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Hochul Meets With NYC Officials, Pledges New Leadership Approach As Governor
By
David Cruz
,
Gwynne Hogan
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Aug 18, 2021
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By
David Cruz
,
Gwynne Hogan
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Aug 18, 2021
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Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul toured an elementary school in Corona, Queens on Wednesday, speaking to teachers and elected officials about COVID protocols for the fall, while promising a new type of leadership when she replaces embattled Governor Andrew Cuomo next week.
“I have a different approach to governing,” Hochul said during her visit to the school, accompanied by state leaders and the city Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. "Those who work with me whether they're people I’ve defeated in previous elections... whether they're people on all levels of government, I roll up my sleeves, I get the job done. Because I don’t have time for distractions. I’m very prepared for this."
Over the past week, Hochul has stepped up her presence in the five boroughs as she familiarizes herself with the state's largest city. On Tuesday, she met with Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in separate private meetings to discuss priorities for the city. The meetings were held at the same Midtown Manhattan hotel, and were said to last for more than an hour each.
The meetings were billed as a kind of reset in the relationship between city and state officials. For years, de Blasio has been at odds with Cuomo over his handling of city affairs that require state funding or approvals, most recently (and publicly) during the response to the pandemic. Williams has also been a staunch critic of Cuomo. The two were also among the dozens of lawmakers who pressed Cuomo to resign from office.
At his daily press briefing on Wednesday, de Blasio — whose mayoral term expires in December and is rumored to be interested in his own gubernatorial run — was asked to provide more details on his meeting with Hochul.
Calling it a “very positive “and “productive” meeting, he said "the number one topic" was the ongoing public health battle against the delta variant as well as the recovery effort.
Williams, who unsuccessfully ran against Hochul for Lt. Governor in 2018, told Gothamist on Tuesday night that he had "a very good conversation" with Hochul, and added, "I’m happy that she has a different view from the way the governor before was governing. From where we were, you can only go up.”
On The Brian Lehrer Show on Wednesday, Williams reiterated that the meeting was productive, and noted that he was satisfied with Hochul's receptiveness to expediting the rollout of rent subsidies and an excluded workers fund for those financially impacted by the pandemic, and public safety matters on a holistic level. Hochul told reporters Wednesday the rent subsidies and excluded workers fund stand as critical priorities.
Of the relationship between the city and state, Williams said he's looking forward to a "swift change."
Asked whether he would be interested in being chosen by Hochul for Lt. Governor, Williams said no. His sights, he said, would be running for governor next year, which would mean he'd run against Hochul, who also plans to run for governor in 2022. De Blasio's name is also on the list of potential candidates for governor.
For now, both appeared ready to work with Hochul.
“It was just a good healthy, sane— emphasize the word ‘sane’—conversation, which I appreciated,” de Blasio said. In response, Hochul said she was “very honored that the mayor called me 'sane.'”
Additional reporting by Scott Heins
Tagged
lieutenant governor
Kathy Hochul
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gwynne Hogan
Gwynne Hogan is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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