Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Announce Change in Venue for the 2011 State of the State Address

January 5th, 2011

Back to News Main

Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced that the 2011 State of the State Address, scheduled for January 5th, will be held in the Empire State Plaza’s Convention Center.

Speaker Silver noted that with the state in fiscal crisis and with excitement over the incoming administration mounting, the overwhelming response for invitations now exceeds the limited seating capacity available in the Assembly Chamber, the traditional venue.

Because the Governor-elect wishes to invite members of the general public to attend his first annual “Message to the People,” it was agreed that the Convention Center would better accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd. General admission tickets will be distributed through a lottery process.
Details regarding the lottery are forthcoming.

“The change in setting is a metaphor for the change we must undergo as a state,” said Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo. “We must reconnect with the people and rebuild a relationship of trust.”

Speaker Silver said, “We look forward to his first State of the State Address and to working with him to deal with this fiscal crisis and to reinvigorate our democracy.”

Senator Skelos said, “I applaud Governor Cuomo’s decision to open up his annual State of the State message to the people of New York State. Senate Republicans look forward to working with Governor Cuomo, Speaker Silver and all of our colleagues in the Legislature to address New York’s fiscal crisis, make the 2011 session a successful and productive one, and restore the people’s faith in state government.”

The Convention Center will unite the Legislature and the Executive Branch, and for the first time invite the People of the State to participate. Reinvigorating New York’s democracy and fostering the public’s involvement in state government is a core mission for Governor-elect Cuomo.

For those who do not receive a ticket, the State of the State Address will be televised on the NYS Legislative Channel.