Officials across Suffolk reacted sharply to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address, criticizing the speech as heavy on rhetoric and light on solutions to affordability, public safety, and energy reliability.
State Senator Dean Murray said he was “very disappointed” by the address, particularly the governor’s comments regarding immigration enforcement. Murray said Hochul “absolutely attacked ICE officers,” adding that they are law enforcement professionals enforcing federal law and deserve support, not criticism.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico focused on what he described as the overuse of the word “affordability” in modern politics. Panico warned residents to be skeptical of slogans without substance, saying government budgeting is “math, not magic,” and that Long Island’s geography and infrastructure limit what can realistically be achieved.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano said the address failed to acknowledge the consequences of one-party Democrat rule in Albany. “Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State was long on promises and short on accountability,” DeStefano said, citing high taxes, rising utility costs, unaffordable housing, and public safety concerns. He argued that families need relief, not new government programs, and called for lower taxes, reduced regulation, and restrained spending.
DeStefano also criticized the governor’s stance on crime, saying she avoided the root causes. “Soft-on-crime laws, such as cashless bail, remain in place, law enforcement morale is at historic lows, and communities are paying the price,” he said. On energy policy, DeStefano said Albany’s mandates have driven up costs and threatened grid reliability, warning that the administration’s acknowledgment of rising future demand comes too late without a major policy shift.
Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia compared Hochul’s address to a familiar pattern of unfulfilled promises. He said New York has become less safe and less affordable under her leadership and criticized the governor for failing to commit to repealing bail laws or advancing tougher measures against drug dealers. Garcia called for an end to one-party rule in Albany and urged voters to seek new leadership focused on taxes, public safety, and accountability.