Adopted each of the houses of legislature, the senate and the assembly of the state of new inn for the purpose of receiving the annual message to the legislature from the governor of the state of new york. Ladies and gentlemen i am proud and honored to present the 57th government to the state of new york kathy hochul. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [cheering] [applause] thank you good afternoon. It is an honor to be back with you in this hallowed chamber, a place since 1879 civic minded new yorkers have wstled with everything from the great depression, two world wars, to the everyday issues that matter most to the millions of people who call new york our home. Generations of past leaders have shared the solemn responsibility of representing their citizens. I am honored to be joined by the leaders of today. First let me thank lieutenangad. He has done an amazing job i am so proud to have him in my side. I want to thank senior pastoras for the beautiful invocation. I look forward to seeing you perhaps this sunday in church, save me a seat. [applause] state controller, state attorney general, Senate MajorityLeader Assembly speaker you can apply to anyone if you want. [applause] [applause]wi■ im going back to majority leader. [cheering] [applause] we have to look out for women. Speaking of powerful woman [cheering]eader c[applause] Senate Minority leader another western new yorker. [cheering] Assembly Minority leader wilt barclay. The esteemed judges of the new york court of appeals. [applause]7 new york city mayor eric adams. Mayors and counties from all across the state we are also joined, yes give them a round of applause grocers on my former governor david patterson. So representatives from labor, distinguished guests and clergy leaders including doctor a. R. Bernard is the president of our executive interface council. [applause] members of my cabinet, secretary and council lives a fine. A special tribute to my policy director the visionary behind many of our great ideas, michael allowson sure. [applause] but today it is not about us it is about the 20 million hardworking new yorkers we are privileged to represent and what we can deliver for them in the year ahead. I have listened as new yorkers told me about the challenges and theyey face and the dreams they hold. It with them in mind i probably share my vision for 2024. [applause] these state of new york is strong. Stronger today than when io became governor two years ago. It is healthier, safer, more affordable. Have traversed some rocky terrain. There is still some switchbacks before we r nation were faith ad affordable life is out of reach wh shootings and murders have declined by double digits, safety at the grocery store, the synagogue or the subway is always of mind. And ive always made Great Strides to take guns off the streets. Too many parents are still fearful as children o morning an troubled individuals are discharged from the hospital without receiving the care they need and go on to commit violent acts. The potential of a crime no matter how serious is causing anxiety for our residents. And on top of that they are also frustrated with the rising cost of living. Inflation is down 9. 1 to 3. 1 over the last 18 paychecks are finally growing. And yet our neighbors are struggling to make a dollar go further. And sadly no matter how hard they work, they fear they will never be a success or get as far as their own parents did. These are the reasons i fight every day to give new yorkers a better shot at a better life. Since taking office ive worked i workedwith this legislation te more than 600,000 jobs and reduce unemployment 7. 4 to 4 . We did that will holding a line on taxes across the board could in fact we cut them for the middle class. [applause] we boosted k12 education by 5. 3 billion in extraordinary we fully funded Foundation Aid for the very first time in history. We increased healthcare fundingg by 20 to more than 112 billio we gave 1. 3 billion in raises to her hard working Home Health Care aides and bonuses for healthcare workers because they. And just this morning as a result of our hard President Biden and his administration we will be invest more than 6 billion in federal funds into our Healthcare System over the next three years. [applause] this bombi help support our safety net hospitals. Address Healthcare Workforce shortages, strength and access to primary and Behavioral Healthcare all important primaries, all of us. And on top of that, over the last two years we have invested more than 7 billion in child care. [a[applause] went at the same we save the mta from looming clip that threatens an economy of an entire region grew by 435 new writers. [applause]pp no administration no legislature have ever invested money faster in short roads and bridges to rebuild our states. We are grateful grateful for your continued partnership in our speaker we worked hard in trust in government. Here is what i know weve always seen more headlines at the handful of places we disagree but the truth w is we are unite. United in our commitment to the people of the state to gather together wehave already achieveg