Gov. Kathy Hochul visited small businesses and educational facilities on Monday, celebrating what she calls wins in her recently passed a $237 billion state budget.

The legislature passed the state budget over the weekend, and the governor quickly signed it into law.

NY1 got a firsthand look during her multi-borough victory lap.


What You Need To Know

  • Four hundred million dollars in combined private and public funding will help analysis run out of seven New York colleges

  • New York will also become the first state to grant women up to 20 hours of prenatal care covered under paid family leave

  • The budget also includes a tax credit for small business owners who want to beef up security in their shops

“These were harder fought gains than you would think, and they’re all common sense but a lot of opposition. But we overcame that,” Hochul explained at her first stop, the Bronx’s second legal cannabis dispensary, Con Bud.

The dispensary is owned and operated by former inmates. It officially opened its doors on April 20.

The owners praised new policies aimed at cracking down on the illegal weed market.

“Specifically padlocking of the illicit shops, the fines on the landlords, this has been monumental for us to get our footing,” said Alfredo Angueira, the co-owner of Con Bud.

Fifty-six percent of registered voters in New York said the government should do more to crack down on businesses illegally selling cannabis, according to a new Siena College poll released Monday.

Meanwhile, Hochul is trying to turn New York into a state known for cutting edge artificial intelligence research.

Kids participating in an AI study at the nonprofit Child Mind Institute in Harlem had a chance to voice their concerns, including 8-year-old Simon Haber.

“The whole thing with AI, like, being like, good up to an extent like not having AI not take us over — I think that’s really important,” he told Hochul.

Four hundred million dollars in combined private and public funding will help analysis run out of seven New York colleges.

New York will also become the first state to grant women up to 20 hours of prenatal care covered under paid family leave.

“The outcomes for Black women and Black babies are devastating and they’re actually devastating in a great state like New York,” said the governor.

Hochul spoke to young women and scholars about maternal health investments at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy.

One controversial element in negotiations included raising criminal penalties on people who assault retail workers from a misdemeanor to an automatic felony.  

The budget also includes a tax credit for small business owners who want to beef up security in their shops.

“These people are hardworking. They show up every day. I’ve been there. That’s why I have simpatico,” Hochul told bodega owners and workers in Washington Heights.