Lt. Gov. Hochul Promises Break From Cuomo's Style, Staff

NEW YORK CITY — Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul promised a break from the heavy-handed approach favored by soon-to-resign Gov. Andrew Cuomo that often rankled New York City officials.

Hochul made her first public appearance Wednesday following Cuomo's announcement he'd step down in two weeks amid a swirling sexual harassment scandal.

“While it was not expected, it is a day for which I am prepared,” Hochul said.

Unlike Cuomo, a self-described "Queens boy" who seemed to relish wielding power in New York City, Hochul is a largely unknown presence to many city dwellers.

She's a Buffalo native who cut her teeth in Western New York. But she hinted her lieutenant governor could have deeper downstate roots.

"I love upstate, I love downstate, I love the whole state," she said. "There are so many qualified individuals, but I'm cognizant of the need for diversity and an inclusive ticket. And I'm going to name someone I believe the state will be familiar with, and be very proud of. But this is still in its early stages."

The next lieutenant governor will be named in the next few weeks, Hochul said.

Hochul, while at times pointing out Cuomo will remain governor for the next 13 days, also promised to make several clean breaks from her outgoing predecessor.

Any Cuomo staff members who were singled out for wrongdoing in a 165-page report detailing 11 women's sexual harassment accusations against Cuomo will remain in her administration, she said.

The report released by Attorney General Letitia James — who is often named as a potential governor or lieutenant governor candidate — also detailed an environment among Cuomo's Executive Chamber staff that many labeled "toxic" and focused on retaliation against perceived political enemies.

"I think it's very clear that the governor and I have not been close, physically or otherwise in terms of much time," Hochul said.

"I'm going to stand right here: at the end of my term, whenever it ends, no one will ever describe my administration as a toxic work environment," she said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, among others, has repeatedly criticized Cuomo and his staff for "bullying" or retributive behavior.

"He doesn't say, how do we work together to solve the issues of homelessness?" de Blasio said in March. "That's never the conversation. It's always something about what he needs. And this should be about the people. This should be about what the people need. That's the sad part of the reality here. It's not just to think about this, is this bad behavior. It's what does it lead to? What happens in the end? The people lose is what's happening."