New York Attorney General Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday addressed the election of Donald Trump as the nation's next president and talked about protecting New Yorkers from potential federal threats to reproductive rights, immigration and other key issues.
James and Hochul, who spoke together, said the city will be a "beacon of freedom," and the state would hire additional staff to prepare for potential legal challenges that could arise from the incoming administration, the AG's office said in a press release.
“My office has been preparing for a potential second Trump Administration, and I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards," said James.
Hochul added that the new hires would help ensure that she delivers on her commitment to "working with anyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable — but my administration will also be prepared to protect New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms from any potential threats.”
The officials talked about the Empire State Freedom Initiative — a task force designed to address potential federal threats to New York policies. The initiative, convened prior to the election, has started to assess the potential risks posed by a second Trump administration. It will focus on issues where New Yorkers could be most vulnerable, including reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety and environmental protections. The task force is comprised of experts from several state agencies, including the Governor’s Office of Federal Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Counsel.
Meanwhile, at a separate midday press conference, the mayor said all New Yorkers will be protected.
"No matter who is president or what party controls Congress, this city will always stand up for the rights of women, our immigrant brothers and sisters, our LGBTQ+ community and millions of others," he said. "In New York, women can be confident that their reproductive rights are secure. Our city remains committed to protecting and advancing women's health care, including access to abortion care. No matter what happens across the country, abortion care will always be available in New York City for anyone who needs it. That includes women outside of this city who come here seeking the care they are denied in other places."
Adams tried to allay fears of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, a Trump campaign promise. He said he will work with the new administration and Congress "to develop a realistic and compassionate national strategy for our immigration system," which includes pushing Congress to provide expedited authorization for asylum seekers who are already here and want to work.
Manuel Castro, commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, said that the city will be protecting immigrants' information and will not be following the instructions of the federal government in cases of mass deportations, he said in Spanish, according to the transcript provided by the mayor's office.
Castro said City Hall will have to wait and see what the Trump administration will do over the next few months.
"I want to reassure people that they do not need to self-deport, they do not need to hide [and] go in the shadows, and that they can continue to use our city services, especially emergency services, like our Police Department, our hospitals, and so on," he said.
First Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer said one of her priorities is to ensure the city continues to get federal funding for housing, education and infrastructure projects. About $8 billion of the city's $112 billion fiscal 2025 budget will come from the federal government, she said.
