Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her first statewide address Tuesday afternoon, focusing heavily on controlling COVID-19 and on bringing about “a dramatic change in culture” at the state capitol.
With school about to start, Hochul confirmed that she’s working on mandating COVID vaccination for school employees, with an option for regular COVID testing for those who refuse to get the shot. She said she’ll have the State Department of Health require universal masking in schools and will soon announce details of a back-to-school testing program.
The governor said she’ll push out stalled COVID federal rent relief money faster, hiring more staff to process the applications. Hochul said nobody who applies and qualifies will be evicted.
Hochul said she’s directing a statewide overhaul of government policies on ethics and sexual harassment, and is signing an executive order that will require ethics training for all state employees
Hochul became governor because Andrew Cuomo was forced to resign following accusations of sexual abuse brought by 11 women.
Hochul said it’s now “our time to unleash the power of New York Women.”