News & Photo Features, Women's Rights,, Womens Reproductive Rights, Womens Rights,, Freedom

Reproductive Freedom Advocates Hail Blue Tsunami, Point to Role Abortion Rights Played in Democrats’ Historic Victory

“Tonight, the American people sent an unmistakable message that shook Washington to its core: Our government belongs to us, not the extremists who have spent years stripping away our fundamental freedoms. By taking back the House and Senate, voters have put a powerful check on Donald Trump and his relentless attacks on reproductive freedom,” Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju stated. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Reproductive Freedom for All hailed the midterm election results ending one-party Republican rule in Washington, flipping both the U.S. House and Senate and electing majorities committed to protecting reproductive freedom.

Abortion played a decisive role in the races that decided both chambers, and Reproductive Freedom for All-endorsed candidates flipped key Republican-held House and Senate seats,” the organization stated.

“Tonight, the American people sent an unmistakable message that shook Washington to its core: Our government belongs to us, not the extremists who have spent years stripping away our fundamental freedoms. By taking back the House and Senate, voters have put a powerful check on Donald Trump and his relentless attacks on reproductive freedom,” Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju stated.

“This is a monumental victory for everyone who has fought to reclaim control over our bodies, our futures, and our democracy. The era of unchecked attacks on our freedoms is over; we’re thankful for the steadfast leadership of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.”

The organization pointed to Trump’s unpopularity and soaring costs, combined with Democrats’ focus on abortion in the final stretch, sealing upset wins across the country. Reproductive Freedom for All capitalized on this opportunity by endorsing 138 House candidates and 18 Senate candidates this cycle and launching its historic $23.5 million My Body. My Ballot. program early to elect them. The organization mobilized its 4.5 million nationwide members, especially in key battleground states including Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and California, funded paid canvass programs, and ran a seven-figure ad program exposing Republicans’ anti-abortion records.

Reproductive Freedom for All’s battleground research found that supporting a national abortion ban is a top-tier dealbreaker for voters, trailing only raising taxes and gutting Medicaid. Abortion is more popular than either political party, and 2026 shows that Republicans’ anti-abortion agenda keeps putting more districts and states on the map for Democrats heading into 2028.

“With control of both chambers, the new reproductive freedom majorities can hold this administration accountable. They will control federal spending, giving them the power to end discriminatory bans on abortion coverage like the Hyde Amendment. They will investigate the agencies attacking medication abortion and emergency care, and hold the line against extremists’ efforts to ban abortion nationwide. The Senate can block Trump’s executive and judicial nominees who threaten reproductive freedom across the country. Reproductive Freedom for All will work with the new majorities to pass a federal abortion rights and access bill, move to repeal the Hyde Amendment, strengthen access to contraception, and build a future where reproductive freedom is a reality for everybody.”

Reproductive Rights Help Propel Democratic Wins

“The 2026 midterms are making history, and Democrats who put reproductive freedom front and center in their campaigns shattered expectations and clinched new majorities in the U.S. House and Senate. From Maine to Texas to Georgia to Pennsylvania, winning candidates up and down the ballot made abortion access central to their case, connecting the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions to voters’ concerns about their families, finances, and futures. The results so far show why reproductive freedom belongs at the center of winning campaigns as we enter the 2028 cycle.

“Our $23.5 million My Body. My Ballot. campaign helped put these stakes before voters through paid communications, organizing, and direct voter contact. These candidates ran on reproductive freedom and won. Now they must deliver by protecting access to care and opposing further efforts to ban abortion,” she stated.

Senate

Maine: Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins by holding her accountable for helping overturn Roe, toppling a five-term incumbent.
As the first reproductive rights advocacy group to endorse Troy Jackson, Reproductive Freedom for All backed his leadership and made defeating Susan Collins a priority. We paired that early endorsement with nearly half a million dollars in direct-mail investment and sustained engagement on the ground to put reproductive freedom at the center of the race. Our President and CEO, Mini Timmaraju, joined Jackson from the launch of his campaign through the final stretch, stumping with him the day before the election. Our work reinforced a central contrast: Jackson’s record of expanding reproductive freedom versus Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, who helped overturn Roe. Jackson carried that contrast across his campaign, into his advertising and onto the debate stage, challenging Collins to answer for her vote. Reproductive Freedom for All helped turn accountability for the loss of abortion rights into a defining issue in the race—and helped elect a reproductive freedom champion.

New Hampshire: Chris Pappas put John Sununu’s anti-abortion record before voters.
Pappas made sure voters understood Sununu’s support for an abortion ban and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the Dobbs decision, making access to care a core argument. Pappas slammed Sununu’s anti-abortion extremism in ads, reinforced by a $100,000 mail program reaching nearly 180,000 voters. Mini was in New Hampshire with Pappas and former Vice President Harris in the final stretch, mobilizing voters and drawing hundreds for a live recording of My Body. My Pod.

Georgia: Jon Ossoff demanded answers on Mike Collins’ support for a total abortion ban.
Ossoff used the Senate debate to confront Collins over his past support for a total abortion ban and press him to explain his shifting position. Reproductive Freedom for All backed Georgia organizing with a six-figure investment in canvassing and volunteer engagement, and Mini campaigned for Ossoff with Planned Parenthood Action Fund, highlighting the stakes for abortion access.

Michigan: Abdul El-Sayed made personal healthcare decisions central to his case.
El-Sayed drew on his experience as a doctor, defending women’s freedom to make their own healthcare decisions and challenging Mike Rogers’ support for extreme abortion bans. He reinforced that contrast on the airwaves in the final stretch – complemented by a $200K digital ad program from Reproductive Freedom for All – and by hosting events like a Black maternal health roundtable with Harris and Mini to hammer Rogers’ record.

North Carolina: Roy Cooper drew a clear contrast on reproductive freedom.
Cooper highlighted his support for reproductive freedom against Michael Whatley’s anti-abortion extremism. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Mini campaigned for Cooper, mobilizing voters around those stakes as early voting began.

Minnesota: Peggy Flanagan challenged Michele Tafoya’s attempted rebrand.
Flanagan’s ads highlighted Tafoya’s description of abortion as “borderline barbaric” and her pledge to support Trump’s anti-abortion judges. Flanagan pressed that contrast in their debate as Tafoya tried to cast herself as a “pro-choice Republican,” despite her support for an abortion ban. Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Flanagan, and Mini was on the ground campaigning for Flanagan days before Election Day.

U.S. House

Democrats made abortion access a concrete choice in competitive House races: protect patients’ freedom and affordable care, or empower politicians who backed bans and cuts. Reproductive Freedom for All reinforced that contrast through advertising, organizing, and events.

●       Pennsylvania — Bob Brooks: Brooks challenged Ryan Mackenzie’s support for abortion bans without exceptions for rape or incest.  

●       Michigan — Christina Hines: Hines is positioned for victory tonight as final votes come in. Hines defended reproductive freedom against Mike Bouchard’s anti-abortion extremism. Mini launched our six-figure voter contact program supporting Hines, targeting 55,000 doors. Reproductive Freedom for All also ran digital ads in the district hitting Todd Blanche’s confirmation and tying in to the landscape of reproductive access, as well as a phone program with abortion messaging in the final stretch.

●       Arizona — Amish Shah and JoAnna Mendoza: Dr. Amish Shah brought his firsthand healthcare experience to his defense of abortion access, while Mendoza emphasized the work still needed to turn Arizona’s constitutional protections into accessible care. Abortion was a “hot topic” in Shah’s race and put the issue front and center in a closing ad.

Ballot Measures

●       Virginia  — Virginians approved Amendment 1 to enshrine reproductive freedom in their state constitution, strengthening protections for abortion access and a broad range of reproductive health decisions. Reproductive Freedom for All served on the steering committee for Virginians for Reproductive Freedom coalition this year.

●       Missouri — Missourians rejected an effort to take away the abortion rights they voted to protect in 2024. The backers of this initiative wanted to dictate people’s most personal, private decisions and ban abortion and care for trans youth in a single vote, but Missourians swiftly rejected those attacks. Reproductive Freedom for All supported efforts against this ballot measure.

100 Democratic Women in Congress

When the 120th Congress convenes in January, more than 100 Democratic women will serve in the U.S. House of Representatives at once, marking a historic milestone for women’s representation in Congress.

“We elected more than 100 Democratic women who are shaping the future of Congress and bringing us closer to equity,” stated Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju. “In Congress, they’ll use their voices to protect reproductive freedom, make health care more affordable, and hold the Trump administration accountable for its attacks on our rights.”

Reproductive Freedom for All backed many of these candidates through My Body. My Ballot., its $23.5 million campaign and largest-ever midterm electoral program. The program mobilized voters, held anti-abortion politicians accountable, and helped elect reproductive freedom champions in pivotal races across the country.

Currently, 95 Democratic women serve as representatives in the 119th Congress. Republicans, by contrast, have just 30 women serving as representatives, representing approximately 15 percent of the GOP caucus.

Despite these gains, women remain vastly underrepresented in American politics. Women hold just 28 percent of seats in Congress. Only 449 women have ever served in either chamber, accounting for roughly 4 percent of all members who have served in the House or Senate. The 2026 midterms represent an important step toward closing this gap and electing a Congress that better reflects the country it serves.

The Path Forward

Now, these historic wins must translate into action to protect people’s lives and restore their freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, families, and futures.

New majorities in the House and Senate will control federal spending, giving them the power to end discriminatory bans on abortion coverage like the Hyde Amendment. They will investigate the agencies attacking medication abortion and emergency care, and hold the line against extremists’ efforts to ban abortion nationwide. The Senate can block Trump’s executive and judicial nominees who threaten reproductive freedom across the country. Reproductive Freedom for All will work with the new majorities to pass a federal abortion rights and access bill, move to repeal the Hyde Amendment, strengthen access to contraception, and build a future where reproductive freedom is a reality for everybody.

At the state level, new trifectas in states like Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have a crucial opportunity to advance protections for abortion access and reproductive freedom. Several of these Democratic trifectas are the first in decades and will change the trajectory of state-level policy around reproductive freedom.

Voters have delivered an unmistakable mandate for new reproductive freedom majorities to deliver protections up and down the ballot

Virginians Pass Amendment 1, Enshrining Reproductive Freedom in State Constitution

Washington, DC — Virginia voters approved Amendment 1, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment, which now permanently ensures Virginians’ right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive healthcare without government interference.

“Virginians have made the Commonwealth a firewall against the abortion bans that have pushed care out of reach across the South. This victory safeguards patients far beyond Virginia’s borders and proves once again that voters choose reproductive freedom when it is on the ballot,” Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju stated.

Reproductive Freedom for All participated in the Virginians for Reproductive Freedom coalition this year, invested six figures, and mobilized volunteers to canvass through My Body. My Ballot., the organization’s $23.5 million midterm electoral program.

