Out with the old, in with the new! NY Governor Kathy Hochul moved into executive mansion less than an HOUR after Andrew Cuomo's final possessions were removed

Just a few hours after crews were spotted throwing out the last of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's belongings, Kathy Hochul was seen moving into the executive mansion in Albany with her family.

Hochul, 62, officially took office as the new New York governor on Tuesday, after Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal in which the state attorney general found he sexually harassed 11 different women while in office.

In her first address as the governor, Hochul vowed to be transparent and require all state employees to undergo live sexual harassment training, rather than just 'click through' the slides.

A short while later, she was seen moving into the executive mansion with her family - including her two children Katie and Will, Will's wife Christina, as well as Bill Hochul, her husband of over 30 years.

Kathy Hochul was seen stepping out of the car at the Governors' Mansion on Tuesday after taking office

She and her husband of over 30 years, Bill Hochul Jr., unpacked their things as they moved into the mansion

Their family members surrounded their motorcade as they entered the mansion grounds

A number of family members and friends were seen bringing their suitcases into the building

The mansion seems to be quite the upgrade for the new governor, who is leaving behind two waterfront condos in Buffalo.

She and Bill originally purchased a $485,000 two-floor unit in 2013, after selling her longtime family home in Hamburg for $260,000. The 3,000-square-foot condo includes three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, according to the New York Post.

It is made up of the fourth and fifth floors of a condominium building, and includes an expansive living area with a wood burning fireplace, a formal dining room with a wet bar that boasts views of the water and an office.

A two-car garage is reserved for the condo, which also comes with a boat dock.

Hochul also owns the condo next door, which they purchased for $400,000.

Nineteen states have never had a female governor lead their state

Many states have had a female governor lead their state.

The first female governor in the United States was Nellie Ross for Wyoming in 1925.

She won a special election after her husband died and was governor until 1927.

New York has been added to the list today as Kathy Hochul was sworn in.

These states have yet to join the list:

Source: Rutgers

She said she had a 'high priority' of having a 'fully diverse' cabinet as she settles into office to guide her decision-making to help New York.

Hochul was planning to meet with legislative leaders later Tuesday before making a public address at 3pm.

The new governor has been a champion for women for years. In 2006, she partnered with her mother and aunt to start the Kathleen Mary House, a transitional house for domestic violence victims.

She has spoken out about her grandmother being a victim of domestic violence.

As lieutenant governor under Cuomo in 2015, Hochul toured the state stating 'Enough is Enough' concerning sexual assault on college campuses. Her work called for campuses to have a defined set of rules and guidelines on how to handle sexual assault on campus. This included providing amnesty to students who reported assault and expanded student's access to law enforcement.

Cuomo left office at 12am, two weeks after he announced he would resign rather than face an impeachment battle that seemed inevitable after a report by independent investigators - overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James - concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women.

When Hochul was asked if she'd pardon the former governor, she said it was too 'premature' to make any decisions yet.

On his final day in office, Cuomo released a pre-recorded farewell address in which he again said he was innocent and portrayed himself as the victim of a 'media frenzy.'

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, saying the attorney general's report that triggered his resignation was designed to be 'a political firecracker on an explosive topic, and it did work.'

'There was a political and media stampede,' he said.

Cuomo also touted himself as a bulwark against his party's left-wing, which he said wants to defund the police and demonize businesses, and boasted of making government effective in his years in office.

He cited his work battling the COVID-19 pandemic, legalizing same-sex marriage and hiking the minimum wage to $15.

'I tried my best to deliver for you,' Cuomo said.

Some critics jumped on Cuomo´s remarks as self-serving.

Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou, a fellow Democrat, tweeted he had a hundred million opportunities to improve as a leader and 'Chose himself every time. Goodbye, Governor Cuomo.'

Cuomo's top aide, Melissa DeRosa, released a statement saying the governor was exploring his options for his post-gubernatorial life but had 'no interest in running for office again.'

Cuomo's resignation won't end his legal problems.

The ceremonial swearing in on Tuesday was separate to the formal ceremony, which happened in the Red Room at the state Capitol in the early hours of the morning

Kathy Hochul signs swearing in documents, surrounded by her family (from left) Katie Hochul and Matt Gloudeman, Bill Hochul, center, and Will and Christina Hochul

An aide who said Cuomo groped her breast has filed a complaint with the Albany County Sheriff's Office.

Separately, Cuomo was facing a legislative investigation into whether he misled the public about COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes to protect his reputation as a pandemic leader and improperly got help from state employees in writing a book that may net him $5million.

Hochul takes over with the state still dealing with crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the coming weeks, she is expected to make decisions about whether to mandate masks for children returning to school - something she's already said she favors.

