Hochul’s Reforms and the Power of Albany | Buffalo News

Buffalo News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 11, 2026 · 1m

Five years after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation amid sexual harassment scandals and pandemic mismanagement, Kathy Hochul’s leadership in Albany is a mix of reform and lingering power struggles. She’s introduced structural changes like an independent HR unit and a revamped ethics commission to distance governance from political influence—but critics note she still wields executive power, even rolling back climate laws without public consultation. While Hochul avoids the scandals that defined Cuomo’s tenure, her legacy remains contested: supporters praise her focus on safety and fairness, while…