THE BLUEPRINT:\n<\/p>\n
Hochul discusses universal childcare<\/a>, including plans to partner with the private sector.<\/p>\n The governor proposed major investments in affordable housing<\/a> and manufactured housing to lower costs and speed construction.\n<\/p>\n Hochul emphasized workforce development<\/a>, including free community college expansion and a new nuclear energy workforce program.\n<\/p>\n She pushed back on critics by pledging investments without raising taxes or increasing long-term state debt.<\/p>\n New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul<\/a> delivered her State of the State address in Albany on Tuesday. With a focus on affordability, she spoke about universal childcare, housing, education, infrastructure, energy and more, all at a time of shifting federal funding cuts under the Trump administration.\n<\/p>\n But New York, she said, could handle it.\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve built the boat to withstand the storm,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause we\u2019ve managed our money responsibly, we\u2019re able to make transformative investments in our future. Without raising taxes. Without saddling the next generation with mounds of debt.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Take childcare. Last week, Hochul announced a $1.7 billion plan to expand universal childcare in New York. Statewide, there is a plan for universal pre-K for every 4-year-old by 2028. This year, the state aims to pilot community-wide childcare to provide year-round, full-day, affordable care for newborns to 3-year-olds.\n<\/p>\n Hochul said Tuesday that she would build on the success of the state\u2019s childcare assistance and voucher programs, \u201cso tens of thousands more families can access high quality care for no more than $15 a week. And thanks to our strong economy, we have the revenue to get these initiatives off the ground.\u201d\n<\/p>\n But she said the state would also need to partner with the private sector and working with employers would \u201cimprove tax incentives for those who invest in childcare benefits.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Hochul said she would expand on an initiative introduced last year that offered free community college for adults pursuing education for high-demand careers that include healthcare and manufacturing. To date, an estimated 11,000 people have enrolled.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis year let\u2019s expand that opportunity even further, adding new fields like logistics, air traffic control and emergency management,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n She spoke too of expanding the state\u2019s nuclear power as part of an \u201call of the above\u201d energy approach.\n<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to make sure New Yorkers are ready, we\u2019ll launch a nuclear workforce development program, so we can forge our clean energy<\/a> future together,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n But, she added, \u201cour energy system exists to serve New Yorkers first. Data centers are vital for an innovative future. But they guzzle up tremendous amounts of energy and leave ratepayers footing the bill. So, if they want to build in New York, they\u2019ll have to pay their fair share for the power they use and ultimately generate their own power independently.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Hochul also said that this year \u201cwe\u2019ll invest an additional $250 million for affordable housing and $100 million to scale innovative, manufactured housing that lowers costs and speeds construction.\n<\/p>\n She proposed eliminating the red tape that is \u201cpushing up costs and pushing opportunity further out of reach.\u201d\n<\/p>\n And she added, that when \u201ccommunities say yes to housing, infrastructure or clean energy, we\u2019re going to let them build.\u201d\n<\/p>\n