B-Roll, Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Visits Child Care Center to Highlight 2025 State of the State Affordability Agenda

B-Roll, Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Visits Child Care Center to Highlight 2025 State of the State Affordability Agenda

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Commission for Economic Opportunity's Community Resource Center to Highlight her 2025 State of the State Affordability Agenda.

B-ROLL: B-roll of Governor Hochul meeting with children at the Commission for Economic Opportunity's Community Resource Center is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

AUDIO: The Governor's remarks are available in audio form here.

PHOTOS: The Governor's Flickr page has photos of the event here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Alright, thank you. So it's great to be here to see the real heroes, the individuals who have worked here for 32 years and other members of staff who worked here 20 years, 17 years because these are individuals who have such a passion for giving people a better chance in life - whether it's the early childhood programs that I just had a chance to experience with some delightful 3 and 4 year olds. They have newborns here. All the way up to seniors, and this is a place of renewal and rebirth for so many whose life circumstances have been tough.

So these are the people I was thinking about in my address yesterday when I talked about how we can make New York more affordable. And it starts with understanding that families are struggling. It's been hard. Inflation is not their fault. It's a nationwide phenomenon. But that doesn't help them when they're trying to buy diapers and formula and the clothes for the kids in the next room.

So, we understood this. That's why we're increasing the child tax credit - $1,000 for children up to the age of 4. A number of the children I just saw would qualify. $500 starting next year for children older than that. And this is going to put real money back in the pockets of parents. In addition to our inflation rebate for families, it's another $500. For the cost of school lunches and, and breakfast. Picking up that cost puts $1,600 back in the pockets of hard working parents, as well as a middle class tax cut, which is the largest tax rate cut in over 70 years, so it all adds up.

So the parents dropping their kids off here - when we implement this and get this through the Legislature, and get real money back in the pockets, it just gives them a little breathing room.

And that's all they're asking for. Just give us a chance to get our head above water, and that's why I'm really proud of the work that you're doing here, and all the true heroes, as I mentioned, who come here and nurture these children and just to teach them the skills - learning their colors and learning their shapes and preparing them so they're more successful when they do get to kindergarten and there's, there's nothing holding them back.

So I want to thank you for that and everyone, part of your team here, Sue.

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