All articles tagged with #kathy hochul
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tried several call-and-response chants to energize fans at the Bills’ ribbon-cutting for their new Highmark Stadium, but the crowd mostly stayed silent, prompting her to acknowledge the moment before continuing with remarks about the stadium and upcoming events.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered a sharp two‑sentence quip after JD. Vance repeatedly misnamed her as “Katie” during a Long Island rally for GOP candidate Mike LiPetri. Hochul corrected him by saying, “It’s still Kathy,” and mocked the name‑change jab as inaccurate, while Vance had earlier attacked LiPetri’s opponent, Rep. Tom Suozzi, saying he “represents her” rather than the voters. The exchange comes amid a week of political snark around the vice president’s activities.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani left Albany with billions in recurring revenue and pension relief that close a budget gap and advance his priorities, including a pied-à-terre tax and childcare expansion, aided by Gov. Kathy Hochul. While the windfall buys him time, analysts warn that structural imbalances remain and the next city-state budgeting cycle will be tougher, with Hochul wary of tax increases and Albany lawmakers wary of bailing out the city again.
The Justice Department filed suit against Gov. Hochul’s health officials, alleging they rigged the bid for New York’s $11 billion Medicaid homecare program and steered it to a favored vendor, allowing millions to be siphoned from Medicaid during a chaotic transition that impacted hundreds of thousands of recipients. The complaint names Health Commissioner James McDonald and Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri and cites emails showing Hochul’s involvement, while Hochul’s office denies wrongdoing and calls the suit a political attack.
New York lawmakers passed the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act to legalize plug‑in balcony solar, and Gov. Hochul must decide by year‑end whether to sign it. If enacted, the bill would exempt balcony plug‑in systems from utility approval, cap systems at 1,200 watts, and could help renters and apartment dwellers lower electric bills, with supporters arguing it boosts affordable clean energy and opponents watching Hochul’s stance ahead of the midterms.
Republican Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and GOP gubernatorial frontrunner, says he would use New York’s $3.8 billion reserve for economic uncertainties, or the $9.2 billion rainy-day fund if needed, to deliver immediate tax relief—including a 10% tax cut for earners under $250,000 and eliminating state tax on the first $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers—while Gov. Hochul’s camp dismisses the plan; Blakeman promises to shut down Hochul’s reserve and return money within 100 days.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $268 billion New York state budget deal aimed at easing living costs, including a surcharge on luxury NYC homes and protections for undocumented immigrants to constrain President Trump’s deportation push; the agreement follows weeks of budget impasse and still hinges on finalizing education funding and pension costs, as Hochul seeks to demonstrate relief to voters ahead of reelection while facing Democratic-base demands and a potential clash with Washington.
Governor Kathy Hochul proposes a $5+ million pied-à-terre tax in NYC (backed by Mayor Mamdani) expected to raise about $500 million a year. While the plan aims to help close a budget gap, luxury brokers warn it could dampen sales, depress property values, and trigger a slowdown among ultra‑wealthy buyers, with some pausing or aiming under the $5 million threshold. Others say demand remains strong and the market will adapt, potentially giving primary residences a slight edge as buyers factor in the tax.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced sharp criticism from former Gov. David Paterson for a publicity video outside hedge-fund titan Ken Griffin's Manhattan residence to back Kathy Hochul's pied-à-terre tax; Paterson called the stunt Godfather-like and warned it could be dangerous amid political tensions. Citadel signaled it might drop its $6 billion Midtown development in response, and watchdogs questioned whether the tax would raise the projected $500 million in revenue.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called on the federal government to issue $1,700 refunds to New York families for tariffs she says cost New Yorkers $13.5 billion, arguing the relief is overdue as a court battle continues. She notes refunds for businesses are being processed by Customs and Border Protection, with funds expected 60–90 days after approval, and warns the Trump administration may delay or shrink refunds.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul backs a pied-à-terre tax on NYC luxury residences worth $5 million and up to help Mayor Zohran Mamdani close a roughly $5.4 billion city budget gap, signaling a pragmatic, high-profile alliance between a moderate governor and a far-left mayor. The move strengthens Mamdani’s financial footing and boosts Hochul’s NYC standing, but it risks political blowback from the business community and leaves unresolved debates on broader tax policy and policing.
Gov. Kathy Hochul partially reverses course and endorses a pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes over $5 million to help close the city’s multibillion-dollar deficit, a move paired with Mayor Mamdani’s push for higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy. The plan, which could affect about 13,000 homes and aim for roughly $500 million annually, faces opposition from real estate groups who warn it could hurt the economy and property values.
Bruce Blakeman trails Gov. Kathy Hochul by double digits as fundraising gaps, a late campaign start, and ties to Trump complicate the NY GOP’s bid to replicate Zeldin’s near-win; Democrats have launched a seven-figure ad campaign and seek to deny public matching funds, while Hochul builds a robust campaign infrastructure in a deeply blue state.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has won endorsements from left leaders Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani, signaling a pragmatic shift as the Democratic left moves from purity politics to governing power; Hochul’s ability to broker deals—on issues like no-cost child care and tax increases on the wealthy—puts her at the center of the party’s evolution, though tensions with Delgado and progressive critics remain and could test the alliance.
Brooklyn’s Democratic Party briefly withdrew its backing of Gov. Kathy Hochul over internal disputes tied to her lieutenant governor pick, Adrienne Adams, highlighting a long-simmering split between insurgent progressives and mainstream leaders and signaling a waning influence of county party machines in New York City politics.