It is notable that the dictator wannabe Trump cites the images he saw on TV to decry starvation in Gaza – he has a whole intelligence apparatus and presumably a daily briefing (with pictures!) to give him a true assessment, unvarnished by his conspiracy-propagating media and social media allies (Fox, X). It is also notable that instead of going after the true perpetrators and source of terror and violence – the mass murderers, political extremists with easy, ready access to weapons of war – the MAGAs decry those who advocate for justice and fairness in law enforcement. And instead of improving public safety by increasing funding for intelligence and law enforcement, Trump and his Department of Homeland Security are withholding funding to urban centers (read, “Democrat-leaning”) centers.It is yet another instance of Trump and his vile administration using money – that is, OUR tax dollars – as a weapon to further his personal and political objectives, without a care for the fallout for public safety, health, security – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
Governor Kathy Hochul issued a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the release of funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) through the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) following Monday evening’s mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan.
UASI funding is critical to building intelligence analysis capacity within the NYPD, enabling surge capacity when new threats are identified, and allowing the NYPD to provide federal law enforcement partners with intelligence collection and analysis capacity during large National Special Security events. UASI also supports a wide array of security initiatives conducted by law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Eliminating this funding — which totaled more than $156.1 million for New York in 2024 — would make New Yorkers less safe at a time when New York City remains a high-level target for acts of targeted violence. New York City, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, City of Yonkers, and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties all received awards through this funding.
The full text of the letter:
Dear Secretary Noem:
As Governor, my top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe. For decades, New York has partnered with the federal government, your agency specifically, to resource homeland security and counter terrorism efforts in New York City and across New York State.
On Monday, it was once again apparent that New York City remains a high-level target for acts of targeted violence. Four New Yorkers lost their lives, including an NYPD officer, in Midtown Manhattan. The assailant responsible traveled from Nevada all the way to our nation’s largest metropolis to commit this heinous act.
Your Department has long recognized that densely populated urban areas constitute a specific and unique target for acts of terrorism and targeted violence, and that there are unique needs and challenges to securing them safely. However, under your watch the Department of Homeland Security has failed to release the funding for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
We know from public reporting that Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson sent a memo to the White House that you approved recommending the elimination of UASI. In that memo, the Acting Administrator admitted that eliminating this funding would result in “a less secure nation, especially at the border and in some of the nation’s most targeted cities, including Miami, Washington DC, and Dallas…”. New York City is this nation’s most targeted city when it comes to terrorism threats.
Eliminating this funding — which totaled more than $553 million in 2024, $156.1 million of which went to New York — would make New Yorkers less safe, hamstring the NYPD’s efforts to confront terrorist threats, and reduce intelligence information sharing across local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. This funding has been critical to building intelligence analysis capacity within the NYPD, enabling surge capacity when new threats are identified, and allowing the NYPD to provide federal law enforcement partners with intelligence collection and analysis capacity during large National Special Security events — all goals that until recently we were confident our federal partners shared with us.
On Monday, the same day as the latest targeted attack, your agency released several homeland security preparedness grants that we had expected to receive in May. However, you failed to also release UASI — the grant specifically designed to protect the nation’s highest urban terrorist targets.
Further delays in the release of UASI will degrade our nation’s ability to protect our urban centers including our ability to keep New Yorkers safe. I urge you to fulfill your duty to protect all Americans and to release UASI funding immediately.
Washington, D.C.— Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Ways and Means Member, and Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax, introduced bipartisan legislation to build the middle class by increasing employee stock ownership.
This bipartisan bill is cosponsored by eleven Ways and Means Members, including Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenues, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Suozzi’s Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and Reps. Larson (D-CT), Malliotakis (R-NY), Panetta (D-CA), Tenney (R-NY), Sewell (D-AL), Smucker (R-PA), and Horsford (D-NV).
The Share Holder Allocation for Rewards to Employees (SHARE)Plan Act rewards companies that distribute at least 5% of their stock to their lowest paid 80% of employees with a 3% reduction in their federal corporate income tax rate. This voluntary framework incentivizes more employee stock ownership, which is proven to improve employee productivity while translating to company profits.
If fully implemented, $3-4 trillion in stock value would be transferred over time to almost 40 million middle and working-class Americans without creating any new government bureaucracy. Employees would be transformed from mere workers to actual stakeholders with stock equity in their companies, and companies would be rewarded for sharing that wealth.
“Today, the top earning 10% of Americans hold 93% of all stock. Meanwhile, the lowest earning 50% own less than 1%. We need more Americans to own stock and have a stake in America’s growth and success. Let’s cut workers in on the deal,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi. “The SHARE Plan Act is a creative, common sense, concrete way to build wealth for the middle class and those aspiring to it. It helps build an ownership society, which is especially crucial with the rise of AI in the workplace, while incentivizing workers themselves to be more invested in their companies’ success.”
“The SHARE Plan Act allows employees to have more skin in the game and receive a greater return on their hard work,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA). “Where I come from in western Pennsylvania, a paycheck is more than just a paycheck. It’s about the dignity of work. This legislation builds upon that belief as workers look toward retirement, as well.”
“Ninety-three percent of Americans’ stock market wealth is held by the top ten percent of earners. While the wealthy get wealthier from investments, middle- and low-income Americans are left behind. This needs to change. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce the SHARE Plan to incentivize corporations to share opportunities to build wealth with all of their employees,”said Rep. Mike Thompson.
“There is one factor which separates the rich from those of our citizens who rely on a salary only and live paycheck to paycheck–that is that the wealthy in our country own stock, usually the stock of the company they work for. The bottom 50% of American households own less than 1% of all stock. We need to change this,” said the plan’s author Robert Patricelli, founder and CEO of three national healthcare companies and former federal official in the Nixon and Ford Administrations.
Companies would receive the tax rate reduction in any year in which they granted at least 1% of their stock or have cumulatively granted at least 5%. SHARE Plan distributions would be tax deductible for the company, and income from SHARE Plan stock grants would be tax exempt for employees.
“We need to rebuild the middle class,” said Rep. Suozzi. “Hard work should be rewarded with enough money to buy a home, educate your children, pay for health insurance, and retire one day without being scared. The SHARE Plan Act will help restore the American Dream!”
Extreme Weather Continues To Grow in Frequency and Intensity — Dozens of Temperature and Snowfall Records Broken in Recent Years, Along With Numerous Significant Rainfalls and Wildfires
Governor Launched Innovative State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany; Invested More Than $25 Million to Expand Regional Presence of State Emergency Management Staff and Response Assets
In contrast to the malicious negligence of climate-denying Trump, HHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Republican governors including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has worked for years stepping up the state’s mitigation and protection against the worsening severity and likelihood of climate disasters. After the tragic results of the Republican administration in Texas failure to spend money from its $30 billion “rainy day fund” on emergency warning system that could have prevented the loss of life of Camp Mystic and throughout the flash-flood prone region, and the extraordinary negligence of Kristi Noem who failed to send out rescue teams for 72 hours, Governor Hochul sought to alleviate New Yorkers’ concerns by focusing on how the state prepares for extreme weather and taking actions to mitigate for climate change as the state transitions to a clean-energy economy.- Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Governor Kathy Hochul updated New Yorkers on the state’s preparedness and response capabilities as extreme weather continues to grow in frequency and intensity each year. In the face of this growing threat, as well as looming cuts in critical federal funding, Governor Hochul has made it a top priority to invest in the State’s capabilities to prepare for, and respond to, all types of extreme weather.
“New York State is no stranger to extreme weather, and New Yorkers must be prepared for the myriad of severe weather events that come our way,” Governor Hochul said. “Keeping our state safe and protected is my top priority, and my administration is committed to ensuring accessible emergency weather preparedness and an all-hands-on-deck approach to response and recovery operations as severe weather threats increase.”
New York has one of the nation’s most diverse threat landscapes, especially when it comes to the threat of extreme weather. Since taking office in 2021, weather-related natural disasters have resulted in eight Major Disaster Declarations, five Emergency Declarations and one Fire Management Assistance Grant Declaration from the federal government, as well as the declaration of at least 19 State Disaster Emergencies by Governor Hochul herself.
The diversity of natural threats has been wide ranging too. In 2024 and 2025 alone, New York has:
Broken 49 High Temperature Records
Broken 10 Low Temperature Records
Broken 19 Snowfall Records
Experienced 38 Tornadoes
Experienced 20 significant brush and wildfires, including the largest wildfire in NYS in 30+ years
Experienced at least 20 significant rainfall events; and
Experienced impacts from two tropical systems (Beryl and Debby)
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Extreme weather events are now the norm, so being prepared is our best defense. We are fortunate to have a Governor that not only understands this, but actively does something about it. The significant investments Governor Hochul has made in training, equipment, planning and staffing have prepared us to support our local partners and all New Yorkers when a severe weather emergency strikes.”
“New York is leading the nation in building a strong connection between weather experts, emergency managers and the public— which is critical as our state faces increasingly frequent and extreme weather,: New York State Weather Risk Communication Center Director Nick Bassill said. “From hurricanes to lake effect snow and everything in between, the State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany is working daily to help state and local emergency managers better prepare for and respond to severe weather events. I’d like to thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bray for their continued support and remain committed to making our communities safer and more resilient.”
Strengthening Preparedness and Response, While Building Resiliency
Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York has invested heavily in not only preparedness and response capabilities, but in building a more resilient state. Some of those efforts have included:
In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced the creation of New York’s State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) at the State University of New York at Albany. The Center is a first-of-its kind operational collaboration between university researchers and state emergency managers and serves as a clearinghouse for critical weather information. It also works to develop tools to help emergency managers make informed decisions to help protect communities and examines how communicating extreme weather risks to the public can be improved.
Governor Hochul secured $15 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to enable the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to supply county partners with critical emergency response assets such as generators, high-flow pumps and flood barrier technology.
Governor Hochul secured an additional $10.4 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to further strengthen the regional presence of State Emergency Management Staff, which will add to the volume and availability of on-the-ground support, planning, trainings, exercises, as well as build out our analytic and geospatial capabilities.
Governor Hochul secured a total of $90 million in the past two years to launch the Resilient & Ready, an initiative administered by New York Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) consisting of two programs that support resiliency and home repair efforts for low-and-moderate income homeowners. The Resilient Retrofits program provides assistance to eligible homeowners for making proactive flood mitigation and resiliency improvements. The Rapid Response program helps assist eligible households that experience home damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of certain major storms.
In January 2024, the Governor announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect people, communities, infrastructure and homes.
Following the devastating tornado in Rome, Governor Hochul provided $11 million in Emergency Assistance, including up to $5 million for homeowners and $4 million for demolition in Oneida County after the event did not qualify for federal assistance. Another in May 2025 provided $3.5 million to rehab two buildings destroyed by the tornadoes as well.
State Preparedness, Response and Recovery Operations
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is New York’s primary conduit for emergency preparedness and response operations for all emergencies, both natural and human made. During emergencies, OEM not only coordinates with local emergency responders to support local operations but helps coordinate the deployment of thousands of State personnel and pieces of equipment from numerous State agencies.
OEM is also home to the State Watch Center which is staffed 24/7/365 to monitor hazardous activity throughout the State and ensure situational awareness for state leaders. Additionally, OEM maintain nine stockpiles located throughout the State which are able to provide emergency response assets and supplies as needed.
Along with Emergency Management, training first responders from all disciplines is a core mission for the Division. Whether online, or in-person, over 54,000 firefighters, emergency managers, officers and other first responders received some form of training from the Division, including the 4,778 students who received training at the state’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Separately, nearly 10,000 state and local first responders received training at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany — one of the nation’s premier first responder training facilities.
The Division is also home to the Office of Disaster Recovery Programs which is responsible for the legwork necessary for obtaining federal disaster declarations and administering the federal recovery dollars that flow to communities as a result. Since 2021, the Division has issued payments totaling $12.36 billion in federal Public Assistance recovery funding and $410.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Assistance funding.
Individual Preparedness
In any emergency situation, individual preparedness is one of the most critical components of an effective response and the state offers New Yorkers a number of different ways to not only stay prepared, but stay informed as well.
The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC), administered by the Division and the New York National Guard, was established in 2014 to train New Yorkers how to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond immediately and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Nearly 433,000 New Yorkers have taken CPC training in community settings throughout the State.
CPC trainings are free and held in-person throughout the State. New Yorkers can find a local training and enroll online at the DHSES website. For those unable to attend in person, courses are also available online in English and with subtitles in 12 additional languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Yiddish.
Additionally, Governor Hochul announced a new real-time emergency and weather alert system earlier this year as part of the State’s Hurricane Preparedness Week recognition efforts. Managed by the Division, this text option allows New Yorkers to text the name of their county or borough to 333111 to receive real time emergency and weather alerts and updates directly to their phones. New Yorkers should also remember to follow their local forecasts and visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov for important safety information.
Heat waves and other extreme heat events are likely to happen again this summer and New York State agencies are working to implement initiatives recommended by the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan to help New Yorkers prepare for heat’s negative health and environmental impacts. In June, New York State marked significant progress on the first year of implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) with the first readiness update now available. The EHAP, led by DEC and NYSERDA along with DHSES and DOH under the direction of Governor Hochul, includes nearly 50 actions by State agencies to address extreme heat impacts across four tracks (local planning and capacity building, community preparedness and workers’ safety, resilient buildings and access to cooling, and advancing ecosystem-based adaptations). The full update on implementation progress is available here.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closely monitors air quality conditions statewide and works with the State Department of Health to issue timely public health advisories that millions of New Yorkers depend on each year. Visit DEC’s website for updated forecasts and information about air quality index levels, and the Department of Health website for information on health risks and precautions related to air quality.
New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
As Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was signing an Executive Order showing support for the Trump Administration’s mass deportation activities, and stood up a private militia to assist, Nassau County Legislator, Democrat Scott M. Davis, penned this op-ed decrying Blakeman’s legally suspect “Provisional Deputy Sheriff” program.
Blakeman also advocated for passing the first ban on wearing a mask in public in New York State (notably, not a ban on wearing a mask during the commission of a crime, but anyone wearing a mask in public), inviting discriminatory police stops like the New York City, Rudy Giuliani-era stop-and-frisk policies that were ruled unconstitutional. But while Blakeman led the way to arrest people wearing a mask, he just signed an Executive Order allowing police to wear masks. Blakeman’sExecutive Order comes in the wake of a new bill that would ban ICE agents from wearing masks to conceal their identities while working in New York City. County Executive Blakeman derided the legislation and the decisions made by the New York City Council as being “pro-criminal and un-American.”
Notably, while the Supreme Court years ago ruled wearing a mask at a protest was protected under the Constitution, a federal judge just ruled that snatching people based on their skin color, language, occupation violated the 4th Amendment. Trump’s Deportation Czar Holman said that was exactly the criteria the ICE agents and their surrogates were using, and as a result, also swept up U.S. citizens. The agents’ use of masks is intended to shield them from accountability for their unlawful actions.
The Republican county executive, who has been hard at work currying favor and attention to prove himself a loyal soldier of the Trump’s team, is part and parcel of the Trump Administration’s march to a police state. How Blakeman will use his private militia – basically deputized private citizens with guns – in the service of Trump’s mass deportation policy is the issue and the concern. – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
By Scott M. Davis
As a Nassau County resident and member of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee, I believe it is important for all residents to be fully informed about County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s ill-considered appointment of Provisional Deputy Sheriffs. The program, which has become known colloquially as Blakeman’s “militia,” is unlawful, an overreach of Executive authority, and creates an unnecessary risk of liability for Nassau County.
The program, which was launched in March 2024 and is currently being challenged in State Supreme Court, seeks to allow for the appointment of armed civilian volunteers to serve as “provisional deputy sheriffs” during a declared emergency. The purported rational for enacting this law, according to County Executive Blakeman, is “to provide an extra layer of protection”. He contends that these armed civilians would be deployed only in extreme emergencies where County and local law enforcement are overwhelmed and unable to respond – in essence inserting armed volunteer civilians into the worst possible circumstances which would be challenging even for the most seasoned law enforcement professionals.
Simply put, Nassau County does not need an “extra layer of protection” from a private civilian militia in 2025. Our nearly 1.4 million residents are protected by over 22 village and city police departments, a highly trained County police force numbering nearly 2,600 officers, an Office of Emergency Management, the New York State Police and the National Guard if necessary.
