On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) delivered remarks about ongoing state budget talks.
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00:00Please stand and join me in giving a warm Rochester welcome to the 57th
00:06governor of the great state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul!
00:12Wow! Rochester, New York is in the house! Let's show Governor Kathy Hochul how we treat
00:31our governors, right? I told the governor I know I got to be brief because I know we
00:41got to get back because she's got to get to Albany and get it done. She's in the
00:44fourth quarter. I know she's a big bills fan and we're on the one-inch yard line
00:49and it's time to push it through and I know that I know that the governor will
00:52do that today. I'm honored to kick off today's event and welcome Governor Kathy
00:58Hochul to Rochester to talk about the affordability agenda in her budget
01:02proposal. I also want to thank Julia Tedesco for hosting us here and
01:06recognize our Congressman Joe Morelli, County Executive Adam Bellow and Jeremy
01:10Cooney, who you will hear from in a second. A budget is more than a spending
01:15plan. It's a statement of priorities and when it comes to Governor Hochul's fiscal
01:202025-26 executive budget proposal, it is even more than that. It is a statement of
01:27values and this budget serves as an unequivocal statement that the
01:33governor's highest priority and number one value is the people of New York State and
01:39making sure they not only have the means to survive but actually thrive. From
01:46putting more money on pockets of New York families through tax refunds, a
01:50middle-class tax cut, and the expansion of the child's tax credit, to investing in
01:55our streets and roadways to fill potholes and keep vehicles out of auto repair
01:59shops, to providing local municipalities and school districts with resources they
02:02require to provide the best possible service to their constituents, to
02:08investing in public safety and the elimination of gun violence. Governor Hochul, her
02:13budget reflects the shared priorities and our shared values of a chief executive
02:19who truly understands that financial challenges of residents and businesses
02:24owners of New York State. She is putting those folks first, she always has, and this budget
02:31continues to do that. And lastly, this budget, it does more than recognize their challenges.
02:38It recognizes their hopes and dreams to rise above their challenges and make their lives
02:43better for themselves and their children. This is a budget that was drafted by someone who knows what
02:51it's like to clip coupons and make difficult choices to set aside savings for emergencies
02:57and a better future for their family. This is a budget that reminds us all why we can
03:04be proud to call ourselves New Yorkers. Because it reminds us that New York's governor, Kathy
03:12Hochul, fully understands that the role of government is to serve the people whose hard-earned money
03:19provides the revenue to create this budget and not the other way around. So I know Governor Hochul
03:26is a huge fan of the Buffalo Bills. So it shouldn't surprise you, it shouldn't surprise any of us,
03:33that her leadership of New York State right now, especially the leadership that is reflected in
03:37the priorities and values outlined in this year's budget proposal, reminds me, especially when you look
03:42at what's going on in the world and our country, of the Marv Levy's famous quote,
03:45where else would you rather be right now? And I can tell you where I'd rather be right now,
03:50in New York State with a governor like Kathy Hochul. Ladies and gentlemen, our governor, Kathy Hochul.
04:02Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, Mayor. All these Buffalo Bills references,
04:31all I can think of. You said we're almost in the end zone. I'm in Rochester to make sure we get the
04:36tush push. Okay. Put us right over. Put us right over. So, you know, I'm so proud to be back here.
04:43This is an area I know so well, right next door to my hometown, but I was privileged to represent many
04:48of the communities in Monroe County as a member of Congress. And so I know all of you very, very well.
04:55I know your values. I know your hopes and dreams. And I understand the challenges that we face.
04:59It's an area like Buffalo and Syracuse and across the Erie Canal communities that have
05:05been hit a lot over the years. And we're finally coming back, right? We're finally coming back,
05:11feeling good about the future. And all of a sudden, we're starting to feel like uncertainty
05:16and that anxiety, that pit in your stomach that I felt growing up in the 70s and 80s,
05:20when all you saw in the headlines were businesses leaving. And we don't want to go back to that.
05:25We want to make sure that our businesses are strong, strong as ever, that this is a strong
05:30manufacturing part of our state as part of our DNA, part of our legacy. But also it's about the
05:35families, the families who start here, those who found the life here that we just welcome and want them
05:41to feel part of the quality of life that is second to none here. So I'm so happy to be back here once
05:46again. And Mayor, I want to thank you. Malik Evans has been an extraordinary partner of mine.
