Earlier this evening, Governor Kathy Hochul joined WABC Radio’s “Cats & Cosby” to discuss holiday traditions, community outreach, and recent policy initiatives in New York State.
During the interview, Governor Hochul reflected on the significance of the holiday season and her efforts to support local communities. She stated, “Well, it’s a beautiful week and I appreciate the opportunity to wish all your members, your audience — your large audience, John, you have a lot of followers – a Happy Hanukkah. We’re winding down the Hanukkah season. I did light the Menorah on a very cold night this past week, but it was wonderful to be there and express my solidarity with the Jewish community and also to let them know that we’re going to continue fighting antisemitism and standing up for their rights to express themselves freely and be safe in our city.”
Governor Hochul also discussed her excitement for Christmas with her family: “But I’m very excited about Christmas, it’s just around the corner. We have two little granddaughters that’ll be coming to visit me, which I don’t get to see very often. And so, I’m looking forward to seeing it through the eyes of children, which always makes it so special. So I just wanted to let everybody know we’re thinking about them, praying for them to this season. I’ll be in Brooklyn tonight giving out toys to children that need our extra help. So if you can find it in your heart everyone to do a little extra with food and contributions and toys for others, there’s always someone who needs more than we do. And that’s the spirit of giving this holiday season.”
The conversation included remarks about working alongside Cardinal Dolan: “I just spoke with him yesterday and conveyed a similar feeling. He let me know he’s not going anywhere, he wants to be very involved in the community still — he has a lot more to give. And I said, ‘I’ll take you up on that, you’ve been a true leader.’ And again, I’m not going to say I agree with him on every issue, and people don’t agree with me — but that’s all right. We have a respect for our positions and I will tell you that we’ve done a lot together. I was with him over Thanksgiving when we were giving out food to people in Washington Heights and it was really a beautiful experience. He is a very generous, kind person and he will be sorely missed.”
Addressing recent policy actions taken by her administration, Governor Hochul highlighted two major areas: banning cell phones in schools across New York State and efforts toward reducing subway crime.
She said about implementing the cell phone ban: “First of all, there was a fight over my plan to remove all devices that distract kids from learning. We had to go after a lot of people who just said, ‘No, we don’t want to be told what to do.’ And I don’t mind taking on a fight when I’m fighting for especially our children and their mental health and their wellbeing. So I am so proud that after going through those battles and taking the idea around the state for about a year and winning over support from the Legislature and State Education Department, that we just launched it in September — and John I could not have foreseen such immediate results ever. I thought there’d be long-term results but guess what?”
She added details about early outcomes: “The kids are so relieved of the stress of having to check their phones all day or be bullied in school… There’s so much stress on our kids… But your grandchild will grow up in the State of New York never having known that you could even bring a cell phone to school — which has been the case for a decade.”
Governor Hochul described feedback from students as well: “They’re addicted. They’re learning more; their teachers are saying the learning environment is stronger… Kids are reporting that they’re playing chess and cards with people that they never spoke to in their entire lives — they’ve been classmates for years because the cell phone took the place of human interaction.” She called this one of her proudest accomplishments as governor.
The discussion concluded with lighthearted remarks about holiday celebrations within both families before Governor Hochul congratulated host John Catsimatidis on his new film role.