Hochul Makes History and a Win for Local 100

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Gov. Kathy Hochul made history yesterday, Nov. 8, 2022, by becoming the first woman elected Governor in our state. This also was a win for Local 100.

We enthusiastically endorsed Hochul for several reasons:

  • She is working with Mayor Adams – not against him – on initiatives to make the city safer. She put more police in the transit system, for example, and increased the number of psychiatric beds for the mentally ill homeless.
  • The Governor enacted the first positive change on Tier 6.  The time needed to be vested and receive benefits was cut in half in half from 10 years to 5.
  • She signed landmark legislation, championed by Local 100, that allows widows and dependents of workers who died of cancer caused by diesel exposure to file for Workers Compensation benefits. The “Nigro” bill was named after Local 100 Bus Maintainer Bill Nigro, who died of lung cancer in 2012.
  • The Governor strengthened Kendra’s Law, which enables judges to order disturbed individuals, who pose a danger to themselves and others, to get treatment or be temporarily committed.


Unlike her opponent, Lee Zeldin, Hochul also has a history of supporting funding for mass transit, which is critical to our livelihoods. And Kathy grew up in a blue-collar, union household. She understands what it’s like to be a member of the working class.

There are no quick fixes to the problems facing New York and other cities right now: inflation and crime. The Governor does have to get bills approved by the state Legislature, which will be very challenging at times. But she is moving NY in the right direction. I believe she truly cares about transit workers.