05:53We've had challenges. We've worked together to fight crime in particular. And I want to commend you on
05:58the incredible reduction in crime in the city of Rochester. I watch the numbers all the time.
06:03We're down about 28 percent in gun violence. That's extraordinary. That could have been up 28 percent.
06:09Let's give our mayor a round of applause. And I've known our Congressman Joe Morelli for so many years
06:23since he served back in our state legislature. Joe, which is better? Where'd you have more fun?
06:30But what a voice at a time when we need common sense upstate people just say, no, that's wrong.
06:37Our people are going to be hurt by those policies and be that loud voice of reason.
06:42And I thank him for being a friend of mine, but also a friend of this community.
06:46I want to thank our Congressman Joe Morelli.
06:52Senator Jeremy Cuny using the influence as chair of the Transportation Committee to make sure the money
06:59shows up here. And I'm his partner in doing that and making sure that our budget reflected the
07:04priorities we have in upstate because we need more money for highways and roads and bridges.
07:09And we know what it's like to grow up in areas and live in areas that road salt and all the effects
07:15of the brutal winters we experience are something they don't deal with in the rest of the country
07:19always. But we do. And we need the money year after year after year. And I want to thank you for
07:22being such a great champion. Our Senator Adam Bell, I'm a former county official myself. And what you
07:31have done and also in embracing our effort to eradicate poverty in this region, you have many
07:36other issues to work on, I know, but this is a passion of yours. And I'm so glad we could deliver
07:40the $25 million under your watch, because I know it's going to be spent in ways that are impactful,
07:46effective and necessary. Let's give a round of applause.
07:52Also, former county clerk, Jamie Romeo. So glad you could join us to see. Is Jamie here? No?
07:59All right. Jamie's doing all those important county clerk jobs. I know what they are.
08:03I used to spend a lot of time in the DMVs. You know, it was fun to always used to grade the kids'
08:07permit test. And I'd say, uh, let's see, are you going to pass or not? Is your room clean?
08:12You listen to your parents? Your parents say you're a good kid?
08:14So I used to love messing around with the kids when they were waiting for that, you know,
08:17that anxiety of finding out. I love spending time in the DMVs, unlike most people.
08:23And Bob Duffy still left a legacy of great accomplishment in his lifetime of public service.
08:29You know, this city has benefited from his wisdom and his steady hand as a commissioner of police
08:36and as the mayor and then also as a lieutenant governor. And I thank him for being a staunch friend
08:41of mine and a real advocate for the businesses of this community. So Bob Duffy, thank you for all you're doing.
08:48Julia Tedesco, I'll be introducing you in a little bit. But, uh, this place is extraordinary.
08:53I mean, this place just gives us hope. We walk into this and see the expansion, number one,
08:59the parking lot's a mess, but that's a good sign. But also all the people here, all the volunteers,
09:04all the people are committed to lifting up hundreds of thousands of people who rely on this every
09:09single year, now more than ever. So to you and to Matt, I remember we got the tour here back. I think
09:15it was, you said we were here February of 2020. Yeah, those were the good old days, uh, right before
09:20March of 2020 when everything fell apart and you became more essential than ever. So to everyone,
09:25let's give Food Link an amazing round of applause. Mitch Gruber, Mitch Gruber, also the chief impact
09:32officer. So we have been working around the clock. I need to just take a little break and come to
09:38Rochester, but we're gathering again this afternoon. We wanted to make sure that our budget, as you heard
09:43from the mayor, delivers real relief for New Yorkers. And I'm so grateful for the collaboration,
09:50the countless hours and meals we've spent together. Our two leaders,
09:53leader of the Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins and leader of the Assembly, Speaker Carl Heastie.
09:58I mean, these are strong leaders, strong partners who are working me with me to get this over the
10:02finish line. And we are truly in the homestretch. We really are close. And, uh, yeah, we're a little
10:08late. But as I go into stores and diners and talk to people, I was like, would you rather have an on-time
10:14budget that doesn't give you everything I'm looking for? Or would you rather have us wait a little bit
10:19and deliver exactly what I said I would do for you? And I think the answer is clear. You with me on this?
