Democrat Bill Magnarelli has seen many of these speeches in his 23 years in the assembly, and knows they don’t include many details.
"Exactly how we're going to do all those things, exactly where the money is going to come from, exactly how they're going to fit into the budget process, none of that is spelled out yet."
Hochul highlighted strong commitments to expanding mental health services and housing, both of which Magnarelli says are essential to stabilizing lives and communities.
"If people want to know what's causing crime, it's not the bail laws. It's mental health and addiction," Magnarelli said. "We need to deal with those things. If we don't, those numbers aren't going to go down."
In the other chamber, Republican Senator Joe Griffo from Rome was encouraged to hear Governor Hochul’s willingness to further revisit and revise the controversial bail reform measures.
"I think it should be started all over again," Griffo said. "And we should be getting the input from people in law enforcement, from criminal defense attorneys, from prosecutors. I think that's the way you develop better policy."
Griffo says he does have some concerns with Hochul’s sweeping plan to address the housing shortage through what she’s calling The New York Housing Compact. He wants to ensure local leaders have input.
"I'm concerned not so much with the idea of making sure that there's housing available and, and we want to be able to make sure people can find suitable housing," Griffo said. "But when you want to stifle local control, again, we've seen that done with energy policy where they have really undermined local control involvement and input."
Griffo and senate republicans released their “rescue New York 2023” agenda yesterday, which shares some of Hohcul’s priorities. But they’re also pushing to reduce the state’s high tax burden and improve an unfriendly business climate.
"It's not suffice to just criticize or complain," Griffo said. "We want to present constructive alternatives and ideas for consideration, and then we can have that debate."
Back in the assembly, Bill Magnarelli chairs the transportation committee. He wants to ensure the state continues to invest in its aging roads, bridges, and airports.
"The federal government has a lot of money that is supposed to be coming to the state," Magnarelli said. "I think it's imperative that the governor and the legislature make sure that the federal government comes through with that money."
Magnarelli says he was pleased to hear the governor mention Micron, and her proposal of an office specifically designed to manage semiconductor expansion. He says it shows that Hochul understands the importance of the $100 billion investment to the region, and that it will come with inevitable growing pains.
