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Kathy Hochul Becomes New York's First Female Governor, Promises "New Era of Transparency"
By
Gwynne Hogan
and
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 24, 2021
Modified Aug 24, 2021
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Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
By
Gwynne Hogan
and
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 24, 2021
Modified Aug 24, 2021
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Kathy Hochul was sworn in as New York's 57th Governor shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning, becoming the first woman in state history to hold the position.
In her first address to the people of New York later Tuesday afternoon, Hochul outlined her top priorities; reopening schools, combatting the Delta variant, expediting federal relief funds to New Yorkers who qualify and radically improving state government transparency.
"A new era of transparency, [will be] one of [the] hallmarks, my administration," she said, adding she'd direct all state agencies to fill all freedom of information requests as quickly as possible. Cuomo's administration rarely released information to the public this way. "For me, it's very simple. We'll focus on open ethical governing that New Yorkers will trust."
To safely reopen schools, Hochul said she would require masks to be worn inside all schools as well as require COVID-19 vaccines for teachers, with an option to test out weekly. A "back to school" COVID testing initiative was also mentioned, and she promised more school-related details later this week.
Hochul said the state would reopen mass vaccination sites to allow more New Yorkers to get booster shots, to suppress the resurgence of COVID-19 and the delta variant.
She also promised to speed up of the process of disbursing federal funds that were approved in April for tenants behind on rent and excluded workers. Applications for the excluded worker fund just went live in August, three months after the money was allocated. A recent report from the State Comptroller's office found New York was the only state in the country to not have released any of the newly allotted federal funds by June. By Aug. 9th, just 7,072 households had received rental relief funds out of more than one hundred thousand New Yorkers who had applied, according to the report.
"I want it out now, without any more excuses or delays," Hochul said, saying she planned on immediately hiring more people to review applications and appoint a top tier team to determine what else was slowing the process down.
Hochul has served as the state's Lieutenant Governor, a largely ceremonial role, since 2015. She replaces disgraced Governor Andrew Cuomo who stepped aside late Monday night in the fallout of a scathing report from the state Attorney General that corroborated sexual harassment and misconduct claims from 11 women.
In his parting remarks Monday afternoon, Cuomo called Hochul "smart and competent," adding, "I believe she will step up to the challenge. I wish her every success."
Earlier Tuesday morning, Hochul wore white to recall American suffragists as she was sworn into office by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. After the ceremony, Hochul gave a short speech and took questions from reporters.
"Brevity is the hallmark of my administration," she said, in an apparent nod to Cuomo's often long-winded press briefings. She also highlighted that there will be a "change in the culture of Albany, [and] a fresh collaborative approach. I want people to believe in their governor again."
Governor Kathy Hochul, her husband Bill Hochul, and Katie Hochul and Matt Gloudeman and Will and Christina Hochul.
Mike Groll/Governor Hochul's Office
Regarding her relationship with Mayor Bill de Blasio, she also indicated a change, declaring: “There will be no blindsiding.”
During his decade in office, Cuomo regularly upstaged Mayor de Blasio, often putting out contradictory guidance shortly before or after the city was expected to issue it, whether it involved charter schools, shutting down the state for at the start of the pandemic, or an ill-fated Upper Manhattan deer.
Hochul has roots in Buffalo and has worked in local government for much of her career, serving on the Hamburg Town Board for a decade and then as an Erie County clerk. She won an upset bid for Congress in 2011, and served a two-year term before she lost her seat after redistricting.
READ MORE: Kathy Hochul, New York's New Governor, Hailed As "Reasonable," "Dedicated" Public Servant
Her husband, William Hochul, is the senior vice president and the general counsel for the hospitality and gaming company Delaware North, which has raised potential conflicts of interest. Hochul's team has said there is "already a recusal process in place" for any conflicts of interest.
The Buffalo News subsequently reported that the lieutenant governor’s husband would keep his position, though the company said he’d recuse himself from matters that are potentially ethically murky for the pair.
Since Cuomo announced his resignation, Hochul has spent the past two weeks in a whirlwind tour of downstate cities and towns, prepping for her sudden takeover of the state and meeting local leaders. She's been hailed by state leaders as a dedicated and reasonable public servant and she's promised a different leadership style from her predecessor.
On Monday afternoon Hochul announced the appointment of two women to key leadership roles in her administration.
Karen Persichilli Keogh, who worked for Hillary Clinton when she was a U.S. Senator and on her Presidential campaign, takes over as Secretary to the Governor, the highest-ranking appointed post in the state. It's a seat vacated by Melissa DeRosa, who played a key role in attempting to cover up sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo, according to the State Attorney General's report.
Elizabeth Fine, who currently serves as an attorney for Empire State Development, will serve as Hochul's general counsel. Fine has a long history in politics on every level of government; she served as special counsel to President Bill Clinton and then worked under him in the Justice Department, and also as was general counsel for the New York City Council before she joined state government.
And she's hiring—you can submit your cover letter and resume here.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Tagged
Albany
andrew cuomo
new york
Governor Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul
Gwynne Hogan
Gwynne Hogan is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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