accomplishments is not what people want from their leaders. W w continue to fight the rate fight on their behalf and relentlessly pursue common sense ideas that lift up the people of this great state. Joining us today is quinton roosevelt. Quinton is the great greatgreatgrandson of Teddy Roosevelt who took the oath of office exactly what her 25 liters ago in a place called buffalo. At just 19 years old quinton is the youngest elected official inour nations capitol. Quinton, stand up. [applause] a great. I told him a Public Service runs in his veins and we expect even more. I quinton i waspired by the 33rd governor of new york. In fact i quoted Teddy Roosevelt my very first day in office. I promise to always strive valiantly on behalf of new yorkers and beat the woman in the arena. That is exactly what we have done. That is why willing to take on the persistent crimes like retail theft, Domestic Violence te crimes. Weve got to revolution our Mental Health insurance structure so people aually get the help they need. [applause] who will brew protecting hard earn money from bad actors and predatory lenders the same time will continue to build new york to places that welcome businesses. Existing small and large family owned and traded. We keep driving the long flight infrastructure and Public Transit projects the iad would invite at the kensington so our workers can support their families. And we will fight for m wage workers because no one should labor 40 hours a week and still live below the poverty line. [applause] and we will fight for our farmers sent by extreme weather and workforcend shortages. Trying to met on fixing that will fight fort women balancing motherhood and careers. I will fight for children just beginning their journey in life. And in so doing pursue the common good with common sense by seeking common ground. [applause]■7 we have all these commitments understand this, weannot spend money we do not have. Pandemicsng from washington have driedin up. Inflation did not just hit families, i hit State Government operations as well. Its up to all of this to have the that use tax dollars creatively and responsibly. I willow discuss how i will tace some of the toughest fiscal issues by caring for migrants and a structurald deficits and next weeks budget speech. But, right now lets talk about how we provide from new yorkers. Starting with the initiatives we inalready announced since the nw year. Last year, infant deaths were up for the first time in 20 years. E three four times more likely to die in childbirth. I wont let this continue on my watch. We must ensure, moms with healthy pregnancies york the fie nation to offer prenatal leave. We must must put them at risk. We are also giving children the to live full, healthy, successful lives. That starts with teaching them how to read. I say to final get rid of debunked curriculum in schools and get back to basics. Using phonics and proven techniques that work. Moting phyl health and wellbeing by building pools in underserved areas and teaching people to swim. [applause] i am proud lieutenant governor, newly created office of service and civic engagement, he and his team will connect to new yorkers who want to give back. Opportunis the state. This is just the start of our comprehensive agenda we will protect theot Environment Fund resiliency efforts make sure hours tightening the bold emission targets we will promote jobs in agriculture and invest in familyowned farms. We will connect to new yorkers with disabilities and Fund Research and rare diseases. Like a that vitality. Ile we addss countless challenges with 204, es 204 policy initiatives in the 2024 st the states which i am sure will find its way to your nightstand this evening. [laughter] today im going to focus on our commonsense items for our agenda. Fighting crime, fixing our Mental Health system and protecting new yorkers hard ea■rned money. [laughter] lets talk about crime if governments cant keep their citizens safe, then nothing else matters. Last year we reduce gun violence bringing shootings down by one third all across the state murders were city, 38 upstate. We made key revisions to make new york safer. We enacted guncontrol legislation thats a model for the rest of the nation. But certain types of crime have been stubbornly high. New yorkers see it every day. Graffiti scrawled outside of synagogue. Plastic panels. A couples argument turns of violent and punctuated byct gunshots. And on the subway, people suffering a mental breakdown or overdose. Episodes like these can cause an atmosphere of anxiety in our communities. But our success in driving down gun violence proves. Targete wog trends is indeed possible. So today we are unveiling tactis alongside and eric defining a Mental Health initiative. So new yorkers can live free from chaos and disorder. Focus on the things in life that imatter most. First, we must ensure everyone is safe at home by protecting them from Domestic Violence. The press coverage. But new yorkers are much more likely to be hurt by someone they know one third of assaults the attacker and the victim have a prior relationship. Our system fails to