NY, Syracuse leaders welcome Hochul, celebrate Cuomo’s departure

Syracuse, N.Y. -- In the minutes and hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul took office at 12:01 a.m. today, leaders throughout New York have sent out congratulations to the state’s first female governor.

“New York state is in good hands,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in a statement. “For the city of Syracuse, it is an especially meaningful day as Governor Hochul, an alumna of Syracuse University, has a deep connection to our community. She’s never lost touch with Syracuse and has consistently shown knowledge and concern for what is happening here.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie echoed Walsh’s sentiments, with a long list of challenges facing the state.

“We look forward to working with her to ensure our children can safely return to school, New Yorkers are able to stay in their homes, small businesses can thrive again, our work to end to the scourge of gun violence continues and to fight the resurgence of COVID-19 to finally put this pandemic behind us,” Heastie said in a statement. “We stand ready to work with Governor Hochul to continue moving New York forward.”

Sen. John Mannion, D-Geddes, said he spoke with Hochul last week. Mannion called her office, and she called right back, he said. They spoke about some local issues (though not Interstate 81) and about an expected visit by the new governor to the New York State Fair.

He was one of the first state lawmakers to send out congratulations just after midnight. “As the first woman ever, and the first Upstater in a century to serve as governor, I know firsthand that she understands and cares deeply about Central New York families, schools, and businesses,” Mannion’s statement said.

Mannion said Hochul did not ask for his support in 2022. Hochul has said she’s running for a full term as governor next year.

“I am supportive of her. I know that she says she’s running,” he said. “I want to see who else is interested.”

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