These resources have led U.S. News and World Report to designate Nassau County as the safest County of its size in the United States – a designation which is clearly indicative of a robust, well-trained, staffed and equipped police department that is fully capable of addressing any emergency in the County. To date, there has been no request for additional support from armed civilians by any law enforcement agency in the County, nor has there been any indication the current police departments would be understaffed should an emergency arise.
Moreover, this annual study of more than 3,100 Counties nationwide determined that we border two Counties that similarly excel in public safety – Queens to the west (20th safest) and Suffolk to the east (22nd safest).
Not only is the program unnecessary, I believe it is unlawful. The legal authority that the County Executive has cited for forming his militia is New York County Law section 655, which provides “for protection of human life and property during an emergency, the sheriff may deputize… such number of additional special deputies as he deems necessary”. Enacted in the 1930s, this archaic law was intended for emergencies where there were inadequate law enforcement personnel for protection of human life or property – particularly in rural areas with sparse populations and small police departments that could be understaffed and overwhelmed during an emergency.
It is my belief that Nassau is not a County that this antiquated law was intended for, and that this statute does not give County Executive Blakeman the authority to deputize and marshal a force of armed civilians.
My Democratic colleagues and I have many unanswered questions regarding the core details of this program. Who trains these civilians and what does the training entail? Will members of the militia be provided with uniforms and weapons? Who do members of the militia report to? Who determines when and where they are deployed? Is Nassau County liable in the event of negligence by a member of the militia?
The residents of Nassau County deserve transparency and answers. Faced with the Blakeman administration’s refusal to communicate with the Legislators or respond to Freedom of Information requests (FOIL) regarding the militia, and the belief that the civilian militia is a misapplication of the law, the only option remaining was to file a lawsuit against Blakeman challenging the legality of his Provisional Deputy Sheriff Program and compel transparency.
For these reasons, I along with my fellow Public Safety Committee member Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé, filed suit in Nassau County Supreme against the Blakeman administration on Feb. 5.
Scott M. Davis, of Rockville Centre, has represented the Nassau County Legislature’s First District since 2024.
Governor Kathy Hochul today released new data showing the devastating impacts of the Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill” on New York State – supported by all seven New York Republican congressmembers. The data show the enormous scale of the recently-enacted law, including draconian cuts to Medicaid, hospitals and SNAP benefits, and the impact of those cuts on the millions of New Yorkers who rely on these lifeline programs and services.
“I’ve been very clear: no state can fully undo the damage in this bill or backfill cuts of this scale,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m working with the Legislature to brace for the impact and protect as many New Yorkers as possible because your family is my fight. I will never turn my back on New Yorkers or the values that we share.”
“Our NY GOP Congressmembers have sold out millions of New Yorkers in fear of retribution from Donald Trump,” State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said. “This disgraceful bill continues a non-stop assault on our nation’s universities and seeks to destroy our educational institutions. I have worked hand-in-hand with Governor Hochul to keep our colleges affordable, accessible and of high quality and will continue to do so. These actions will ultimately hurt poor and middle class families, especially those in upstate and rural areas where our universities are the top economic driver. It’s an utter and complete betrayal of the people of New York State.”
State Senator Samra Brouk said,“The federal administration’s “Big Ugly Bill” betrays Americans by depriving them of health care coverage and raising healthcare costs across the board. It also enacts the largest SNAP cuts in American history. In New York State, many residents will lose healthcare coverage, hospitals will shoulder costs of uncompensated care, and increased medical bills will place a strain on anyone seeking care. Millions of New Yorkers will also be impacted by worsening food insecurity, loss of jobs in the food industry, and decreased SNAP funding for local farmers’ markets. This bill will cause irreparable harm to hardworking families and deepen inequity between working people and the ultra wealthy. New Yorkers deserve better–I will continue to fight for investments in our state, especially for children and working families, and prioritize the welfare of my neighbors.”
Essential Plan/Medicaid Cuts
Republicans’ cuts to health care and other benefits will hurt all New Yorkers. The changes will eliminate insurance coverage for millions of New Yorkers, destabilize health insurance programs statewide, and have an overall fiscal impact on the State and the New York health care system of almost $13 billion per year. These changes will make it harder for providers statewide to keep operating, making it more difficult for all New Yorkers to find care when they need it.
More than 2 million New Yorkers will lose their current insurance coverage, including approximately 730,000 lawfully-present non-citizens who could lose Essential Plan (EP) coverage as over half of EP’s budget — $7.5 billion in federal funding — is eliminated, and a further 1.3 million New Yorkers who will lose Medicaid coverage due to new eligibility and verification hurdles.
Of these 2 million people, 1.5 million New Yorkers are anticipated to become uninsured, with uncompensated care costs to hospitals and providers estimated to rise to over $3 billion annually —which means less access to care and higher medical bills for New Yorkers.
Analysis from the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) estimates a total $8 billion in annual cuts to New York’s hospitals and health systems, which could force hospitals to curtail critically needed services such as maternity care and psychiatric treatment, not to mention to downsize operations, and even close entirely. These consequences will not only affect Medicaid enrollees, but also harm everyone who requires hospital care, leading to longer wait times and less access to critical services.
The size and scope of the Rural Transformation Fund included in the law — an average of $10 billion annually for 5 years for rural hospitals nationwide — is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of our State. Adding insult to injury, none of these funds are guaranteed to reach any New York State hospital.
SNAP and Nutrition Assistance
Since the inception of SNAP, the federal government has funded these benefits 100 percent, receiving bipartisan support from presidents of both parties and in Congress.