Reproductive Freedom for All invested heavily in this effort and helped lay the groundwork for this victory during Virginia’s 2025 elections by electing leaders who advanced Amendment 1 to the ballot. We knocked more than 40,000 doors, made over 9,000 calls, and mobilized our 112,000 Virginia members to elect Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, Attorney General Jay Jones, and a reproductive freedom majority in the House of Delegates. That campaign also included a six-figure paid canvass operation, targeted advertising, and a campus organizing program at Virginia Tech.

Virginia remains the only state in the South without a post-Dobbs abortion ban and a critical access point for patients throughout the region. Amendment 1 protects health care providers’ ability to care for their patients without political interference and will take effect January 1, 2027.

Nevadans Vote Overwhelmingly to Enshrine Right to Abortion in State Constitution

Reno, NV – Nevadans overwhelmingly voted to pass Question 6, the amendment to enshrine the right to abortion into the Nevada Constitution.

This was the final vote in a two-step process to amend the state constitution. In 2024, voters took the first step in this process when they approved Question 6 with 64% of the vote. Nevadans made it clear that they want the government to stay out of decisions about abortion and reaffirmed an undeniable truth: Reproductive freedom is a winning issue that mobilizes voters in historic numbers.

“Nevadans have made themselves clear twice: We deserve the freedom to make our own decisions about our bodies, our lives, and our futures. Today, voters turned that conviction into constitutional protection for abortion rights. This victory belongs to everyone who knocked on a door, shared their story, or talked with a neighbor about what was at stake. Together, we built a movement rooted in the belief that we should be able to make these deeply personal decisions with the people we trust, free from political interference,” Denise Lopez, President of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, stated.

“Nevadans have spoken,” said Krystal Ortiz, Campaign Manager of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom. “After over 2 years of hard work and organizing, voters have taken the last step to permanently enshrine and protect the right to abortion care in the Nevada Constitution. This will not only protect reproductive freedom for the battle-born state, but this guarantees Nevada can continue being a safe haven for patients in surrounding states with abortion bans who are seeking the care they need. Enshrining abortion rights in our constitution is a historic victory, and our work continues. We will defend these protections, hold elected officials accountable to the will of voters, and keep fighting to ensure people can get the abortion care they need.

Stacy M. Cross, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, stated, “Make no mistake: when abortion is on the ballot, we win. Nevadans voted to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution, ensuring medical decisions remain strictly between patients, families, and their providers. We celebrate this victory, but our work is far from over. Planned Parenthood, in collaboration with this powerful coalition, will continue advancing access to reproductive healthcare across Nevada.

In September, Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom launched a $3 million campaign explaining the stakes of the amendment and breaking down the threats coming from anti-abortion politicians. Question 6 establishes a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. Its passage strengthens Nevada’s existing protections and prevents anti-abortion politicians from simply eliminating them.

Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, the coalition behind the Yes on 6 campaign, is made up of more than 25 organizations, including reproductive health and rights organizations, labor unions, and Black, immigrant, AANHPI, and Latino-serving organizations representing the diversity of Nevada’s electorate. The measure was supported by the Nevada State Medical Association, the state’s largest and oldest organization representing physicians and physician assistants, and was endorsed by more than 175 Nevada medical providers.

Culture & Lifestyle, News & Photo Features

Photo Highlights: NYC’s 2026 Village Halloween Parade Enchants with ‘Body & Soul’ Theme

“The skeletons that lead the Village Halloween Parade each year walk the razor’s edge between the physical world and the spirit realm,” said NYC’s Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

The spirit of New York City comes out each Halloween for the Village Halloween Parade. It’s New York City’s Mardi Gras, giving vent to an explosion of creativity, expressing this year’s theme, “Body & Soul.”

What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the 53rd Village Halloween Parade with 50,000 costumed participants, towering puppets, electrifying performers, and 50 bands kicked off from Canal Street, winding its way uptown on Sixth Avenue to 15th Street.

Performance artist Joey Arias was NYC’s 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade Grand Marshal © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Joey Arias, performance artist, cabaret singer, drag artist, author, comedian, stage persona and film actor was the Grand Marshal.

The parade is free for all to view or join in costume and hundreds of thousands of people line the parade route, in addition to the thousands marching.

Performance artist Joey Arias was NYC’s 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade Grand Marshal © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

For over 50 years, the Village Halloween Parade has transformed the streets of New York City into a spellbinding spectacle of creativity, self-expression, and community spirit. Each year, a unique theme shapes the identity of the parade and reflects the cultural moment in time.

The theme for 2026 was Body & Soul.

“The skeletons that lead NYC’s Village Halloween Parade each year walk the razor’s edge between the physical world and the spirit realm,” said the Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“The skeletons that lead the Halloween Parade each year walk the razor’s edge between the physical world and the spirit realm,” said the Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming. “We are all wandering souls. And in order to truly embrace and live within our spirit, we must feel it in our bones, and so need an earthly body.

Giant skeleton puppets are an iconic feature of the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“But we live in an increasingly disembodied world. These days, we communicate through screens, create virtual selves and experience so much of life through a device. But where is the body in all this? And where does the spirit live? We need to get back into our bodies to express our souls! So this year, we celebrate the timeless connection between body and soul. Let’s embrace what it is most essential to us as humans – our body (the skeleton!), our imagination (the soul!), and DANCE (body and soul together!)”

Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

She added, “The separation of matter and spirit, of life and death, becomes less clear on Hallow’s Eve, when the Skeletons – the OG ‘All Souls’ – reunite with their bodies to dance one more time. How easily we forget that this deep entanglement of body and soul, so palpable on Halloween Night, is really true all the time. Even as the skeletons journey inward to their bodies, we journey outward every night, sleepwalking into the netherworld – where dreams await.”

“The skeletons that lead the Village Halloween Parade each year walk the razor’s edge between the physical world and the spirit realm,” said NYC’s Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“We dream in our bodies (often of our bodies), even as our souls traverse terrains of memory and imagination. When we fly in our dreams, we can feel our buoyancy with arms outstretched,” Fleming wrote.

“This year, we invite the Parade to walk with us through a waking dream. A dozen luminous sleeping figures, clad in their pajamas and nightgowns, discover a domestic space intimately familiar yet unsettlingly strange.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“When we walk through imagined landscapes, our feet feel the ground shift beneath us. We feel the passage of minutes or hours, even as no time elapses. Sleep endows us with the power to experience – again and again – a momentary uplift from our physical constraints, to remake the world on our own terms. Like the classic depiction of the Soul hovering over the Death-bed, we are out of body, yet fully embodied – a liminal space between life and death, where we remember, fleetingly, that anything is possible.” 

“This year, we invite the Parade to walk with us through a waking dream. A dozen luminous sleeping figures, clad in their pajamas and nightgowns, discover a domestic space intimately familiar yet unsettlingly strange.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles of Processional Arts Workshop, the Official Puppeteers of NY’s Village Halloween Parade, said, “So this year, we invite the Parade to walk with us through a waking dream. A dozen luminous sleeping figures, clad in their pajamas and nightgowns, discover a domestic space intimately familiar yet unsettlingly strange.”

Here are more highlights:

“How would Dolly vote?” Paying homage to Dolly Parton at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“How would Dolly vote?” Paying homage to Dolly Parton at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Hundreds of thousands line the Village Halloween Parade route, NYC. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“A Waking Dream.” Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
FOGO Azul NYC pays homage to Dolly Parton at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
FOGO Azul NYC pays homage to Dolly Parton at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Thrillernyc comes in on their own float, followed by hundreds of “zombie” dancers at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Thrillernyc comes in on their own float, followed by hundreds of “zombie” dancers at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
A Village Halloween Parade crowd favorite: the Thriller zombies © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
A Village Halloween Parade crowd favorite: the Thriller zombies © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
New York Women in Film & Television embody Body & Soul at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Jumaane D. Williams, New York City Public Advocate, gets into the Village Halloween spirit dressed as – what else? -Batman © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Witches Vote!” Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Witches Vote.!” Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Abe Lincoln’s message: “Vote.” Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade’s long-time Artistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
One of dozens of bands at the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Lady Liberties at Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Enjoying the spirit of the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Enjoying the spirit of the Village Halloween Parade, NYC © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The spider weaving down the landmark Greenwich Village library is an iconic feature of NYC’s Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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© 2026 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com,email editor@news-photos-features.com

Children & Families, Government spending, Governor Kathy Hochul, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Invests $13 Million to Revitalize Essential Community Services on Long Island

Governor Kathy Hochul with State Assemblyman Charles Lavine and Nassau County Democrats. “This multi-million-dollar investment is another example of Governor Hochul’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Long Islanders,” Lavine said. “I am especially pleased that wonderful organizations such as Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County and Island Harvest food bank will be able to move forward with much-needed renovation projects so they can continue to provide services to those who depend on them.”  © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In contrast to Governor Kathy Hochul’s $13 million in state support for six Long Island community projects, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenger for Governor, inflicted budget cuts in order to avoid raising taxes which led to the closing of The Safe Center LI – the sole nonprofit on Long Island providing support for domestic and sexual violence victims. He hoarded, rather than spent, opioid funds in order to shift the interest revenue into the general fund. And Nassau County Democrats have accused Blakeman of withholding or delaying over 30 municipal and local grant requests for emergency and safety equipment (such as fire department gear and ambulances) in Democratic-led districts, characterizing them as political fights, while Blakeman maintains that line items have been approved and labels certain requests as political projects.—Karen Rubi, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

Governor Hochul announced nearly $13 million in state support for six major renovation projects on Long Island. These investments will help six local organizations revitalize existing facilities, allowing them to expand their reach, strengthen community-based services and deliver lasting benefits to New Yorkers.

“From supporting New Yorkers with disabilities to helping families put food on the table, community organizations are essential partners in delivering these critical services,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments are crucial to ensure that cornerstones of the community are able to continue their important work and reach more New Yorkers.” 

Expanding Essential Services for New Yorkers

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County will receive $3 million to advance several improvement projects. The Roosevelt-based organization assists children and adults with developmental disabilities through a range of programs and services. Several facilities on its main campus will benefit from this capital investment including a roof replacement, building systems upgrades, and the reopening of Café Connections, which had closed down during COVID-19.

Island Harvest Food Bank will receive $1.5 million to renovate its Melville facility. This project will allow the organization to create two new workforce training programs and expand their nutrition education program through the construction of a demonstration kitchen, a bulk product repacking room, improvements to the community room and other general facility enhancements. This project and the associated program expansions will strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline while advancing long-term hunger reduction strategies.

Long Island Select Healthcare (LISH) will receive $3 million to rehabilitate aging infrastructure and modernize clinical equipment at its primary location. LISH is a Federally Qualified Health Center in Central Islip, that serves more than 9,000 low-income and otherwise vulnerable patients on an annual basis. Medicaid changes have resulted in an influx of patients and these modernization improvements will work to ensure that LISH can continue to provide high quality services for Long Island’s expanded population seeking care.

Strengthening Community Cornerstones 

The Village of Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department will receive $1 million to support the purchase of new radio equipment. The department’s current equipment has limited functionality when used inside burning buildings, presenting a hazard for firefighters. This investment will ensure that the department’s resources are first-rate when protecting New Yorkers and their families. 

The Deer Park School District will receive $3 million to rebuild the district’s High School Aquatic Center and increase accessibility for New Yorkers with disabilities. This project will include updates that incorporate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant design features, including accessible lifts, stair upgrades and accessible locker rooms. The Deer Park High School Aquatic Facility has been closed to the public for safety reasons due to extreme deterioration after continuous use for nearly 50 years. This aquatic center serves hundreds of families on Long Island including Deer Park students and residents and community members from surrounding western Suffolk communities.

The Bay Shore-Brightwaters Little League will receive $1 million for facility improvements. This project will make critical upgrades to the Little League’s facility, including new fencing, bleachers, fields and batting cages. 

State Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “The investments New York State is making on Long Island are protecting safety, improving health and enhancing quality of life. I thank Governor Hochul for working with members of the Legislature and local communities, including with me on projects in Deer Park, Bay Shore-Brightwaters and at Long Island Select Healthcare, to continue making New York a place that meets the needs of its residents.”

State Senator Siela Bynoe said, “These investments for The Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Island Harvest Food Bank, and The Village of Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department will help strengthen the organizations and institutions that Long Island families rely on every day. From expanding services for individuals with disabilities and creating workforce training opportunities to improving firefighter safety and investing in our children, this funding addresses essential changes needed in our communities. I appreciate the Governor providing state support to assist the residents of Senate District 6 and uplifting the organizations that make a difference in the lives of our residents.”

Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos said, “As Dean of the Long Island Delegation, I know how important these investments are to the families and communities we represent. I thank Governor Hochul for this significant funding, which will expand workforce training and nutrition programs, help meet growing patient needs amid Medicaid changes, improve public safety, and strengthen vital services and facilities across our region. In my district, funding to modernize Long Island Select Healthcare’s facility and clinical equipment is especially important as more patients face barriers to accessing care amid federal cuts to essential healthcare programs. These investments demonstrate how state funding can make a real difference in people’s lives, helping ensure Long Island families have access to quality healthcare, greater opportunities, and safe, accessible spaces to learn, work and come together.”

Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine said, “This multi-million-dollar investment is another example of Governor Hochul’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Long Islanders. I am especially pleased that wonderful organizations such as Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County and Island Harvest food bank will be able to move forward with much-needed renovation projects so they can continue to provide services to those who depend on them.”

Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “This targeted funding will improve life for Long Island residents in the most vital of domains from education to public safety to addressing food insecurity for our most vulnerable families. We see in these investments a Governor hyper-concerned with the particular needs of her constituents, who is following through with the resources to address those needs, and who is keeping an eagle eye on the well-being of Long Islanders. I thank Governor Hochul for supporting the institutions that support and care for our communities.”

Assemblymember Steve Stern said, “This funding is a critical step in bringing vital programs to our community. Through the Workforce Skills Development Institute, Island Harvest connects unemployed and underemployed Long Islanders with training that leads directly to job placement. Island Harvest is a key player in supporting our neighbors facing food insecurity and struggling to make ends meet at a time when gas, housing and food costs are so high. I applaud Governor Hochul for her continuing support for Island Harvest and our neighbors in need.”

Assemblymember Noah Burroughs said, “This $1.5 million investment in Island Harvest Food Bank is an important step forward in addressing food insecurity, expanding workforce development, and strengthening communities throughout Long Island. For residents of the 18th Assembly District and families across our region, this project will help expand access to nutritious food, provide valuable educational opportunities, and create new pathways to employment through workforce training programs. By investing in a demonstration kitchen, expanded nutrition education, and enhanced community resources, we are helping build a stronger support system for individuals and families who need it most. Fighting hunger requires more than providing meals; it requires creating opportunities, empowering families, and addressing the challenges that contribute to food insecurity. This investment will help Island Harvest continue its vital mission while building a healthier, stronger and more resilient Long Island for generations to come.” 

Assemblymember Judy Griffin said, “I am proud to support this $5.5 million investment for three worthy organizations in Nassau County: Island Harvest, Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, and the Village of Hempstead Fire Department. I am truly grateful for Island Harvest’s incredible service to the increasing number of residents and families experiencing food insecurity. Their 30-year track record of community outreach has ensured that veterans, seniors, children, and all those in need are consistently nourished with nutritious foods. I applaud the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County for positively impacting the lives of children and adults living with developmental disabilities, with dynamic programs and therapeutic resources for almost 70 years. The Hempstead Fire Department is one of our busiest in Nassau County, protecting 55,000 residents, 15,000 homes, and countless businesses. I have been proud to champion these vital organizations in our State Budget and will continue to support their remarkable work. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for highlighting the strength of these dedicated organizations and providing critical funding to advance their exceptional service and support of our residents.”

Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay said, “Strong communities depend on ensuring residents have access to the resources and services they need to lead healthy, stable lives. Island Harvest’s $1.5 million award will help expand its efforts to address food insecurity through workforce training opportunities and nutrition education. The $3 million awarded to Long Island Select Healthcare will also support access to essential healthcare services in our region. I thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the important work these organizations do and investing in their ability to serve Long Island residents.”

Assemblymember Kwani B. O’Pharrow said, “Investing in our local organizations means investing in the people and families who depend on them every day. These critical improvements will strengthen essential services, enhance public safety, expand access to healthcare and recreation, and ensure our Long Island communities continue to thrive for generations to come.”

Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni said, “Governor Hochul’s nearly $13 million investment in Long Island’s health care, food assistance, public safety, school, and recreational facilities will strengthen essential community services and improve quality of life for residents across our region. These capital investments will help local organizations modernize their facilities, expand access to critical programs and better serve families for years to come. I thank the Governor for supporting these important projects and recognizing the needs of Long Island communities.”

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly said, “The Deer Park High School Aquatic Center has been a valuable resource for generations of students, families, and residents throughout Deer Park and the surrounding communities. This $3 million investment will help restore a facility that so many in our community have relied on for years. I am incredibly grateful to Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of this project and for her continued commitment to investing in the needs of our local communities.”

Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer said, “For nearly 50 years, the Deer Park pool has been where our kids learned to swim and our families came together. Governor Hochul’s $3 million investment brings it back and makes it fully accessible to residents with disabilities. That’s a real win for Deer Park and the entire Town of Babylon.”

Deer Park Union Free School District Superintendent James Cummings and Board of Education President Donna Elliott said, “On behalf of the Deer Park School District and our entire community, we are incredibly grateful to Governor Hochul for this generous $3 million investment in restoring our pool. This funding will help us bring back a vital community resource that serves our students, individuals with disabilities and senior citizens, while providing opportunities for swimming instruction, lifeguard training and the development of essential lifesaving skills. More than simply reopening a pool, this investment will positively impact the health, safety and well-being of generations of Deer Park residents.”

Island Harvest Food Bank President and CEO Randi Shubin Dresner said, “Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s support, including $1.5 million in capital funding, Island Harvest Food Bank’s Workforce Skills Development Institute will be able to help three times as many people gain the skills they need to support themselves and their families.Our workforce development program is a key tool to tackle root causes of hunger and food insecurity with innovative and sustainable solutions. We are incredibly grateful for the Governor’s support and thank New York State Senator Siela Bynoe for securing additional funding for this important initiative.”

Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County Executive Director Karen Geller-Hittleman said, “On behalf of the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Association of Nassau County, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Governor Kathy Hochul for this extraordinary $3 million investment in CP Nassau. Our Roosevelt facility has been our home since 1952, and while the building has aged over the decades, our commitment to the children and adults with developmental disabilities we serve has never wavered. Maintaining and modernizing a facility of this age requires significant resources, and this funding will allow us to address much-needed capital improvements that are essential to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. This investment means so much more than improvements to bricks and mortar. It is an investment in the lives of the individuals and families who depend on us every day, as well as the dedicated staff who care for them. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for recognizing these needs and for her commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities continue to receive the quality services and opportunities they deserve.”

Long Island Select Healthcare Interim Chief Executive Officer Ann Loeffler said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s $3 million investment, and the strong support of Senator Monica Martinez, our Central Islip location can continue to address the growing need for care on Long Island. This funding ensures that every patient we serve, including many individuals with developmental disabilities, receives the high-quality care they deserve close to home.”

Bay Shore-Brightwaters Little League Vice President Sal Puccio said, “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Hochul for this $1 million investment in the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Little League. This funding will help us make long overdue improvements to our facilities and provide a better experience for the hundreds of children and families who are part of our league. For so many families in our community, Little League is more than just sports. It’s where kids build friendships, learn teamwork, and make memories that stay with them for years. We thank Governor Hochul for recognizing how important programs like ours are to local communities and for making an investment that will benefit our young athletes for generations to come.”

Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention, News & Photo Features, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health, Public Safety, Health, Security, Supreme Court

Governor Hochul Joins Coalition of Governors to Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Commonsense Gun Safety Laws

Governors File Amicus Brief in Support of Assault Weapons Restrictions and States’ Constitutional Authority To Protect Against Gun Violence

Supreme Court Expected To Hear Oral Arguments on December 2, 2026

Read the Amicus Brief Here

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul in 2021 signed gun safety legislation. Every since, she has worked for gun violence prevention, controlling illegal guns, and pushing back against Supreme Court’s reinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment that overrules states’ and localities’ ability to protect their people © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As Trump and the MAGAgop advance the “guns anywhere, everywhere” policy – even reversing the commonsense gun safety regulations put forward after the Parkland and Sandy Hook massacres, it is notable that Trump made no comment, completely ignored, the latest school shooting. “Donald Trump and MAGA gun extremists are once again making their fear-mongering and guns everywhere agenda a big part of the 2026 elections. This is a dangerous threat we must take seriously,” writes Everytown.

When the Supreme Court overturned New York State’s century-old gun control law, Governor Kathy Hochul immediately passed legislation to protect New Yorkers while falling within SCOTUS’ new limits.

And while her Republican challenger, Nassau County Bruce Blakeman, has opposed her gun safety legislation and hijacked her success in reducing violent crime and runs on a “public safety, anti-crime” platform, it is Governor Hochul who can claim success in record drops in crime statewide, largely due to Biden-era federal and state funding into prevention programs. She has also built a coalition of states to address the illegal guns that come from “guns-everywhere” permissive states like Florida, and now, she is joining a coalition of governors to urge the Supreme Court to uphold commonsense gun safety laws.

Here’s what’s at stake, according to Everytown:

Assault weapons bans work. When the federal assault weapons ban was in place between 1994 and 2004, it was effective in preventing public mass shootings and reducing the number of fatalities and injuries when these tragedies occurred.

Had it remained in effect from 2005 to 2022, research shows that we could have prevented 38 mass shootings.

11 states and Washington, D.C. have already banned these military–style weapons. And six federal appeals courts have upheld bans on assault weapons and large–capacity magazines as constitutional.

But now, the Supreme Court will decide whether states have the right to ban assault weapons. On December 2, 2026, the justices will hear arguments in Viramontes v. Cook County, a Second Amendment challenge to bans on assault weapons in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois.

Note: there is no “gun” or “guns” in the Constitution, not even the hallowed Second Amendment, which refers to “well-regulated” “militia” in order to protect the state and “firearms” when “firearm” referred to any weapon carried on the body and the most advanced musket was a single ball. The Founders could hardly have imagined semi-automatic pistols and machine gun-like rifles that could massacre dozens in seconds. – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Hochul today joined 10 fellow governors in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, urging the Court to uphold state and local assault weapons restrictions and preserve states’ constitutional authority to protect their residents from gun violence. Filed through GovAct’s Safer Communities Initiative, the brief argues that state-level assault weapons laws are both constitutional and save lives. Furthermore, the brief lays out the costs that states must bear in the wake of mass shootings — ranging from hospital costs to victim services.

“Combating gun violence is personal to me. Four years ago, I stood with neighbors in my hometown of Buffalo after a hate-fueled gunman used an assault weapon to terrorize innocent New Yorkers. It is unconscionable that our highest court would consider striking down a law designed to keep communities safe from this kind of horror,” Governor Hochul said.“Today, I am joining governors from across the country to remind the Supreme Court of the lives at stake if they choose to dismantle our assault weapons ban, and to fight for our right to protect against gun violence.”

The cases before the Court challenge laws in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois that regulate certain semiautomatic assault weapons, including AR-15-style rifles equipped with features that increase lethality. A ruling striking down these protections could invalidate lifesaving laws across the country and block states from enacting commonsense public safety measures moving forward.

Linda Beigel Schulman, who became a gun safety activist after losing her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre: “Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear?”

The amicus brief highlights research demonstrating that assault weapons restrictions can reduce the lives lost to gun violence. One recent study found that counties in states with assault weapons restrictions experienced 41 percent fewer mass-shooting fatalities than counties in states without such protections. Research consistently shows mass shootings involving assault weapons are significantly deadlier than those involving other firearms, leading to more innocent lives lost and families forever changed.

The brief draws on Governors’ firsthand experiences responding to devastating mass shootings. They write: “In the wake of assault-weapon mass shootings, members of the Governors Safer Communities Initiative have stood with grieving families, exhausted first responders, and community members working to rebuild. The safety of our residents is our obligation, and it is at stake.”

The Governors argue that the Constitution has long recognized states’ authority to protect public health and safety, and that elected state leaders must retain the flexibility to enact policies tailored to their communities’ needs.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the consolidated cases on December 2, 2026. The full amicus brief is available here.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has committed $4 billion to public safety initiatives including more than $1 billion in gun violence prevention. These investments have contributed to a 67 percent reduction in shooting incidents involving injury over the past five years in the 28 communities participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative.

Governor Hochul has also spearheaded significant changes to state firearms laws to help keep New Yorkers safe including: expanding New York’s partnership with 11 other states to intercept weapons along the I-95 corridor, enhancing Red Flag Laws to keep guns away from individuals who are a risk to themselves and others, strengthening New York’s concealed carry laws in response to the Supreme Court’s reckless Bruen decision, and taking action in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks that would make sweeping and dangerous changes to federal firearms regulations.

This year, Governor Hochul sustained record-level investments in prevention, intervention and enforcement, including addressing emerging threats such as 3-D printed guns and DIY machine guns. Last week, Governor Hochul signed two additional commonsense gun safety laws to expand firearm safe storage requirements and prevent individuals from purchasing ammunition when they are legally prohibited from purchasing guns.

Governor Kathy Hochul, News & Photo Features, Public Safety, Health, Technology-AI, Women & Family

NYS Governor Hochul Signs Nation-Leading Legislation to Protect Kids from AI Chatbots and Ensure Baby Monitor Safety

S.9508/A.5175A Requires Internet-Connected Baby Monitors to Include Safety Features and Clear Warning Labels

S.9051B/A.10379C Bans Unsafe AI Chatbot Features for Minors, Including Bots that Pretend to Be Human, Encourage Self Harm or Engage in Inappropriate Conversations with Kids

Builds on Governor Hochul’s Nation-Leading Record on Putting Guardrails on AI, Including First in the Nation AI Companion Safeguards, the RAISE Act, the Ban on AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Material, Safe by Design and Safe for Kids Acts

Governor Kathy Hochul comes to North Hempstead to cheer on North Hempstead Democrats including Juleigh Chin, candidate for County Legislature’s District 9, Kim Keiserman (Assembly-16th), Charles D. Lavine (Assembly-13th) and Skylar A. Epstein (Legislator-10th) © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul signed two bills to protect New York’s kids from the growing risks of artificial intelligence chatbots and internet-connected baby monitors in their homes, nurseries and playrooms. Together these laws build on the Governor’s efforts to make New York a national leader in keeping kids safe online and protecting New Yorkers from the threats of new technology and artificial intelligence.

“As artificial intelligence advances at a rapid pace, there have been too many tragic incidents that should have been prevented, and as New York’s mom Governor, I’m taking action,” Governor Hochul said. “No company should be peddling chatbots to kids encouraging self-harm or pretending to be their friend or more. And no new parent should have to worry that predatory hackers are spying on their new family through their baby monitors. New York is sending a clear message: if you want to do business in our state, you need to put the safety of our kids first.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James said,“I was proud to work with Governor Hochul, Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Bores, and Common Sense Media to protect our children from the potential harms of AI chatbots. We have seen too many horror stories of chatbots hurting the health of our children, and this new law sets clear legal parameters to prevent that harm and keep kids safe. My office will continue working with partners at all levels of government to address the threats posed by this technology, while also clearing the way for safe, responsible innovation. New York’s eye is on the ball—and we will not hesitate to defend New Yorkers with the full force of the law.”

S.9508/A.5175A requires internet-connected baby monitors sold in New York to include security features that block strangers from watching or listening in, along with a clear warning label.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Baby monitors are meant to help parents keep an eye on their newborn, not to let prying eyes into our homes. These new technologies can be helpful, but they pose real cybersecurity risks. My bill mandates privacy features that prevent strangers from seeing or hearing what’s happening in a child’s room, and ensures devices have clear warning labels so families know how those features work. That way, parents can sleep soundly knowing they and their kids are safe. Thanks to Governor Hochul for her partnership on this effort.”

Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “A baby monitor should keep watch for parents, not open the door for hackers and strangers. Now, every internet connected baby monitor sold in New York must be built to keep intruders out and clearly labeled so families know how to stay safe. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation into law and Senator Gounardes, my Senate sponsor, for his partnership in protecting New York families.”

Baby monitors can be an open door into the home. When security researchers at Rapid7 tested nine internet-connected baby monitors from eight companies, eight monitors received an “F” for security and one received a “D”. This new law prohibits the sale of new baby monitors that broadcast audio or video over the internet unless they include security features that prevent strangers from seeing or hearing what is happening in the child’s room. Monitors must also carry a clear, easy-to-read warning label explaining that the device connects to the internet and that families should use its security features. The law will take effect 90 days after signing.

S.9051B/A.10379C prohibits companies that utilize AI chatbot features from offering unsafe features to minors, including chatbots that pretend to be human, build emotional dependency, encourage self-harm or engage in sexually explicit conversations.

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “We have a responsibility to keep children safe online. For too long, AI companies have profited from rolling out chatbots to underage consumers. These chatbots have proven to be dangerous for children—from instances of encouraging self-harm to coaching minors on how to harm others. We passed S9051B/A10379C alongside Assemblymember Bores to put real guardrails on how chatbots talk to children. Thank you to Common Sense Media, impacted families, and the coalition that relentlessly advocated for this bill to be passed. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership in signing this bill and her commitment to making New York a leader in responsible AI.”

Assemblymember Alex Bores said, “For everyone wondering whether the public can have any say in determining how AI impacts us, New York again has an answer: Absolutely. New York now has the strongest law in the country protecting children from predatory AI algorithms, raising the floor yet again when it comes to common sense regulation — and doing so despite aggressive industry opposition. Our state’s leadership is a reminder to the rest of the country that AI happening to us — not for us — is not an inevitability. It’s a choice.”

AI Chatbots and connected devices have taken a significant role in our homes and lives faster than safety protections can keep up. According to Common Sense Media, most teens are already using AI companions. Seventy-two percent of teens have used an AI companion once, and 52% are regular users who interact with them at least a few times a month. AI chatbots have been linked to dependency, isolation, and in some cases, engaged in sexually explicit conversations and even have allegedly encouraged teens to take their own lives.

Building on the Governor’s first in the nation AI Companion safeguards, this legislation requires AI chatbots block harmful features if offered to kids. In the coming months, companies may not offer the following features to users that are under 18, or to any user unless the company has first confirmed the user is not a minor:

  • Pretending to be a real person, to be alive or to have human emotions
  • Claiming a personal, romantic, professional or authority-figure relationship with a child
  • Unprompted emotional questions, and using a child’s private health or personal information from earlier conversations
  • Promoting or helping with suicide, self harm, eating disorders or drug and alcohol use
  • Encouraging kids to keep secrets, isolate themselves or avoid asking parents, trusted adults or professionals for help
  • Any sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material

The law also requires companies to conduct age verification and offer more than one way to verify age, including at least one option that does not depend solely on a government ID. It also requires that age information be deleted after it is used. Violations would allow the attorney general to seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation along with damages, restitution, the destruction of unlawfully collected data or any AI models trained on it, and any other appropriate injunctive relief. Additionally the law requires the attorney general to maintain a public website where New Yorkers can file complaints.

Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said,“New York just made history by signing into law the strongest kids’ AI safety bill in the country. AI companies offer chatbots with features that are dangerous, and even deadly, for kids and teens. That is not innovation; it is reckless endangerment of our children. Now, those harmful features will be outlawed in New York. This new law is a model for the country, and we applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership, and we thank Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Bores and Attorney General James, for pushing this measure forward. And we are especially grateful to the many parents, like Maria and Matt Raine and others, for joining us to meet with lawmakers to advocate for this critical bill.”

New York State United Teachers Teachers President Melinda Person said, “Governor Hochul continues to lead the way in protecting our kids from harmful technology. From creating distraction-free schools to taking on addictive social media algorithms, she has listened to parents and educators and taken bold action to put kids first. Now, she’s confronting the risks posed by AI chatbots. Our kids deserve the chance to learn, grow and build real human connections without technology getting in the way. I applaud Governor Hochul for continuing to stand up to Big Tech and put the well-being of our children first.”

Governor Hochul’s Record on Responsible AI

This announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis statewide and help keep kids safe online. This work has established New York as a global leader in securing a safer online world for children, and as of this year New York is ranked number one in the U.S. for laws that keep kids safe online. Initiatives include:

  • The SAFE for Kids Act, which restricts addictive features of social media for kids, and established an important national precedent about age verification.
  • The Child Data Protection Act that prevents online operators from collecting and monetizing children’s data without informed consent.
  • The RAISE Act, a nation-leading standard for AI transparency and safety for powerful frontier AI models.
  • AI Companion legislation which set first-in-the-nation safeguards, diverting user conversations about self-harm to mental health resources and interrupting unhealthy addictive behaviors.
  • The Governor also outlawed AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
  • The Unplug and Play Agenda which helps encourage healthy socialization and child development by funding social infrastructure, physical sites like playgrounds, community centers, and pools, and expanded youth programming.
  • New York’s Distraction Free Learning Policy, requiring statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools, which is already resulting in greater academic achievement, improved student wellbeing, and safer school environments for students.
  • The Social Media Warning Labels bill that will require social media companies to post warnings about the platform’s potential impact on mental health.
  • The Safe by Design Act, which will protect kids from predatory behavior online and defaults them to the highest privacy settings.
  • Teen Mental Health First Aid training that equips youth with skills to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges and know how to ask for help.
  • Youth Safe Spaces, where trusted community organizations provide supportive, non-judgmental environments where young people can access mental wellness resources, foster positive peer relationships, and engage in non-clinical activities.
  • The Power Down, Speak Up public awareness campaign launched by the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) that helps to empower young people statewide to recognize and respond to online abuse while equipping parents, educators, and law enforcement with tools to help keep youth safe online.
  • OPDV’s Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) Training, which has already trained more than 4,000 youth, parents, educators, and law enforcement professionals on preventing and responding to online abuse.
Children & Families, Criminal Justice, Governor Kathy Hochul, Law & Order, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement, Womens Issues, Women's Rights

NYS Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Victims and Survivors of Violence and Exploitation

S.5041/A.6338 Protects the Home Addresses of People Whose Intimate Images Have Been Nonconsensually Shared

S.9341A/A.8939A Strengthens Enforcement of Human Trafficking Information Requirements at Hotels and Motels

S.9671A/A.10960A Helps Domestic Violence Survivors Keep Their Voter Registration Information Confidential

Governor Kathy Hochul signed three pieces of legislation to strengthen protections for victims and survivors of violence and exploitation across New York. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul signed three pieces of legislation to strengthen protections for victims and survivors of violence and exploitation across New York. The new laws will strengthen privacy protections for victims whose intimate images have been nonconsensually shared, create penalties for hotels and motels that do not display required information on services for human trafficking survivors and ensure domestic violence survivors are notified before the confidentiality protections on their voter registration records expires.

“Protecting victims of domestic violence has always been deeply personal to me,” Governor Hochul said. “Every New Yorker deserves to live a life free from fear, and these new laws will help to protect that right. As Governor, I will never stop fighting to support survivors and to ensure they have the tools they need to rebuild their lives.”

Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “New York has long been a leader in protecting the rights of all victims and survivors of crime. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we continue to expand access to services, support and compensation to help ensure that individuals can obtain the help they need to be safe, heal and thrive.”

S.5041/A.6338 protects people whose intimate photos or videos have been illegally, nonconsensually shared by allowing them to participate in New York State’s Address Confidentiality Program. This program helps people who have moved keep their new home address private by allowing them to use a substitute mailing address.

State Senator Luis Sepúlveda said,“This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that victims of revenge porn and the unlawful dissemination of their intimate images have access to the protections and support they deserve. No one should have to choose between seeking justice and protecting their personal safety and privacy. By expanding eligibility for New York’s Address Confidentiality Program, we are helping ensure that survivors can navigate the legal process without fear that their location will be exposed.I want to thank Governor Hochul for passing this bill and committing to protecting survivors, holding individuals accountable, and ensuring that every New Yorker can seek help with greater confidence and security.”

Assemblymember Latrice Walker said,“Thank you to my colleagues and to Gov. Hochul for their support of my bill (A.6338), which allows people who find themselves in Family Court to participate in New York State’s Address Confidentiality Program. This will allow people to keep their new home addresses private and help to prevent further abuse or victimization. The bills signed into law today also provide critical protections to victims of human trafficking, and to domestic violence survivors who want to safely participate in the electoral process.”

S.9341A/A.8939A strengthens enforcement of existing requirements for hotels, motels and other lodging facilities to display information about services available to victims of human trafficking. This legislation establishes civil penalties for locations that fail to comply with these requirements.

State Senator Jessica Scarella-Spanton said, “As legislators, we have a duty to ensure that New York State’s laws prioritize and heighten the safety of victims and survivors of violence. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that profits off the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people, and too often hotels and motels serve as hubs for this activity. Although New York State mandates that hotels post information on services for these victims, not every establishment is in compliance with this mandate. This legislation places penalties on these facilities that are in noncompliance with this law, to ensure that this information is as accessible to people who need it as possible. Help and resources are available, and hotels must make this information known. I am grateful to have worked with Assemblywoman Paulin on this, and I am glad that the Governor is signing it into law.”

Assemblymember Amy Paulin said,”Human trafficking festers in the shadows, and every opportunity we have to connect victims with life-saving resources is vital. These information cards, strategically placed in the rooms of lodging facilities, empower victims by providing them with the essential information they need to seek help and escape exploitation. This legislation ensures that lodging facilities comply with the law’s requirements and actively contribute to the fight against human trafficking. I extend my gratitude to Governor Hochul for her signature on this legislation and her unwavering leadership in safeguarding survivors of exploitation throughout New York.”

S.9671A/A.10960A requires the New York State Board of Elections (BOE) to notify domestic violence survivors that their voter registration information confidentiality is about to expire. Under existing law, eligible survivors can request that their voter registration information be kept private for four years to prevent an abuser from using public records to locate them. Under the new law, BOE must mail survivors a notice at least six months before those protections expire, including instructions for how to renew them. This builds on previous legislation Governor Hochul signed in 2021, allowing domestic violence survivors to request confidentiality for their voter registration records directly from BOE instead of a formerly mandated court order.

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “We must use every tool possible to ensure that survivors of domestic violence remain safe and can feel secure in their lives. Requiring the State Board of Elections to notify survivors six months before their confidential voter registration status expires will help prevent a lapse in this critical layer of protection. I’m proud to sponsor legislation to strengthen this important safeguard, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law.”

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said,”Confidentiality is paramount for survivors escaping domestic violence. An abuser’s threatening tactics often do not end when a person leaves, and in too many cases, survivors continue to be subjected to stalking and harassment long after they have fled. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to help survivors keep their address information confidential. By filing a simple request with their local Board of Elections, survivors will now be able to continue to protect their privacy and their safety.”

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has advanced significant measures to protect victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The Governor signed legislation prohibiting discrimination against domestic violence survivors in housing and other areas of daily life, expanded access to orders of protection for family and household members through Melanie’s Law and strengthened efforts to connect human trafficking victims with services.

The Governor’s record investments in this work also includes $100 million in state funding to support victim assistance programs, and a $23 million investment in the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative to strengthen the law enforcement response to domestic violence and expand services for survivors.

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Connie Neal said, “Survivors of domestic violence deserve policies that promote safety, dignity, and access to support. These bills represent meaningful progress for survivors and reflect an important commitment to strengthening protections for those impacted by domestic violence. We applaud the Governor’s decision to sign this legislation and recognize the difference it will make in the lives of countless New Yorkers.”

New York Cyber Abuse Task Force Co-Chair Lindsey Song, Esq said,“Survivors of image-based abuse often face ongoing threats, harassment, and even physical confrontations and assaults from current or former abusers or those who have seen their nonconsensual content online. We commend the passage of S. 5041/ A. 6338 which will provide much-needed address protection for survivors of image-based abuse so they may retain privacy and safety in their home address information.”

Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Harris Kluger said,“No survivor should be put at risk because their address is exposed, a privacy protection expires without warning, or information about available help is missing when they need it most. Survivors already shoulder the immense burden of escaping abuse and rebuilding their lives. Our institutions have a responsibility to remove barriers to safety and uphold the protections survivors rely on. Sanctuary for Families thanks Governor Hochul and the legislative sponsors for advancing that responsibility through concrete action.”

New Yorkers can visit OVS Connect to locate a victim assistance program or access the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline 24/7 by calling 800-942-6906, texting 844-997-2121, or chatting online at opdv.ny.gov.

Congress, Democratic Party, Democrats, Elections, News & Photo Features

Congressman Tom Suozzi Rallies NY-03 Supporters to Get Out the Vote

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY03) rallies in Nassau County to get out the vote with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came to Nassau County, Long Island, in support of Congressman Tom Suozzi’s reelection – the first of two rallies held on October 24, the first day of early voting – to energize those most responsible for getting out the vote in a district that spans three counties and is one of the most diverse in the country.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats take the majority, stumps for the reelection of Congressman Tom Suozzi in NY 03, a district which spans Suffolk, Nassau and Queens © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Jeffries, who is in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats win the majority, said, Suozzi will “bring accountability in face of widespread corruption – not for partisan reasons but for patriotic reasons… We deserve a Congress that functions as separate, co-equal, check -and-balance of an out-of-control executive branch. Tom Suozzi believes in a Congress that is of, by, for and always fighting for the American people. He stands for exactly what Democrats have always worked for – working class, middle class, older folks, the party of FDR, JFK, Obama, a commonsense-gets-stuff-done Democrat.”

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats take the majority, stumps for the reelection of Congressman Tom Suozzi in NY 03, a district which spans Suffolk, Nassau and Queens © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

With a reputation as a “problem solver,” a “consensus builder,” and someone who works across the aisle, Suozzi, laid out why America has become so dangerously divided and government so dysfunctional, beginning with “Trump is a master pick pocket – the great distractor and divider” – who distracts with such outrages as tearing down the East Wing and prosecuting a three-time Olympian for the Reflecting Pool, to distract from Americans’ real problems over affordability, anger over unconstitutional mass deportations, an illegal and unending war.

Congress has been AWOL – paralyzed from taking any action – which Suozzi attributes largely to the fact that out of 435 seats in the House, 400 are “safe” – protected by gerrymandering and redistricting – so those members only have to worry about winning their primary and do not have to listen or be responsive to their constituents.

Suozzi, who represents New York’s Third Congressional District, is in one of the 35 seats that are not safe (the district elected George Santos and  in 2024, went for Trump by 19,000 votes). “My seat is competitive. I have to work hard.” He needs to win the vast majority of Democrats, a majority of independents and some portion of Republicans. “So have to listen. It makes me a better representative.z’ As a result, he has earned a well-deserved reputation for being responsive to a constituency that is one o f the most diverse in the country.

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY03) blames Trump, social media, cable news and foreign adversaries for the division, anger and hatred that is preventing solutions to the problems facing America © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Second is social media which rewards extremism. “Memes, attacks generate more views than small dollar donations, pitting us against each other.”

Third is 24/7 cable news which dominate: Fox (4.5 million viewers to most watched program) vs. CNN and MSNOW which get 2 million – getting a completely different view – a siloing of information and self-selected “facts” , “telling us why we stink.” in order to sell products like prescription drugs and My Pillow,  

Fourth are the foreign adversaries – Russia, China, North Korea, Iran – who believe the way to defeat America is from within – “that our weakness is our diversity, our freedom, our democracy…There are more fake bots on twitter than real people – filling heads with messages to make us fight each other.”

“We have real problems – affordability, immigration, climate change, AI, whether we have munitions left in the stockpile. We need leaders who will work together,” says Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY03) who prides himself as a problem-solver who works across the aisle © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“How will we find common ground to move forward and solve problems? Make Hakeem Jeffries our Speaker and elect to Congress those who believe in public service to serve, not being a lackey, those who want to  rebuild the middle class. We have real problems – affordability, immigration, climate change, AI, whether we have munitions left in the stockpile. We need leaders who will work together.

“We always have had problems but there were always leaders who would emerge to solve problems. We have had concentrated wealth, and a guy from Oyster Bay broke up the trusts; in the Depression, we had FDR who created Social Security and the New Deal; when people couldn’t afford health insurance we had LBJ who created Medicare, Medicaid and Obama who created the Affordable Care Act. Because so many were left out, we had leaders –LBJ, Clinton and Obama – advocating for civil rights and fixing America’s original sin. Even Nixon – when rivers were on fire and smokestacks belching pollution, he created the EPA and signed the Clean Air and Water Acts. Let’s work together to solve problems – that’s what we have to get back to.”

Suozzi added, “Some are insulated but others are working hard but can’t make it – the minimum wage is still $7.25 in many places, but even at $10, that’s $20,000 a year, $20 is $40,000 a year. How can you buy a home, educate your children, buy health insurance or retire without being scared on that? No wonder we are pissed off. Let’s work together to solve problems.

“Now, with all the problems, everyone is just fighting, and the people are left out.

“How do we get people to work together to address climate change, immigration, AI, restore the American Dream for everyone, whether left and progressive or right and conservative, that if you work hard, play by the rules, you should be able to buy a house, raise a family, afford health insurance and retire without being scared. That’s what we’re fighting for.”

“I want to win to work on affordability, rebuild middle class, help immigrants, climate change, and determine if we have enough munitions, work together on AI, deal with tariffs, war, national debt.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“I want to win to work on affordability, rebuild middle class, help immigrants, climate change, and determine if we have enough munitions, work together on AI, deal with tariffs, war, national debt ($40 trillion).”

[Trump added $2 trillion to the national debt in just the first year. Acr”oss both of his administrations, Trump is responsible for adding $11.6 trillion in national debt -amounting to 28% of the entire $40+ trillion national debt accumulated throughout U.S. history. But Republicans only seem to care about the national debt when Democrats are in the White House, in order to block spending on any programs to benefit families and workers and in this term, are rubberstamping Trump’s every whim.]

“I want to win to help address these problems and also for selfish reason- so I can tell Trump, Vance, Johnson to shove it….”

Congress’ NY03 district spans Suffolk, Nassau and Queens and is one of the most diverse in the country. It’s also one of only 35 out of 435 House seats that is competitive rather than safe © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

It was just the first of two rallies Suozzi held that day – the second at Gold Coast Studios, the same venue where JD Vance came ostensibly to deliver a speech about “affordability,” but instead spent 25 minutes bashing Suozzi as “the worst Congressman in the USA.”

That rally was distinguished by how so many of New York’s 3rd Congressional District’s diverse communities and groups were represented – labor, gun-safety activists, Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Italians, Irish, Jewish.

Linda Beigel Schulman, who became a gun safety activist after losing her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre: “Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear? Tom Suozzi will do that.”

Linda Beigel Schulman, who lost her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre, said Suozzi reached out immediately to ask what he could do to help, and has supported gun safety (“not gun control”) that could make a difference ever since. “I am assured you will reach across the aisle to make sure gun safety is a priority. Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear? Tom Suozzi will do that.”

Matthew Aracich, president of Long Island Building Trades Council: “If you want someone who will act on your behalf, has bipartisan support, communicates with everyone, Tom is your man.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Matthew Aracich, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Long Island Building Trades Council) said, “My first contact to go to is Suozzi. He’s there to help us – no hesitation – whether it’s labor, healthcare, vets. If you want someone who will act on your behalf, has bipartisan support, communicates with everyone, Tom is your man.”

MinSun Kim founder and president of the Long Island Conservatory, founder and president of the MOKAH, Museum of Korean American Heritage and former president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) said, “He is one of few politicians can trust. He was the first politician to protect us from Asian hate crimes, and passed a resolution in Congress.”

Girish Patel, a prominent Indian-American community leader, declared, “Suozzi is the real deal. I’ve known him for 20 years. He works with all communities. He is the only leader who has always stood by our community.”

Paul A. Pereira, mayor of the village of Mineola, Long Island, pointed to Tom Suozzi’s experience as Glen Cove Mayor and Nassau County Executive in understanding local needs, but also, as the son of immigrants, “he understands that the American Dream has to be held well and alive for everyone. Send someone who understands us back to Congress.“ © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Mineola Mayor Paul Perola, noting that Nassau County has 64 villages, “As former mayor, Suozzi gets it – water, infrastructure, education, public safety. He is endorsed across political spectrum.” But Perola also pointed to his own experience as an immigrant. “Suozzi is the son of immigrants. He understands that the American Dream has to be held well and alive for everyone. Send someone who understands us back to Congress.“

Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead’s former supervisor and former Suozzi rival, who recently became Suozzi’s chief of staff, said “2 plus 2 plus 50 makes a million. You are here for all the people you represent – family, community, country. We show up here because we believe in something beyond ourself. To make world a better place, we need people who can persevere, stand up to powerful forces, be here because something deeper within them to move forwards. The country is falling apart, but we’re here because we have hope [ it can be put back on track].”

Suozzi has backed up his campaign rhetoric with actual plan. This is from his website:

Tom Suozzi’s Five-Point “American Affordability Plan”

Five practical ways to cut everyday costs, reduce waste, grow our economy, and help Americans keep more of what they earn.

  1. Cut Irresponsible Tariffs, Bring Jobs Home

Get rid of irresponsible tariffs that are driving up prices on groceries, cars, building materials, and everyday goods — while fighting for trade deals that bring manufacturing jobs back to America.

  1. Support the Stop Global Tariffs Act as a co-sponsor, which would roll back Trump’s tariff authority, refund businesses that paid them, and prevent them from coming back.
  2. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, work to ensure that any renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement protects American interests while maintaining strong relationships with our allies.
  3. Phase out of the Iran War, Keep America Safe
    • Stop pouring taxpayer money into a reckless war. Focus on smart diplomacy, modern defense spending that addresses today’s threats, and stronger alliances that share the cost of keeping us safe.
    • Exercise congressional oversight and reinforce the Constitution’s limits on a president’s ability to use our military to enter into conflict without congressional authorization.
  4. Pay Down the Debt, Lower Your Interest Rates

Rein in federal spending so the government pays less in interest, reducing pressure on interest rates that affect mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt.

  1. Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Fiscal Stability Framework:
  2. Fiscal Commission Act, which creates a bipartisan commission focused on reducing the debt.
  3. House Resolution, which would reduce the federal deficit to 3% from the current 6%, so we can fully fund safety-net programs while reducing wasteful spending.
  4. Sustainable Budget Act, which would establish a bipartisan process aimed at putting the federal budget on a sustainable long-term path.
  1. As a co-author, will fight to enact the bipartisan First-Time Homebuyers Affordability Act, which gives more first-time, low-income, and middle-income buyers access to low-interest mortgages.
  2. Unlock More Energy, Lower Your Bills

Cut red tape so we can build energy projects faster — clean energy, natural gas, nuclear, transmission, and storage — to produce more energy, lower costs, and build a cleaner future.

  1. Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Permitting Framework to make it easier to build energy projects and boost production
  2. Cutting red tape for linear infrastructure projects
  3. Meeting growing energy demand across sectors
  4. Reforming outdated and duplicative NEPA requirements
  5. Establishing clear, enforceable permitting deadlines
  6. Strengthening domestic supply chains
  1. Co-sponsor the Energy Bills Relief Act, which restores clean energy tax credits, provides incentives for wind and solar, promotes efficiency, and cracks down on price gouging.
  2. Make Healthcare Affordable — and Humane

Protect and strengthen the tax credits that lower your health insurance premiums, invest in prevention and primary care, and pass the WISH Act to make long-term care more affordable so seniors can stay in their homes.

  1. Pass the Bipartisan HOPE Act, authored by Suozzi, which would extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years while adding income limits and safeguards against fraud.
  2. Enact the bipartisan WISH Act, authored by Suozzi, which would help seniors afford the care they need as they age.
  3. Co-authored the bipartisan Supporting Newborn Parents Act, which would give new parents up to a $2,000 baby bonus.

“I will fight for you against the extremists. From groceries to gas to healthcare, everything is too expensive. We must end irresponsible tariffs and resist reckless wars that drive up costs, strengthen Medicare, and address rising utility bills. For me, it’s never been about party. It’s about working for Long Island and Queens to make life more affordable,” Congressman Tom Suozzi stated.

More at suozziforcongress.com

______________________________

© 2026 News & Photo Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles,Inc. All rights reserved. For editorial feature and photo information, go to www.news-photos-features.com,email editor@news-photos-features.com.Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Affordability, Climate Action, Democrats, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, Infrastructure, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

NYS Governor Hochul vs Nassau County Exec Blakeman. Who Has the Better Record to Win Election?

During their debate, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman claimed that Governor Kathy Hochul is campaigning on calling him a Trump puppet rather than on her own record. Here is a comparison of their records. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

By Karen Rubin, News & Photo Features, editor@news-photos-features.com

We tend to take for granted when elected leaders are effective in doing the business for the people, when they bring the values and mission of “public service,” and tend to gripe over things like the price of eggs, or the frustration of not solving every pet problem, or the anger at a compromise or a less-than-perfect candidate.

Do not make that mistake in the New York State governor’s race. New Yorkers may well take for granted all that Kathy Hochul has done, what she stands for, and what she is trying to accomplish as Governor – on women’s reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, health care, child care and pre-K, climate change and clean, renewable energy, affordable housing, worker training and jobs creation, promoting economic development through such programs as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Forward NY, building infrastructure and mass transit and alternative transportation (biking and hiking trails, safe sidewalks), promoting health and wellness, our parks and recreation, standing up for due process and the rule of law and criminal justice (yes, cashless bail). Much of it comes under her “Affordability Agenda” – actual initiatives to bring the cost of living more in line with quality of life.

And do not over-estimate Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenger, who has little good to show for his five years as Nassau County Executive – standing up a secretive private militia (when he boasts about Nassau being the safest county of its size he is citing the achievement of his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran), banning wearing masks in public (but not ICE), banning transgender individuals from playing girls’ sports. He has demonstrated his opposition to everything, including New York State’s Climate Agenda, promising to allow fracking. He opposed Hochul’s gun reforms (after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s century-old gun control law) and said he wanted to ease access to gun permits, even allowing guns in synagogues. And he challenged her congestion pricing and affordable housing plans without offering any compromise.

There is nothing that Blakeman does that isn’t infused with partisanship and politics – he is the very opposite of a “public servant” – and like Trump, that goes to who he appoints to actually do the work of governing.

