With LI's backing, Hochul has momentum for bold agenda

Long Island gave Gov. Kathy Hochul their votes and a message this Election Day.

Hochul won a resounding victory earning 60% of the statewide vote with Long Island narrowly favoring the governor over its hometown option, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Four years ago, Hochul lost both counties. She spent her first full term in office attentive to the region's needs, developing a diligent and responsive local staff, traveling to the Island often, providing funding, and reworking policies when necessary.

This time around, the region's voters took notice of her presence and her effort to appeal to suburban moderates. Now, Hochul will have to continue what she started. The governor comes out of this election with an ability to push forward a bold agenda that tackles the state's most pressing problems — and those specifically constraining our well-being.

This doesn't have to be a battle of the "isms," or a fight among the extremes. Hochul can thread the needle to develop practical solutions to New Yorkers' ongoing challenges, while maintaining and building upon the state's economic vigor and vitality. New York City is sure to demand enormous attention and funding, and the city's success is critical to our own well-being. But Hochul also must remember the 3 million residents here and keep her part of the bargain.

FRIENDS IN CONGRESS

With Democratic majorities in Congress likely to be led by fellow New Yorkers Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the state's 57th governor should be in a good position to capture many federal dollars. And she will have a ready audience to lobby for policy changes that can address myriad needs.

Federal Medicaid dollars support healthcare for almost 7 million New Yorkers, many in nursing homes, accounting for nearly 63% of all the money in the current state budget that comes from Washington. Restoring full funding would mean more of the state's revenue can be spent on other projects. A bigger share of federal infrastructure dollars also could be transformative for Long Island.

Come January, the State Legislature will boast Democratic supermajorities. Long Island strengthened its foothold in both houses, with 12 of its 22 Assembly seats and four of its nine State Senate spots to be held by Democrats. Those added Long Island voices, in conjunction with representatives from other suburban areas, should be able to advocate for our distinct needs. They can also provide a counterweight to New York City-centric policies.

If the governor and legislature get this right, they can meet the needs of both the city and its suburbs, lifting up both. But if New York City lawmakers fail to work with their suburban partners, then Hochul will have to step in to tip the balance. At this point, with relatively flush state coffers, there should be no need to raise income taxes. Let's give New Yorkers every reason to stay here.

But the tough decisions our leaders in Albany will have to make on tax policy and other revenue raisers are only a piece of the bigger affordability puzzle — one Hochul has long put front and center. Under that umbrella, attention to energy policy should be center stage. Residents deserve affordable, reliable energy resources and Hochul must focus on both prongs. That means pushing forward important projects like the Propel NY Energy transmission line, with the flexibility to accommodate some of the concerns of North Shore residents. It means continuing the expansion of nuclear, solar and especially hydro generation and its distribution downstate. Through her appointments to the state Public Service Commission and her jawboning, Hochul must demand that utility rate increases be limited.

MEDICAID COSTS

Healthcare, too, will be a weighty area of concern. Hochul will have to better manage the state's escalating Medicaid costs and insist on more fraud prevention measures. Locally, one of the governor's most massive undertakings lies in Nassau University Medical Center's next steps. A plan for the safety net hospital's future is due Dec. 1. NUMC officials, including the board members Hochul appointed, won't be able to bring the needed big ideas and hard work to fruition without her involvement and oversight. That's partly about money, but it'll also require Hochul's ability to coalesce support, from the union representing NUMC workers to the other hospitals that must be willing to form necessary affiliations.

No agenda would be complete without addressing Long Island's extraordinary housing and economic development needs. Hochul has appropriately found ways to encourage new housing production without mandates or local zoning overrides; that's the right philosophy. Now it's time to seek new strategies to further encourage the development of vacant or dilapidated properties, or incentivize progress at some long-standing struggle spots, such as the Nassau Hub, the Ronkonkoma Hub and Heartland Town Square at the former site of Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center.

A continued focus on infrastructure, particularly sewering, road improvements and Long Island Rail Road upgrades, is required. Spurring the region's economic prosperity, with new housing, business expansion and job growth, could become the governor's most meaningful legacy on Long Island.

All of this comes against the backdrop of a complicated budgetary picture. Although it certainly looks better, as expected outyear budget gaps did shrink, and increased federal dollars would help, Hochul and state lawmakers would be wise to tread carefully. They must be prepared for when the winds shift, and maintain strong reserves.

The to-do list for Long Island and beyond is long. But Hochul now has the momentum to get it done. Long Island helped give her the win she sought. Now she must give the region the victories it deserves.