Kathy Hochul’s Flawed Campaign Launches into Motion

History attributes the saying to Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

Kathy Hochul appears to agree but seems content to try to deceive part of the populace all the time instead.

With nearly two years until she seeks re-election, New York’s Democratic governor is already campaigning vigorously.

Based on her press releases, social media interactions, and public statements, Hochul aims to convince voters that she can shield them from crime and economic hardship.

To reinforce her messaging, she frequently recycles her top catchphrases: “I promised to put money in your pockets,” she reiterates.

Another favorite is: “Public safety is my top priority, and I will do everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe.”

NY on wrong path

While these goals are commendable, the real question remains: why isn’t Hochul genuinely taking steps to achieve them?

Verbal commitments are simple, but why not take action to realize them?

Under her leadership, New York is regressing.

People are increasingly losing money as state policies drain their finances.

Rather than feeling safe, the majority of New Yorkers are plagued with anxiety over rampant crime and violence, notably in the subway system.

The overarching narrative is that the state continually lags behind thriving states in terms of cost and quality of life.

It appears that being the nation’s tax capital while coddling offenders is not a winning strategy for maintaining resident satisfaction.

Who would have thought?

This scenario eerily mirrors Hochul’s near-political demise during her 2022 election campaign.

She dismissed crime as a non-issue, allowing GOP challenger Lee Zeldin to consistently target her on the topic.

Even though Hochul emerged victorious, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reprimanded her for ignoring crime, noting it contributed to the GOP flipping sufficient seats in New York to sway the House to their favor.

It became apparent that Hochul had relied on a political advisor based in Colorado, who counseled her to sideline crime discussions in favor of focusing on reproductive rights.

This advisor was later dismissed following multiple accusations of bullying, which became a convenient scapegoat for her poor performance.

However, Hochul continues to shy away from robustly addressing the factors driving people away from the city and state; if she can’t find someone else to blame, a second unsuccessful term will solely rest on her shoulders.

Enabling Albany

The essential issue is that the exorbitant taxes and fees that support Albany’s reckless budgeting inevitably escalate living costs.

Yet while Hochul belatedly grieves the predicament, she keeps piling on expenses for families and businesses.

New fees for landlords and employers commenced recently, and Hochul spearheaded the detrimental congestion tax in Manhattan that took effect on Sunday.

She also attempted a bait-and-switch by pausing the tax in June just weeks prior to its implementation.

This move followed discussions with Pelosi’s successor as Democratic leader, Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Clearly, the timing of the pause was a political strategy designed to safeguard the party’s suburban candidates and prevent a repeat of the GOP’s gains in 2022.

Shortly after the November election results were announced, Hochul presented a new plan that imposed a $9 daily tax on cars, voicing her desire to implement it before Donald Trump assumed office and halted it.

She claimed that because the initial fee had been set at $15, this meant she had achieved a 40% reduction that would save drivers $1,500 annually.

Using her questionable arithmetic, she considers this a way of putting money back into your wallets.

This is just one of the many privileges that exist exclusively in a one-party state.

If Republicans held any competitive ground or were near majority status in either legislative chamber in Albany, Hochul would likely refrain from making such absurd claims.

This maneuver exemplifies how New York is ensnared in a cycle of reckless spending and deceit.

With a budget totaling $237 billion, which has surged by $100 billion over the last decade, it seems that nothing is sufficient.

This amount does not even account for numerous “independent” agencies, like the MTA, which has an additional budget of $20 billion.

Regarding public safety, Hochul’s time as governor has coincided with a rise in crimes committed repeatedly by habitual offenders.

Although progressive legislative heads and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo bear much of the responsibility, Hochul has opted for a passive approach rather than waging a public battle.

This has resulted in the governor’s office becoming virtually a mere formality for radical lawmakers.

Stores and pharmacies are closing due to rampant shoplifting, while subways are, by most metrics, more perilous than ever.

Legal repercussions and mental health regulations are vastly inadequate, even as Hochul encourages more residents to utilize the subway system.

Why would they?

Her appointee to lead the MTA, Janno Lieber, diminishes the significance of crime as if it were a trivial matter, even as he celebrates the new congestion tax.

He doesn’t just have a tin ear; he’s got two.

Her warped reality

Again, Hochul must be aware of these realities.

Having once worked for the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, she should remember his warning: “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”

Yet Hochul seems comfortable repeating her stale catchphrases rather than engaging in the uncomfortable fight necessary to yield better outcomes.

Even in the face of the ongoing protests by antisemites waving Hamas flags and calling for Israel’s destruction, her silence is conspicuous.

Where is the leadership?

The conclusion appears to be that Hochul lacks both the insight and the courage needed to rectify New York’s issues.

Moreover, she seems intent on retaining her position by attempting to deceive most of the people most of the time.

Times not a-changin’

With a new year upon us, the same old New York Times continues to show its colors, as seen in two recent opinion pieces.

The first claims, “The Next Assault on the Modern State Has Begun,” with a subheadline asserting, “Trump aims to dismantle the institutions that keep Americans safe.”

The headline of the second piece insists, “America Needs More Jimmy Carters.”

When will the Gray Lady tire of being wrong?

U. betcha, Biden

Reader J. David Kelsey poses a pertinent question: “When will anyone investigate the dubious Penn Biden Center, which received $68 million in funding from China? Many individuals closely associated with Joe Biden were generously compensated for four years, and then the president of UPenn gets nominated as our ambassador to Germany.”