many survivors. In new york city alone 84 of Domestic Violence arrests and with dismissals, think about that. Hen before it last year, too many had access to guns so we change thehe law. [applause] now the Supreme Court is poised to possibly overturn a law keeps guns away from the abusers. We need strength and protection its more urgent now than ever before. [applause] you may have heard me talk about my mother grew up in a homework Domestic Violence was routine. She dedicated her life to survivors to break the cycle of traumad we note prosecuting violent abusers is the best way to protect survivors. Is here with us today, elizabeth please stand. [applause] elizabeth lives right across the river in troy. Not long ago she was trapped in an abusive relationship. She andfe her pets at regular abuse at the hands of her exboyfriend he killed one of her kittens, maimed another and. Da veterinarian told her about unity houseve a nonprofit that eventually she met Police Protector russ who is also joining us detective . [applause] thank you. Thank you. He helped elizabeth find the strength to pursue justice and file charges. He stood by her side at the d with his support elizabeth has made a clean break from her abuser and is rebuilding her life. Les give them both around of applause. [applause] [applause] i went to hear more hopeful storie like this. Thats how we are dedicating 28 million of district attorneys can gather evidence tr guns away. [applause] we are committing more funding so police can protect those most at risk of abuse clamped down on repeat offenders because every survivor should get the same chance to break the chain of violence and build a new life. Across our nation and our state retail theft has surged creating fear among the customers and the workers. Thieves items off the shelf and menace employees. Owners go broke replacing broken windows business. These attacks are nothing more than a breakdown of the social order. I say no more the chaos must end. [applause] for the very first time where launching a joint operation forr an federal, state, and a local Law Enforcement along with the brandnew state police unit to cracklo down on organized retail theft. As i have said will use this approach with legal guns and it worked. Im also proposing to help those Business Owners with a tax credit cover the security costs. I will workur with the legislate to strengthen penalties for assaulting fostering mine. Lets get it done. Lets back our businesses. Back ourwo businesses and workes with the full force of the law and punish those who think they can break the rules with impunity. This extends to thend Illegal Cannabis of vendors who flagrantly violate our laws. We will empower localities to go after the unlicensed shop prosecute businesses that sell to minors and padlocked their doors faster. [applause] finally, regarding crime and want to talk about hate crime. Particularly the rising tide of antisemitism and islamic nc phobia. Since the horrific attack by hamas against israel october 7, there been a roughly 95 increase in hate crimes against jewish residents of new york city. We are seeing a surge of anti muslim hate crimes as well. Our neighbors are being targeted in playgrounds and synagogues and mosques and on college campuses. And i will not rest until every jewish and muslim child feels safe going to school. Or entering a house of worship. We propose to make more than two assaults to graffiti eligible for prosecution as hate crimes. This means enhanced liability, sentences and ultimately it for what is right. We will protect the people of this state. [applause] we will carry this a fight until every new yorker feels safe att home, at prayer and network. But no matter how m spend on Law Enforcement or expanding their powers, new yorkers will not be able to let their guard our Mental Health system. [applause] is the truth from brooklyn to buffalo many new yorkers are suffering Mental Illness does not discriminate touches the rich and the poor. Reaches into schools and Senior Citizens with the Senior Centers with the same severity. Even our First Responders are suffering. Their experience on the wrong expose them to horrific circumstances. And that suici enforcement are 60 higher than the rest of the population. And too often the people involved in violent incidents under streets and subways are victims themselves. Victims of a system that failed to provide them the treatme nee. High quality care must be widely available, accessible and affordable. [applause] yet, forades or de prioritize and defunded. Over the 10 years before he took office of funding for Mental Health was only by 2 but not even keeping up withit inflatio. The results psychiatric bed to refute Mental Health practitioners, and bowing support systems. Combine this with the pandemic isolation opioid addiction the toxic algorithms that govern social media. It is no wonder we have such a serious problem on our hands. Make no mistake, this is the defining challenge of our t tim. That is why my Administration Working in partnershipsh with Ts Legislature has already made on precedented suit Mental Health care a 33 increase