Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Is a Guest on NY1's Mornings on 1

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a Guest on NY1's Mornings on 1 with Pat Kiernan, talking about her vision for a commuter-first Penn Station and revitalized surrounding neighborhood, as well as her plan to work in partnership with Mayor-elect Eric Adams, and her upcoming trip to Puerto Rico to attend the SOMOS Conference.

AUDIO of the Governor's interview is available here.

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

Pat Kiernan: Governor Kathy Hochul joins us now. Governor, thank you for spending some time with us this morning.

Governor Hochul: Good morning, great to be back on the show. Thanks.

Pat Kiernan: The idea here was to take the plan that had been put forward by the previous administration, look at what you thought was viable. Why the changes here? Was the reduced price tag part of what prompted these changes?

Governor Hochul: No. Really what I looked at was the logic of doing it in the sequence that was originally proposed. The plan was to complete the Gateway tunnel which will take until the year 2035, and then when that's finished, then start talking about existing Penn. Our commuters are suffering every single day. They don't want to wait that long. New Yorkers deserve a world-class commuting experience. They get that with Moynihan, that's great, but that primarily serves non-New Yorkers. And this is where 60 percent of the people coming through Penn Station live on Long Island, live in the boroughs, and they deserve a better experience and I think we just moved, we transitioned. We can get the Gateway tunnel done, we can do building around the area, but I'm scaling it back so there's more of a focus on what the neighborhood wants. There was a lot of opposition from the community before. I listen to communities. I respond to them. I'm going to give them eight acres of public space. It's going to be a completely different experience and really lift people's spirits when they go through the station and they come outside and it will be transformative. That's what I did. The price tag also came down but we also have to have the money from the adjoining buildings to help fund this so it's going to be a great plan.

Pat Kiernan: Are you prepared for the headaches that come with any New York City infrastructure project? These things do not move quickly.

Governor Hochul: I've been doing infrastructure projects since I was on the town board 27 years ago, so I'm used to local government. I know all the restrictions, I know the barriers, but I also how to get things done and that's what New Yorkers have been so impatient for - not lofty ideas, plans on paper. I'm a get-it-done kind of governor and people are going to see that very soon. That's why I jump started this product and literally will be having a groundbreaking before you know it. I have to work out other details with Amtrak, with New Jersey, but we're going to get it done.

Pat Kiernan: I want to ask about a couple of other things. We saw you up next to Eric Adams on Tuesday night at his victory celebration. What do you expect your relationship with the new mayor to be?

Governor Hochul: Fantastic. I really believe that the era of fighting is over. I said this on the stage. No longer will people have to see the governor of New York fighting with the mayor of New York City. Instead we'll be fighting together for New Yorkers and I'm excited about this relationship. I've known Eric Adams since he served as borough president way back when I first became lieutenant governor so I have a long relationship. We share the same vision for New York. We're going to make sure that we protect our community and make our streets safer so people feel welcome coming back. We'll address many of intractable problems because they have to be addressed, but also just get this sense of 'we're coming back', get that sense of vitality and excitement in New York City again, and to make sure businesses know they're welcome here. They create the jobs. They're the ones who give us the revenues from their income that we can support the progressive views that I have and the ideas I want to implement, so we're going to be a great team together. The era of fighting is over. A new era of collaboration has begun.

Pat Kiernan: I should note you are speaking to us from New York City, but you are planning to travel to Puerto Rico today. What do you hope to get out of that conference other than the warm weather that we don't have in the city today?

Governor Hochul: This is a chance to meet so many people from all around the state and yes, I can say 'come to my office' or I'll go to your office or we'll meet in Albany but this give us a more informal experience for them to get to know me better. I know everyone in this caucus because as lieutenant governor I made it my responsibility to work with the members of the administration, but also go out and meet the elected officials. So we already have existing relationships but I have a chance to talk about my vision for the state, but not just talk about what I want, but listen to what they want. That is going to be the difference and the hallmark of my administration is to listen to what the legislators want, help formulate a plan that will get us to a better future in this pandemic era. So I'm really excited about it.

Pat Kiernan: Governor Hochul, quick final question here - the Supreme Court heard gun carrying arguments. Should people be walking around New York City with handguns? Do you think that there will be a way that the protections that are in place now can remain in place as that case moves through the Supreme Court?

Governor Hochul: I'm very concerned about this. We won't know their decision until the end of session in June. However, the spectacle of thinking New Yorkers can walk around with a gun concealed on our subways and into our delis and into our restaurants and into our entertainment venues - that is not the New York I want to live in and I want to continue to fight this at the Supreme Court level to protect New Yorkers. Job number one for governor of the state is to protect our people. I believe that there are legitimate gun owners, they have their rights but those rights to not include walking around with a hidden gun and who knows how it's going to be used and I really hope that Supreme Court sees the wisdom of what we put in place.

Pat Kiernan: Governor Kathy Hochul, safe travels to Puerto Rico today. Thank you.

Governor Hochul: Thank you.