Letters published in the New York Post criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for remarks made to a predominantly Black congregation in Buffalo urging recipients of a state inflation refund not to spend the money on alcohol.
In letters dated Sept. 15, 2025, multiple readers called the governor’s advice—“Don’t stop by the liquor store. Buy something for the kids. Buy them some food.”—condescending and racially insensitive. The correspondence, collected under the paper’s letters-to-the-editor section, said the comments were inappropriate for the setting and could be interpreted as stereotyping the congregation’s spending habits.
Writers used a range of language to express their disapproval. One letter from Robert DiNardo of Farmingdale said the remarks “was so racist that it defies belief,” and added that if a Republican had made similar comments “there would be riots in the streets.” Peter Cooper of Bronxville called the governor’s suggestion that parishioners avoid buying a particular malt liquor “condescending.” Another writer, Philip Vallone of Ossining, described Hochul as “a half-minded individual” and urged Black voters to remember the incident at the ballot box.
Not all letters called for political fallout. Michael Headley of Brooklyn argued that the remark would not cost Hochul votes in the next election, saying Black clergy leaders routinely encourage turnout for Democrats and suggested the congregation would overlook the comment. Several letters framed the episode as symptomatic of a broader patronizing attitude toward Black voters by Democratic officials.
The letters appeared amid wider national sensitivity over political rhetoric and race. Readers also used the page to comment on the media’s response to partisan rhetoric elsewhere, with some tying the discussion to separate controversies involving on-air commentators and partisan responsibility for violent acts.
The New York Post’s letters column noted that submissions are subject to editing for clarity, length and style and invited readers to submit their views. The letters published Sept. 15 named their authors and cities of residence and included pointed appeals for voters to remember the exchange during upcoming elections.
Hochul’s comments were made while discussing upcoming state payments intended as inflation relief. The exchange has become a flashpoint for critics who say leaders should avoid stereotyping remarks, and for others who see the episode as politically inconsequential. The letters reflect a divide in public reaction that political strategists say can surface ahead of competitive statewide campaigns.
There was no immediate additional reporting in the letters page about any official response from the governor’s office. The incident comes as Hochul prepares for future campaigning in a state where racial and economic issues remain central to voter concerns.
The correspondence underscores how local remarks by elected officials can quickly become the subject of public debate and influence perceptions among constituencies that parties and campaigns court closely in the lead-up to elections.