Days before Governor Andrew Cuomo’s preliminary budget announcement, his second-in-command paid a special visit to Montefiore Health System on Jan. 16, reiterating Cuomo’s State of the State address, which includes the promise of seeing four Metro-North stations built in the East Bronx.

Mixing policy with shtick, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul–introduced by newly appointed President and CEO for Montefiore Health System, Dr. Philip O. Ozuah–broke down a bevy of initiatives spearheaded by Cuomo that have statewide interest. That includes combating domestic violence, ferreting out hate crimes, adding greater protections for gig workers, reducing taxes, reducing the unemployment rate in the Bronx, and keeping healthcare costs low notwithstanding Cuomo’s plan to cut Medicaid further. The topic on health includes a discussion on whether prescription drugs can be purchased outside the country. “Why can’t we get our drugs in Canada?” said Hochul. “I’m sorry, I trust the quality controls up there. We need to do some double checking. We’ll be fine.”

She also offered praise to the borough’s many leaps in recent years, mainly news that the population for the borough has risen steadily, a sign of an improved quality of life for a borough that was saw residents flee by the thousands decades before. “The fact that this is the fastest-growing borough, population of five percent in just the last decade,” said Hochul. “That’s another extraordinary indicator of the great health and future of this community.”

Building out the infrastructure continues to be on Cuomo’s agenda, specifically the plan to bring the four Metro-North stations to the Bronx as part of the Penn Station Access plan that was funded by Cuomo in 2018. “It’s going to be a life-changing experience for our citizens,” said Hochul, adding this would be a benefit to Montefiore’s medical center in Morris Park, one of four neighborhoods that will see a station built.

Adding to rail projects, Hochul stressed Cuomo’s plan to build a high-speed rail system that would push trains beyond the current maximum of 51 mph.

She also spoke on the Bronx’s environmental health, pointing to the dramatic changes to the Bronx River Parkway. “This is an amazing place,” said Hochul, adding that greater environmental policies include the impending ban on plastic bags and expanding charging stations across the state. On healthcare matters, Hochul also reemphasized Cuomo’s plan to ban vaping products that appear to target children, an assertion Hochul believes. “We’re gonna stop it; it’s not happening here,” said Hochul. The state’s first vaping death happened in the Bronx last year.

On political matters, Hochul also re-emphasized Cuomo’s push to have elected officials disclosing their tax returns if their yearly incomes surpass $100,000. “I’ve been doing it for the last 25 years as an elected official and I encourage everyone else to follow this,” said Hochul.

Adding some levity to her address, Hochul also threw in Cuomo’s call to do away with so-called robocalls by mandating phone companies institute technology to curb the practice. Stiff fines would be imposed if companies don’t comply.

“This is why I know it’s going on in the state: I know it bothers people, because I come out here and I just throw a couple of words–like, I do my own testing. I don’t care if you’re in Auburn, NY, or in Watertown or the end of Long Island, or you’re sitting here in the Bronx, everybody groans over robocalls. So I’ll say universally New Yorkers want us to get involved in stopping the increase in robocalls and we’ll do that,” said Hochul.

Cuomo is now slated to present his preliminary budget proposal that will answer how his initiatives would be paid at a news conference today. The state is now faced with a $6 billion budget gap that could seriously impact New York City. That debt is being blamed on the state’s soaring Medicaid bill, which it has covered for the last ten years.