Gov. Kathy Hochul visits Binghamton, Johnson City businesses | Watch
Gov. Kathy Hochul made two stops in the Southern Tier on April 2, 2026 to discuss her 2027 affordability budget.
Gov. Kathy Hochul made two stops in the Binghamton area on April 2 to talk with residents and local leaders about her affordability agenda targeting utility bills, car insurance rates, climate change, housing and childcare.
The first stop on the Southern Tier “Let’s Get It Done” rally was the Clinton Street Cafe, where Hochul was able to talk with residents who are feeling the brunt of affordability and accessibility issues.
“I will never stop fighting for your families, especially when it comes to lowering costs of auto insurance and utilities, and cutting red tape to build more housing,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers know all too well that the cost of daily necessities are just too damn high, and it is time that we deliver a budget that makes this state more affordable and livable.”
One of the most common issues residents at the Binghamton diner complained about is the increasing cost of car insurance. New Yorkers are paying on average over $4,000 annually for car insurance, which according to Hochul is among the “highest” rates in the nation.
After sitting down to enjoy a quick bite to eat with City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham, Hochul headed over to the Firehouse Stage in Johnson City for the rally portion of the morning, where Hochul highlighted affordability issues.
“It is heartbreaking to me to know that the promise of homeownership has become a nightmare for so many,” Hochul said, noting that just a few years ago the average age for a first-time homeowner was 30 years old, and now that number has jumped to 40.
Binghamton University professor and the director of the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity, Anne C. Bailey, opened the event by reading a personal blog post titled “The America That Raised Me.” The piece reflected on the country she grew up admiring as an immigrant from Jamaica, an America that “was at its core compassionate, welcoming and loving.”
“Now I hear of another America which suddenly has no warmth to give, and I am taken aback because the America that raised me stood head and shoulders above the world precisely because it dared to link its fate to the fate of Lady Liberty’s tired, poor and huddled masses,” Bailey said.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar was the last speaker before Hochul joined the stage. Garnar reassured the audience and Bailey that, “We are going to get back to that America.”
Broome County leaders support ‘Let Them Build’ agenda
Garnar gave a short rundown of how Hochul has supported Broome County when it comes to the development of hundreds of housing units, funding to expand childcare, and overall economic growth.
“Around here, affordability is not political, it’s personal, and affordability is whether a family can pay a mortgage, whether they can afford daycare, whether they can fill up the car with gas, buy groceries and still have enough left over to breathe,” Garnar said.
Hochul highlighted the proposed changes in her fiscal year 2027 executive budget to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, or SEQRA, with an eye on spurring more housing developments and bringing down costs.
“When people leave our state and go elsewhere, many are just going to neighboring states that had more housing because here’s something you learned at Binghamton University or anywhere else you go: Economics 101, you build more supply, the prices go down,” Hochul said.
The CEO of the Leadership Alliance, Stacey Duncan, shared her support for Hochul’s budget plan, including the “Let Them Build” agenda.
“When the governor says ‘let them build,’ what she’s really saying is yes. Yes, to building the infrastructure we need, yes to creating more affordable housing, and yes to progress that supports families today and for the next generation,” said Duncan, who leads economic development efforts in Broome County.
In her role at the Leadership Alliance, Duncan sees firsthand how important “site and community readiness” is to developers and business owners when they are exploring the possibility of expanding to the area. The FAST NY Shovel-Ready Grant program is one example Duncan used to highlight Hochul’s efforts to promote development, along with SEQRA reforms and shortened construction deadlines for housing stock.
Auto insurance, childcare affordability efforts
Hochul also highlighted efforts in the 2027 budget proposal to address auto insurance fraud. In 2025, the New York State Department of Financial Services Insurance Frauds Bureau reported a total of 43,811 incidents that were suspected of being motor vehicle insurance fraud cases.
“Why are we paying $4,000 a year on average, $1,500 more than other states, other than our laws?” Hochul said. “What we’re allowing people to do is stage crashes. People are making money off of staged crashes and the penalties are not severe enough to stop. There’s a whole ring going on.”
Other efforts will target childcare. Hochul plans to provide universal Pre-K across the state for 4-year-olds by 2028 and increase funding for existing childcare facilities while establishing a new Office of Child Care and Early Education.
“I am a mom, I’m now a grandma and I know what families are going through personally,” Hochul said. “I know what it’s like when I had to leave a job I love because I couldn’t find affordable child care. That was a long time ago, and those babies are now having babies and they’re struggling just as much. That’s on my mind.”
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at KCGrant@usatodayco.com
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.