Governor Hochul: "Why Brooklyn needs to succeed coming out of this pandemic is because the rest of the state is watching you. They need to know it can be done. And I need you to show the path forward by being compliant with some very simple rules about wearing masks and getting vaccinations. Show how we can protect the health of our workers, protect our customers, and finally get through this pandemic once and for all."
Earlier today, Governor Hochul delivered the keynote address at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Winter Gala.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event will be available on the Governor's Flickr page here.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks are available below:
Spread the news is right because New York is back, starting right here in Brooklyn. And I am so excited to be here tonight. Look at the energy in this room, lot of pent up demand and everybody's looks so nice all dressed up. You got a chance to get out of your pajamas. No more Zoom calls, right? You look great. You look great.
Randy. I want to thank you for your extraordinary leadership, particularly when I first met you, as you mentioned with those children, and it was your belief in them that made them believe in themselves as having great potential. And I thank you for that, but also leading this incredible organization through some of the toughest times that we ever could have imagined.
This business community was knocked down so hard. And yet you never, ever, ever gave up. And I thank you for having that courage, the resiliency and that Brooklyn tough attitude that got us to where we are today.
I know there's many elected officials in this room that have been acknowledged and I thank all my partners in government because I truly mean we are partners and gone is the era when there had to be this sense of a natural tension between Albany and New York City, and the governor of New York and the mayor of New York. That era, my friends, is over. And it starts right here with me working with the next mayor of the great city of New York, Eric Adams from Brooklyn itself. That is what's going to be the hallmark of our administration, working together with all of our elected officials to lift everyone up.
And as a business community, you don't want any drama from us. You want us to just focus on you and how we can help remove barriers to your success. And that's what I commit to do, because this is a personal journey for me.
You don't know this, but my mother back during the darkest days of Buffalo's history, when we lost thousands of jobs, when everybody went elsewhere, the steel plant where my dad and grandpa worked shut down. And despite the adversity in my small town, all the boarded up windows of the businesses that once were prosperous, my mother at that moment decides that's the best time to start a small business, a flower shop.
You know why my mother started a flower shop? She didn't have any business experience. She'd never done. She didn't like the flowers that were done for my brother's wedding by the local florist. And she was going to start her own business. That's the kind of family I come from. I just want you to know this, but why do I mention that today?
Because I didn't know what I was doing. I'm her brand-new lawyer. She thinks her daughter, the lawyer is going to figure this out.
First call I made: my local chamber of commerce. I said, help me figure this out. I've got to look good to my mother. We have to figure out insurance and how to get the bank account going. And how do we deal with workman's comp and how to hire people. And I thank Chambers ever since then, for what you do to give people the help you need when they're starting, the help they need when they're continuing, and making them have the opportunities to grow and succeed.
So, to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce - I honor you and your over 100 years of serving this community. Yes, it's changed a little bit, but some of you were here, not a hundred years ago, but before everybody discovered Brooklyn, right? Who was here before Brooklyn was discovered? You are the ones that never gave up, even when times were tough.
And I thank you for that as well. I'm going to be there for you Brooklyn, because I'll tell you this - and I know this. You have some of the most incredible restaurants and hotels and vibrant downtowns and culturals, and just so many fabulous places to congregate. Why Brooklyn needs to succeed coming out of this pandemic is because the rest of the state is watching you. They need to know it can be done. And I need you to show the path forward by being compliant with some very simple rules about wearing masks and getting vaccinations. Show how we can protect the health of our workers, protect our customers, and finally get through this pandemic once and for all.
So let's make that commitment, that we'llo put this behind us because we're going to continue doing the smart things that we're asked to do.
And when we come out of this, we'll be entering a whole new era of opportunity. Where individuals who feel they've been marginalized, left on the sidelines, communities of color that have always had that struggle, access to capital. We need more empowerment for those communities. Give them the opportunities that are there for other communities. And particularly for women owned businesses, I've got a soft spot here because many of you struggle. And we all know this, women. Women are held to a higher standard of success. Are we not? Well, we always meet that standard and we break right through it, and we'll continue to do so. And I'll have your backs because I understand how challenging it is for so many of you. We're going to get through this, my friends, and we're going to look back at this time and say, yes, we might've been down, but never, ever bet against Brooklyn, because Brooklyn will never, ever be down again. And I thank you.
This Chamber is incredible. Randy, Ana Oliveira, I want to thank you for being our board chair, Ana, where are you? Ana!
And again, all the great elected officials. One of my favorites is Jerry Nadler. Jerry Nadler is in the room here tonight. What an incredible leader he is. Worked with me when I was a member of Congress and so many others. I don't have a list of all your names. Cause I wonder, someone said Zellnor, I said Zellnor? Zellnor Myrie is here. Senator Persaud I think is in the room? Senator? Senator Persaud, rockstar! Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman is here. Stefani, there you are. Right. Hey, I don't have my glasses on, but I can see that green from here that looks awesome.
Steven Cymbrowitz, we've worked so closely together, Steven Cymbrowitz, and some of our council members are here as well. And Phara in front, I want to thank her for being here.
Joni, is it your birthday, Joni? Why is it, is this your birthday? Can someone play happy birthday for Joni as well while we're here. Come on. I'm not singing it, but let's sing happy birthday to Joni. You guys always have fun. I love being here.
We're going to continue investing, lifting up this community and I'll be your partner through this, through the bad times. And the great times that I know are just around the corner. Thank you my friends, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. You rock!
Have a great night, everybody.