Does New York State Governor Hochul Need To Visit Israel? No. Should New York State Taxpayers Pay Expenses? No. New York State Taxpayers Already Burdened- Vanity Trip Inappropriate.
Does New York State Governor Hochul Need To Visit Israel? No. Should New York State Taxpayers Pay Expenses? No.
Will Governor Hochul Be As Secretive As New York City Mayor Eric Adams Who Refuses To Disclose All Costs Associated With His Visit To Ecuador, Colombia, And Mexico?
A Repeat Of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 27-Hour Visit In 2015 To Cuba- US$150,000.00 And No Result. He Brought Fifteen Staff- Seven Who Were From His Media Team.
Executive Mansion
Albany, New York
16 October 2023
Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul: “During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever for New York to show up in support of Israel. Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to Israel for a solidarity mission where I plan to meet with diplomatic leaders and communities who have been devastated by the horrific Hamas attacks. New York will show the world that we stand with Israel – today, tomorrow and forever.”
From Wikipedia: “As of 2022, approximately 1.6 million residents of New York City, or about 18% of its residents, were Jewish. New York State is home to approximately 2.2 million Jews, constituting approximately 11% of the state’s total population.”
“New York State has the largest percentage of Jews among all the U.S. states, according to the American Jewish Population Project at Waltham, Massachusetts-based Brandeis University.”
Yes, approximately one in five residents of New York City identify as Jewish. Yes, the Jewish community is active in political affairs in New York City and throughout New York State- and is the often-preferred source of campaign contributions for incumbents and their challengers. Wealthy Jewish individuals are the primary name sources for naming rights to cultural and educational institutions.
However, their financial and political gravitas should not be a catalyst for spending New York State taxpayer funds for a visit to the State of Israel. Most certainly images from the visit will be deployed by Governor Hochul and by the New York State Democratic Party as fundraising tools. New York State taxpayers should not be paying for campaign advertising.
That Governor Hochul views nothing improper is troubling. Her character is showing in a meaningfully unattractive manner. Her official statement about the State of Israel should suffice. No need for New York State taxpayers to provide revenue to Tel Aviv, State of Israel-based EL AL Airlines and hotels in Tel Aviv.
One consequence of a visit to the State of Israel which is certainly no surprise, will be the emboldenment of the government of the State of Israel who will correctly view Governor Hochul’s visit as an endorsement of its commercial, economic, financial, humanitarian, military, and political decisions relating to the self-declared war against the non-state actor organization Hamas, the treatment since 7 October 2023 of the civilian Palestinian population of Gaza, the treatment of the Palestinian populations in the West Bank prior to 7 October 2023, and its decisions contrary to the stated positions of the Biden-Harris Administration (2021- ).
What Did New York State Receive From Governor Cuomo’s 2014 Estimated US$150,000.00+ 27-Hour Visit To Cuba?
From 20 April 2015 to 21 April 2015, Andrew Cuomo (D), Governor of the State of New York (2011-2021), embarked on a twenty-seven (27) hour quixotic journey to the Republic of Cuba with a foundation anchored far more upon his focus to be the “first” governor to visit the archipelago since the 17 December 2014 statements by Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009-2017), and Raul Castro, President of the Republic of Cuba (2008-2018) than by his role as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the State of New York.
To date, there have been no published reports of exports of products to the Republic of Cuba from the seven (7) companies participating in the visit. The Governor and his staff embraced the “planting seeds” analogy… There are few seeds that do not create something within six years. What the Governor shared with media in January 2015 about the focus for his visit to the Republic of Cuba was different than the anticipated result from the April 2015 visit to the Republic of Cuba.
The Governor used a 150-passenger Airbus A-320 aircraft operated by Long Island City, New York-based JetBlue Airways Corporation for a group (including eighteen journalists) comprising approximately sixty (60) passengers. JetBlue Airways Corporation did not report if (how) the aircraft was chartered by a third-party and if any discount (or contribution) was provided.
The Governor traveled with representatives of seven New York-based companies and fifteen (15) members of his staff- seven (7) of whom had a focus upon relations with the media. He was accompanied by five (5) representatives of the New York State Legislature. Some delegation members had made campaign contributions to Governor Cuomo.
The Governor did not stay at a hotel, he stayed at the residence of the then-Chief of the United States Interests Section; New York State taxpayers saved on his hotel expense, but not on the hotel expenses for members of his staff; what the Governor sacrificed in distance and convenience to his staff and the delegation, he received what he desired: looking presidential, conveying that his visit was different from those governors who preceded him. That decision would be prescient- his delegation received far less than most of those governors who stayed at a hotel.
The Costs
On 17 June 2015, the estimated expenditures for the visit by Governor Cuomo to the Republic of Cuba was more than US$116,000.00. Since that time, additional information became available through FOIL requests. The estimated expenditures are more than US$150,000.00.
The taxpayers of New York State funded a US$9,572.00 “Advance Trip (31 March 2015 to 3 April 2015)” to the Republic of Cuba by three (3) representatives of the Governor- US$4,260.00 for Air Travel; US$1,980.00 for Lodging & Conference; US$1,200.00 for Additional Meals & Incidentals; US$954.00 for Ground Transportation; and US$1,178.00 for Telephone & Internet in Cuba.
The taxpayers of New York State funded US$73,441.00 for seventeen (17), including Governor Cuomo (who stayed one night at the residence of the Chief of the United States Interests Section) and Executive Branch Staff. US$35,055.00 for Air Travel; US$17,781.00 for Lodging & Conference Rooms (meals, ground transportation, translation services, and logistical support expenses); US$7,634.00 for Additional Meals & Incidentals; US$4,784.00 for Ground Transportation; US$2,162.00 for Telephone & Internet in Cuba; and US$6,025.00 For Office Supplies & NYS Promotional Items (reportedly these did not include bobble heads).
Two representatives of the New York State-taxpayer-funded State University of New York (SUNY) participated at an estimated cost of US$8,988.00.
Some members (and staff) of the New York State Senate who accompanied Governor Cuomo to the Republic of Cuba have not disclosed the source(s) of funds used to make payment for the visit.
The number of representatives from the New York State Police to visit the Republic of Cuba in advance of and during the visit by Governor Cuomo has not been disclosed; reportedly five (5) at an estimated total cost of US$22,470.00.
The hours directed by representatives of Governor Cuomo towards the planning and execution and follow-up for the visit the Republic of Cuba has not been disclosed; estimates are up to 250 hours at an estimate of US$40.87 per hour, for US$10,217.50.00.