from just over the last two years it. You boosted spending by 1 billion last year alone. Hundreds of millions of dollars into outpatient communitybased services create more than 3500 Housing Units are people suffering from Mental Illness. Inpatient stacking beds by 1000 and initiate sleeping measures help our children includingg millions for suicide prevention, eating clinics. Focusing on our kids is everything. It is critical because they are our most Precious Resource investing in Mental Health services for the young means they will be rel■ated to a lifetime of needing care later on. When schools closed during the pandemic, kids turno media to stay connected with friends and family. But a darkness lives on those platforms. Content often promotes sadness, alienation, even suicide. The algorithms that make social media so addictive push that darkness onto young users. Im thinking about new yorkers like alex who grew up on lon. Sheet joint instagram when she was only 11 years old and immediately the algorithm started suggesting s images and videos about eating disorders on themes promoting low self worth. By the time she was 15 young alex was spiraling. She was losing weight. She did not sleep. Her life was not hers anymore it belong to the algorithm. After her parents intervened and after two weeks of a psychiatric facility without heremerged a co assert herself again. 9[ today she advocates for other young people at risk dreams of the day of testifying before congress about the dangers of social media. [applause] believe it or not is one of thes her mother, kathleen is here with us today, kathleen please stand. [applause] thank you. Here is what kathleen says. Social media is a silent killer of our childrens generation. According to the cdc, one in 14 have considered suicide. Double the figure just a decade ago. For teenage girlsee the numbers one and three. That is why were going to tackle the scourge of the social media that has harmed sos. Attorney general james, are two of us together will continue to demand accountability from social mediaes we will advance legislation to protect childrens privacy and regulate the algorithms that target them on social media feeds. [applause] he t share safe spaces with other kids with the same challenges. In the meantime we had to help the kids were hurting right now. Will start the stork investments to make Mental HealthServices Available to every Single School age child. [applause] once a Mental Health clinic will get one. [applause] im glad to be joined today by another great newew yorke breanna. Breanna worksnn tirelessly. His work to support schoolage new yorkers called youth act which enables young people wrestle with Mental Illness to st i communities rather than receiving inpatient treatment. Thank you, thank you for all you are doing. [applause] were building on the progress she already made. Everyone can agree to healthy children are more likely to grow into healthy adults. Too many grow up without the support they need and impose a danger to themselves or others. Comprehensive reforms or Behavioral Health systems. Starting in 2024 we will require hospitals to screen patients with Mental Health conditions for risks like suicide, violence, Substance Abuse and other complex needs. We will also require followup Psychiatric Care be coordinated before patients can leave the hospital. It is common sense but it has not been happening. Lets significantly expand Mental Health cch are proven to reduce recidivism. The court based Mental Health specials most vulnerable get help. Rather than cycle in and out of the justice system. And as we know the most extreme cases involve people committing Violent Crimes often lacking the capacity to live safely on their just two weeks ago, at Grand Central station one of those individuals pulled a knife and stabbed to young tourists. Thankfully the entries are notl. But episodes like this extracts a vast psychological toll on our communities and everyone elses. Just as the act of violence was absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable, so too are the repeated failures that allowed the perpetrator to slip in the t crookscr and those of numerous Mental Health conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, he had a history of care and falling into rachel menacing episodes. He should have received help long ago. We can no longer wait for someone to lash out and hurtfo someone before we take action. Because by then it is already too late. Relatively small number of people need the most intensive care. We w fund it specialize housing to provide services to these individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement. We known art discharged back into our i communities not because they recover, our hospitals. That is why we are creating 200 best in class patient beds for those with■ the most serious needs. Mental health care is not just for thosecr in crisis but anxie, depression, grief, addiction. Weve all needed support. At one time or another that that getsto the struggles of life. Seeing a therapist is expensive and some people cannot afford outofpocket payments. Insurance