John,

This Black History Month, we took time to celebrate the great Black New Yorkers who shaped our culture, our communities, and our entire country.  

While Black History Month comes to a close today, our fight for equality and justice continues every day of the year. 

Growing up the daughter of social justice activists, my parents taught me to stand up for what you believe in, to support your neighbors, and, above all, to do what’s right. That’s why I’m working to right the wrongs of the past and make sure that every New Yorker has a fair chance to get ahead.   

That means protecting New Yorkers from hate and discrimination — from taking action after a white supremacist with hate in his heart targeted our neighbors at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, to strengthening our hate crimes laws, to making investments to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions.   

That means righting the wrongs of the past — from establishing a community commission to explore what reparations could look like in New York State to making historic investments in infrastructure projects that reconnect communities. 

That means leveling the playing field — from eliminating the MWBE backlog and making historic investments in the success of MWBEs, to giving millions a second chance under our Clean Slate Act, to helping families build intergenerational wealth and stay in their communities by fighting deed theft through legislation and this year’s Executive Budget.  

And that means making sure all New Yorkers, regardless of their zip code, can lead safe and healthy lives — from taking nation-leading action to reduce pollution and improve air quality in underserved communities to tackling the maternal and infant mortality crisis.  

In New York, we know that when we take action to lift up our communities, it changes our entire state for the better.   

As Black History Month comes to a close, we are not just honoring the legacy of Black New Yorkers who came before us. We are working to build a brighter future for the New Yorkers of today and of tomorrow. 

Ever Upward,

Gov. Kathy Hochul