Gov. Kathy Hochul’s third State of the State address helped set Albany’s agenda for 2024 — with a focus on housing, crime and mental health. Yet it was also notable for what it didn’t include. Big topics such as how the state will handle the migration surge and the $4 billion deficit will have to wait until her budget plan next week. “Clearly she doesn’t have a solution,” Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said of the migrant issue. “That’s why she didn’t mention it, but she’s going to have to deal with it.” The speech also made clear that she’s not giving up on her 2023 efforts to build more housing, even if she’s planning a less aggressive approach. Rather than forcing towns to allow higher density units, she now wants to limit their access to more pools of state money if they don’t permit these. Officials at all levels of government are remaining optimistic there will be a deal of sorts this time around. “It’s controversial not to deal with it,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “Housing is a real issue, we’re hemorrhaging New Yorkers because of it.” Hochul also dedicated much of her speech to efforts to crack down on crimes, such as retail theft. “Let’s back our businesses and punish those who think they can break the rules with impunity,” said the Democratic governor, who wants a tax break for businesses to cover security costs. And she’s doubling down on past efforts to improve mental health coverage. “From Brooklyn to Buffalo, many New Yorkers are suffering,” she said, saying there should be more treatment options in schools, as well. The governor highlighted some of the proposals she’s rolled out in recent weeks, such as a ban on copays for insulin, that resonated with the Democratic-led Legislature. “I’m very glad on issues around medical debt, on issues of insulin, these are bills I’ve been leaning on for the last couple of years,” said Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx). But, he added, “I’ve been around too long – I’ll wait to see what’s actually in the budget language.” As with every State of the State, there were dozens of other proposals in Hochul’s briefing book — 204, to be exact — dealing with everything from the creation of a commission to celebrate the Erie Canal’s bicentennial to the construction of more swimming pools. An on-time state budget is due by April 1. “I like to swim, too,” Barclay said. “But is that really going to change the way New York solves its outmigration crisis, I don’t think so."
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