companies refused to uately pay for Mental Health support. That changes now. Rates for all state licensedment Mental Health services and the new regulations will require■ re outofnetwork coverage when appointments are not available in network. [applause] so get the department of Financial Services more staff, more discretion to increase finei recommend you dont. This matters we know when people dont get help their struggles only become more intense. Salt seen live every part of the state by opioid her own family has been touchedy by this epidemic of pain. I feel more in the ls of my nephew in the millions of other lives needlessly cut short. That is why we are harnessing ured by our attorney general james. [applause] to bolster and support our workforce for Addiction Treatment professionals bridge or grow our street outreach efforts, distribute more and millions more lifesaving conventional test strips. We are leading the nation and disbursement of these funds. Spending them quicker than any other state. I envision a future where no parent ever again has to find their child lifeless and glassy eyed on the floor. Or every new yorker can feel safe walkingeets are taking the subway. Our children have every resource to become the best version of themselves. Protecting Financial Health new yorkers has to be a top priority of ours as well. We have worked hard to gather legislation to make new york more affordable. Since i took office wenimum wago inflation. [applause] to millions of low and middle class new yorkers we recruited worldclass Companies Bring in their highpaying jobs to new york. Last week i detailed a series of from sheets and scammers. Right now i am proposing the first significant change to our Consumer Protection law and over 40 years. We are going to prohibit unfair and abusive practices like Student Loan Services to the most expensive repayment options debt collectors who manipulate seniors into giving up their protected income. Buy now pay industry. Which often lures customers into spending beyond their means. And we are taking on m debt dramatically increasing pay disability leave. Because believe it or not disability leave has not been raised a penny in 35 years. What isfo the point of paying fr this benefit your whole life if it only gives youve a fraction f what you need to recover. We have to write this wrong and increase this benefit from a week is our people get right now to bring it up or it would have been adjusted for inflation as much as 1250. That is seven times more than it has been and i say it is about time. Because we all know, any of us who have an illness weightlifting mishap in the gym can happen at any moment. Its Getting Better at. [laughter]ea the right in the ambulance and minor surgery can lead to peoples financial ruin. You have seen it. If already signed some of your bills and thank you, scrubbing medical debt from reports ergarnishing wages and now what are we going to do next . I am proposing a weight project low income new yorkers from being sued by the medical debt they cannot pay. Cap Monthly Payments and financialassist program. The cost of lifesaving medicine always down new yorkers 1. 6 million new yorkers diagnosed with d diabetes many cannot afford the insulin. One of them iseather whitney who has need every day to survive the last 32 years. Heather joins us today. Heather please stand managing her own disease while fighti o others. So students do not have to ration her insulin when they go back to College Seniors have to skip entire doses and diabetic parents dont have to go without insulin to make sure their own sick child has what they need. Set thank you, thank you for your advocacy on behalf of our citizens. Ff a ban on copays for insulin for anyone state regulated insurance man. No one asked to become a diabetic. They deserve care and compassion. Now lets get to the most important issue when it comes to affordability. Ready . The obscenely high cost of rents and mortgages caused by the unconscionable shortage of housing in new york. It is one of the forces driving people out of every corner of our state. Migration is a problem we need to talk about. For 50 years we have been hemorrhaging families who could no longer raise their children the same communities where they are born this decline shows no sign of stopping. But here is what is so riinteresting. People are not necessarily moving for warmer weather or lower taxes, many are moving in next door the top five states new yorkers are moving to three share our borders as similar taxes people are earning in new york while living in new jersey pennsylvania and connecticut. We are losing population relative to other states and what is that mean . A loss ofce influence. We went from 43 members of congress when ii was a little girl to just 26 today. But for decades no elected official in new york had the potical courage to even start a conversation about building more housing. Big cities around the nation including our neighbors show ambition that dwarf our own. From 2011, to 2020, washingtonr d. C. 72 new housing using per 1000 residents of boston developed 47 new york 4 city beo be here. Until