10:29But this is, you know, Rochester knows what it's like to be in a fight, right? You know,
10:34you've been down, been knocked around a little bit, and you know how to stand together through
10:39adversity and challenges, whether it's public safety issues or jobs that are sometimes leaving,
10:45but so many more are coming. And these are good days for us. But right now, we're living in really
10:50frightening times. And I, for one, am not an alarmist. I've seen everything. So when I say these
10:56are frightening times, I know what I'm talking about, because there's such turmoil in Washington
11:01right now. And the effect of these tariffs, I mean, my gosh, we just feel like we're hitting our stride.
11:08You know, people are coming back. We've got Micron down the road, and we've got
11:11companies coming to Batavia, and all this synergy created with this innovation supply chain that
11:18Rochester is almost dead center. I mean, this is where it's going to be happening. And now everybody
11:21has to step back and say, wait, wait, can I still make that investment in that expansion?
11:27Because how much are my supplies that are coming in from, guess what, our friends in Canada? They're
11:32our friends. Or coming over from Mexico, or coming over from other countries. And how much more is it
11:37going to cost me? And can I still really do that? All I know is that expansion means more jobs.
11:43When you grow up in upstate New York, jobs are the most priceless thing you can get,
11:47because that means you're going to be able to take care of your family. And maybe you're going
11:50to need help here in the beginning, but maybe you won't. Maybe someday you'll come back as a
11:54volunteer at Foodlink. That's the dream we want for everyone. When we start losing jobs, because
11:59people won't expand because of the uncertainty. I mean, look at what happened with the stock market, and
12:05we lost $10 trillion from our economy. Yes. Yes. If you're a business person trying to decide what
12:11to do, you're going to step back a little bit. And that's not good for us. Our economy is being
12:17upended even as we're sitting here. And those who check their 401k every day, those who are getting
12:22closer to retirement. I mean, what does that do to your psyche? Like, wait a minute, wait a minute,
12:28this wasn't supposed to happen. It's like having decades of hard earned cash stolen right out of your
12:33pockets. And anybody here from GM? All right, Dan, how are you? I thought you might be here. Dan Maloney,
12:42great, great friend of mine. I mean, what they're saying down there, they're not sure what's going to
12:46happen. Lost wages, fewer hours, results of a lot of factors going on, but certainly tariffs are playing
12:53into this. I mean, I've stood with you on the lines. I know how hard your guys work. I know what it's all
12:59about. Those are good paying jobs, the same kind of job that lifted my grandfather and my parents
13:04out of poverty. Those good union manufacturing jobs, working with your hands and good dignified
13:09work. We want to make sure we have more of those jobs, not fewer.
13:12Now, and I think about middle class New Yorkers who are really the backbone of our economy.
13:26But thanks to the decisions out of Washington, they're getting hammered from every direction.
13:31You know, if you were watching my speech back in January, you can always watch this play on YouTube,
13:35my state of the state address. I said, your family is my fight. I didn't know I'd have to roll up the
13:44sleeves so soon and really launch into a fight, because this is for all of you. And I will not
13:50sign the state budget. I've said this from the very beginning, that that does not fight these federal
13:54changes and put New Yorkers first. And I'm going to cut taxes. Let's start with cutting your tax burden.
14:01Let's put more money back in your pockets and make our communities safer.
14:06These fights are more important now than ever before.
14:10You know, there's people in this room, the people who use this place who benefit from Food Link,
14:15they've got to make some hard decisions, right? And you always think, no, it can't be happening here.
14:20If you're really deciding how much they can, whether they can get their medicine this week,
14:24or they have to cut the pills in half to make them last longer, so they can afford the food.
14:29No one had thought that food prices would be going so up. Weren't we told the prices are coming down
14:33on Inauguration Day? I'm still waiting for that day. Didn't we already have Inauguration Day?
14:37I go to grocery stores. They're not coming down. They're going up.
14:42It's hard for people. This isn't about politics, though. This gets real personal when it's your family,
14:48and your neighbors, and your community that's suffering. The cost of eggs going up, rents going up,
14:54hardworking members of unions losing their jobs. These are real people. These are your families.
15:00But listen, I'm working hard to make sure that we can get through these times.
