Kathy Hochul will lead a state still grappling with Covid. With what approach? By Tom Precious News Albany Bureau Chief Aug 22, 2021 Aug 22, 2021 Updated Feb 26, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ALBANY – Kathy Hochul faces a number of hurdles from the minute she is sworn in as governor at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.kAmu6H[ :7 2?J[ H:== 36 >@C6 4@?D6BF6?E:2= E92? 9@H 96C ?6H 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== AC@4665 :? E96 32EE=6 E@ 4@?EC@= C:D:?8 r@G:5\`h 42D6D[ 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 562E9D]k^AmkAm(9:=6 D96 92D ?@E J6E =2:5 @FE 96C r@G:5\7:89E:?8 A@=:4:6D[ E96 :562D 7C@> 962=E9 6IA6CED[ =2H>2<6CD[ 3FD:?6DD 8C@FAD[ 8@G6C?>6?E H2E495@8D 2?5 G2C:@FD DE2<69@=56CD 2C6 >2?J 2D w@49F= 564:56D H92E 6I:DE:?8 A@=:4:6D E@ ;6EE:D@? @C 2>6?5 2?5 H9:49 E@ 4@?E:?F6]k^Am kAm%96 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C :?96C:ED E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C E96 DE2E6’D r@G:5 C6DA@?D6 7C@> E96 5:D8C2465 2?5 @FE8@:?8 8@G6C?@C[ p?5C6H rF@>@[ H9@D6 ?2E:@?2= ?2>6 C64@8?:E:@? D@2C65 =2DE J62C 4@FCE6DJ @7 9:D 52:=J r@G:5 AC6DD 3C:67:?8D]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth wildfire covered 23 acres Marion man found guilty of assaulting town employee Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot wife before taking own life, police say Marion's fire-EMS chief is leaving Marion to serve the Commonwealth Smyth supervisors honor emergency dispatchers Selfe serves Marion PD as third-generation police officer Marion-based free clinic wins grant to address patient transportation needs After fall: Justin Fairfax's 'profound retreat' from family Justin Fairfax: Virginia rising political star's story ends in tragedy New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request Skydiver rescued after crashing into Lane Stadium video board Virginia Democrats spar with governor over money to pay looming bills Eight children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say After 888 days, Smyth Animal Rescue dog finds her home kAm$@ 72C[ 8:G6? w@49F=’D C6AFE2E:@? 2?5 4@>>6?ED 23@FE 9@H D96 :?E6?5D E@ 8@G6C?[ :E H@F=5 2AA62C E96 ?6H 8@G6C?@C H:== 36 5:776C6?E[ :? DF3DE2?46 2?5 DEJ=6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mw@49F= 3C:?8D 4@F?EJ 8@G6C?>6?E 6IA6C:6?46k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmw@49F= 92D :?5:42E65 D96 H:== 24E 564:D:G6=J[ 3FE @?=J 27E6C 4@?DF=E:?8 H:E9 962=E9 6IA6CED[ :?4=F5:?8 =@42= 962=E9 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 2?5 2? 2CC2J @7 DE2<69@=56CD]k^Am In the ECMC lab, Pharmacy Director Ashley Halloran shows Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul a freezer where Covid vaccines are stored. Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News kAmqJ 4@?EC2DE[ rF@>@ =2DE J62C 6>A=@J65 2 E@A\5@H? 2AAC@249 E@ >2?28:?8 r@G:5[ C65F4:?8 E96 C@=6 @7 =@42= 962=E9 4@>>:DD:@?6CD H9@D6 286?4:6D 925 A2?56>:4 C6DA@?D6 A=2?D 2=C625J :? A=246 7@C J62CD] rF@>@ >256 DH66A:?8 564:D:@?D 32D65 @? 