Hochul states case for NY

Focuses on taxes amid COV mandates

Gov. Hochul delivered a historic — if fairly cautious — State of the State Address on Wednesday, outlining plans to deliver tax relief and boost spending on health-care workers, education and climatefriendly, “green” initiatives.

But Hochul, the first woman to serve as governor after stepping in to replace Andrew Cuomo, steered clear of ongoing controversies over bail reform and her COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates.

Hochul wore a “suffragette white” outfit for her speech in the state Capitol’s Assembly Chamber and immediately noted the precedent she was setting.

“But I didn’t come here to make history. I came here to make a difference,” she said.

Hochul also took an oblique shot at Cuomo — who delivered nearly all of his State of the State speeches during campaign-style rallies at Albany’s convention center — by saying that those gathered for her address were in its “original and rightful setting.”

Notably absent was Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), who tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday morning.

COVID protesters

Hochul never mentioned the word “bail” despite widespread opposition to Cuomo-era reforms that critics have blamed for crime spikes across the state.

And outside the Capitol, flagwaving protesters held signs with sayings that included “UNMASK OUR KIDS.” Another engaged in street theater by wearing a white lab coat and a ghoulish, oversized mask while wielding a large, prop vaccine syringe.

Hochul’s proposals include providing $100 million in tax relief for small businesses and speeding up $1.2 billion in middle-class tax cuts that began taking effect in 2018.

More than 2 million homeowners would get $1 billion in property tax rebates this year, with low-income households and seniors reaping the biggest benefits.

Hochul also wants to replace New York City’s “421-a” tax abatement program for apartment developers and replace it with something that would create “permanent and deeper affordability” for low-income households and “ensure maximum efficiency of taxpayer dollars.”

A $10 billion plan would help expand the state’s health-care workforce by 20 percent, and “flagship” research centers would be created at SUNY schools in Stony Brook and Buffalo.

Funding for the state’s proposed Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act would increase by $1 billion to $4 billion, and $1 billion would encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles.