ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she regrets making an offhand comment that suggested black children in the Bronx don’t know what the word “computer” means.
Hochul, a Democrat, made the impromptu comment Monday while being interviewed at a major business conference in California to discuss the growing economic opportunities in artificial intelligence for low-income communities.
“Right now we have young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word computer is. They don’t know, they don’t know these things,” Hochul said while standing on stage at the Milken Institute Global Conference.
The comment did not come up during the interview, and the governor went on to explain that her goal is to provide opportunities for communities of color to access emerging artificial intelligence technologies as a means to address social inequality.
Still, the gaffe immediately drew criticism from some New York political leaders, including state Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo, a Democrat from the Bronx, who said the comment was “harmful, deeply misinformed and truly appalling.”
In a statement later Monday, Hochul said: “I made a mistake and I regret it.”
“Of course, black kids in the Bronx know what computers are — the problem is that too often they don’t have access to the technology needed to secure good-paying jobs in emerging industries like AI,” Hochul said. “That’s why I’ve been focused on expanding economic opportunity since day one of my administration, and I will continue that fight to ensure that every New Yorker has a chance at a good-paying job.”
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who represents the Bronx in the Legislature, defended Hochul as her comments began gaining traction online.
“Although the governor’s words were artless and hurtful, I do not believe this is from her heart. I am confident that she wants to see all of our students excel,” Heastie said.