As of midnight Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul has the reins of New York state government. Congratulations: Now comes the work.

Hochul vowed to hit the ground running. Wise: Critics and rivals will be taking potshots immediately.

One top priority: fixing the rent-relief program, stalled as her predecessor focused on his own problems. Billions in federal aid for hard-pressed tenants and landlords are at stake; state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli notes that New York was the only state that failed to get any of its cash out through June.

She can also boost public confidence by rapidly honoring her promises of greater transparency. Start by ordering Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker to stop hiding what the Empire Center rightly calls “basic facts about the pandemic’s tragic impact on nursing homes,” such as how many residents and employees caught the virus and when. End the Cuomo stonewalls.

She should also summon the Legislature back to session to start confirming the appointees she should name to replace her predecessor’s, especially at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Permanent, trustworthy leadership is vital there, since the city’s economic rebound depends on its mass-transit system.

More: Push lawmakers to make the vital repair to the “no bail” law, namely allowing judges to jail suspects who pose a clear threat to public safety or are plain serial offenders who’ll commit fresh crimes if sprung.

While they’re at it, legislators should lift the charter-school cap so that New York City parents have more options after nearly two years of failure by the regular public-school system.

Happily, Hochul doesn’t need the Legislature to clean house in the Executive Chamber. The entire Empire State needs her to purge all the staffers who enabled the toxic Cuomo workplace culture. Naming other women as her top two aides is an excellent start.

Since she plans to run for re-election next year, New York’s first woman governor can’t afford to waste a moment in putting her stamp on state government. Please help us all forget the last guy, fast.