Brooklyn (mostly) welcomes Gov. Kathy Hochul
Many of Brooklyn’s movers and shakers welcomed Kathy Hochul, New York State’s 57th governor, on Tuesday with a generous helping of optimism, a pledge of collaboration, and the sense that historic change was coming to an Albany that has been in the iron grip of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo since 2011.
Despite the former governor’s ties to Brooklyn — Andrew Cuomo’s father Mario Cuomo was a “Court Street lawyer” before he became governor of the state — locals seemed more than content to wave goodbye to him. Cuomo is accused of fostering a toxic work environment and sexually harassing women.
Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said in a statement that Hochul was “no stranger to Brooklyn, having worked with the borough on plenty of initiatives, including Vital Brooklyn,” a community development program for Central Brooklyn. “I have spoken to her, and she is receptive and aware of the borough’s needs.