On January 13th, Governor Hochul and her staff held ‘Governor Hochol’s State of the State for Future Leaders Symposium’. They invited high school seniors from the Capital District who are taking government related classes. There were over a hundred people in attendance, including members of her staff, other prominent local officials, and HVCC students.
During the event, Governor Hochul answered five pointed questions spanning for approximately twenty minutes. Hochul addressed a multitude of topics, focusing on her top priorities, framing it like a mini state of the state address.
Hochul addressed that among her top priorities are protecting environmental rights, and reproduction rights, as well as protecting threatened communities like the homeless and LGBTQ+ people. Hochul spoke about her personal story with environmentalism, talking about her time growing up near Lake Erie and how it was extremely polluted. She spoke about how that included having dead fish on the beach, that the skies were orange not blue, that the factory where her dad and grandpa worked poured molten orange like lava substance into the lake. That’s how she grew up, and she claims that’s what made her a true environmentalist. “You don’t go through that and not become a true environmentalist at heart.”
She went on to speak about how when she was a child, she witnessed how Richard Nixon started the EPA. Hochul then spoke about her recently implemented Climate Change Superfund bill, which she had signed a couple weeks prior. Hochul went on to say that we have to have money to build up resilience, and that she wants large polluters who brought us to this place, often knowingly, to pay for this and not the taxpayers of New York. She also mentioned that the only other state that has attempted this is Vermont. Her bill would have $75 billion dollars over the years, speaking about how she is also nervous about Washignton shutting down environmentalist projects like the offshore wind. To which she claims, “This is the future” regarding clean energy production. Hochul then said that she thinks clean renewable energy can be anything besides fossil fuels, even nuclear energy. Summing up her thoughts on environmental challenges, she went on to say, “We’re the first generation to feel the effects of climate change, but we’re the last one that can do something about it, that is our responsibility to you.”
While addressing environmental struggles, she spoke about the importance of unity and support from all levels of government, talking about the importance of working together, not just as one state. Addressing that all fifty states, and countries on this planet understand they know the answers, but they need to have the moral courage to do it.
On the topic of unity, Hochul said “I represent every New Yorker, regardless of party, regardless of whether they’re deliverable to me or deliverable to any incoming president, I have a responsibility to represent all the voices.” When asked about how she will handle the platform differences between her campaign and the Trump administration, Hochul said, “I can’t say I am not going to work with you because I disagree with you, that doesn’t get us where we need to go.” After diving deeper into how she will handle platform differences, Hochul said, “I will roll up my sleeves and work with anybody who supports our values and will help New york.” Hochul then went on to say, “If they do anything to harm us, I’ll stand up and fight, because I have to, especially when it comes to the environment,” in regards to speaking specifically about the Trump administration trying to get rid of offshore wind production.
In reference to the clean and renewable energy initiatives and environmental platform differences actually being implemented Hochul said, “They do cost money so companies have to be incentivized to do this, they won’t do it on their own…if Washington removes their support for it it’s going to be more complicated for us without a doubt.” Therefore, Hochul spoke about how she believes it is her responsibility to try to convince Washington to work with them to put renewable energy systems in place but also to help put in place systems to prevent disasters like flooding so they don’t have to spend so much money on repairs down the road, going on to empathize, “We’re all in this together.” Hochul wrapped up her thoughts on this topic by saying, “It’s gonna be complicated, it’s going to be Issue by Issue.”
All of the questions answered by Hochul were submitted by seniors across the area, and one of the questions answered was one that I submitted. Hochul was asked, ‘In light of the ongoing national debate on abortion rights, how do you plan to position New York as a safe haven for out-of-state residents seeking abortion care, while also ensuring that New York’s healthcare system can accommodate this potential influx?’ Hochul responded as soon as she learned Roe V. Wade was going to be struck down, she immediately put money into our healthcare programs, wanting to expand clinics, and hire more people. On this Hochul said, “We also knew then that we would be that safe haven for people who are coming from other states.” Hochul then went on to connect with the audience, filled with sons, daughters, parents, and partners by showing her complete understanding and empathy about the weight of the issue, saying, “It breaks my heart to hear the stories of women who have been traumatized and have had their own health compromised or lost a child that they wanted to have because of some health complication.”
Hochul then spoke about how they are a part of our American family, and because they are suffering, New York will be there – for all abortions and mediation assistance. Hochul then explained that there are doctors here in NY that are being threatened with being prosecuted in other states if they prescribe medicine and prescriptions to people in those other states. Hochul stated, “Our laws now protect those doctors from prosecution, and anybody who wants to test that, we’re here to protect medical providers.” Following this message, Hochul spoke on the importance of being proactive and sending a message that NY has money and laws to support these doctors. Finally, to wrap up her thoughts for the event she spoke about how she worked hard with legislators, following Roe V. Wade overturned, to make sure New Yorkers are protected, but also that we are there for people across the country.
