Lt. Gov. Hochul promises smooth transition, will 'fight like hell' for NYers

ALBANY — Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul in her first public event since Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced his resignation promised Wednesday to complete a smooth transition and to "fight like hell" for New Yorkers, but with a different style than Cuomo when she takes over Aug. 24.

Hochul, a former Congress member from Buffalo, will be New York’s first female governor.

On Wednesday she distanced herself from Cuomo, a day after he announced his resignation as he faced sexual harassment accusations from former executive chamber workers.

"It’s no secret we have not been close," Hochul said of Cuomo.

Cuomo’s resignation comes after an Aug. 3 report by state Attorney General Letitia James that concluded he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo denies the accusations but said the political atmosphere would make it impossible for him to prove his innocence as the Assembly drew closer to a vote on impeachment.

Hochul didn’t reveal any priorities or any specific changes, but she did draw one clear line: No Cuomo staffer identified in the attorney general’s report who "was connected with anything unethical will remain in my administration."

"At the end of my term, whenever it ends, no one will describe my administration as a toxic work environment," Hochul said.

Hochul said she has a different style than Cuomo. Legislators often criticized Cuomo for failing to work with the State Legislature and the executive and legislative branches have a frosty relationship, even though they are both in Democratic hands.

"My style is to listen first, then take decisive action," Hochul said.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) said Hochul’s approach is needed and welcomed by legislators.

"We all want to work cooperatively to get through the next year and four months to get the state moving again," Gianaris said. "One of Andrew Cuomo’s worst detriments was his horrible style of government that had no regard for the separation of powers. We all know Kathy Hochul and know her to be more collaborative and decisive."

Hochul spoke with Assembly Republican leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) Tuesday.

"She was very gracious, it was a nice conversation," he said. "I think it is such a dark time — when Gov. Cuomo had alienated almost everybody in politics — anybody who can turn the page and operate in a different style is welcomed."

Hochul, 62, has spent much of her time as lieutenant governor since 2015, traveling New York for state events, but said she’s knowledgeable of all the major crises facing the state, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All options are on the table," Hochul said. "But it is as simple as more people getting vaccinated … more people vaccinated is our only way out of this."

Hochul said she is considering several people to appoint as lieutenant governor, probably within the two weeks of transition from the Cuomo administration to the Hochul administration. She said she will choose someone who will help her carry out her progressive vision and improve diversity in state government. Among the issues she said she will continue to advance is combating opioid and heroin addiction, "something that has touched my family personally."

She was asked in the news conference if she would release data on deaths among nursing home residents that Cuomo has refused to make public and which is the subject of a U.S. Justice Department investigation.

"My administration will be fully transparent," she said to the question, but added, "I’m not governor yet."

The Justice Department and the Assembly Judiciary Committee are investigating whether Cuomo provided accurate numbers on deaths of nursing home residents. Legislators have accused Cuomo of undercounting the deaths of nursing home residents.

Hochul said she didn’t ask for the two-week transition that Cuomo created when he set the date for his resignation, saying she is ready now to govern. But she said she will use the time to augment her senior staff, tour the state to meet New Yorkers and "assure them I have their backs."

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com,yancey.roy@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany,

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.