For the first time in history, the Republicans’ enacted law requires states to contribute to the cost of benefits, or risk having to end their SNAP programs entirely — jeopardizing a program that nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on to put food on the table. New York State will be required to fund 15 percent of all SNAP benefits starting as early as October 1, 2027, at an estimated cost to the State of $1.2 billion per year. It further cuts the federal share of SNAP administrative costs from 50 percent to 25 percent which will increase costs for the State by roughly $36 million annually, and increase costs for counties and New York City by roughly $168 million annually. Counties will have to begin incorporating this fiscal hit into their 2026 budgets due this fall. In total, New York and local governments are facing up to $1.4 billion in new costs annually.
The law also imposes more punitive administratively complex work requirements on SNAP recipients, which will make it harder to qualify for assistance. As a result, 300,000 households are projected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits, with an average loss of $220/month, devastating low-income families’ grocery budgets.
The law also cuts funds for the SNAP-Ed New York Program, which promotes healthy eating and efficient use of already modest SNAP benefits by teaching SNAP beneficiaries how to shop for and cook wholesome, healthy meals on a limited budget. As a result, New York will lose $29 million annually that funded this work by 18 community-based organizations throughout the entire State including Cornell Cooperative Extensions in Albany, Allegany, Erie, Wayne, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, St. Lawrence, Steuben and Suffolk counties.
Beyond worsening food insecurity and malnutrition, cuts to the program will hurt local businesses and weaken SNAP’s ability to boost local economies in every state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) own research has shown that SNAP benefits have a multiplier effect, with every $1 spent on SNAP benefits generating $1.54 in economic activity as recipients spend their benefits at local businesses in their communities. For New York, where a total of approximately $7.4 billion in SNAP benefits are issued every year, that means $11.5 billion in economic activity is generated annually across urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.
Slashing families’ grocery budgets would reduce revenue for thousands of businesses, with ripple effects throughout the food supply chain. If states are forced to end their SNAP programs, in addition to increasing hunger and poverty, grocery stores in rural areas will struggle to stay open, people in agriculture and the food industry will lose jobs, and State and local economies will suffer:
Lost SNAP sales and matching dollars will have a critical impact on local economies and the more than 18,000 retailers that accept SNAP in New York State, including grocery stores, local shops and more than 400 SNAP-authorized local farmers’ markets and farm stands that can be found in every county in New York selling New York agricultural products to the people in their local community.
SNAP sales in the farming community have dramatically increased since 2019, providing New York consumers access to healthy, farm fresh foods and providing our farm communities additional economic development dollars.
As the State matches SNAP dollars spent at farm markets through the Fresh2You FreshConnect program, the hit to farms of decreased SNAP funding is doubled.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This bill undermines health care for millions of New Yorkers, dismantles vital services, and places our most vulnerable families in jeopardy. With the support of Governor Hochul, we remain unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, ensuring they continue to receive the care and support they rightfully deserve.”
“The historic cuts and cost shifts related to SNAP enacted last week will take food off the tables of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and shift billions of dollars in costs onto the backs of the State and local governments in New York, while weakening the very safety net families rely on when times are hard,” New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said. :As the State agency tasked with administering SNAP and other essential support programs, we are deeply concerned, not only for the immediate harm to individuals and families, but for the continued erosion of the social safety net that has helped support low-income New Yorkers across the state. At a time when so many households are struggling with the high cost of food, rent, and energy – we should not be reducing access to vital economic supports.”
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said,“By passing this bill, House Republicans have rubber-stamped Donald Trump’s cruel and dangerous agenda, one that rips Medicaid away from 1.5 million New Yorkers, slashes $13 billion from our healthcare system, and raises costs for working families. As we continue to assess the full scope of these devastating cuts, it’s clear that the damage will leave our state deeply vulnerable. All of the progress we’ve made is under threat. No state can fully fill the hole this bill has blown open but we are committed to doing everything in our power to protect New Yorkers and keep our communities thriving.”
“This bill will devastate the lives of countless families across our state, especially our most vulnerable neighbors,” Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said. “By cutting vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid, the administration has indicated that they care more about the pockets of their billionaire friends than they do about the families, children and people with disabilities that rely on this funding to survive day to day. I am truly disgusted by the public servants – especially New York’s seven Republican members of Congress – who voted for this and continue to lie about the impact this will have on their communities. They should be honest about the fact that they stood by their billionaire donors at a cost of their neighbors’ access to food, healthcare and essential services.”
Assemblymember Amy Paulin said,“As Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, I am deeply alarmed by the catastrophic impacts of the federal bill. Slashing Medicaid and Essential Plan funding will strip health care coverage from over 1.5 million New Yorkers and devastate our hospitals and providers — all while driving up costs for everyone else. These cruel and short-sighted cuts, combined with the gutting of SNAP benefits, will worsen health outcomes, increase hunger, and punish all of us.”
“This bill is a betrayal of the people we are meant to serve. It turns its back on our most vulnerable, gutting the support they need to stay healthy, fed, and secure,” Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said. “At its core, this bill is a giveaway to the wealthy, sacrificing the needs of hard-working families for billionaires’ gain. As a result, everyday New Yorkers are left with impossible choices and an uncertain future. New York will keep fighting to protect our communities and build a future rooted in care, dignity, and justice.”
Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman said, “This so-called ‘Big Ugly Bill’ is a direct assault on the most vulnerable New Yorkers—gutting essential health care, food assistance, and educational opportunity in one fell swoop. The harm is staggering: millions of people could lose health coverage, families will struggle to put food on the table, and students will face higher barriers to higher education. These are not just numbers—they’re lives. We in New York refuse to sit idle while Washington plays politics with our communities’ survival. I stand with Governor Hochul in fighting to protect every New Yorker’s basic dignity, health, and future.”
