ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul used her first speech as governor to announce policies on vaccinations and masks in schools, overall vaccination rates and booster shots, rent relief, and state-workforce policies.

In the early portion of her remarks, she acknowledged that New Yorkers may not yet know her, but Hochul said, “I know you.”

“In my travels to all 62 counties every year, I’ve walked your streets, met you at diners, supported your small businesses, listened to farmers, engaged local officials, and worked to revitalize long neglected downtowns. And I’ve been in the trenches with local health leaders and officials battling the pandemic day after day after day,” Hochul said.

Schools 

Hochul said her first priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn and do so in a safe manner. 

“For months,” Hochul said she’s been consulting with parents, elected officials, teachers, school boards, and superintendents on the topic. 

“As a result, we need to require vaccinations for all school personnel with an option to test out weekly — at least for now. To accomplish this in New York, we need partnerships with all levels of government, and I am working now on getting this done,” she said. 

She went on to say that New York is launching a “Back to School” COVID-19 testing program to make testing for students and staff “widely available and convenient.” 

The new governor is also directing the New York State Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering schools.

Vaccination rates, booster shots

Hochul listed increasing vaccination rates for New Yorkers as her second priority. 

As of Aug. 24, 79 percent of adults in New York state had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and 71 percent of adults were fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. And 66 percent of the total New York population had received at least one shot while 59 percent had completed a vaccine series. All those numbers are above the national average.

The new governor acknowledged that New York has made “much progress” in getting residents vaccinated against COVID-19 but also noted that too many are not yet vaccinated “putting themselves and their communities at risk.”

With the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer vaccine on Aug. 23, New Yorkers can expect new vaccine requirements. 

“More on that soon,” Hochul said. 

The governor’s third priority is preparing for booster shots and making sure they’re available and distributed “quickly and reliably.” 

“When I consulted with Dr. Fauci last week, we discussed the urgent need to ensure vaccinated individuals receive a booster dose at 8 months. I am prepared to do whatever is necessary, including reopening mass vax sites so that a booster is available to all New Yorkers who meet that timetable,” Hochul said.

Rent relief

President Biden and New York’s federal lawmakers worked to secure funds for renters, landlords, and workers. 

“But, I am not at all satisfied with the pace that this COVID relief is getting out the door,” Hochul said. “I want the money out — and I want it out now. No more excuses and delays.” 

She met with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins earlier on Aug. 24, and they’re launching a new campaign to reach more New Yorkers on rent relief. 

“We are forming a real partnership with legislators, the City of New York, other cities and counties to get the job done,” said Hochul. 

The new governor is hiring more staff to process applications and is assigning a team to identify and remove any barriers that remain. 

“New Yorkers should know, if you apply and qualify for this money, you will be protected from eviction for a solid year. Let me repeat. If you apply and qualify, you will not be evicted for a year,” said Hochul.

State worker policies

Hochul also wants to get the state working again “focused and without distractions” and she contends it begins with a “dramatic change in culture — with accountability and no tolerance for individuals who cross the line.” 

She wants an overhaul of state government’s policies on sexual harassment and ethics, starting with requiring all training be done live, instead of allowing people to “click their way through a class.” 

“A new era of transparency will be one of the hallmarks of my Administration. To me, it’s very simple,” she said. “We will focus on open, ethical governing that New Yorkers will trust.” 

Hochul is also directing state entities to review their compliance with state transparency laws and provide a public report on their findings. 

She also instructed her counsel to come up with an expedited process to fulfill all FOIL (freedom of information law) requests as fast as possible — and post completed requests publicly online. 

Hochul also said she’d sign an executive order requiring ethics training for every employee of the New York State government — “which, shockingly, is not required across the board,” she said.

Hochul, a Buffalo native and Syracuse University alumna, turned 63 three days after being sworn in as the new governor.