Hochul sworn in for new term as fights loom with legislature

Governor Hochul was sworn in on Sunday after becoming the first woman in state history to win a full four-year term as governor.

“It’s hard work for a woman, but I have steel running through my veins,” Hochul said in a roughly 30-minute inaugural speech delivered in Albany. “I am ready to face the fight.

The newly elected Democrat – who replaced the disgraced ex-governor. Andrew Cuomo after resigning in 2021 – commemorated the occasion by donning a white robe honoring 20th century suffragettes while speaking loudly about plans for a new term following a surprisingly close race against the former representative. Lee Zeldin.

“The future has unlimited possibilities,” she said. “And while so many states are backtracking, when it comes to basic human rights, New Yorkers will never have to worry about whether their rights are protected here.”

A long list of challenges loom in the coming weeks, including rising crime, uncertainty in state finances and continued affordability that challenge New Yorkers’ ability to live in the Empire State.

While Hochul said she would wait until mid-January to come up with specific policy proposals for the state budget due April 1, she hinted at some topics she will prioritize.

“We must and will make our state safe…we must make our state more affordable…And we must reverse the trend of people leaving our state in search of lower costs and opportunities elsewhere,” she said.

The Albany event also featured the inaugurations of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and State Attorney General Letitia James — a former Hochul gubernatorial rival — who said that regulation of cryptocurrencies would be a priority.

Hochul’s new term had already gotten off to a rocky start before it even began, with Democratic lawmakers, powerful unions and progressive activists aiming to bring down his nomination of Hector LaSalle as head of the Court of Appeals of State, New York’s highest court.

The seat assigned to LaSalle in Albany on Sunday was one more sign that Hochul will continue to press ahead with her nomination despite the growing likelihood that she will need Republican votes to secure the increasingly threatened confirmation.

The nomination must go through the state Senate with the support of at least 32 of the 63 senators. At least 13 Democratic senators have already said they will vote against it; 29 other members of the majority party have not yet publicly expressed an opinion.

Hochul also faces a fight with progressives over possible changes to controversial criminal justice reforms as critics push to expand the situations in which someone can be detained before trial because of their criminal record or threats. potential for public safety.

“I want to make more changes related to violent criminals, in terms of the standards that judges use to decide (whether) accused violent criminals should (be released) before trial,” she recently told The Times. Union.

On Sunday, she pointed to the passage of new gun restrictions as an example of how she can work with state lawmakers to get things done despite the ups and downs of relations with Democrats in Albany. over the past year.

Without dwelling on the political fights during her speech, Hochul hinted that she intends to bring a renewed fighting spirit to the second floor of the State Capitol once the 2023 legislative session begins more late this week.

“We will fight the good fights,” she said. “Deep down, I believe there’s nothing we can’t accomplish together.”