You might say that the reason Blakeman has little to show as Nassau County Executive is because he has been running for Governor since the day after last year’s reelection – not to mention never publishing his schedule that shows when he is out of town campaigning, or mining for dollars. But I have followed his activities since he first came to office in 2021 – in the midst of a new outbreak of coronavirus, he declared COVID-19 ended and the county back in business. Except for photo ops, his press conferences have mostly been about his opposition to whatever Governor Hochul and the Democratic-led State Legislature has done, while actively blocking County Democrats from having any input whatsoever.

Instead, you have this from Newsday on October 23, the day before Early Voting starts: “Nassau ‘ignored’ a dangerous intersection. Now it could be on the hook for tens of millions. Experts say the crash that seriously injured two teens highlights how a failure to improve roadways can leave taxpayers liable for damages and legal bills.” 

It is so Orwellian that Blakeman’s campaign is based solely on accusing Hochul of only attacking him for being a Trump puppet rather than run on her record. But he is the one without a record to run on – only tired slogans (“public safety”; “reduce taxes”). Well, he is specific on one point: he promises to cut Medicaid in half. But he has never stood up for New York over Trump’s tariffs, his anti-Canadian policies, his recission of millions of dollars of appropriated funds for everything from counter-terrorism programs to the Hudson Gateway Tunnel to off-shore wind projects already underway.

Kathy Hochul can point to scores of achievements that tick down her “Affordability” agenda. Importantly, she has shown she appreciates the difference between economic development that is sustainable and economic development that exploits – demonstrated in her nation-leading moratorium on data centers and call for a task force to determine how AI should be regulated.

Another consideration is who the Governor will appoint to head agencies and lead initiatives – because when you look at the list of what Governor Hochul has initiated, it is clear that she has a team that knows what they are doing.

We have seen the impact of that with Trump who only appoints loyalists but dismisses actual public-spirited experts.

But I am betting that New Yorkers have no clue what Hochul has accomplished so it is too easy for Blakeman to assert this lie that New Yorkers are “miserable and suffering” – which feeds into voters’ (especially young voters’) cynicism.

So here’s a sampling of press reports just over the last several weeks – a shorthand for what Governor Hochul has accomplished and focused on – jobs creation, economic development, downtown revitalization, environmental protection, climate action and clean renewable energy, universal child care, affordable housing and an affordability agenda, infrastructure, mass transit:

CUTTING RED TAPE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL UNVEILS SECOND WAVE OF REGULATORY REFORMS UNDER ‘EXPRESS NY’ INITIATIVE –  

75 Actions Across 17 Agencies Will Increase Access to Child Care and other Vital Services, Support Small Businesses, Cut Excessive Red Tape and Modernize State Operations; More Than 120 Regulatory Reforms Now Advanced Through EXPRESS NY; That Will Save New Yorkers 5 Million Hours of Time and Tens of Millions of Dollars; Reforms Reflect Most Ambitious Effort in New York History to Make State Operations More Effective

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION TO MAKE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP A REALITY – Awards for Governor’s Groundbreaking MOVE-IN NY Program Will Bring Modern, Affordable Factory-Built Homes to Long Island, North Country and Finger Lakes; Prefabricated Starter Homes Constructed in a Fraction of the Time at Nearly Half the Cost

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $500 MILLION IN GRANTS TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS STATEWIDE – Delivers First Installment of the Governor’s $3.75 Billion Clean Water Investment Plan; Projected To Save Local Ratepayers an Estimated $1 Billion and Create 22,400 Jobs Across the State

GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND MAYOR MAMDANI UNVEIL PHASE TWO OF 2-K EXPANSION, BRINGING TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATS TO 12,000 CITYWIDE – Beginning in Fall 2027, Program Will Serve All of Staten Island and Every School District in the Bronx; Expansion Made Possible by $1.2 Billion Investment from Governor Hochul, Putting New York on a Path to Universal Child Care

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF $32.5 MILLION TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING ACROSS NEW YORK STATE REGIONS – 34 Healthcare Facilities Selected for Competitive Grants to Address Community-Specific Workforce Shortages in Diverse Healthcare Disciplines; Five-Year Awards Will Help Facilities Train and Retain Qualified Healthcare Professionals in High-Need Communities

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $50 MILLION TO PRESERVE NEW YORK FARMLAND – More than $48 Million Awarded to 43 Farms to Protect More than 16,000 Acres of Agricultural Land, $1 Million to Support Building Staff Capacity within New York’s Land Trusts; Record Level of Funding Dedicated to the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program in Round 20 with a Boost Through the Environmental Bond Act, Applications Still Being Accepted; State’s Farmland Protection Program Celebrating its 30th Year in Supporting New York’s Farmers; Full List of Projects Awarded in the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, and Western New York Regions Here

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES PHOENIX TAILINGS TO ESTABLISH $375 MILLION COMMERCIAL SCALE RARE EARTH SEPARATION FACILITY IN MONROE COUNTY – Cutting-Edge Company Will Occupy 500,000-Square-Foot Location in Eastman Business Park; Commits to Creating At Least 90 New Jobs; New York State’s $3 Million Investment Helps Rebuild America’s Rare Earth Industrial Base, Promotes Cleaner Production Methods and Boosts National Security

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LARGEST LONG ISLAND DEC LAND ACQUISITION IN HISTORY – Nearly 750 Acres Surrounding Former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant Property In Suffolk County; Property Protects Globally Rare Pine Barrens Ecosystems, Safeguards Long Island’s Sole Source Aquifer, and Expands Public Recreational Access

KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS COMMONSENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION TO REDUCE FIREARM INJURIES AND DEATHS – S.7236/A.7983 Prevents the Purchase of Ammunition from Individuals Prohibited from Owning Firearms; A.1962-B/S.9629, Known as ‘Francesco’s Law,’ Expands Safe Storage Requirements To Prevent Minors From Accessing Unsecured Firearms; Legislation Signed into Law at the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Annual Benefit Dinner on the on Fifth Anniversary of 17-Year-Old Francesco’s Death; Governor Hochul Honored with the Allard K. Lowenstein Award for Public Service

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING OF NIAGARA POWER TRANSFORMER’S MORE THAN $71 MILLION EXPANSION TO SUPPORT GRID MODERNIZATION – Century-Old Erie County Manufacturer Expands To Increase Capacity by 50 Percent, Directly Supporting Nearly 220 Jobs; Project Supported by $4.5 Million in NYPA Funding and Up to Nearly $5 Million in Performance Based Tax Credits through ESD and DEC Programs

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $200 MILLION TO HELP COMMUNITIES MODERNIZE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT OVERBURDENING RATEPAYERS – Low-Cost Financing and Grants Will Support Critical Drinking Water, Stormwater and Wastewater Projects Across New York;  Funding Will Advance Projects That Protect Public Health, Strengthen Communities and Reduce Future Risks

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF AI JOBS INSTITUTE TO PREPARE NEW YORKERS FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE – New AI Workforce Hub, Led by Pursuit, in Long Island City Will Train 40,000 New Yorkers by 2032 and Build Pathways Into AI-Enabled Careers; $3.06 Million Empire State Development Investment Supports $10 Million New Queens Training Hub; Complements Governor’s FutureWorks Commission, Developing Recommendations To Address AI’s Impact on the Workforce

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 1.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS CAN RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP COVER HOME HEATING COSTS –  New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Opens on November 2; Many Eligible New Yorkers Will Receive HEAP Financial Assistance Automatically; All Other Eligible New Yorkers Can Apply at ny.gov/HEAP Starting November 2; Trump’s War in Iran Keeps Driving Up Fuel and Heating Costs, With Heating Oil Prices Up 67% and Kerosene Up 50% Compared to Last Year;  In Response to Rising Fuel Costs, Governor Hochul Increased Heat Assistance For New Yorkers Who Rely on Oil, Kerosene and Other Fuel Types Delivered to Their Home

SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $36 MILLION TO KEEP REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS 19 PERCENT DECLINE IN SHOOTINGS –Fewest Shooting Victims Since State Began Tracking Data Two Decades Ago; Shootings Down 67 Percent Since Governor Took Office in 2021; Thirteen Police Departments Participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative Reported No Firearm-Related Deaths Through August; Governor Has Invested Nearly $4 Billion in Public Safety Including More Than $1 Billion in Gun Violence Prevention Since Taking Office

SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL CONVENES FIRST MEETING OF EXPANDED INTERSTATE TASK FORCE ON ILLEGAL GUNS IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL FIREARM REGULATION ROLLBACKS – Nearly 100 Representatives from 11 States Meet To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ENROLLMENT PUSH FOR STATE ENERGY AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM YIELDS MORE THAN 21,000 HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS IN JUST TWO WEEKS – Multi-Agency Effort To Enroll Households Proves to be a Major Success

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEW YORK HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE NATION DURING SECOND QUARTER 2026 – New U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Data Shows New York’s GDP Grew 4%, Highest of Any State and Nearly Double the National Rate of 2.2%; Record Growth Reflects Governor’s Economic Agenda of Investing in Jobs, Industry and Workforce

GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS NEXT STEPS IN NATION-LEADING COMMISSION TO ADDRESS IMPACTS OF AI ON NEW YORK’S WORKFORCE – Governor Convenes Meeting of Her FutureWorks Commission Following Statewide Listening Sessions and Engagement with Impacted Workers; Commission Will Deliver Recommendations By End of December for New Policies to Protect New Yorkers and Help Workers Share in the Benefits of AI; Part of Comprehensive Approach Including Nation-Leading AI Safety Laws and Moratorium on Data Center Construction

GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENT – A.2657A Offers Incentives to Commercial Lawn Care Companies To Purchase Electric Mowers; A.9590A Authorizes The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York To Finance the New York Climate Exchange’s Construction of A Sustainably-Built Campus on Governors Island That Will Promote Climate Education And Research; S.1986 Extends Time Period for School Districts To Pay Off Clean Energy Upgrades Using Money Saved on Their Utility Bills

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF $500 MILLION GREEN CHIPS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND NOW OPEN –Established in Partnership with Micron Technology, Fund Assists with Locally Driven Projects in Central New York; First Round Awarded More Than $43 Million for Regional Priorities

GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND REPRESENTATIVES OCASIO-CORTEZ AND RYAN HIGHLIGHT NEW YORK’S NATION-LEADING MORATORIUM ON HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION –Governor and Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan Hold Roundtable in Dutchess County With Farmers and Community Stakeholders To Discuss Impacts of Potential Data Center Development. Governor Highlighted Key Policies from Data Center Moratorium and AI Safety Regulations

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $97 MILLION TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES – Funding Supports Construction of New Sidewalks, Crosswalks, Shared Use Paths, Other Enhancements To Facilitate Non-Motorized Modes of Travel; 35 Projects Across New York State Will Support Local Infrastructure and Strengthen Community Connections

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES START OF LARGEST SUBWAY SIGNAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN MTA HISTORY – $1.9 Billion Investment Funded By Congestion Pricing Will Modernize A and C Service in Brooklyn and Queens; Modern Signals Will Replace 1930s-Era Equipment, Providing Faster, More Frequent and More Reliable Service

