Hochul talks affordability in NY State of the State

New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address in Albany on Tuesday. With a focus on affordability, she spoke about universal childcare, housing, education, infrastructure, energy and more, all at a time of shifting federal funding cuts under the Trump administration.

But New York, she said, could handle it.

“We’ve built the boat to withstand the storm,” she said. “Because we’ve managed our money responsibly, we’re able to make transformative investments in our future. Without raising taxes. Without saddling the next generation with mounds of debt.”

Take childcare. Last week, Hochul announced a $1.7 billion plan to expand universal childcare in New York. Statewide, there is a plan for universal pre-K for every 4-year-old by 2028. This year, the state aims to pilot community-wide childcare to provide year-round, full-day, affordable care for newborns to 3-year-olds.

Hochul said Tuesday that she would build on the success of the state’s childcare assistance and voucher programs, “so tens of thousands more families can access high quality care for no more than $15 a week. And thanks to our strong economy, we have the revenue to get these initiatives off the ground.”

But she said the state would also need to partner with the private sector and working with employers would “improve tax incentives for those who invest in childcare benefits.”

Hochul said she would expand on an initiative introduced last year that offered free community college for adults pursuing education for high-demand careers that include healthcare and manufacturing. To date, an estimated 11,000 people have enrolled.

“This year let’s expand that opportunity even further, adding new fields like logistics, air traffic control and emergency management,” she said.

She spoke too of expanding the state’s nuclear power as part of an “all of the above” energy approach.

“And to make sure New Yorkers are ready, we’ll launch a nuclear workforce development program, so we can forge our clean energy future together,” she said.

But, she added, “our energy system exists to serve New Yorkers first. Data centers are vital for an innovative future. But they guzzle up tremendous amounts of energy and leave ratepayers footing the bill. So, if they want to build in New York, they’ll have to pay their fair share for the power they use and ultimately generate their own power independently.”

Hochul also said that this year “we’ll invest an additional $250 million for affordable housing and $100 million to scale innovative, manufactured housing that lowers costs and speeds construction.

She proposed eliminating the red tape that is “pushing up costs and pushing opportunity further out of reach.”

And she added, that when “communities say yes to housing, infrastructure or clean energy, we’re going to let them build.”

Other measures include potentially banning artificial intelligence in political ads, combatting auto insurance fraud and eliminating taxes on tips.

Hochul, a Democrat, gave her State of the State address as she campaigns for reelection this year.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, is also vying for the gubernatorial seat.

“Albany keeps repeating the same cycle — spend more, tax more, and promise it will work next time,” Blakeman said in a statement. “Programs marketed as ‘free’ are paid for with higher taxes or long-term debt, and working families are left holding the bill.”

Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, said in a written statement that “2026 will be a pivotal year for elected officials in tackling the affordability crisis.”

He added that Hochul’s “commitment to supporting childcare, which helps boost the workforce and streamlining the regulatory process so developers can build sorely needed new housing are important steps on the long road of addressing our shared challenges on Long Island.”