ALBANY, N.Y. — Statewide elected officials had been sworn in New Year’s Day as a part of a two-hour inauguration ceremony in Albany’s Empire State Convention Center.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, state Attorney General Letitia James and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado — all Democrats — every took their oaths of workplace to start a brand new four-year term after voters re-elected them in November.
They every delivered remarks after their swearing in, sharing a theme of unity to fight New York’s fiscal, financial and social challenges in 2023.
“Change happens when you work together — all of us,” stated Delgado. “And I believe that it is this day-to-day practical work born of a commitment to excellence, responsiveness and effectiveness, that in fact leads to a world of possibilities. What good is the dream of what’s possible if you’re not willing to do the work?”
Delgado, a Rhodes Scholar and former two-term congressman in the Hudson Valley and Capital Region, grew to become lieutenant governor final spring after former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned in scandal.
Voters on Nov. 8 elected Delgado to his first full term because the state’s second-in-command.
Attorney General James, beginning her second term, recounted how she’s held predatory landlords, companies and officials accountable during the last 4 years.
She additionally led a nationwide struggle to take down the pharmaceutical firms accountable for the opioid epidemic, securing greater than $2.5 billion for New York to struggle the disaster.
“Because of our work with the Legislature, that money has already started flowing directly to communities for treatment, and prevention and education,” she stated.
Officials Sunday mirrored on their accomplishments, and the work they’ve lower out for them in 2023.
“What we need is a voice — a moral voice — to say that we, all of us, should be united as one in this great country,” James stated. “That which separates us are nothing more than artificial constructs and the reality is that we all bleed red, and we should be united as one.”
After being sworn in by state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Comptroller DiNapoli stated he is able to information the state’s funds by way of persevering with financial uncertainty.
He’s the state’s second-longest serving fiscal watchdog at 16 years in the place and counting.
“One of my top priorities is to safeguard the retirement security of our state and local public employees,” DiNapoli stated throughout his inaugural remarks. “Even through a difficult investment environment, New York’s pension fund is among the strongest, best-funded retirement systems in the nation and as trustee of the fund, my commitment is to keep it that way to protect our defined benefit pensions.”
Gov. Hochul signed laws this week to revive the comptroller’s oversight energy to evaluation state contracts earlier than they’re signed — an effort that may hopefully make the state’s monetary commitments extra clear.