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES JOINT EFFORT TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD WITHIN SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM – State Partners with Federal Law Enforcement to Crack Down on Fraudulent Payments

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES UP TO $9.5 MILLION IN STATE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ROCKVILLE CENTRE PROJECTS – Funding Will Support Improvements to Hickey-Joyce Field Complex and Drinking Water Infrastructure

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 16 ARRESTS IN STATE CRACKDOWN ON AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD – New York State Police and Department of Financial Services Uncover Staged Crashes and Fraudulent Insurance Claims Throughout New York State; Builds on Governor Hochul’s Efforts to Lower Auto Insurance Costs by Tackling Fraud, Waste and Abuse That Drive Up Costs for New York Drivers

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ROUND NINE WINNERS OF LUMINATE NY STARTUP ACCELERATOR AND COMPETITION – Gekko Photonics Awarded $1 Million “Company of the Year” Investment; More Than $2 Million Awarded to Propel Next-Generation Optics, Photonics, and Laser Breakthroughs; Applications Now Open for Round 10 of World’s Premier Deep-Tech Accelerator through January 11, 2027

In contrast, here are the press announcements for Blakeman as Nassau County Executive going back to July:

Blakeman to Join Survivors and Nurses for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (10/2/26)

Blakeman To Provide Additional Update On Nor’Easter (9/27/2026)

Blakeman And Romaine To Provide Information On Nor’Easter Impacting Long Island This Weekend (9/25/2026)

Nassau County to Rededicate Fire Service September 11th Memorial (9/20/2026)

Blakeman To Host County 9/11 Ceremony and Musical Tribute (9/10/2026)

Nassau County To Honor 105-Year-Old World War II Veteran And American Hero Ahead Of 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 (9/8/2026)

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Unveils Plaque Memorializing “The Catch” Made By Babe Ruth On 100th Anniversary (7/22/26)

Blakeman to Make Major Announcement Regarding the Future of Nassau County’s 287(g) Agreement with ICE (8/26/2026)

Statement From Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman On President Trump’s Planned Visit To Nassau County (8/10/26) “I am grateful that President Trump is coming to Nassau County to tour our outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities and pay tribute to the men and women of our Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, and our firefighters for their outstanding efforts to protect our county, state, and country.” (Notably, roadways were blocked off for miles of the venue and prevented access to a protest.)

Blakeman has quite literally never proposed anything to address a problem or improve quality of life for the county he oversees. Like Trump, he has no ideas, only knows how to attack, lie and deflect blame.

Early voting: Saturday, October 24-Sunday, November 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

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Affordability, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Awards $20 Million for Groundbreaking Move-In NY Homeownership Program

Awards for Governor’s Groundbreaking MOVE-IN NY Program Will Bring Modern, Affordable Factory-Built Homes to Long Island, North Country and Finger Lakes

Prefabricated Starter Homes Constructed in a Fraction of the Time at Nearly Half the Cost

Governor Kathy Hochul: “My administration is using every tool in the toolbox to bring homeownership within reach for individuals and families across New York. By harnessing the benefits of factory-built technology, the MOVE-IN NY program is bringing modern, affordable single-family homes to the market more quickly and in more regions than ever before.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the final round of 2026 awards for her innovative MOVE-IN NY affordable homeownership program. Nearly $20 million was awarded to create 61 new homes across the state.

Affordability – especially in housing – has been a key focus for Governor Hochul for years.

“My administration is using every tool in the toolbox to bring homeownership within reach for individuals and families across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “By harnessing the benefits of factory-built technology, the MOVE-IN NY program is bringing modern, affordable single-family homes to the market more quickly and in more regions than ever before.”

Administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), MOVE-IN NY harnesses the benefits of prefabricated homes to quickly build more affordable starter homes in communities throughout New York. The factory-built homes used in the MOVE-IN NY program can be built quickly and economically, at a large scale. Referred to as “CrossMods,” these homes resemble traditionally constructed single-family homes and can be integrated in all types of housing markets including urban, suburban and rural communities.

MOVE-IN NY funds are awarded to municipalities, land banks, or non-profits through a competitive process and will be used to purchase and site prefabricated CrossMod homes. Once sited, the homes will be sold for less than the cost of construction to low- and moderate-income homebuyers.

CrossMods are built to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Code and meet design guidelines approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which enables homebuyers to access conventional mortgages.

In this round of awards, the Essex County Land Bank was awarded $7,260,000 for four homes; the Wayne County Regional Land Bank was awarded $3,327,500 for 11 homes; the Rochester Land Bank was awarded $4,537,500 for 15 homes; and the Suffolk County Landbank was awarded $4,840,000 for 11 homes. To date, over $80 million dollars in MOVE-IN NY funding has been awarded to create new, affordable homeownership opportunities for 250 households. 

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said,“The innovative MOVE-IN NY program is helping individuals and families build housing security across the state. This $20 million investment for more than 60 affordable homes exemplifies Governor Hochul’s bold vision and leadership on expanding homeownership. We are grateful for our partners at the Essex County Land Bank, Wayne County Land Bank, Suffolk County Land Bank and Rochester Land Bank for their commitment to New York’s housing agenda.”

Throughout New York, smaller, more affordable homes — often referred to as “starter homes” — have become increasingly scarce, preventing young individuals and families from becoming first-time homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. In recent years, construction costs, materials and interest rates have skyrocketed, making the typical cost to construct a small, single-family home in New York upwards of $450,000 or more.

MOVE-IN NY is supported by $50 million that Governor Hochul secured in the FY26 Enacted State Budget. The Governor secured an additional $100 million in the FY27 Enacted Budget to support further expansion of the MOVE-IN NY program as well as the continued exploration of emerging factory-built and modular construction technologies. This investment will help New York remain a leader in using innovative approaches to homebuilding.

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “Tackling our affordable housing crisis will require creative solutions and many different types of housing, including the expansion of modular and manufactured homes across the state. With funding allocated through our state budget, the MOVE-IN NY program will put homeownership within reach for many families while helping to turn vacant and dilapidated blocks into thriving neighborhoods. The expansion of factory-built starter homes will help many young people and families buy their first homes. I look forward to working with Governor Hochul and HCR to further expand this program.”

Essex County Land Bank, President & CEO Nicole Justice Green said,“This is a monumental moment for Essex County and the North Country. Communities throughout the Adirondack Park are working incredibly hard to address a housing shortage. These new homes will make a tangible difference by creating attainable homeownership opportunities and helping more people build their lives here. MOVE-IN NY is a model that truly works for rural New York, and we are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and the HCR team.”

Wayne County Regional Land Bank, Executive Director Kaleigh Flynn said, “We are thrilled to be awarded through MOVE-IN NY to build 11 new critically-needed homes in the Town of Lyons. This funding will transform vacant lots into quality, affordable homeownership opportunities for families including seniors looking to downsize and age in their community, young families looking to set down roots and our workforce. New housing development is a significant challenge in rural communities. We are grateful for this impactful investment in Wayne County and for the commitment of state leadership to addressing these challenges.”

Rochester Land Bank Corporation Executive Director Paul J. Scuderi said,“Homeownership remains one of the most important pathways for families to build financial security and generational wealth, but that opportunity has remained out of reach for too many Rochester residents. This funding allows the Rochester Land Bank Corporation to help bridge that gap, invest in their future and become more firmly rooted in the neighborhoods they call home. We thank our partners at New York State Homes and Community Renewal for making this investment in the city’s Northeast Quadrant.”

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary state funding. There are currently more than 460 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state.

As part of FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her “Let Them Build” agenda. “Let Them Build” also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Enacted Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The FY27 Enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.

Affordability, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, Infrastructure

Governor Hochul Launches $225 Million Clean Water for Housing Program

Certified Pro-Housing Communities to Receive Support Through New State Investment for Drinking Water, Sewer and Stormwater Projects

Continues Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Build More Housing to Address Affordability

“No family should be unable to buy a home because their community’s water and sewer systems can’t support housing growth,” Governor Hochul said. “With $225 million in new funding, we’re helping communities make critical improvements that unlock housing growth, strengthen local economies and give more New Yorkers the opportunity to find a home they can afford.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the $225 million Clean Water for Housing program to help municipalities build the water infrastructure needed to support housing development. By lifting critical financial barriers, Governor Hochul is helping communities advance shovel-ready water quality projects that will lay the foundation for sustainable growth. The program builds on the Governor’s comprehensive housing and clean water agendas that are investing billions in local projects to tackle the housing crisis and improve water quality while minimizing costs for families and businesses.

“No family should be unable to buy a home because their community’s water and sewer systems can’t support housing growth,” Governor Hochul said. “With $225 million in new funding, we’re helping communities make critical improvements that unlock housing growth, strengthen local economies and give more New Yorkers the opportunity to find a home they can afford.”

Governor Hochul has made $175 million available for projects statewide, with an additional $50 million specifically for rural municipalities, where aging or inadequate water systems can pose significant obstacles to development. These grants will help communities address their water infrastructure needs, expand access to essential services and establish the systems needed to support future housing growth.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is accepting applications for proposed drinking water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects necessary to promote housing development, improvements or rehabilitation. Grants are available to municipalities certified through the State’s Pro-Housing Communities Program and eligible counties.

Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Community Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. Under the Pro-Housing Community Program, which is administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), local governments that are taking action to support housing growth to address the housing shortage can apply to become certified. After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary State funding. Since the launch of the Pro-Housing Communities Program, these State funds have supported the creation of up to 20,000 more homes statewide. To date, more than 460 communities across New York have been certified. Communities can learn more about the Pro-Housing Communities Program, including how to become certified, by visiting the Pro-Housing Communities Program website.

Applications and complete eligibility information are available on EFC’s website. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all the available grant funds are awarded.

EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “By investing in the essential systems that make housing possible, Governor Hochul is helping communities turn housing plans into new homes and thriving communities. Clean Water for Housing reflects Governor Hochul’s commitment to tackling the housing shortage with practical investments that help communities grow, protect public health and create more vibrant and resilient neighborhoods.”

“Access to reliable water, sewer and stormwater systems are central to supporting our housing growth agenda in New York State,” New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said. “Governor Hochul created the Pro-Housing Communities Program to incentivize cities, towns and villages to support communities that improve their infrastructure so that more housing can be created and preserved. Thank you to the Environmental Facilities Corporation for administering $225 million through the Clean Water for Housing program so that more than 460 Pro-Housing Communities can invest in their futures.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “New Yorkers need safe housing with reliable access to water in the neighborhoods they call home. The $225 million Clean Water for Housing program is the latest example of how state agencies are helping advance Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to increase support for sustainable growth and housing statewide, while protecting public health and the environment.”

New York’s Commitment to Water Quality

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. Governor Hochul announced $500 million in grants this week to deliver the first installment of her $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to local projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. In addition to the Clean Water for Housing funding, EFC is currently accepting applications for $45 million in funding for Green Resiliency Grants. EFC’s Community Assistance Teams are available for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications.

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary State funding. More than 460 communities throughout the state have been certified Pro-Housing.

As part of the FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her “Let Them Build” agenda. “Let Them Build” also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Enacted Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.