we ass our housing shortage many will struggle financially. One year ago i pushed the New York Times described as the most ambitious housing plan since the Rockefeller Administration and the 1960s. Unfortunately many made it clear they would not support it. I knew it we were unlikely to win this fight overnight or even in one year. Situation demandedn immediate action i did on to wait around for the next legislative session. We found Innovative Solutions using executive orderspring 550. That had been languishing in limbo. We offered financial incentives people had asked for. Financial incentives are pro Housing Communities that demonstrate a willingness to build. Today i am announcing a plan to expand on those efforts by developingny state agencies. Including former correctional facilities, areas near stations and underutilized properties. This could create a loan 15000 new Housing Units. I know it is a good start. Its not enough to fix our affordability crisis. Lets be honest with new yorkers. The only thing that will solve this a problem is building hundreds and hundreds of thousands of homes. [applause] here carty spends more than any other stay tuned or count housing. Adding up to 25 billion and what does that get us . It sounds like a money right . That results in a 12000 and preserved units, very important. Still a fraction of what we need. Here is what i know. Spending more money or insisting on new will not get us out of a deep hole with decades of inaction are overcome the lack of courage to simply what is required. Already, new york is vastly more regulated housing than any other state. An thats with the status quo has felt. It is a bandaid when we need where does that leave us . We still need an effective statewide approach to encourage new construction. But, in the meantime there are aggressive actions we can and must take now. I remember it last year the loudest voice ines opposition sd ey control. Okay, lets put that to the test. The city of new york which is a local government, wants to build 500,000 more hom decade. I agree. Let them build. Our plan for new york city. Our plan for new york city has four components of what i propose last eliminating outdated restrictions on residential density that prevents the city from building more. Supporting nobrainer ideas like the conversion of underutilized commercial property into homes. That cannot be hard. Again we saw in every other state that met the challengeyx more housing it took decades. I approach thiss crisis with a sense of that is required. So what are we waiting for . Lets unleash new york citys potential beginning this session. Do you agree with that comment , mayoradams . [applause] [cheering] now is the time to act. New yorkers are tired of waiting. I am tired of waiting. And i know we can do this. It will. It takes collaboration and it takes a commitment to deliver what new yorkers desperately want. And a week, my friends, are up to the task. Because of police officers, firefighters, nurses and teachers should be able to live in the communities they serve. And our children and grandchildren one day in the towns and cities where they grew up. Building more homes is essential. It is also essential of good paying longterm jobs for people can provide for their families. And i know as an upstate her lips and decades of decline in jobosre was a time when our greatest export was our children. I am glad to report those days are finally butts, as a governor i know its hard to improve new businesses. But if we are intentional, targeted, invest in our communities, our infrastructure, our education system, then we can beat out all of the others. We will be other states in landing credible companies but i know we can do it because that is how we attracted jobs 100 bf at the same time we keep supporting her Homegrown Companies like corning, ibm, global foundries and countless otrss not just about jobs and tech its about the Ripple Effect when they come the local construction jobs that arethe rl businesses that flourish as a result. Now since taking office ive have been laser focus on developing industries of the future. Like semi conductors across the state. But now we have a unique and fleeting opportunity to catapult new york ahead of its competition. I propose nothing short of making new york the Global Leader in ai research and pmdevelopment the leader for the nation, the leader in the world. Our reputation is synonymous with boldness and innovation. So where else but new york should happening . Ais art is single most consequential Technological Advancement since the invention of the global ai has already been valued at 100 billion since last year end it is brandnew it iss projected to reach 1. 