Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Assemblymember Pam Hunter Says It's Time To Move Forward With New Governor Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul is sworn in as New York State’s 57th Governor, and New York’s first female Governor, by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in the Red Room of the Capitol Tuesday morning August 24, 2021.
Kevin P. Coughlin/Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the
/
Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the
Kathy Hochul is sworn in as New York State’s 57th Governor, and New York’s first female Governor, by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in the Red Room of the Capitol Tuesday morning August 24, 2021.

Syracuse-area Assemblymember Pam Hunter says she feels full of pride today to see fellow upstate new Yorker Kathy Hochul elevated to the highest office in the state after being sworn in as Governor.

“We’ll have representation who will be able to really speak knowledgably about the issues that affect people outside of the city. And she’s a woman. This is great.”

Though, Hunter is quick to add it’s unfortunate that we’re still talking about “firsts” for women in government in 2021. She says now it’s time to give Governor Hochul a chance to succeed.

“We have turned a corner on some things that have taken a lot of space and time with these past several months. Not just with Covid, but with the serious issues that have faced the governor, and I think we need to move past that. There are significant issues that are affecting people across the state, and those need to be the focus for us to move forward.”

That includes the eviction moratorium that expires next week.

“There are thousands of people who are still in rears with rent. Landlords have gone for a long period of time without money. That’s going to be one of her most pressing issues getting the money out the door. It’s taken months in order for us to get this process in place for money to get out the door.”

The state received $2.7 billion in rent relief funding from the federal government in April, but the state only began rolling out the application process in June. The program will cover up to 12 months of unpaid rent and utilities accrued since March 13, 2020 for those who meet certain income and hardship eligibility measures.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.