WATCH: Pandemic, economic goal of governor’s 2022 plan | Local News

Hochul gave a moderate annual legislative address to lay out the state’s program for the new year. It took place in the Capitol’s Assembly Hall — a throwback to a longstanding tradition of holding the event in the lower house after former Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered the speech at the Empire Plaza Convention Center during of the last decade.

Hochul, who took office as the state’s first female governor on Aug. 24, became the first woman to deliver a state of the state address to the Legislature on Wednesday.

“I am well aware of the importance of this moment,” Hochul said. “…But I’m not here just to write history. I am here to make a difference.

“…My fellow New Yorkers: this diary is for you. »

In his speech, Hochul announced his intention to permanently legalize take-out alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants developed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a proposal to replace the Ethics Watch Group of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics established under Cuomo by an independent agency.

The address was limited to 50 people in attendance to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin introduced Hochul.

State Attorney General Letitia James, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, Court of Appeals Chief Justice Janet DiFiore and House Majority Leader Crystal Peoples -Stokes, D-Buffalo, were present.

“What I’m proposing is a whole new era for New York,” Hochul said. “The days of governors ignoring the legitimate role of this legislature are over. Gone are the days of the Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York wasting their time in petty rivalries. Gone are the days of New Yorkers wondering if their government was actually working for them.

HEALTH CARE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Plans to address the economic fallout and labor shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were high on the governor’s agenda.

Hochul will commit $10 billion to public health care over the next few years. The funds will include $2 billion to support higher salaries, $2 billion for salary bonuses and $2 billion for health care infrastructure, as well as improved laboratory capacity for better quality of care.

The funding will help achieve a new goal of increasing the state’s health workforce by 20% over the next five years.

“The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable and equitable healthcare system and healthcare workers are the very foundation of that,” Hochul said. “Bold action is needed before time runs out.”

Hochul noted the continued hardship and exhaustion of healthcare personnel across the state and the world as the coronavirus pandemic enters its third year with the virulent omicron variant amid the winter surge.

The need for health care workers in New York was expected to increase by 32% between 2018 and 2028 before the pandemic, which exacerbated the need.

The governor also outlined plans to recruit healthcare professionals into the industry, including in rural and underserved areas, incentives for SUNY and CUNY students to enter the healthcare workforce, better staff training emergency response and plans to retain existing state health workers.

State officials will outline a coordinated public health approach through the state Department of Health and the state Office of Substance Abuse Services and Supports to establish programs to expand sterile needles, naloxone, buprenorphine and other drugs and services to end the opioid epidemic.

Hochul presented a series of proposals for recruiting and retaining teachers, as the state needs about 180,000 new teachers over the next decade to meet demand.

The $35,000 income limits for retirees will be temporarily lifted in a bid to entice one of the state’s 169,000 retired teachers to return to the classroom, including retired counselors and bus drivers school.

“The governor is heeding pre-pandemic calls from educators to address staffing shortages in schools across the state and to diversify the education workforce by finding innovative ways to inspire more New Yorkers to consider teaching as a a career,” said New York State United Teachers. President Andy Pallotta said in a statement responding to Hochul’s speech.

“We await the Governor’s budget proposal later this month, and we will continue to advocate throughout the legislative session on behalf of our education, social services and health care members who, day after day, selflessly dedicate themselves to the New Yorkers they serve. ”

The state Department of Education will have additional staff to shorten teacher certification approval, increase learning and mental health grants for school districts, and create a two-year residency program for teachers. higher-level teacher candidates. Diversity among resident teachers and mentors will be prioritized to focus on high-need subjects and geographies.

ARMED VIOLENCE/PUBLIC SECURITY

Homicides are below their 1990s peak, but rose 29% in 2020. About 77% involved a firearm.

The state will increase overall funding for its gun violence elimination programs and double state police partnerships with local law enforcement agencies.

Hochul has pledged to triple resources for New York State Police’s gun-tracing efforts and staff the state’s intelligence center with analysts to investigate crimes involving weapons. firearms and form a firearms tracing consortium with local law enforcement.

Hochul plans to expand and launch new school-based programs and interventions with a tripling of $10.6 million in community programs to address gun violence.

The governor will establish a firearms intelligence center in each of the state’s 10 regions to more effectively solve violent crimes and prevent trafficking in illegal firearms, she said.

The state will rebuild and invest in several industries deeply affected by the pandemic, including targeted tax breaks for small businesses and a tax abatement for middle-class families, Hochul said.

The state will provide $100 million in tax relief to 195,000 small businesses to help weather the pandemic-related economic crisis.

Hochul proposed providing $1.2 billion in middle-class tax cuts for about 6 million New Yorkers and a $1 billion property tax rebate for more than 2 million families.

The governor also promised to create a new farm labor overtime tax credit, increase the farm labor retention tax credit through 2025, and to increase the investment tax credit for all state farms as farmers wait for the state Labor Wage Department to decide on reducing overtime. threshold from 60 hours to 40.

Hochul noted the priority of renewing national roads and bridges, revitalizing downtown areas, and improving public transportation and mobility across the state.

State funding will increase with $1 billion investments in local PAVE NY and Bridge NY programs to repair or update aging structures.

Officials will reinvent access to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport and complete the Albany Skyway, which connects Interstate 787 to Clinton Street and downtown Albany.

The state will make increased investments in the North Country and Adirondacks to expand the North Creek Ski Bowl at Gore Mountain, expanding the park’s year-round amenities for mountain biking, hiking and field sports. The plan includes creating a new ADA-compliant recreation center and chairlift for year-round use.

State plans for 2022 include a new initiative to reimagine advanced designs for the Erie Canal system statewide.

The governor outlined a series of state ethics reforms as part of her state of the state, keeping the theme outlined in her inaugural address last summer to restore New Yorkers’ confidence in their government.

Earlier this week, Hochul announced his proposal to implement term limits for up to two consecutive terms for New York’s governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller.

Hochul also announced dozens of proposals and ideas for improving green energy, efforts to fight climate change, and resources to fight affordable housing.

The state will establish a housing plan to create and preserve 100,000 affordable housing units and 10,000 supportive housing units to address homelessness in New York.

“New York is due for a comeback like this country has never seen,” Hochul said. “Together we will lead this comeback.”

Additional policies and funding priorities will be outlined in the Governor’s Executive Budget to be released by January 18.