NY.gov/tariffs Will Keep New Yorkers Up-To-Date on Impacts of Tariffs
Amid the economic turmoil created by President Trump’s chaotic tariffs, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a new tariff resource guide to keep New Yorkers up-to-date on programs available for business owners who have been impacted by tariffs. Additionally, the Governor announced a survey to allow business owners the opportunity to share how their businesses have been impacted by the federal government’s recently announced tariffs.
“New Yorkers and business owners all across the state have felt a sense of uncertainty when it comes to the impacts of President Trump’s callous tariffs on our imported goods,” Governor Hochul said.“No business should have to close shop due to these unfair and unwanted taxes that were imposed on states by the Trump administration. This resource guide will help provide individuals with the guidance they need to lower potential risk to their businesses and give New Yorkers a better understanding of how tariffs can impact them.”
Tariffs Impacts on the Economy and Tourism
Governor Hochul has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the state who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada.
Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, cross-border traffic from Canada has plummeted since Trump implemented his tariff policies. The most recent data shows that there were 400,000 fewer Canadian visitors in May compared to the same period in 2024. Bridge crossings over the Ogdensburg Bridge and the Champlain crossing in May were down 30 percent during that same time period from last year. In a recent North Country Chamber of Commerce survey, 66 percent of tourism businesses report a drop in Canadian customers and one in four businesses in the region may cut staff as a result. Reservations are down at hotels, campgrounds, local marinas, golf courses and other businesses that rely on visitors from Canada.
It deserves reminding that the president has no authority to unilaterally impose tariffs. Moreover, Trump is using tariffs to strong arm other countries to obey his will: telling Brazil, for example, that he will raise tariffs on Brazilian goods by 50 percent unless the country ends its prosecution of Bolsanaro for attempting the same kind of coup as Trump mounted on January 6, 2021, but unlike Trump, was held to account. (Trump Threatens Brazil With Tariffs of 50% as He Assails Prosecution of Bolsonaro)
New York State is also contradicting and countering the destructive policies of the climate-change denying Trump administration and Republican-dominated states (like Texas and Florida):
Madison County Gets Major Renewable Energy Project
Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has issued a final siting permit to Cypress Creek Renewables to develop and operate Oxbow Hill Solar, a 140-megawatt (MW) solar array in the Town of Fenner in Madison County. The project will create good-paying jobs, improve grid reliability, invest in crucial infrastructure, and increase tax revenues for local schools and other community priorities.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the latest investment in solar technology, upholding our commitment to improving grid reliability and building a clean energy economy,” Governor Hochul said. “The projects we have approved over the last few years are a testament to New York’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency.”
The Oxbow Hill Solar facility will contribute 140 MW of clean, renewable energy to New York’s electric grid while offsetting over 177,000 metric tons of CO2 and providing power for approximately 23,000 average-sized homes.
The new solar facility will consist of the solar array and associated support equipment, along with an interconnection substation, fencing, access roads and an operations and maintenance building. The facility will interconnect to the New York electrical grid via the Fenner Wind to Whitman Road 115 kV transmission line that is owned and operated by National Grid. Oxbow Hill is sited on a portion of the existing Fenner Wind Farm, making it the first ORES permit where a solar facility is co-located with a wind facility.
This project was approved in less than the one-year timeframe required under the law, and was issued after a thorough, timely, and transparent review process that included public comment periods and hearings.
Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission Executive Director Zeryai Hagos said, “As the state approaches 4 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy, a monumental achievement, we are reminded that we still have work to do to address New York’s growing energy needs. ORES will continue to advance New York’s nation-leading clean energy policies while being responsive to community feedback and protecting the environment.”
This project is anticipated to create a total of 330 jobs during construction and marks 24 clean energy projects approved by ORES since 2021, when it was created to accelerate permitting for renewable energy generation. New York State has approved 28 large-scale solar and wind projects since 2021, including 24 permitted by ORES and four approved by the NYS Siting Board under Article 10, the statute that governed solar and wind projects over 25-MW prior to the creation of ORES. The 28 permitted facilities represent 3.9 gigawatts of new clean, renewable energy.
ORES’ decision for these facilities follows a detailed and transparent review process with robust public participation to ensure the proposed project meets or exceeds the requirements of Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law and its implementing regulations. The application for the Oxbow Hill Solar project was deemed complete on November 18, 2024 with a draft permit issued by ORES on January 14, 2025. This solar power project meaningfully advances New York’s clean energy goals while establishing the State as a paradigm for efficient, transparent, and thorough siting permitting process of major renewable energy facilities.
Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the ORES website.
Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, “By strengthening New York’s energy economy, we position ourselves to not only meet the growing electricity demand, but to do so sustainably. The solar array in Madison County brings us one step closer in reaching our climate and energy goals. Each major renewable energy project helps deliver the critical climate action that our state urgently needs, while also creating hundreds of local jobs and new revenue for community priorities. At a time where the federal government threatens progress on clean energy, New York remains unwavering in its provision of renewable and efficient energy for years to come.”
New York State’s Climate Agenda
New York State has approved 28 large-scale solar and wind projects since 2021, consistent with its Climate Agenda.
New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
Southern Tier Gets $21 Million in Flood Protection Projects
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $21 million to support flood protection projects in the Southern Tier. The projects address vital stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in communities including Binghamton, Elmira, Olean, and Whitney Point to help advance New York’s comprehensive clean water and resiliency efforts that will safeguard New Yorkers from extreme weather and the costly expenses of rebuilding after a flood.