15:06You elected me to deliver results, and my budget will do exactly that. And you heard what I'm
15:11fighting for. I know we can do this. And when I talk about the inflation refund rebates, you know
15:16what that's about? We paid so much more because of inflation for everything you bought,
15:20from kids' sneakers to your groceries and everything. We're going to have 542,000 households
15:27in the Finger Lakes region get hundreds of dollars back in your pockets. We can get that done. Are you
15:33with me on that? We can triple, triple the child tax credit, the largest expansion of benefit in our
15:44state history? $1,000 for kids under the age of four. Can we get that done?
15:51And what about the cost of school lunches? Parents, I did this. I'm a mom. You got to pack the school
15:58lunches. You have to get a little snackable or all those little things you got to get for the kids
16:02and pack it up. And you got to make sure they have breakfast before they go to school.
16:06And the cost of all that? What about getting free school lunches and breakfast for kids in every
16:13classroom so the kids who are on those programs that get extra help are not stigmatized by their
16:18poverty? Can we get that done? $1,000 back in their pockets?
16:23What I'm worried about, I have a plan to put upwards of $5,000 back in families' pockets,
16:35but the other pockets getting robbed because the costs of tariffs are going to be anywhere from
16:40$3,000 to $6,000 per family. That's not fair. I'm trying to get you ahead, not to get you further
16:46behind. But also, in addition to all the economic stress, we have to continue focusing, laser-focused
16:54on public safety. We will never, ever rest knowing that there's still a single crime being committed
17:00on our streets, whether it's in our rural communities, whether it's in our cities, our suburbs.
17:07But here's the good news. Crime is down all over New York State. As I said, it fell 28% in
17:14Rochester. We've not seen these levels since before the pandemic, but we're going to keep doing better.
17:22You've heard the phrase discovery laws, right? It's just about the evidence of a crime that the
17:28prosecution and the police have amassed. And yes, in 2019, the whole system was skewed to help just
17:34the prosecutors. It was unfair against the defendant. But now, reforms are put in place,
17:40and now it's swung the other way. And now, there's ways that defense lawyers can wait to the last
17:47second, and they call it lying in wait. They literally call it lying in wait. Wait to the last
17:51second, then drop all these challenges last minute, and the judge is going to say, sorry,
17:55time is up. Or there's just a minor technicality. So minor, you wouldn't believe it. And you say,
18:02the case was thrown out because of that? You know who suffers in that case? The victims of the crimes.
18:08Who's standing up for the victims? I will. I'm sure you will as well. Let's get the discovery changes done.
18:17And you know, Rochester, we have people with severe mental illness all over. But some find themselves
18:26in our streets and in homes, and there's no one out there helping them. They feel they're lost.
18:32Their voices are unheard. And some cases, they cannot make decisions about their own well-being.
18:38They don't have the mental capacity to come in from out of the cold or get a warm bed at night,
18:43even if it's available, or to take care of their bodily needs. There are people who are suffering that
18:49much. And I don't think it's compassionate for us as a society to let them just languish and say,
18:56well, that's your right to do that. They don't know any better in some cases because they have
19:00a mental health problem. Let's get them the help they need. That's why I want to change the laws
19:06for people suffering from severe mental illness. Are you with me on getting them the help they need?
19:10We can do this. Now, as I said, I'm not backing down. I love a good fight. You can't be an upstater,
19:24New Yorker, an upstater without knowing how to fight, right? You've got to be scrappy to survive.
19:28The winters are a little tough. That just starts right there. But we're resilient. We're so resilient.
19:35We know how to get through these times. And I will not sign a budget that does not focus on
19:40affordability. I will not sign a budget that does not focus on public safety. And I'm asking you to
19:45join me today. And I'm saying, let's just stop talking. Let's act. I will get back to Albany.
19:51You do your part. You help support my efforts. Because if we settle for the status quo, if we say the
19:57fights are too hard, we can't get it done. Well, then what good are we doing? Why are we sitting in
20:01these seats? It's our job to deliver for New Yorkers. And that's exactly what I'm doing with
20:05your help. So I'm asking you today, are you with me in this fight? Are you with me? Are you with me?
20:11All right. Let's get it done. Let's get it done. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. Thank you.
20:17Let's get it done.
20:21And now, now, thank you, everyone. Thank you very much. Thank you.
20:25Thank you. I want you to hear from Phoenix Whitley Hastie and hear her tell you why this place is so
20:36important to me personally, why it's important to our communities, and why it's important to our
20:40fellow neighbors here in Monroe County and Finger Lakes region. Whitley.