She will be under pressure to get federal rent relief money into the hands of tenants. Little of the $2 billion set aside by the federal government to help New Yorkers pay off rent debt has been distributed, to date, in the state. Thousands face the possibility of eviction if the state allows protections to expire.

Hochul promised Tuesday to make getting that money out a top priority, saying people shouldn't have to 'wait one second longer' for assistance. She also pledged quick action to get money distributed from a new state fund intended to benefit unauthorized immigrants who didn't qualify for other types of federal pandemic relief aid.

In his farewell remarks, Cuomo struck a defiant tone, saying the attorney general's report that triggered his resignation was designed to be 'a political firecracker'

'The money's there. These people are not eligible for other forms of assistance and they´re hurting and they're part of the New York family,' Hochul said.

Former Gov. David Paterson, who, like Hochul, unexpectedly became governor when his predecessor resigned, said she will need to restore faith in the office.

'There's going to be some pressure on Gov. Hochul, as there was on me, to kind of restore the values and to restore the conduct and the decorum that bespeaks a governor,' Paterson said.

She'll also have to work quickly. Hochul has already said she intends to run for a full term next year, and will have just months to establish herself as the favorite before a spring Democratic primary.

In the meantime, she'll be building an administration - a task that began in the first minutes of Tuesday with the oath of office, hours ahead of the restaging of the event for television cameras in mid-morning.

DiFiore administered the oath in the Capitol in front of a stone fireplace, atop which were placed family pictures.

Hochul, her husband and DiFiore entered the room wearing masks, taking them off when the ceremony began. Hochul placed her hand on a Bible held by her husband, a former federal prosecutor and current general counsel for Buffalo-based food service and hospitality company Delaware North.

Hochul signed a pile of papers - including the oath - using a set of 10 pens dated 'August 24, 2021,' while her family stood behind her looking on. She then thanked individual members of her staff, and told them she´d see them tomorrow before she left the room.

CUOMO'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO STATE OF NEW YORK

Hello. As you probably know I'm stepping aside as your governor.

I wanted to share some thoughts with you that I've been thinking about over the past few days.

There will be another time to talk about the truth and ethics of the recent situation involving me, but let me say now that, when government politicizes allegations and the headlines condemn without facts, you undermine the justice system - and that doesn't serve women and it doesn't serve men or society.

Of course everyone has a right to come forward and we applaud their bravery and courage in doing so, but allegations must still be scrutinized and verified whether made by a woman or a man. That is our basic justice system.

I understand that there are moments of intense political pressure and media frenzy that cause a rush to judgment. But that is not right. It's not fair or sustainable. Facts still matter.

A fire cracker can start a stampede but at one point everyone looks around and says, why are we running? The truth is ultimately always revealed.

The Attorney General's report was designed to be a political firecracker on an explosive topic. And it worked. There was a political and media stampede. But the truth will out in time - of that I am confident.

Now there are moments in life that test our character, that ask us, are we the person we believe we are? Or are we the person we try to be at our best? You know me. I am a fighter and my instinct is to fight this because it is unfair and unjust in my mind. But you also know that I love New York and I serve you. That is the oath that I took, and in this moment I believe the right thing is that my service come first.

Prolonging this situation could only cause governmental paralysis and that is just not an option for you and not an option for the state, especially now. There is real work to be done and it will require government to function at the highest level. What we do now is more important than what we have done as a society in generations. What will New York State be in the future? No one can tell us because it depends on what we do now. Our actions will determine our future.

We must keep people and businesses thriving in this state. Crime must be controlled and we have to be smart about it.

No governor in the nation has passed more progressive measures than I have, but I disagree with some people in my own party who called to defund the police. I believe it is misguided. I believe it is dangerous.

Gun violence and crime are savaging inner cities. Look at New York City. The majority of victims are poor, Black and brown. Reforming police must be the goal. Ending discrimination by the police, ending the unnecessary use of force, and then building back trust and respect between the police and the community they serve. That's the real answer and that is easier said than done, but it's also the truth and the right way forward.

Our state's economic competitiveness is vital. Demonizing business is against our collective self-interest. Taking actions that cause businesses to flee the state, taking jobs with them, only weakens our tax base and our ability to do good things for people.

We can address income inequality without ending incomes. Taxes can be reduced right away if Washington does what they promised New Yorkers they would do and repeal the so-called SALT tax. That would lower New York's taxes $15 billion per year. That would make a major difference and frankly dwarf all of the other federal aid programs.

It should have been done eight months ago. We're going to have to fight to make it happen, but we must wage that fight. Let's remember what made New York State the Empire State in the first place. New York's historic success was not a process of evolution. It didn't just happen. We weren't born this way. We were born of vision and daring and competence. We built the canals, the roads, the bridges, and education system and the economy that made us the greatest state in the nation. Somewhere along the way, government lost its competence and then people lost confidence in government.

