Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on Gov. Hochul’s 2025 State of the State
New York, NY – In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement:
“Governor Hochul’s State of the State offers important help for New York’s working families.
“We all know that the cost of housing and child care is driving families with kids out of New York. Governor Hochul’s proposal to double the child tax credit will give families back money and offset some of those skyrocketing costs.
“Much of the Governor’s plan rightly focuses on securing success for future generations of New Yorkers. Paid leave for prenatal care and the BABY Benefit will significantly improve maternal and infant health. Banning cell phones in classrooms will help students and teachers focus on learning, while banning parking near school crosswalks will keep kids safe on our streets. Making SUNY and CUNY community college free for older students enrolled in programs with high job growth will not only fill job vacancies for critical positions like teachers and nurses, but will also help thousands of New Yorkers earn a salary that allows them to stay in New York City.
“Protecting New York’s families also means ensuring access to abortion. Governor Hochul’s increased funds for reproductive healthcare will protect New York’s providers from possible federal cuts.
“I support the Governor’s efforts to increase flexibility to connect New Yorkers in crisis to involuntary care when necessary. But involuntary commitment alone will not solve the crisis we face. Yesterday, I released a comprehensive plan to end street homelessness for people with serious mental illness in New York City. For too long, New York has operated on a ‘housing last’ model – cycling people from subway to street to hospital to jail and back again – when what works is to put housing first. To achieve this, we need the State to finally pass the Housing Access Voucher Program to provide desperately needed rental subsidies, to invest more in supportive housing, and to undo Medicaid rate cuts adopted under Governor Cuomo that decimated funding for mental health services.
“Both Albany and City Hall must focus on affordability and safety for our families and in our neighborhoods. I thank Governor Hochul for putting forward a set of meaningful proposals to do so and look forward to working together to advance policies that create a more affordable, safer, thriving New York.”
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