20:45Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Governor.
20:57My name is Whitley Hastie, and I'm proud to be standing up here today with Governor Hochul and our
21:03local leadership. I am Food Link's benefits navigation manager, and I lead a team that is
21:09responsible for meeting our neighbors where they are by helping them apply for a safety net program,
21:15that will help them make ends meet. And in particular, I assist with applying for SNAP
21:20and WIC benefits to put food on their table every day. And this is really meaningful work for me,
21:26especially as someone who has used those nutrition benefit programs in the past. I was a WIC baby.
21:31My son just turned five. It was really crucial in my life. And I know how difficult it is
21:36for young moms, young parents trying to raise and nourish their families, especially now at a time
21:42when 2.4 million New Yorkers are food insecure. And this is a growing crisis in every rural,
21:47suburban, and urban zip codes across the state. So my work at Food Link not only connects those
21:53to people to benefits, but it also provides referrals to other services that we can provide,
21:59like the curbside market, providing more access to fresh food, double up food bucks, stretching the
22:04food dollar, and, you know, helping farmers as well. And on the only New York State certified
22:09Cook Apprenticeship Program, our Food Link's Career Fellowship.
22:14I come to work every day, and I know that we at Food Link are fighting to build healthier
22:18communities. And, but you can't do this work every day without understanding the struggles
22:23and the feelings and feeling the challenges of today. I have two young children, nine and five,
22:29and I feel the pinch of inflation. My monthly expenses are up, just like everyone else's rent, utilities,
22:35food and transportation. And families like mine need more money back in our pockets to meet our
22:40basic needs. The families that me and my team helped to sign up for benefits also need more money back
22:46in their pockets. And that's why I'm so grateful that the New York State budget is going to provide
22:51direct support for moms like myself in the form of the in the form of the expanded child tax credit
22:56and universal school meals. Policies and programs like these will definitely help my family and all
23:02the families that Food Link serves on a regular basis. And thanks Governor Hochul and the New York
23:08State Legislator for getting it done.
23:18Now, I want to introduce someone who's been a really good friend to Food Link, Senator Jeremy Cooney.
23:25Thank you, Whitley. Let's give her a big round of applause. Her and her entire team at Food Link
23:41doing the work for us day in and day out. We're grateful for your work and your entire team and
23:45Julia and Mitch and the entire team here at Food Link. I want to talk about leadership. Governor's
23:53right. It is time to get this done and to deliver big for Rochester, for Monroe County, for the Finger
23:59Lakes region, of course, for all New Yorkers. But when we talk about leadership, especially in this day
24:06and era, we know that some politicians choose to lead by fear. Trade wars, undermining our courts and our
24:17fair elections process, stirring up conflict among diverse people. Sound familiar? But the better leader,
24:27the leader that New York deserves, sets a positive vision and brings people together
24:35to make sure that we are delivering on the promises by those who count on us to get the work done.
24:43My friends, that's Governor Kathy Hochul.
24:51I see it firsthand every day in Albany.
24:55She's smart. She's persistent.
24:58And she's hard working. I was there when the governor gave her state of the state address.
25:05And she means what she says. These are not just talking points. These are what New Yorkers need
25:11and deserve from their leaders. And affordability isn't just a buzz term. It's a critical need that so
25:20many people here in Monroe County need. Fifty percent of our children live below the federal poverty line.
25:27This is not a new talking point for any of us in this room. We know that. We're ashamed of it. But we can do
25:33something about it. We can pass this budget. We can reinvest in families. We can make people believe
25:42that government is there to do good again. And so I'm so proud to work with our governor,
25:50to work with the Democratic majority in the State Senate, my colleagues in our local delegation,
25:56to work together on a good budget, a budget that this governor set out to bring us together to do.
26:04So we're going to get back in our cars. We're going to head back to Albany. And we're going to get this
26:09budget done with your help. And I'm just so grateful for all of you here in pushing us to get to do the
26:15right thing for Rochester, Monroe County, and all New York. Thank you.
26:27So we've got great leadership in the halls of Albany, but we can't do it alone. We need great
26:33leadership right here in our local communities. And our next speaker is that great leader from Monroe
26:39County. Please welcome County Executive Adam Bella.