3 trillion by 2030. Other states wanted too. Not to mention foreign powers like china. But, whoever dominates the ai next era of human history. That is what we can do here new york. We are currently in the hands a handful of private companies google, meta, microsoft, open ai. I am proud to announce new the e world to but that that type of Computing Power directly in the handsf academic institutions have stepped up to participate cornell, nyu, columbia, rpa our entire system. We have geniuses at the School Reading employees innovate new companies. And now they will have the power to change the world. In order to win this race of the future we need the specific hardware. At is why i am proposie Empire Ai Consortium to purchase and share Computing Power right here in new have already securee than 125 million in philanthropic and university partners. And over the next decade it will commit after 275 million but they consortium. So you say whats in this forcz new yorkers . Just like Silicon Valley exploded the 1980s will be the birthplace of countless new startups, spin ups in the Technological Advancements for everyone. Just imagine the possibilities ai can help diagnose cancer and it can predict dangerous storms racial and economic disparities in our communities. That is something the seniors at the university at buffalo buffalo who is with us hereho today and started working on. [applause] let me tell you what holidays dog. Research can improve the Child Welfare system. She is passionate about increasing the black womens persons dissipation inen scien. Thank you. Again. Holiday and scholars and universities will help build this industry in the■ future. With this new consortium we will drive Ethical Ai Development and do it inhat way that protects our workers andma make it a fore for good in the world. We will be the veryivate sectoro galvanize it we will share this power to make it people like collett who are innovating for the good of society. That is how we change the world. Togetherer for a new innovation, and globally competitive ai driven economy created right here new york. This is my final message directed new yorkers. You have heard promises before. It is hard not to be cynical. Or feel overwhelmed by chaos and newsfeeds. The war on israel and■c gaza, white supremacist attack your house of worship at schools and Grocery Stores unfettered theft at the local drugstore. A stack of bills on the kitchen counter that never seem to go away. New yorkers look at their Bank Accounts and wondering how they will pay the rent or afford the insulin for the child that survives. Those nights of worry so long so dark. And i know, in can understand why some people feel the sun is setting on the empire state. But i dont despair. I see it late on the horizon. We are resiliency runs in our veins. No mountain is too high for us to summit. Our strenh foraged in the diversity and industry of our s people. Because of our contrast our amazing differences we know we are more powerful together and on our own. Our great states home to the worlds lding financial institution. Also supports the tiny mom and pop shops. The and the tiniest villages. To me, new york is a living, breathing body with all its imp. It is still an extraordinary and magnificent being. It is the Creative Minds and bring song a dexter broadway in action two hours dreams. Proud and manufacturing workers who make products sold around sthe world. It is enhancing gifted surgeons fighting cancer and saving strong shoulders of our hardworking farmers, cultivating their fields and feeding our people. And feeding. Its the nurturing spirit of our childcare providers and our teachers who care for our children. The concerned eyes our Health Care Workers striving to heal the sick and comfort the dying. Having the welcoming smile of ■bodega owners making a bacon, egg, and cheese in the morning. [applause] ■itquoting the philosopher taylr swift. [laughter] she reminds everybody here was somebody else before and all though people might not listen to they still stand side by side on ati subway platform or counter t the diner, upstairs in long island. United as new yorkers. We wantor our great state to hand to those in need. Helping another one of my predecessors, fdr, said progress is mott whether we have the abundance of those that are much its whether or not we provide enough for those that have too little. Thats why we must enlist more people in the middle class and give them the sameid opportunits that my own and many of your parents and grandparents and even you. We dont want annoy thats a gulf between a rich and poor and build a middle class and beyond. Today i told you how to build that bridge in 2024. Were enacting a vision of new york and veterans could embark on incredible careers fighting climate cris and cleanneandht o. Unions are strong and infrastructure is resilient to withstand those 100 year storms. Going to read and win. Going with these ables to have pathways to pursue their dreams or lgbtq neighbors are free to be true selfs without discrimination. Our First Nations communities fiercely protect right abortion fro dom from Sexual Assault and and going for the right. Our lady liberty and compassion running deep as seneca lake and our statee stand with new yorkers even on their darkest days and we support all people toir lives with optimism and hope. And if we as leaders fulfill our commitments and our promises then this is the dawning of a welcome to our new york. Welcome to our future. J twoears ago democracy was the greatest nation and it remaps unbowed and unbroken