Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Spitzer's State of the State Address: Take 2
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Jan 9, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Jan 9, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Today, Governor Spitzer is giving his second State of the State Address. Which makes us recall last year's State of the State.
A year ago, everyone was all smiles on the podium as Spitzer delivered his first address [pdf]. It was going to be a new Albany, free of discord and full of bipartisan cooperation to benefit all New Yorkers. Senate Majority leader Joseph Bruno was on board (“This is our agenda. Tax cuts, no new taxes, job creation, education, health care for everyone, reform.") as was Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, who said, “For the last 12 years, we have witnessed what happens when the two-party system becomes the too-petty system."
Politics in Albany over the last 12 months has reached a level of acrimony that we might have forgotten during the soporific years of Gov. Pataki's terms in office. Troopergate, Darren Dopp, purged hard drives, obstructed subpoenas. Even Gov. Spitzer's successor as State Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, seems like he's eager to get into the gubernatorial seat using similar hardball tactics that got Spitzer there in the first place.
Spitzer's address today is an attempt to ameliorate the hard feelings built up over the last year. He wants to enact a property tax cap, even though that goes against many Democrats plans. And like a bedazzled lotto winner, he wants to sell off the revenues of the state lottery for the next 40 years for a lump sum payment, in order to pay for the endowment of the SUNY system and hire a few thousand extra college professors (in the past, Spitzer has railed against funding sustained state programs with one-time bumps in budgets).
We'll have full coverage of the address once he's finished delivering it.
Update: Here's the full transcript of the speech. Highlights:
- Opening words: "Last year, although our differences often attracted more attention than our agreements, we came together to produce real change where progress had eluded the state for years...These, all of them, are shared accomplishments. All New Yorkers will benefit from them, and I thank you."
- Forming a bipartisan panel to look into capping school and government spending.
- Proposing to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program
- Creation of a "Peace Corps" for doctors in NY State - "Doctors Across New York" - to go to areas with less medical attention
- Big applause for proposing to rename the Triborough after RFK
Photograph from last year's State of the State - how time passes
Tagged
Albany
All New Yorkers
andrew cuomo
attorney general
Darren Dopp
Democrats
governor
Governor Spitzer
health
health care
Joseph Bruno
new york
new yorkers
ny state
peace corps
Politics
real change
sheldon silver
spitzer
state attorney general
state of the state
Troopergate
Dave Hogarty
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .