorAntonio Delgado will lead a newly created office of service and civic engagement. He and his team will connect new yorkers who want to give back, especially young people to Service Opportunities all across the state. And this is just the start of our comprehensive agenda for new york in 2024. Well protect the environment by planting 25 million trees, fund resiliency efforts, and expand solar access, and make sure our state meets our bold emission targets. [applause]is well promote jobs in agriculture and invest in familyowned farms. Well connect new yorkers with disabilities to Career Opportunities and Fund Research into Rare Diseases like als that robs millions like my own mother of their vitality. While we address countless challenges with 204, yes, 204 policy initiatives in our 2024 state of the state book, which im sure will find its way to your nightstands this evening. Today im going to just focus on a few key common sense items for our agenda fighting crime, fixing our Mental Health system, and protecting new yorkers hardearned money. [applause] lets talk about crime. If government cant keep their citizens safe, then nothing else matters. Last year, we reduced gun violence, bringing shootings down by a third all across the state. Murders are down 21 in new york city, 38 upstate. We made key revisions to ballot reform to make new york safer. We enacted gun control legislation. Thats a model for the rest ofed the nation, but certain types of crime have been stubbornly high. New yorkers see it every day. Graffiti scrawled outside a synagogue, baby formula locked behind plastic panels. A couples argument turns violent and punctuated by gunshots. And on the subway, people suffering a mental breakdown or an overdose. Episodes like these can cause an atmosphere of anxiety in our communities. But our success in driving down gun violence proves that i targeted strategies do work and that changing trends is indeed possible. So today were unveiling a series of crimefighting tactics alongside an eradefining 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. Now, the random attacks get all the press coverage, but new yorkers are much more likely to be hurt by someone they know. In onethird of assaults, the attacker and the victim have a prior relationship. Our system fails too many survivors. In new york city alone, 84 of Domestic Violence arrests end with dismissals. Think about that. And before last year, too many abusers had access to guns, so we changed the law. [applause] but now the Supreme Court is poised to possibly overturn a law that keeps guns away from the abusers. We need to strengthen protections, and its 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, and we know that prosecuting violent abusers is the best way to protect survivors. Take the story of elizabeth beechert, whos here with us today. He elizabeth, please stand. [applause] elizabeth lives right across the riveret 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 he killed one of her kittens, maimed another. Then one day, her life changed. A veterinarian told her about unity house, a nonprofit that helped survivors of Domestic Violence. Eventually, she met Troy Police Detective russ clements, whos also joined us. Detective clements. [applause] thank you. Thank you. He helped elizabeth find the strength to pursue justice and filed charges. He assisted with Police Reports and stood by her side at the grand jury. With his support, elizabeth has made a clean break from her abuser and is rebuilding her life. Lets give them both the round of applause. [applause] i want to hear more hopeful stories like this, and thats why were dedicating 20 million so district attorneys can gather evidence to prosecute abusers and take their guns away. [applause] and were committing more funding so police can protect those most at risk of abuse and clamp down on repeat offenders because every survivor should have the same chance to break the chain of violence and build a new life. Across our nation and our state, retail theft has surged, creating fear among the customers and the workers. Thieves brazenly tear items off the shelves and menace employees. Owners go broke replacing broken windows and stolen goods, driving many out of business. These attacks are nothing more than a breakdown of the social order. I say no more. The chaos must end. [applause] for the very first time, were launching a joint operation between federal, state, and local Law Enforcement, along with the brand new state police unit, to crack down on organized retail theft. As i said, we use this approach with illegal guns, and it worked. Im also proposing to help those Business Owners with a tax credit to help them cover the additional security costs. And ill work with the legislature to strengthen penalties for assaulting a retail worker or fostering the sale of stolen goods online. Lets get it done. [applause] lets back our businesses. 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. And this extends to the Illegal Cannabis vendors who flagrantly violate our laws. Well empower localities to go after the unlicensed shops, prosecute businesses that sell to minors, and padlock their doors faster. [applause] finally, regarding crime, i want to talk about hate crimes, particularly the rising tide of antisemitism and islamophobia. Since the horrific attacks by hamas against israel on october 7th, theres been roughly a 95 increase in hate crimes against jewish residents of new york city, and were seeing a surgesh of antimuslim hate crimes as well. Our neighbors are being targeten on playgrounds, and synagogues, and mosques, and on college campuses. And i will not rest until every jewish and muslim child feels safe going to school or entering a house of worship. So 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 were standing up for whats right. Well protect the people of this state. [applause] well carry this fight until every new yorker feels safe at home, at prayer, and at work. But no matter how much we spend on Law Enforcement or expand their powers, new yorkers will not be able to let their guard down until we fix our Mental Health system. [applause] because heres the truth. From brooklyn to buffalo, many new yorkers are suffering. Mental illness doesnt discriminate. A it touches the rich and the poor, 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. And too often the peoplee involved in violent incidences on our streets, on our subways are victims themselves, victims of a system that failed to provide them the treatment they need. Highquality care must be widely available, accessible, and affordable. [applause] yet for decades, the Mental Health system was deprioritized and defunded. Over the 10 years before i took office, funding for Mental Health grew only by 2 , not even keeping up with inflation. The results . Too few psychiatric beds, too few Mental Health practitioners, and failing support systems. Combine this with pandemic isolation, opioid addiction, and the toxic algorithms that