New York Governor Kathy Hochul Should Have Taken a Minute Before Going After DeSantis and Jews Who Go South

It’s hard to fathom this, but while New York Governor Kathy Hochul was signing an education bill connected to teaching about the Holocaust in her state’s schools, she took a shot a Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Jews who leave her state to go south.

“I just want to say to the 1.77 million Jews who call New York home: Thank you for calling New York home. Don’t go anywhere or to another state. Florida is overrated. I shouldn’t say this, but look at the governor. It starts at the top down,” Hochul said.

A spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign responded, “An event about Holocaust education is not the time to launch cheap attacks at a fellow governor. Kathy Hochul’s tasteless comments were offensive to thousands of Jewish people who are fleeing her state because of New York’s oppressive taxes, shuttered businesses, crime-infested cities, and needless mandates.”

And the Florida governor’s new press secretary, Bryan Griffin, said, “The pot-shot from Governor Hochul is, of course, unfounded and dishonest. Governor DeSantis championed law in 2020 (two years before New York) that codified Holocaust Education standards. An event focused on the need for Holocaust education should not have been trivialized for political attacks.”

Dave Abrams, a DeSantis campaign spokesperson, added his own thoughts, “After a breakup, some people cling to the hopes of reconciliation. It’s sad to see governors acting like desperate exes. Perhaps they should spend more time relieving their people of oppressive taxes, needless mandates, shuttered businesses, and crime-infested cities. Florida’s freedom agenda works — they ought to try it.”

It wasn’t just Democrats who seemed irritated at Hochul for her comments. Former New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-NY) had this to say, “I think it was absolutely pathetic. The governor of New York needs to be defeated. You’re doing a Holocaust event, your own event, and you’re busy attacking the governor of Florida, who is probably one of the best friends of the Jewish people in this great country. How manuy people are leaving Florida to come to New York? Hardly anyone but the opposite, tens and tens of thousands of New Yorkers are leaving New York because things are out of control in this city, in this state. Crime is out of control. Antisemitism is at levels never seen before. At this event, she talks about never forgetting. She’s busy attacking the governor of Florida, who has done an amazing job while she has failed? … She owes everyone an apology. This is not the kind of behavior we expect from a leader of our state.”

Maybe Hochul will think twice before coming after Florida again.