25G:46 7C@> 2 D>2== 4:C4=6 @7 25G:D6CD[ 2?5 E96? H@F=5 2??@F?46 E96> 2E ?6HD 4@?76C6?46D H:E9 ?@ ?@E:46D E@ 27764E65 D64E@CD @7 E96 64@?@>J]k^Am kAm“(96C6 H6 D66 E96 >@DE @AA@CEF?:EJ H:E9 E96 :?4@>:?8 8@G6C?@C :D E92E D96 F?56CDE2?5D =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E[Q D2:5 $2C29 #2G6?92==[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }6H *@C< pDD@4:2E:@? @7 r@F?EJ w62=E9 ~77:4:2=D[ 2 8C@FA 4@>A@D65 @7 4@F?EJ 962=E9 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 2?5 @E96CD 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^AmkAm#2G6?92== ?@E65 w@49F=VD 62C=:6C H@C< :? E@H? 2?5 4@F?EJ 8@G6C?>6?ED]k^AmkAm$E6A96? p4BF2C:@[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }6H *@C< $E2E6 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 r@F?E:6D[ D2:5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E 925 2=>@DE ?@ C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 $E2E6 w62=E9 r@>>:DD:@?6C w@H2C5 +F4<6C 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4VD 62C=J 2?5 >:55=6 A92D6D] w6 D2:5 E92E 92D E@ 492?86 F?56C w@49F=]k^Am kAm“(6 ?665 E@ >@G6 2D @?6 F?:E] %96C6 H2D ;FDE E96 46?EC2= 4@>>2?5 F?56C v@G6C?@C rF@>@[Q 96 25565]k^AmkAmrF@>@’D 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@? :? |2C49 a_a_ 6?565 E96 23:=:EJ @7 =@42= 962=E9 56A2CE>6?ED E@ 24E @? E96:C @H? E@ 562= H:E9 9JA6C=@42= @FE3C62<D @C 6?24E E96:C @H? D@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8 @C56CD] %92E 8F36C?2E@C:2= A@H6C 6?565 :? yF?6 H96? rF@>@ 3682? 5676CC:?8 564:D:@?D E@ =@42=:E:6D 2?5 @E96CD E92E 96 @?46 925 4FE @FE @7 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 677@CED] (9:=6 E96 9:DE@C:4 A@H6CD rF@>@ 4C62E65 7@C 9:>D6=7 H:E9 E96 ~z 7C@> =2H>2<6CD 6?565[ E96 DE2E6 w62=E9 s6A2CE>6?E DE:== 92D 3C@25 2FE9@C:EJ E@ 24E]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mr2==D 7@C 2 =6DD A@=:E:42= DE2E6 w62=E9 s6A2CE>6?Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmrC:E:4D D2J E96 DE2E6 962=E9 286?4J 3642>6 2 A@=:E:42= 2AA6?5286 @7 rF@>@]k^AmkAm“x E9:?< E96 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C H:== D66< @FE @FC @A:?:@?D 2?5 FD6 E92E :?7@C>2E:@? :? D92A:?8 A@=:4:6D[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ E96 H2J r@>>:DD:@?6C +F4<6C :DDF65 5:C64E:G6D H:E9 =:EE=6 4@?DF=E2E:@?[Q p4BF2C:@ D2:5] “x7 96 DE2JD @?[ 2?5 :E’D >J 36=:67 96 :D 8@:?8 E@ DE2J[ +F4<6C ?665D E@ 492?86 9:D =6256CD9:A 2D H6==] x 5@?’E E9:?< 96 5:5 2 8@@5 ;@3]”k^Am kAm(:==:2> w2>>@?5[ D6?:@C 76==@H 7@C 962=E9 A@=:4J 2E E96 t>A:C6 r6?E6C[ 2 H2E495@8 8C@FA[ D2:5 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6C H2D 5:C64E=J :?G@=G65 “:? D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE 5JD7F?4E:@?2= A2CED @7 rF@>@’D A2?56>:4 C6DA@?D6 – 9:5:?8 52E2[ DE@?6H2==:?8 E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ D<6H:?8 DE2E:DE:4D 2?5[ A6C92AD H@CDE @7 2==[ 72=D:7J:?8 9:D @H? 56A2CE>6?E’D C6A@CE @? r@G:5 :? ?FCD:?8 9@>6D]”k^Am kAm%96 t>A:C6 r6?E6C[ :? 