Major changes for Kathy Hochul’s first day as first female governor of New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul made some big calls on her first day in office. The video above shows her swearing-in ceremony and remarks she made Tuesday.

Later in the day Gov. Hochul said she is instituting a mask mandate in schools. She also said she wants all school staff to be vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19. “None of us want a rerun of last year’s horrors with COVID-19,” Hochul said. “Therefore we will take proactive steps to prevent that from happening.”

One of the first challenges Hochul will have to deal with is how to get federal rent relief money into the hands of tenants. Little of the $2 billion set aside has been distributed. Thousands face the possibility of eviction after state and federal protections expire. Hochul promised Tuesday to make this a top priority, saying people shouldn’t have to “wait one second longer.”

She also promised to work on distributing money to benefit unauthorized immigrants who didn’t qualify for federal pandemic relief aid. “The money’s there,” Hochul said. “These people are not eligible for other forms of assistance, and they’re hurting and they’re part of the New York family.”

While the Hochul described taking over the governorship as “an emotional moment,” she added she was prepared and had a great deal of support. “I spoke with President Biden last night to talk about a number of issues. He pledged his full support to my administration and anything we need,” Hochul said. “Particularly I thanked him for the support we’ve received from FEMA and others in terms of cleaning up after Henri, and how we were prepared and I want to continue assessing the situation.”

In her post swearing-in address, Hochul promised she would approach the job differently than her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “I’m looking forward to a fresh, collaborative approach,” she said.

Gov. Cuomo announced his resignation earlier this month after a state attorney general report found Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women. On his final day in office Monday, Cuomo released a recorded farewell address. He pleaded his innocence once again, portraying himself as the victim of a “media frenzy.”

“When government politicizes allegations and the headlines condemn without facts, you undermine the justice system,” Cuomo said. “And that doesn’t serve women and it doesn’t serve men or society.”