ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the Edgerton Rec Center in Rochester to speak about her affordability agenda while people rallied outside her office in Albany.
News10NBC’s Declan Stablow was at the event and asked the governor about pushback against her proposed changes to the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. While Hochul visited several New York counties, protesters in Albany wanted the state to stay the course with its current climate laws.
At the event, Hochul stated that the current goals in the CLCPA would put a devastating financial burden on New Yorkers. She said challenges like the pandemic, inflation and tariffs have made the goals set in 2019 unrealistic.
People in support of the current CLCPA said New York can’t afford to wait when it comes to addressing climate change. Stablow asked Hochul about the rally happening outside her office in Albany.
“I would love to stay the course as well. I just have to be the person who points out the reality of the world that we’re in right now to do what a judge has told us, because the advocates sued us, would be absolutely crushing,” Hochul said. “It would raise people’s bills at home by about $4,000. Gas at the pump go up $2.23. I just can’t do that.”
Hochul said meeting those goals will likely result in higher utility bills for New Yorkers. She said she doesn’t want to abandon the current goals but needs more time.
“All I need is a longer runway. We’re not talking about walking away from the goals. I believe in them,” Hochul said. “And so I think if they understood where my heart is and what I’m trying to do with a very changed world, they be protesting and supporting our changes.”
When Stablow first brought up the rally, Hochul said she didn’t know which one he was talking about. Hochul also said it will be easier to build a green future when there’s an administration in the White House that shares those goals.
Rochester was just one of three stops for the governor. She also made stops in Erie and Onondaga counties.
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