Cuomo and Hochul take oaths of office in Buffalo

Taking the oath of office far from Albany in the state’s two biggest cities of New York and Buffalo, as he did Thursday, departed from the time-honored rituals of office. But it allowed him and new Lt. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul of Buffalo to stress an agenda chock-full of general goals and objectives for 2015 and beyond – with a distinct Western New York flair – most likely requiring every bit of the political unity he extolled before a packed auditorium in the Buffalo History Museum.

“The ‘we’ made it happen and the sky is the limit,” he said of his first term. “That power of community that has turned around Buffalo is what we will take to Albany and continue to turn this state around. We have done great things in the past four years; we have more to do together.”

The event took place late Thursday afternoon, just before the governor received news about the death of his father – former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo – which had been expected following weeks of failing health.

By design or by coincidence, Andrew Cuomo made a pointed reference to his father’s tenure during the companion inaugural ceremony earlier in the day in Manhattan.

“We – as my father said so well – we are the family of New York, he called it,” the younger Cuomo said. “A collection of the most daring, bold, accepting people from every country on the globe. Every color, every creed is here in New York. Gay and straight, upstate and downstate, working together to make our diversity a source of strength and not a weakness. And to find our commonality all for the same mutual goal of making New York a better state.”

In a low-key yet dignified Buffalo ceremony attended by most of the area’s political and community leadership, Cuomo and Hochul fulfilled their requirements to swear allegiance to the state and federal constitutions and “faithfully discharge” their duties to the best of their ability. But both looked ahead, as Cuomo especially reiterated many of his familiar campaign themes to outline an agenda he is expected to more precisely outline during his Wednesday State of the State message and his budget presentation on Jan. 27.

He talked about expanding the “Buffalo Billion” economic development program to other upstate cities; passing the Women’s Equality Act that he says grants women a state-recognized right to equality on a number of levels; “continued fiscal discipline”; an increase in the minimum wage; a renewed emphasis on ethics reform; and a comprehensive effort to improve a state education system he said “keeps sending our children to failing schools.”

“Albany has been too concerned with protecting the pension rights of teachers and not concerned enough with the future of students,” he said, perhaps addressing the several-dozen protesters outside who included public school teachers objecting to Cuomo’s tolerance of charter schools. But Cuomo continually brought his speech back to Buffalo, pointing to the area’s storied past as presented in the museum where he spoke.

“We’re going to take the Buffalo model of success and we’re going to bring it across upstate New York and we’re going to bring it to the other cities,” he said. “Because when it comes to economic development and revitalization, if it worked in Buffalo, it’s going to work in Rochester, in Syracuse, in Utica and in Ithaca.”

Time and again, the governor noted the differences between his inaugural ceremony of 2011 and the conditions he faces today. Most notably, he said the state this year enjoys the prospect of an almost $5 billion surplus from various legal settlements as opposed to the deficit of $10 billion he faced on New Year’s Day four years ago.

And that reality may present his biggest challenge as various entities and special interests all make their case for a piece of the surplus. Cuomo never alluded to that fact on Thursday, though it is certain he will in his next speeches that kick off the state’s governmental calendar.

On Thursday, there was no shortage of suggestions.

“He needs to continue to focus on economic development as a priority throughout the whole state,” noted State Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan, R-Elma, who did not attend the Thursday ceremony due to illness.

“And it needs to be a combination of dealing with the size and cost of government and a bigger focus on regulatory reform and reducing what is among the highest amount of business regulations in the country,” he added. “He talked about it last year, but ultimately he was silent on it.”

Gallivan also urged the governor to consider the needs of rural school districts as well as the big cities, noting their desperate need for new finances.

And the senator echoed a continually popular suggestion of using the big surplus not for one-shot expenditures, but to establish a long-term mechanism for addressing major infrastructure projects like the new Tappan Zee Bridge across the lower Hudson River.

“But we don’t want this money to all go to the Tappan Zee Bridge at the expense of the rest of the state,” he said.

Erie County Republican Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy, who was not invited to the ceremony, said nothing he has yet heard from Cuomo addresses underlying problems of high taxes and restrictions on business.

“The fundamentals of this state have not changed,” he said. “There’s a lot of window dressing and ‘what ifs,’ but in terms of the economic climate, New York is not there yet.”

Democratic Assemblyman Robin L. Schimminger of Kenmore said he would support setting aside at least part of the surplus for a “rainy day.”

“All of that points toward infrastructure,” he said. “And if a proportionate amount ends up in the Hudson Valley at the Tappan Zee Bridge – OK. But I underline the word ‘proportionate.’ ”

Schimminger also called for more measures to improve the state’s business and job-creation climate.

But Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, seemed most supportive of all in a statement he issued congratulating Cuomo and Hochul on their inaugurations.

“We must fulfill our promise to the young immigrants of the Empire State and pass the DREAM Act to ensure a quality education and a brighter future for all our students,” he said. “Hard-working men and women across the state are desperate for a meaningful minimum wage and an affordable place to call home as they struggle to care for their families and climb the ladder of economic opportunity. And we must pursue avenues for job creation and economic development in order to secure the future success of our state.”

Political leaders such as Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy J. Zellner pointed out that Cuomo’s choice of Buffalo as an inaugural site underscored his success in winning Erie County in the November election (though he lost 48 percent of the vote and all other Western New York counties favored Republican Rob Astorino).

“I think the governor and his team are impressed with our organization,” said Zellner, who attended the Thursday ceremony after improving formerly strained relations with Cuomo’s political operation. “The town chairs and zone leaders worked awfully hard and the whole ticket swept Erie County.”

Zellner said he now looks forward to closer relations and more political cooperation with the state Democratic hierarchy.

Hochul, meanwhile, emerged as a star of the Thursday ceremonies almost on a par with Cuomo. She was introduced by County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and sworn in by State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Troutman, while her husband – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul – held the Bible.

She was effusive in her praise of Cuomo and his role in Western New York affairs, but could not escape noting her pride in taking the oath “in my beloved hometown.”

“You have given me the opportunity to return to public service, and for that, I will be forever grateful,” she told her new boss.

“And what better place to do this but in this monument to Buffalo’s glorious past?” she added, promising to also extend to other cities state efforts that have resulted in new development for Buffalo.

Cuomo and Hochul also extended thanks and praise to former Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy, who attended the ceremony.

The governor was accompanied by two of his three daughters – Cara and Mariah – as well as his girlfriend, television host Sandra Lee. He was introduced by Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas – a supporter during the fall campaign – and was administered the oath of office by State Appellate Justice Gerald J. Whalen.

email: rmccarthy@buffnews.com