5@K6?D @7 :?DE2?46D[ EC:65 E@ ACJ AF3=:4 :?7@C>2E:@? @FE @7 +F4<6C’D 286?4J[ 3FE H2D C63F7765[ 56=2J65 @C 5:D>:DD65] xED 3:886DE G:4E@CJ[ E9@F89[ H2D 2 4@FCE H:? E92E =65 E@ E96 rF@>@ 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92G:?8 E@ AC@5F46 E96 24EF2= ?F>36C @7 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 C6D:56?ED H9@ 5:65 =2DE J62C 7C@> r@G:5]k^Am kAmw2>>@?5 D2:5 +F4<6C’D 4C65:3:=:EJ :D “A6C>2?6?E=J 52>2865Q 2?5 96 D9@F=5 8@]k^AmkAmp ?F>36C @7 ?@?A@=:E:42= AF3=:4 962=E9 A@=:4J 6IA6CED BF:E E96 286?4J =2DE J62C :? 7CFDEC2E:@? @G6C A@=:4:6D 2?5 :?4:56?ED =:<6 rF@>@ FD:?8 E96 286?4J E@ AFD9 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J >6>36CD E@ E96 7C@?E @7 E96 =:?6 7@C r@G:5 E6DED]k^Am kAmpDD6>3=J>2? #:492C5 v@EE7C:65[ 2 |2?92EE2? s6>@4C2E 2?5 492:C @7 E96 pDD6>3=J 962=E9 4@>>:EE66 E92E 92D 2? @G6CD:89E C@=6 @7 E96 56A2CE>6?E[ 36>@2?65 E96 6I@5FD @7 w62=E9 s6A2CE>6?E DE2776CD H9@ 3642>6 5:D:==FD:@?65 F?56C rF@>@] w6 D2:5 w@49F= ?665D E@ 92G6 2 5:776C6?E 2AAC@249]k^Am kAm“$96 D9@F=5 C6DE@C6 AC@76DD:@?2=:D> 2?5 5:>:?:D9 E96 A@=:E:4:K:?8 @7 A@=:4:6D 2C@F?5 52E2 4@==64E:@? 2?5 5:D4=@DFC6] %96 7F58:?8 2?5 9:5:?8 @7 r@G:5\C6=2E65 562E9 DE2E:DE:4D D9@F=5 ?6G6C 92G6 92AA6?65 2?5 >FDE ?6G6C 92AA6? 282:?[Q v@EE7C:65 D2:5 @7 ?FCD:?8 9@>6 C6D:56?E 562E9D[ 2D H6== 2D 2 5:776C6?46 36EH66? @G6C2== r@G:5 562E9D C6A@CE65 3J E96 DE2E6 2?5 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E’D E2==J @7 ?62C=J dc[___ 562E9D :? }6H *@C<]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m|2D< >2?52E6D C6>2:? 5:G:D:G6k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmw@49F= 7246D D92CA 5:D28C66>6?ED 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 23@FE E96 C@=6 @7 E96 DE2E6 w62=E9 s6A2CE>6?E :? 324<\E@\D49@@= >2?52E6D 2?5 8F:52?46 7@C DF49 E9:?8D 2D r@G:5 E6DED 2?5 H62C:?8 >2D<D]k^Am kAmrF@>@[ 5:DEC24E65 3J 9:D G2C:@FD D42?52=D[ :? C646?E H66<D 5:5 2 `g_\568C66 EFC? 7C@> 9:D A2DE 2AAC@249[ 92G:?8 9:D 962=E9 286?4J C6G6CD6 A=2?D E@ :DDF6 DE2E6H:56 8F:56=:?6D 7@C D49@@= C6@A6?:?8D] w@49F= =2DE H66< D2:5 D96 :D 2=>@DE 46CE2:? E@ 92G6 E96 962=E9 286?4J :>A@D6 DE2E6H:56 >2D<\H62C:?8 >2?52E6D 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 :? D49@@= 3F:=5:?8D]k^AmkAm%96 :DDF6 :D 5:G:D:G6]k^Am kAm“pD x 92G6 D2:5 7@C >@?E9D[ AF3=:4 962=E9 564:D:@?D @? D6?D:E:G6 :DDF6D =:<6 >2D<:?8 49:=5C6? :? D49@@=D D9@F=5 36 >256 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= 2?5 8F:565 3J >65:42= D4:6?46[ ?@E A@=:E:42= D4:6?46[Q D2:5 $E2E6 $6?2E6 |:?@C:EJ {6256C #@3 ~CEE[ 2 }@CE9 %@?2H2?52 #6AF3=:42?]k^Am kAm~E96CD ?@E65 E92E D49@@= =6256CD 2C6 ?@E AF3=:4 962=E9 6IA6CED 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 >2<:?8 r@G:5 C6DA@?D6 677@CED @? E96:C @H?] v@EE7C:65 D2:5 E96 DE2E6 962=E9 4@>>:DD:@?6C “?665D E@ 8:G6 D4:6?46\32D65 2?5 AC24E:42= 8F:52?46 E@ =@42= D49@@= @77:4:2=D @? r@G:5\C6=2E65 A@=:4:6D :>>65:2E6=J[ 367@C6 D49@@= @A6?D]Qk^AmkAmkDEC@?8mr2== 7@C VEC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 E:>6=:?6DDVk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmqFD:?6DD6D[ E@@[ 2C6 4=@D6=J H2E49:?8 w@49F=’D r@G:5 C6DA@?D6] uC2?