Will Barclay wants to work with Hochul to make New York affordable

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay was on hand Tuesday for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address where she outlined her legislative priorities for the upcoming year.

Catching up outside the reception area at The Egg, he said he was pleasantly surprised by the governor’s remarks – even though he thinks that her priorities were driven by pragmatism.

Stopping short of saying, “I told you so,” Barclay was glad Hochul focused on affordability and public safety as key issues for the rest of 2025, and he wants to collaborate with Democrats to pass legislation to address both. For now, he’s just enjoying the brief lull before the Assembly kicks into overdrive and the budget debate begins in earnest. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Affordability seemed to be the consensus top issue, so do you think there’s room for collaboration between Republicans and Democrats to really get things done this year?

No doubt. I was very pleased that the governor finally joined the party. We’ve been talking about affordability for the last several years. As a result of the cost of living in New York, we’ve seen millions of New Yorkers flee the state. We can’t continue this trajectory we’re on. So I was very happy she’s finally talking about affordability and addressing it in terms that I think we could support as Republicans. We’ve always supported the child tax credit and we like the middle-class tax cut. That’s something we always think – tax cuts are good for the economy, good for the cost of living and lowering the cost of living in New York state. The rebate – she calls it the inflation rebate – I’m not against giving money back to the taxpayers, but it seems a little odd to me that we’re taking the taxpayers money and then only to give it back to some of the taxpayers. That seems a very inefficient way to do it. That’s a one-shot. Let’s face it, once it’s gone, it’s gone. So I rather see it done through like middle-class tax cuts. I think it’s a better policy. The only other thing outside of affordability, is some recognition that crime is an issue. Crime is an issue, and whether it’s perception or the numbers, I think it’s both, but it’s an issue. So she seemed to recognize that. She didn’t recognize it a month ago, when she was saying the subways were safe. We had that tragedy with a woman getting burned to death down there. But at least she seems to recognize that now we’ll be a willing partner. You know, I wish she had mentioned maybe, we want the full repeal of bail, but we’ll go halfway. We’ll take whatever we can get. Raise the Age – that’s something that’s really tragic in my mind, because it’s letting youthful offenders go right back on the street where they just commit crimes. That’s not good for them, it’s not good for the community, it’s not good for the victim. So I wish she talked a little about that, but I didn’t mind what she talked about putting more law enforcement on the subway. I think that’s an honorable thing, and what she’s specifically proposing with the involuntary commitment – that may be something that I could support. I did like the fact that she said this isn’t just putting people away, this is actually being compassionate and making sure they have the care they need. 

Do you think it’d be fair to say that Democrats were kind of scared straight?

All politicians can read polls. She saw what happened with President-elect Donald Trump. She saw where the country wanted change, and what they want is someone to address high cost of living, inflation, someone to address crime and someone to address the migrant crisis, which she didn’t mention in her speech. So I think she realizes that and says, “Holy smokes, I got to get on that message.” She’s going to have a little problem with the Legislature, because, as you know, the speaker and the majority leader said revenue raising isn’t off the table. They may want more taxes. So I’m not sure, she may be with us. I don’t know where the rest of the Legislature is going to be with that message.

Are you concerned at all that Democrats in the state Legislature might get into a tiff with Trump, and then, as a result, things happen to federal funding for the state?

I mean, I hope not. We have a congressional delegation, we have U.S. senators. So, I mean, I hope – if that happens – I hope that they push back, but we’ve got to be very careful not to confuse policy that is being done on the federal level. Just because people in New York state may not love that policy, there may be policies I agree with that the president is doing that some will say this is killing New York but ultimately it could help New York. Nuclear, for example, he says a lot of people in New York would probably say we don’t want nuclear, but I think it’s great policy, but I hope President Trump pushes it. And so I guess, like those issues, the Democrats are going to say they’re bad for New York, but I don’t necessarily think they’re bad.

Do you think in 2026, you’ll have a Mike Lawler gubernatorial win?

I don’t know. I was with him today. I did like and I do like how he’s governed. He was a good assemblyman. I think he’s doing a great job in a marginal district for a Republican, being able to win decisively down there. He’s an articulate guy. So I think he’ll be, if he decides to run, a very formidable candidate.