Just a day after delivering her wide-ranging budget proposal, Go. Kathy Hochul sat down with NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on Inside City Hall for an exclusive interview.

The governor talked in more detail about the migrant crisis and the MTA — while giving some clues about how she will respond to her nominee for chief judge being blocked by the state Senate.

With New York City dealing with a wave of homeless migrants, Hochul said she’s willing to help come up with a solution — and $1 billion.

What You Need To Know

  • Hochul says the state is willing to help New York City Mayor Eric Adams manage the migrant crisis with $1 billion in state aid

  • She also said she is committed to congestion pricing to help fund the subways

  • And she said she is still figuring out her next steps after her nominee to be the state's top judge was rejected by a state Senate committee

“We are also stepping up to help the mayor,” Hochul says. “We have had a lot of conversations pushing the federal government to do what they are supposed to do. There is a crisis that starts at the border. But the mayor and I have been in sync on this, that there should be help. And we are helping.”

Hochul also outlined a funding scheme for the MTA. Ridership dropped off significantly during the pandemic and has yet to bounce back, down roughly 33%.

Although she didn’t mention it in her address Wednesday, Hochul says she is relying on congestion pricing to help fund mass transit.

Congestion pricing is a new tolling system that would charge cars driving into Manhattan below 60th Street.

“So that is to be funded, and will be funded because 100% of the traffic is back in the central business district. It’s too crowded. Delivery trucks are jamming up the streets. You can’t even move,” Hochul said. I walk the streets of Manhattan all the time. It is a real challenge.”

Hochul also spoke about the rejection of her chief judge nominee, Justice Hector LaSalle, by the state Senate Judiciary Committee last month.

The governor has threatened to sue the state Senate to force a full floor vote.

“We are absolutely in uncharted territory,” the governor said. “We have to strike the right balance here. I read the constitution very clearly. It’s says the governor names an individual to lead the courts with the advice and consent of the Senate. The word Senate is very clear to me.”

But the governor also cautioned that whatever action she chooses to take on LaSalle, it will not distract her from working with the Legislature to craft a budget deal.

“This is not a personal fight,” she says. “This is an institutional fight.”

Hochul also addressed the divide within the Democratic Party. Objections to LaSalle were largely driven by the progressive left.

“I guarantee you the left is going to be very happy that I continue, for example, the corporate franchise tax that they wanted extended. They are very happy that I am putting so much into the environment,” Hochul said.

The legislature begins the first in a series of budget hearings on Monday.