“As we face more and more devastating extreme storms, we must do everything we can to ensure our communities are resilient, sustainable and ready,” Governor Hochul said. “We saw the flooding in Binghamton almost 15 years ago, and we don’t want to see it again. These projects help us get ahead of the storm damage, save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run, and prevent post-flood recovery costs for homeowners and businesses alike.”
The $21 million provided through the ‘Restoration and Flood Risk’ category of the historic $4.2 billion Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 will support projects implemented by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The initial four projects announced today will help make necessary updates and bolster the resilience of existing flood infrastructure like levees and flood walls, to help ensure these structures’ long-term effectiveness in protecting communities from flooding. These flood control structures were originally constructed under the federal 1936 Flood Control Act to specifically address flooding along the Southern Tier of New York State and built in the 1940s and early 1950s.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership and historic investments, New York State is making important progress to protect communities and infrastructure from the devastating impacts of flooding. By supporting DEC’s repairs and upgrades in Binghamton, Elmira, Olean, and Whitney Point with the record funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, the Governor is advancing key projects in communities that are susceptible to flooding, helping provide residents the support they need to avoid potential costly repairs if flooding occurs.”
“As climate change continues to intensify storms and flooding across New York, proactive investments like these are critical to protecting communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems,” Assemblymember Deborah Glick said. “The $21 million in Environmental Bond Act funding announced today will strengthen flood control systems in the Southern Tier, projects that are not only long overdue, but essential for public safety and long-term resiliency. I applaud Governor Hochul and Commissioner Lefton for advancing these vital efforts to build a safer, more climate-resilient New York.”
City of Binghamton Flood Control Project: DEC is making improvements to the Binghamton Flood Control Project located along the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers in the City of Binghamton. Rehabilitation of the floodwalls is necessary to ensure Binghamton has a resilient working flood protection system. The construction includes replacement of two floodwall panels, replacing deteriorated concrete, and application of a protective coating on the floodwalls to extend the useful life of the concrete walls.
City of Elmira Flood Control Project: DEC is making improvements to the Elmira Flood Control Project along the Chemung River, which provides flood protection for the city of Elmira. The project consists of levees, and flood walls with appurtenant drainage structures. The project will install 65 relief wells along with collector pipes to provide pressure relief caused by floodwaters and will ensure the structure meets U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements.
City of Olean Flood Control Project: DEC is making improvements to the Olean Flood Control Project located on the Allegheny River and Olean Creek in the city of Olean. The project will stabilize a section of existing levee system, mitigate erosion, and improve access to the levee for regular DEC maintenance.
Village of Whitney Point Flood Control Project: DEC is making improvements to the Whitney Point Flood Control Project located on the Tioughnioga River in the village of Whitney Point. The project will upgrade the manual gate system and install a new swing gate closure structure to more efficiently and effectively close the existing stoplog railroad closure.
On Nov. 8, 2022, New Yorkers overwhelmingly approved the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act ballot proposition to make $4.2 billion available for environmental and community projects. The Environmental Bond Act supports new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution, and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. State agencies, local governments, and partners can access this historic funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency, and create green jobs.
The projects announced today complement other state investments and opportunities to protect communities from flood damage. In May, Governor Hochul announced more than $78 million in funding available through the Water Quality Improvement Project Program and $22 million in Climate Smart Community grants, which both support projects that include flood risk reduction. Applications for these latest rounds of funding are due by July 31, 2025. In April, the Governor also announced $60 million in Environmental Bond Act funding for the next round of Green Resiliency Grants. The program supports vital stormwater management and resilient infrastructure projects in flood-prone communities across New York State. Applications for this program are due by Aug. 15, 2025. To learn more about resources available for resilient Bond Act-supported projects, visit environmentalbondact.ny.gov.
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure. With an additional $500 million for clean water infrastructure in the 2025-2026 enacted State Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $6 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. The budget also maintains a strong commitment to environmental conservation with a $425 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This funding bolsters a wide array of vital programs, including land acquisition for habitat and open space preservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, and water quality improvement projects.
$14.4 Billion in Lost Hospital-Generated Economic Activity, Resulting From $8 Billion in Cuts Targeting New York Hospitals and Health Systems
65,000 Jobs Lost Due to Cuts to Hospitals and Community Health Centers Serving Low Income New Yorkers
1.5 Million New Yorkers Will Lose Health Care Coverage
As the Senate voted to pass the Trump Administration and Washington Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill,” Governor Kathy Hochul today sounded the alarm about the potential devastating consequences of the Bill on New York hospitals, health systems and patients statewide. These reckless cuts to Medicaid and the Essential Plan will significantly impact health care providers across the State, endangering the health and finances of many New Yorkers who rely on these providers.
“I’ve said it several times and I’ll say it again today — all New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality health care, it’s that simple,”Governor Hochul said. “Republicans in Washington, including seven representing New York, are trying to rip away this basic human right from New Yorkers and I will not stand by and watch it happen, I’m standing up for our hardworking hospitals and families who rely on this care to survive.”
Hospitals and other health care providers across New York rely on Medicaid and Essential Plan funding to provide needed care to patients and maintain their operations.
Hospitals and health systems play a vital role in driving local economies. They often serve as the largest employers in their communities, creating numerous other jobs and ranking among the top 10 private employers in every region of New York. When hospitals are stronger, their communities thrive. GNYHA and HANYS estimate that the hospital cuts will lead to 34,000 lost hospital jobs and an additional 29,000 lost related jobs, and create a cumulative $14.4 billion in lost hospital-generated economic activity, devastating communities across New York.