< z6C36:?[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C wF>2? #6D@FC46D 2E E96 qFD:?6DD r@F?4:= @7 }6H *@C< $E2E6[ D2:5 }6H *@C< 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 ?@H @A6C2E:?8 F?56C 7656C2= 962=E9 2?5 H@C<A=246 D276EJ C64@>>6?52E:@?D]k^Am kAm“%96D6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D 2==@H 3FD:?6DD6D D@>6 7=6I:3:=:EJ :? 56E6C>:?:?8 H9:49[ :7 2?J[ @7 E96 r@G:5 AC@E@4@=D E96J H@F=5 =:<6 E@ AFE :? A=246 7@C E96:C H@C<6CD] w@A67F==J[ 2?J 7FEFC6 r@G:5 >2?52E6D H:== 2==@H 6>A=@J6CD E9:D 4@?E:?F65 7=6I:3:=:EJ[Q 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmu@C E96:C A2CE[ 4@F?E:6D H2?E E@ D66 2 C6DE@C2E:@? @7 2? @C56C E92E 925 2==@H65 6>6C86?4J >65:42= E649?:4:2?D E@ 25>:?:DE6C r@G:5 E6DED 2?5 G244:?6D] “(6 ?665 E92E 5@?6 C:89E 2H2J[Q p4BF2C:@ D2:5] “(6 2C6 :? 2 >2DD:G6 AC6G6?E:@? 2?5 E6DE:?8 >@56] %9:D :D 2? @?8@:?8 677@CE E92E 92D 2=H2JD 366? =65 3J E96 4@F?E:6D C682C5=6DD @7 H92E E96 DE2E6 H2D D2J:?8]Qk^Am kAm#2G6?92== D2:5 E92E >62?D 2 “C63F:=5:?8 @7 ECFDE” C6=2E65 E@ r@G:5 52E2 >2:?E2:?65 3J E96 DE2E6[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 :D ?@H ?@E D92C65 @C 5:77:4F=E E@ @3E2:?] $96 42==65 7@C 2 C6DE@C2E:@? @7 “EC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 E:>6=:?6DD” :? 9@H E92E r@G:5 52E2 :D D92C65 3J E96 DE2E6]k^Am kAmw2>>@?5 D2:5 “:E’D D92>67F=” 9@H =:EE=6 :?7@C>2E:@? E96 DE2E6 A@DED 23@FE r@G:5 – 4@>A2C65 H:E9 H92E :E 4@==64ED – 2?5 6G6? AFED =:EE=6 @7 E96 52E2 :?E@ DAC625D966E 7@C>2ED ?66565 7@C DE2<69@=56CD E@ 2?2=JK6 E96 52E2] w6 ?@E65 E96C6 :D ?@ AF3=:4 EC24<:?8 @7 r@G:5 G2C:2?ED 2?5 =:EE=6 23@FE 3C62<E9C@F89 :?764E:@?D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m"F6DE:@?D C6>2:? 2D ?6H 8@G6C?@C 4@?7C@?ED A2?56>:4k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpE 2 E:>6 H96? 8@G6C?>6?ED 2?5 AC:G2E6 D64E@CD 2C6 >2?52E:?8 >@C6 H@C<6CD 36 G244:?2E65[ w@49F= >FDE H6:89 E96 @A6?:?8 @7 >@C6 G244:?2E:@? D:E6D] rF@>@ 4=@D65 5@H? E96 3:886DE DE2E6\CF? D:E6D]k^AmkAmq:8 E6DE:?8 D:E6D 92G6 2=D@ D9FEE6C65[ 2?5 ?@H >@C6 A6@A=6 2C6 36:?8 E@=5 E@ 86E E6DE65[ 6DA64:2==J :7 E96J H@?VE 86E G244:?2E65] xE 42? 4@DE >@C6 E92? S`__ 7@C 2 E6DE[ 2 32CC:6C 7@C D@>6 A6@A=6 H9@ AC6G:@FD=J 925 >@C6 7C66 E6DE:?8 D:E6D 2G2:=23=6]k^Am kAm$@>6 DE2<69@=56CD – =:<6 tC:6 r@F?EJ tI64FE:G6 |2C< !@=@?42CK 2?5 E96 w62=E942C6 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 }6H *@C< $E2E6 – 564=:?65 qF772=@ }6HD C6BF6DED E@ D2J H92E w@49F= >:89E 492?86 @C <66A :? rF@>@VD r@G:5 A@=:4:6D] ~E96CD[ =:<6 2 3:8 EC256 8C@FA C6AC6D6?E:?8 ?FCD:?8 9@>6D[ 5:5?VE C6DA@?5]k^Am kAm#2G6?92== D2:5 =@42= 962=E9 @77:4:2=D 2C6 “C62==J <6J65 :?E@ E96 962=E9 6BF:EJ 4@>A@?6?ED @7 G244:?6D[ >2<:?8 DFC6 E96C6 :D 2446DD E@ G244:?6D :? E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J :>A24E65” 3J r@G:5]k^AmkAmw@49F= :?96C:ED 2 r@G:5 4C:D:D H:E9 H@CD6?:?8 :?764E:@? ?F>36CD 2D C6D:56?ED =@@< E@ 2?