Leaders in New York State, reacting to the election victory of Donald Trump, initiated a robust strategy on Wednesday, November 6 to safeguard state policies from potential federal interference.
The “Empire State Freedom Initiative,” a broad program to combat expected policy threats from the incoming Trump administration, was announced by Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James.
In a press conference at her office in Manhattan, New York, Hochul vowed, “You try to harm New Yorkers or roll back their rights, I will fight you every step of the way.”
The initiative will concentrate on preserving reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration policies, gun safety measures, labor rights, LGBTQ protections, and environmental regulations.
James, who recently secured a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump, underscored her office’s preparedness to face off with the incoming administration. “I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards,” James said.
The announcement was met with strong criticism from Republican leaders. State Republican Party chairman Ed Cox described Hochul’s strategy as “out of bounds and counterproductive.” “This does not help New Yorkers. It’s dumb and bizarre,” Cox said.
House GOP Conference chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) pointed out Trump’s improved performance in New York compared to previous elections. “President Trump performed better in New York than any Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan,” Stefanik noted.
Despite the adversarial stance, Governor Hochul noted potential areas of cooperation with the Trump administration, such as the possible repeal of the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions and continued funding for New York infrastructure projects like the Second Avenue subway line expansion and Hudson River tunnel reconstruction.
The Empire State Freedom Initiative includes a team of state experts tasked with formulating strategies to tackle potential federal policy changes that could impact New York residents.
