Mayor Adams' Statement Following Governor Hochul's State of the State Address

January 9, 2024

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her 2024 State of the State Address:

“Governor Hochul and I have been true partners throughout our time in office, and in her State of the State Address today, she laid out a clear vision that will make New York City a stronger, safer, and more affordable city. Her proposals on housing, public safety, mental health, education, our economy, and more will help us deliver on our commitments to working-class New Yorkers.

“Here in New York City, we’ve established a moonshot goal of building 500,000 new homes by 2033, and we’ve made or introduced nearly every change in our power to ‘Get Stuff Built’ and ensure that all New Yorkers can afford to live in the five boroughs. We’re becoming a ‘City of Yes’ — yes to building on my block, yes to building in my neighborhood, yes to building in my community — but we can’t do it alone. With the governor’s support, we’re confident that our lawmakers will also say yes to the legislation that our city needs to address our housing crisis with the urgency New Yorkers demand.

“There is no question that our partnership has been centered around public safety, and the governor and I agree that public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity. Governor Hochul has continued to prioritize keeping New Yorkers safe, and by investing in our criminal justice system, we will break the logjams and simultaneously deliver both safety and justice to New Yorkers. With the additional authority that the governor has proposed, we’ll also have new tools to tackle the illegal smoke shops that have popped up on too many corners in our city, giving us the opportunity to get cannabis right in the five boroughs.

“We’re also proud that Governor Hochul is bringing the reading revolution we started in New York City public schools to schools across New York state. We’re thrilled to have her support in giving our teachers the training they need to teach the science of reading to young New Yorkers.

“Finally, by zeroing in on medical debt, Governor Hochul continues to prove that she is a champion for working-class New Yorkers — particularly Black and Brown New Yorkers who are burdened by a disproportionate amount of medical debt.

“We eagerly await Governor Hochul’s budget address next week, where we’re hoping to hear details on how New York state will offer additional financial support to its largest city and the heart of the nation’s economy as we continue to manage the asylum seeker crisis.”

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