@E96C 72== 2?5 H:?E6C :?5@@C D62D@? H:E9 E96 A2?56>:4 DE:== @? E96 D46?6] %96C6 2C6 >2?J F?2?DH6C65 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H D96 H:== 24E[ :?4=F5:?8ik^Am kAm• w@H H:== D96 ECJ E@ 3@@DE G244:?2E:@? C2E6Dn x? 2==[ dg]dT @7 2== }6H *@C<6CD 2C6 7F==J G244:?2E65] (:== D96 E2<6 >62DFC6D E@ 4@?G:?46 G244:?6\C6=F4E2?E C6D:56?ED E@ 86E :?@4F=2E65 @C 96=A 6IA2?5 677@CED E@ >@C6 5:C64E=J C6249 F?G244:?2E65 A6@A=6 :? E96:C ?6:893@C9@@5Dn w@H H:== D96 92?5=6 E96 C@==@FE @7 2 3@@DE6C 5@D6 E@ 2G@:5 E96 =@8:DE:42= AC@3=6>D E9@FD2?5D @7 }6H *@C<6CD 72465 =2DE DAC:?8 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96 G244:?6nk^AmkAm• pD s6=E2 G2C:2?E 42D6D 2?5 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D :?4C62D6[ 9@H H:== D96 >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C }6H *@C<6CD E@ 86E E6DED H:E9 BF:4<6C EFC?2C@F?5 E:>6Dnk^Am kAm• (:== w@49F= AFE AF3=:4 962=E9 6IA6CED 7C@?E 2?5 46?E6C E@ 6IA=2:? r@G:5 564:D:@?D @C E2<6 E96 rF@>@ 2AAC@249 @7 36:?8 :? E96 DA@E=:89Enk^Am kAm• (:== D96 C6=J >@C6 @? AF3=:4 962=E9 6IA6CED 2E 96C @H? 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 4@F?EJ 962=E9 4@>>:DD:@?6CDnk^Am kAm• s@6D D96 36=:6G6[ 2D rF@>@ C646?E=J D2:5[ E92E 3FD:?6DD6D :? }6H *@C< D9@F=5 3C:?8 6>A=@J66D 324< E@ H@C<A=246D C:89E 27E6C {23@C s2Jnk^AmkAmw2>>@?5 D2:5 w@49F= D9@F=5 2AA@:?E 2? :?56A6?56?E :?G6DE:82E:G6 A2?6= E@ =@@< 2E }6H *@C<’D r@G:5 C6DA@?D6 677@CED E@ 36EE6C =62C? 23@FE E96 D9@CE4@>:?8D 2D 2 8F:56[ 2E E96 G6CJ =62DE[ 7@C 7FEFC6 A2?56>:4 C6DA@?D6D]k^Am kAm“w@49F= D9@F=5 >2<6 4=62C E92E 96C 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D 8@:?8 E@ =6G6= H:E9 E96 AF3=:4[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story As Kathy Hochul prepares to govern NY, women leaders optimistic more change is coming Hochul's ability to be both firm but also empathetic, her decades of working in every level of politics and her lived experiences as a woman h… Kathy Hochul sworn in as New York's first female governor Hochul, the lieutenant governor and a Democrat from Buffalo, ascended to the chief executive role following the departure of Gov. Andrew M. Cu… With the exit door facing him, Gov. Cuomo gives one last speech Cuomo is leaving his job in humiliation, following allegations he sexually harassed multiple women. Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories April 19 Trump: Iran ‘can’t blackmail us’ over Strait of Hormuz Trump: Iran ‘can’t blackmail us’ over Strait of Hormuz Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics AP top stories April 17 AP AP top stories April 17
As Kathy Hochul prepares to govern NY, women leaders optimistic more change is coming Hochul's ability to be both firm but also empathetic, her decades of working in every level of politics and her lived experiences as a woman h…
Kathy Hochul sworn in as New York's first female governor Hochul, the lieutenant governor and a Democrat from Buffalo, ascended to the chief executive role following the departure of Gov. Andrew M. Cu…
With the exit door facing him, Gov. Cuomo gives one last speech Cuomo is leaving his job in humiliation, following allegations he sexually harassed multiple women.