But today is a different day. We have reason to believe in New York's future based on what we have accomplished together. We've shown potential. We've shown that the New York spirit that reached for the skies, that refused to accept defeat, that challenged possibility, that said no to the status quo, that took on the bureaucracy that still exists. And we must demand that government continue to perform and achieve and accomplish.

We've embarked on the most aggressive green energy plan in the nation. Not talk, action. Hundreds of projects all across the state, starting now. New transmission lines for a green grid. We are rebuilding our upstate airports. Buffalo is building back. A new LaGuardia Airport, first new airport in the nation in 25 years, a new JFK Airport, a new Penn Station to end the hellacious conditions of Penn Station, more affordable housing than ever before. These projects are underway and essential to complete quickly and effectively because they are literally building our future. We cannot go back to the old days when government talked, and government debated, and government issued a lot of press releases about what they were doing, but they never made a difference in people's lives, and they never improved, and they never built.

It's not what we say in life that matters. It's what we do. And the same is true for our elected officials and our government. We have developed, over the last decade, a new paradigm of government in this state, a government that actually works and actually works for people. It sounds simple, but it's all the difference in the world. We cannot go backwards.

We must focus on the immediate threat, which is the Delta variant and COVID. And I'm very concerned about this personally. Please don't forget what we learned together last year, and don't forget what we accomplished. We went from the highest infection rate in the nation to the lowest. We did what no one thought could be done. Why? Because when the rest of the nation put their head in the sand, and denied science, and played politics, we faced up to the facts and we made the tough but necessary decisions. And while our infection rate went down, other states have been going up.

And now the situation is reversed. New York has one of the lowest infection rates in the nation, and other states are seeing rapid increases. It's sweeping Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, and more. So now we must realize the reality that the spread will inevitably affect us, and we have to act before it becomes critical.

Here's my advice. School opening is approaching. Teachers must be vaccinated for their protection and for our children's protection. Masks must be required in high-risk areas and private businesses must mandate proof of vaccination for large gatherings. Now, this simply will not happen without a state law mandating that it happen. Local politics are too intense. Private businesses cannot and will not enforce the law. Local police must be mandated to do that, but we must take these actions. Let us remember political procrastination is COVID collaboration. We know the choice is between the politically contentious or the medically infectious. You decide, which is worse.

The most important lesson I've learned in the past 15 years and the one that gives me the most hope is my belief in the essential intelligence and goodness of the people of this state. I said, when I started, I work for the people. I work for you. And to me, that is everything. My faith has been in the people, not the politicians and not even the political system. I know too well the flaws of the political system. I believed and still believe that New Yorkers informed with the facts when they believe the facts, when they believe they're told the truth, they will do the right thing. Even when it's hard.

I went to you when we had to tackle the moral and legal question of marriage equality and equal rights for the LGBTQ community. And you made the right decision and you led the nation in changing policy. I went to you when we needed to address the difficult issue of gun safety and mass killings and banning assault weapons. And yes, it was hard and you did it. And we saved lives. I went to you when we needed to address the problem of struggling families to raise the minimum wage for millions of New Yorkers, so they could have a better life and you did it. And the overall state economy grew. I went to you when we had to stand together to attack racism and antisemitism, because that's not who we are and it's not what we believe.

I went to you when we needed to stand strong against the COVID beast. I went to you to wear a mask and stay home and take a test and get the vaccine and you did. Every time, without fail, the people of New York have done the right thing. They have chosen inclusion over exclusion, hope over fear and love over hate.

It's not easy, but it's possible. And I know it's true because you proved it. You are the u in unity and New York chooses unity over division every time. I believe that for New York, the best is yet to be, because I believe you will make it so.

In sum, we didn't get everything done that we wanted to, or even everything we should have done. And we didn't always get it quite right. But I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that every day I worked my hardest. I gave it my all and I tried my best to deliver for you. And that is the God's honest truth.

I want to thank my team, the best ever assembled because they are the most accomplished ever assembled.

I want to thank my family for their sacrifice and help in serving you. For the Cuomos, public service is a family affair. Kathy Hochul will become governor and I believe she will step up to the challenge. We all wish her success. Eric Adams will be the next mayor of New York City. I think he'll bring a new philosophy and competence to the position which can give New York City residents hope for the future.

And finally, thank you. Thank you for the honor of serving as governor of New York. Thank you for allowing me to represent you. Thank you for empowering me to fight for you. Thank you for trusting me through COVID. Thank you for making New York State, the progressive Capitol of the nation. Thank you for vindicating E.B. White's words, often quoted by my father, God, rest his soul. When he said, "New York is to the nation what the white church spire is to the village, the visible symbol of aspiration and faith, the white plume saying the way is up."

Thank you for the honor of serving you and never forget, always stay New York tough, smart, united, disciplined and loving. It's the essence of what makes New Yorkers so special. God bless you.