Earlier today, Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the 40th Annual Conference of the Latino National Association of Electoral and Appointment Officials.
video Footage from the event is available on YouTube (here) and in TV-quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
audio You can see the details of the event here.
photograph You can watch the event on the governor’s Flickr page.
An emergency transcript of the governor’s remarks is available at:
Buenos Diaz. Bienbenidos a Nueva York, Siri? We hope you feel our love for our great state and our city.You’ve heard about the dynamic mayor, he’s great, right? Let’s give Mayor Eric Adams another round of applause
And Ruby and Arturo, who I just spoke to, I think this is your first time in New York City. Was it that hard to find on the map? What took so long? It’s taken such a long time, as you know, it’s spread across the country, but it’s not that far away. But what we are overjoyed about is the presence of NALEO graduates in our states, state leaders, major organizations from governments to nonprofits, and all positions of influence. because it is
it is just a statement of fact. You are everywhere, everywhere. Including my administration, Secretary of State Rodriguez, Robert Rodriguez. Where are you? Secretary of State. He’s all over New York State all the time. he does an incredible job. I know he came up with it through one of your programs for developing young leaders. wonderful. he is the leader You succeeded. he did a great job with us.
Also, Dr. Linares, one of the leading figures in higher education here, is on your board and, like my Chief Diversity Officer, Julissa Gutierrez, is a proud member of my administration. I also know Let’s give a round of applause to the women who helped make all of this happen.
And we have great elected representatives in this community. And I don’t know if he is in the room. He is often busy in Washington. But our Congressman, Adriano Espillatto, are you here, Adriano? If you’re here – okay, oh, okay, okay. he’s waiting for you to come And Gustavo Rivera, just heard about his leadership position here, thank you Gustavo. And Mr. Luis Sepulveda, our great friend in Congress. Our Congressman, Kenny Burgos, is here. Jessica Gonzalez Rojas, we have so many.
But you didn’t invite me here just to read your name. Because you are going to hear from everyone personally. But we want to make sure that what you all said during this conference really takes us to the next level. Because what I’ve seen in my life, and this is what I’ve been involved in for a cause since I was a little girl. My parents were social justice progressive Democrats living in Buffalo. They lived in a trailer park, but they had the soul of people who thought they should have done more.
So I grew up not knowing what lettuce and grapes looked like. I wanted to make sure our family was participating in the Cesar Chavez boycott to help California farm workers. That’s where I come from. This is deep for me. We support each other and support each other.And these causes are very important
And when my parents were around, my father worked in a steel mill, and there were many children in our community of migrant farm workers who came to Buffalo to mine from their farms. [crops] – You don’t know there are crops in Buffalo, do you? you don’t even know this have understood. I am here to educate you about the state as a whole. It’s not just New York City, team, get it?
But we have lots of fields, lots of crops: strawberries, produce, tomatoes, corn. People came from all over the world, including South America, Puerto Rico, and Central America. They came to New York to work here. But they brought their children. And my parents were so concerned about the plight of these children that my mother worked with one of the truly progressive Catholic priests to give them a little old school abandonment that was nothing in the community. Finding a hidden basement, we made it the place of our lives.
We started summer camps for these kids. So that they can come there, enjoy music, teach English, and have a total experience. My mom started doing this when she was 30 and I was literally 8. I come from such a family and I am very proud today – thank you, thank you.
I am so proud today to be in a position to facilitate a conversation about how far our community has come after years of struggle, years of inhibition, and years of not being able to sit at the table and have a voice. I’m here. I heard In other words, this organization is an organization that creates a forum for dialogue. But I don’t just talk, conversations are great. I’m leaving here today with some great ideas, but what’s the action plan behind it? What are the goals we’re setting ourselves? , are there enough people of Hispanic or Latino background in elected office? Want to know my rating? No, we still have a lot of room to grow. It really is.
I would love to see more representation, more voices. That is my resolution for you. Also, I don’t want to specifically bring up the issue of Latinos. The Latino problem is an American problem. These are the issues we will discuss. A woman does not have to worry about dying in childbirth because of the color of her skin. Okay, let’s talk about it. Children should not be prevented from receiving a quality education just because their parents cannot speak the language. We should never lower our standards. In fact, the standard should be high. Because this is what New York has always strived for. Our country has sought to lift its people, raise their living standards and provide them with a great quality of life.
So we want to make sure that Latinos have a fair say on these issues. Because when we elevate this community, they will be empowered by our support as allies, and the whole nation will be empowered. Why is that not so obvious? And that’s what I want to continue to focus on.
So what I’m seeing now is further attacks. So let’s start with the United States Supreme Court. June is also the worst month. I thought last year was the worst. This year they are trying to exceed that. I wish I could go from May to July. I wish I could just skip June before they make a decision, they are taking away our reproductive freedom and the opportunity for universities to move people forward with their affirmative action programs. Because they think everything is perfect. in this country. Who in America today thinks that’s perfect? No, the Supreme Court, please wake up. We’re still making progress, but you’re getting in the way. That is our challenge.
So I do my part. And when I lift people for appointments, judges, ministerial posts, I need allies to lift them to the finish line, because I’m going to keep doing it, because I know the value because I know what it feels like to walk the streets of the Bronx. People want to know that they have representatives like them in their government. This is important, but it also motivates the next generation to say, “Yes, I can do it,” and step up. The more barriers are broken down, the more opportunities people have to realize that they have the potential to achieve great things in themselves.
This is why people are making such a big fuss about me being the first female Governor of New York. yes, that’s great. But let me tell you, let me just say this, this is in no way for making history. It is about making a difference. And that I am here to make more little girls, blacks, browns, whites, Asians, think they can take on higher roles where there were no role models before. If you mean , that’s what I’m aiming for. that’s what i’m trying to do.
And Nareo knows it. You know that. To make young people want to be part of the next generation, we need more leaders in visible positions. Because that’s what you do every day, and the power of the Latinx community unleashed at the polls is incredible, I support you to keep your voting rights alive and that we vote. Allow access to the box.
And you know you’re not a partisan group, right? I am just checking. But as the leader of a particular political party in New York State, I want to use that power. I’ll just leave it as is. I want to make sure, because I believe there is a synergy between our values and the purpose we are fighting for, and it all comes down to who we choose and what God gives us. It depends on ensuring that everyone has the right to vote.
So thank you to everyone who has guided me. Thanks to everyone – Arturo, 29 years old. You heard he had been trying to come to New York for 29 years. Glad I got my GPS, got my ticket and went to New York. Welcome everyone. Mushas Gracias.
