Incoming: a pragmatic Gov. Hochul, promising transparency. Real-estate firms are optimistic. But a "gross concentration of power" disserves the public.

Well, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, poised to replace the resigning Gov. Andrew Cuomo, says she'll run for the full term next year, setting up questions for other ambitious Democrats, including Attorney General Letitia James, who could run against her or seek re-election.

And as various news outlets try to suss out what kind of Governor Hochul will be, consider the words of Zephyr Teachout, the former candidate for Governor and Attorney General, in the Nation:

Cuomo himself was a disaster, but New York hasn’t had a governor leave in dignity in years—and that is not a fluke; it is a flaw in the office. The governor’s control over appointments and over the budget creates such a gross concentration of power that the executive branch can promise enormous rewards—and threaten terrible retribution—based on loyalty.

So maybe that's the issue? Her conclusion:

New York needs some constitutional restructuring, both as a matter of culture and law. The Legislature, not the executive branch, should be leading on the budget. We need to further reform the limits on how much can be raised in campaign contributions. And we need to stop looking for strong men to lead us.

Meanwhile, Hochul at least promises to clean house, at least of gubernatorial aides named in James's devastating report on Cuomo's sexual harassment and toxic work environment.

Questions pending

"How will Hochul differ from Cuomo?" Chris Bragg wrote in the Times Union. She's promised transparency and not to be a Cuomo-esque micromanager. Does that mean Empire State Development has a longer leash?

The Commercial Observer offered Kathy Hochul, New York’s Incoming Governor, Arrives as an Enigma on Policy

But in 'This Could Be A Reset': CRE Hopeful That Hochul Is Improvement Over Cuomo, Bisnow reported quoting Hochul observes as, in her previous Buffalo- area job, "as a competent local politician who surrounded herself with smart people and took a thoughtful approach to commercial and economic development."

From the article:

“Everybody was afraid of [Cuomo], and I don’t think that’s the way you should govern,” GFP Real Estate Chairman Jeffrey Gural said. “Real estate should be in the position to make their argument without having to worry about repercussions … He was very vindictive, and he was a bully.

“[Hochul] is a pragmatic person, she’ll listen,” Gural continued. “It will be a lot easier for us to have legislation based on merits and not on relationships.”

Some tough decisions

Kathy Hochul faces tough decisions on real estate, the Real Deal reported, citing challenges in delivering needed emergency rent aid, a question about extending an eviction moratorium, and the question of extending or revising the Affordable New York tax break, aka 421-a. From the article:

When it last expired, in 2015, Cuomo forced developers to grant the construction trades new wage provisions. If the program is renewed, it will surely be reformed again. Progressives have called for its termination, saying the $1.7 billion a year property tax abatement for projects with some affordable units could be better targeted. Where Hochul will fall on the issue is anyone’s guess.

And while construction unions hope Hochul to continue Cuomo’s big projects, like a development around Penn Station and the LaGuardia AirTrain, others hope to kill them.

Note, as CNBC reported, some lobbyists have already been in touch with Hochul, including the ubiquitous Kasirer, which lobbied her on cannabis legislation (and also represents Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park).

Another question: how much will the legislature, with more left-leaning members than ever, influence legislation.