Hochul promotes budget proposals, affordability in Syracuse visit
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Syracuse Wednesday to discuss budget proposals and affordability issues. Hochul touted policies aimed at lowering housing and everyday living expenses like utility, gas and insurance costs. Avery Magee | Photo Editor
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul promoted state budget proposals targeting affordability issues during her visit to Syracuse Wednesday afternoon.
Promoting her budget at the Wegmans Art and Home Center, Hochul touted policies aimed at lowering housing and everyday living expenses like utility, gas and insurance prices.
Hochul’s visits to Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester Wednesday come amid opposition to her fiscal year 2027 budget proposal in Albany. In Syracuse, Hochul was introduced by Mayor Sharon Owens, who voiced support for Hochul’s budget and praised the work the governor has done for New York.
“Kathy Hochul knows what New Yorkers need,” Owens said.
The governor framed her budget proposals as part of her mission to “make life more affordable for everyone.” The proposals would approve millions of dollars in housing projects, as well as push back economic restrictions imposed by New York environmental protection laws.
“Making life more affordable has been a part of who I am since I was an 18 year old with a pair of jeans,” Hochul said.
She referenced her time as a student at Syracuse University, where she organized a boycott of the campus book store over expensive book prices.
Syracuse’s need to build new housing is “basic supply and demand,” Hochul argued, pushing for support for various housing projects her budget proposal would approve.
“I say let them build. Are you with me on that?” Hochul said. “Let’s build more, let’s build more housing. Put people to work and make more jobs.”
In addition to housing, Hochul urged people to consult with their representatives to push back deadlines on climate laws to keep utility and gas costs low.
“If this law is not changed the price of gasoline will go up $2.23 per gallon on top of the increases you’re already seeing,” Hochul said.
Hochul has faced backlash from environmental groups who accuse her of wavering on New York state’s 2019 climate law. The New York Supreme Court ordered New York to meet the 2019 climate law’s standards now.
Hochul has proposed adjusting the law to push back enforcements until 2030. Hochul said if New York had to meet climate law standards today, “crushing” costs would continue to rise.
Hochul blamed President Donald Trump’s “war on renewable energy” for New York’s failing to meet climate law standards.
The budget proposal also aims to address New York’s high insurance premiums, Hochul said, adding that New Yorkers “pay the highest car insurance premiums in the country.” New York paid the fourth highest car insurance premiums in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
She blamed “staged crashes” to collect insurance money and New York’s liability laws for unreasonably high rates.
“Our liability laws are just out of sync with the rest of the country’s. It’s so easy to go to a jury and get millions of dollars for injuries that you may have caused yourself. We have to put an end to that,” Hochul said. “There are 35 states that are doing it differently and I want to be among those.”
New York’s state budget is due for approval by the New York State Legislature April 1.
