NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Uses Holocaust Education Event to Swipe at DeSantis, Florida

August 12, 2022 Updated 9:25 A.M. ET

NEW YORK (FLV) – At a Holocaust education event and bill signing, Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took swipes at Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida, veering “off script” of the bill signing.

“I just want to say to the 1.77 [million] Jews that call New York home – thank you for calling New York home, don’t go anywhere else, there’s no better state. Florida’s overrated,” she said to laughter.

“I shouldn’t say this, but look at the governor! I mean, just start at the top-down. Get in trouble … gotta stay on script!”

The DeSantis campaign told Florida’s Voice that the Holocaust event was not the time or place for the attacks.

“An event about Holocaust education is not the time to launch cheap attacks at a fellow governor,” Lindsey Curnutte, spokesperson for the campaign, said. “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.” 

The claims from Hochul run in the face of DeSantis’ pro-Jewish statements and actions. In June, DeSantis spoke at the Tikvah Fund’s Jewish Leadership Conference about the state’s anti-lockdown policies during the pandemic and slammed Democrat attempts to ‘cancel’ him from speaking.

“They can’t cancel me, I’m going to speak my mind,” DeSantis said during his speech. “You know, I saw that there was a little opposition to me coming here. All I can tell you is this: When the Left is having a spasm, that just tells you that in Florida we are winning.”

The Tikvah Fund had originally planned to schedule the conference at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, when they were reportedly “canceled” for announcing DeSantis would speak. The Tikvah leaders said the museum told them the governor didn’t ‘align with the museum’s values and its message of inclusivity.” 

Landmark anti-Semitism legislation was signed by the Florida governor in mid-2019 – HB 741 – which added religion as a protected class in regards to discrimination within the state’s K-20 public education system. The law also requires these educational institutions to treat discrimination by students or employees, or from institutional policies, motivated by anti-Semitism the same as racial discrimination.

Additionally, it added a definition of anti-Semitism to be, “a certain perception of Jewish people, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jewish people, rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism directed toward a person, his or her property, or toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities.”

“I’m proud to sign this bill to make clear through a bipartisan effort that anti-Semitism has no place in our state and our educational institutions will not tolerate discrimination against the Jewish people,” said Governor DeSantis. “I was especially proud to hold a ceremonial bill signing in Jerusalem. Florida is the most Israel-friendly state in the country and as long as I’m Governor, we will continue to stand with the Jewish community.”