26:50Good morning. I am excited to be here with so many great partners in government to support
26:56Governor Hochul's state budget. I'm proud to be standing with all of you, standing with a governor
27:01who gets it. A governor who is not just talking about affordability, but she's delivering it.
27:07Governor Hochul, thank you for your commitment to building a stronger, more affordable New York
27:12for everyone. Thank you. Let's be candid though. Families across Monroe County, across the Finger Lakes,
27:18and across New York are feeling the squeeze. Prices are up from housing, groceries, child care,
27:24even health care. Life has continued to get more expensive. And to make matters worse,
27:29we have a president and a federal government who are imposing tariffs on our biggest trade partners,
27:34which will only make costs go up even more. While at the very same time cutting the programs and
27:40services designed to provide the opportunity to families to succeed and to lift themselves up.
27:46But under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is taking action. From lowering taxes on the
27:52middle-class families to the first-of-its-kind inflation reduction refund, increasing the Empire State
27:58Child Tax Credit, Governor Hochul's affordability agenda is bold, it's smart, and it's exactly what
28:05New Yorkers need right now. And it's also a Rochester-focused budget. And on behalf of our residents,
28:11I'm incredibly grateful. In Monroe County, we're going to see the impacts of these investments
28:15firsthand. Initiatives like the Monroe Ladder Demonstration Program, it's a groundbreaking program
28:21aimed at mitigating the benefits cliff that not only impacts employees, but also our employers.
28:26The Community Care Coordination Program, this is innovative work that's being done to support our
28:31health care delivery system in Monroe County, allowing our hospitals and our skilled nursing
28:35facilities to provide better care to our community, especially for our older adults and more vulnerable
28:40residents. But one thing is clear, we have a governor who is listening, who is leading, and who is
28:47getting it done for New Yorkers. This is what progress looks like, this is what innovation looks like,
28:53and this is what leadership looks like. And the New York State budget builds a foundation for the
28:58future of the people of our state. Because when you make New York State, Rochester, and Monroe County
29:04more affordable, you lift the burden on working families. But most importantly, you foster an environment
29:10where everyone who's raising their family in this community has the opportunity to succeed. That's what this
29:17is about, the opportunity available to everyone to succeed. So we need to keep this going. Let's back
29:25Governor Hochul's vision. Let's build a future that works for everyone from downtown Rochester to the
29:30rural towns that define who we are. Let's work together to build a New York that we know is possible for
29:39everyone. So with that, I get to introduce another fighter, someone who is getting it done for Monroe County
29:46in Rochester, who is leading the way and is fighting for us every single day in Washington, D.C.,
29:52our great Congressman Joe Morelli.
30:02Good morning. Wow, what a great group of people here gathered. And I want to
30:08start by thanking my dear friends Julia and Mitch, Whitley, all the folks at Foodlink. This is an
30:15extraordinary organization, and we are incredibly proud of the work that you do. And I know these
30:20are tough times, but you do it always with great professionalism and great passion for the people
30:25you serve. So let's give Foodlink a big round of applause.
30:28I am always grateful to my dear friend Kathy Hochul for her incredible leadership and for being in
30:40Rochester and caring deeply about the entire state, but certainly for the families of Upstate and our
30:45region. And it's always great to have her here. And I want to thank the county executive and the mayor,
30:52Senator Cooney, Bob Duffy, all of you here joined together, so many dear friends. And because I'm
30:57not in Washington, when I say my dear friends, I actually believe that and mean it. You know,
31:02you get into this thing, the governor knows this, having served in the House, everyone is your
31:06distinguished friend from some state, but you're truly friends. So this is a non-Washington kind of
31:12friendship. But all of us together, I think at all the levels of government, because what happens in
31:17Washington and Albany is critically important, but what happens at City Hall and the county office
31:21building are equally important. And we have a great team here in this community working together
31:27to make sure that we deliver for the people of our community. And we're here today, and yes,
31:31I do miss you. Governor, I miss being in Albany, and particularly these days, I miss being in Albany.
31:37But, you know, such a contrast between what's going on in Washington and what's going on in Albany.
31:44I don't think you could draw a bigger contrast. I remember talking to the governor, I think it
31:49was back in December, and you were putting the final touches on the state address and the state
31:55budget. And you said, and remember this very clearly in our conversation, I want to continue
32:00to fight for the people of New York. I want to fight for the families of New York. And so what a
32:05contrast. One leader in Washington is fighting for his family and his friends alone, and the governor of
32:12New York who's fighting for your families. All across the state, 19 million Americans, and every
32:17single family is who she's fighting for. And I can't imagine it being in better hands than in
32:23Governor Quockel's hands. So thank you for everything you're doing.
32:30And it's interesting. I hate to say that I do this a lot. I just showed the governor,
32:35but on my phone I check things like the markets every day. Dow Jones is down a thousand points just
32:42this morning. It's trillions of dollars that are lost. Now, you know, years ago, decades ago, maybe
32:48only a handful of people checked the stock markets because you might have had investments, but it
32:53didn't touch the average American the way it does now. But you have your 401ks, your pensions,
32:59everything tied to this and this strange economic theory, which no one seems to understand that you're
33:04going to tax Americans. And it's not because it's any grand economic theory. It's because it's your
33:09personal grievance. Think about that. That's a way to run an economy or a way to run a government. And
33:15you contrast that again with what the governor is doing. She's putting your families first $5,000 up to
33:22$5,000 back in the pockets of New Yorkers, people who have been hit by inflation because of COVID,
33:29who've now been hit because of all the things that are going on in Washington in an administration that
33:34doesn't seem to have any theory of what it's doing. Those $5,000 sadly will be making up for the loss
33:41they're feeling. But she's fighting for it every single day. And look, I was a member of the state
33:45legislature. Senator Cooney is a member of the state legislature. We're not always the easiest group to get
33:50along with. And there's, you know, a few hundred of us. And everybody has a different opinion.
33:55Being able to lead and to make sure that you have a North Star is what this is about. And Kathy Hochul
34:01has a North Star. And that North Star is knowing that there's a struggle every day for families as
34:07they're sitting around their kitchen tables trying to figure out how do we pay for daycare? How do we
34:12put groceries on the table? How do we put clothes on our kids back? And she knows that struggle is being a
34:17mom packing lunches. By the way, dads pack lunches too. I packed a few in my time. Yes, you can give
34:23it up for dads. I don't know if my son Joseph's here. He can tell you what kind of lunches I pack.
34:31But these are the kinds of things where you really, you know, for all the grand things in the world that
34:38we talk about, it's the day-to-day stuff. It's the hard part of living and getting through it. And
34:43that's what the governor is so committed to doing. And she has not veered from this a single day
34:49that I've known her. Whether it was her running as a county, when she was the county clerk in Erie
34:54County or when she was representing us in the House of Representatives, but certainly as governor of
34:57New York, every day thinking about what your families are going through. What a contrast to what
35:02we see. And making sure our communities are safer every single day. And I see our friends from the
35:07Sheriff's Department who do such a great job and the people in law enforcement in this community who
35:11deserve a big round of applause.
35:20And she's leading that charge to make us safer and inherited a lot of things that she's had to
35:25straighten out over the last several years. But she does it every single day with energy
35:29and commitment and devotion to the task. And I'll just close with this. You know,
35:35for those of us who are Roman Catholics, we lost the leader of our church this morning. But someone
35:42who, in my mind, exemplified what leadership is about, a leader's servant, someone who puts
35:48themselves first, someone who's not thinking about millionaire and billionaire friends, but thinking
35:53about people every day who face enormous struggles, whatever the struggles are. And we all have
35:59struggles, some of them obvious, some of them we keep to ourselves. You never know what people are
36:03going through. And a true servant leader understands it and understands the obligations that they have
36:10when you take on responsibilities like being the governor of New York. And so thinking about those
36:16contrasts and thinking about what it truly means to be a servant leader. And my friend Kathy Hochul
36:24exemplifies that every single day at events, day in and day out, whether she's privately meeting with
36:30folks or at public events, she is working tirelessly. Whenever I talk to her on the phone, it's always
36:37going through the list of things that's on the top of her mind that she has to do for the people of New
36:41York and do for our families. And I can't imagine someone who has done it with greater passion,
36:47greater intelligence, and greater commitment to cause of making sure that the families of New York are
36:53served. They have greater affordability, they have greater security, and she's going to continue to
36:57do it until the job is done. And for that, I am eternally grateful. Kathy Hochul.