Unfortunately, many New York hospitals are already financially distressed. The collective impact of the GOP reconciliation bill in Washington, D.C., could force hospitals to curtail critically needed services such as maternity care and psychiatric treatment, not to mention to downsize operations, and even close entirely. These impacts will be devastating across the State, and especially in rural communities. These consequences will not only affect Medicaid enrollees, but also harm everyone who requires hospital care, leading to longer wait times and less access to critical services.
In addition to hospitals, every kind of health care provider in New York State will be impacted. The Community Health Care Association of New York State estimates a direct loss of $300M for the State’s Community Health Centers, resulting in almost 2,000 layoffs. Community Health Centers are a vital lifeline that provide care to one in eight New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay.
In June, a letter signed by Yale and University of Pennsylvania scientists warned that more than 51,000 preventable deaths could occur annually if the provisions in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill are enacted. The letter, addressed to Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Bernie Sanders, estimates the potential nationwide death toll that would result from the bill’s provisions including restricting Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, repealing nursing home staffing regulations, and allowing Enhanced Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits to expire. These estimates would make the GOP bill a top ten cause of death in the United States, on par with kidney disease and liver disease.
Estimated Impact of Hospital Cuts by New York Economic Region
Member
Hospital employment losses
Total employment losses
Lost economic activity ($)
New York City
17,551
32,571
(7,405,661,000)
Long Island
3,514
6,521
(1,482,704,000)
Mid-Hudson
3,623
6,723
(1,528,578,000)
Capital District
1,042
1,933
(439,512,000)
North Country
759
1,409
(320,385,000)
Mohawk Valley
774
1,437
(326,619,000)
Southern Tier
856
1,588
(360,983,000)
Central New York
1,355
2,515
(571,928,000)
Finger Lakes
2,442
4,532
(1,030,506,000)
Western New York
2,130
3,954
(898,943,000)
Statewide total
34,047
63,183
(14,365,818,000)
Estimated Impact of Hospital Cuts by Congressional District
District
Member
Hospital employment losses
Total employment losses
Lost economic activity ($)
1
Nick LaLota (R)
976
1,811
(411,868,000)
2
Andrew R. Garbarino (R)
605
1,122
(255,206,000)
3
Thomas R. Suozzi (D)
1,927
3,576
(812,998,000)
4
Laura Gillen (D)
933
1,731
(393,628,000)
5
Gregory W. Meeks (D)
563
1,045
(237,515,000)
6
Grace Meng (D)
1,876
3,481
(791,359,000)
7
Nydia M. Velázquez (D)
862
1,599
(363,593,000)
8
Hakeem S. Jeffries (D)
790
1,466
(333,226,000)
9
Yvette D. Clarke (D)
1,178
2,187
(497,231,000)
10
Daniel S. Goldman (D)
1,457
2,705
(614,953,000)
11
Nicole Malliotakis (R)
654
1,213
(275,762,000)
12
Jerrold Nadler (D)
2,803
5,201
(1,182,612,000)
13
Adriano Espaillat (D)
2,520
4,677
(1,063,292,000)
14
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)
980
1,819
(413,640,000)
15
Ritchie Torres (D)
2,942
5,460
(1,241,482,000)
16
George Latimer (D)
1,278
2,372
(539,332,000)
17
Michael Lawler (R)
1,462
2,713
(616,822,000)
18
Patrick Ryan (D)
810
1,503
(341,631,000)
19
Josh Riley (D)
797
1,479
(336,292,000)
20
Paul Tonko (D)
1,002
1,860
(422,977,000)
21
Elise M. Stefanik (R)
871
1,616
(367,481,000)
22
John W. Mannion (D)
1,536
2,850
(648,033,000)
23
Nicholas A. Langworthy (R)
759
1,409
(320,347,000)
24
Claudia Tenney (R)
1,009
1,873
(425,748,000)
25
Joseph D. Morelle (D)
1,899
3,524
(801,274,000)
26
Timothy M. Kennedy (D)
1,558
2,892
(657,525,000)
–
Statewide total
34,047
63,183
(14,365,818,000)
Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth E. Raske said, “This bill’s massive Medicaid cuts and health insurance eligibility restrictions will do enormous damage to New York State and its hospitals. The numbers are hard to comprehend—an estimated $8 billion cut to our hospitals, 34,000 lost hospital jobs and 1.5 million individuals losing their health insurance. Some financially fragile institutions will cease to exist. All patients will be impacted. There is no rationale for this. The bill is a clear example of ‘if you break it, you own it.’ I am grateful to Governor Hochul for defending New York’s hospitals and the patients we serve, and the entire hospital community is proud to stand with her in opposing this terrible bill.”
Healthcare Association of New York State President Bea Grause, RN, JD. said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a reckless assault on our healthcare system and our local economies, as evidenced by these projections. Lost coverage, care, jobs – it is astonishing to me that there is such determination to put so many people’s health and financial security at risk. This bill will not only harm individual New Yorkers. Its impact will ripple out to their families and communities, leaving almost no one untouched in its wake.”
Community Health Care Association of New York State President & CEO Rose Duhan said, “New York’s Community Health Centers provide access to primary and preventive care that keep people healthy and save money. Cutting Medicaid will put that care at risk for 2.4 million people across the State. Losing Medicaid will mean communities will lose CHCs that provide primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and more. Cuts of this magnitude will force impossible choices: reduce services, scale back hours, or turn patients away. Congress must protect Medicaid and the patients and health centers that depend on it.”
Speaker Carl E. Heastie stated: The administration in Washington can call this a “Big Beautiful Bill” all they want, but Americans know the truth. It is ugly and cruel and will be devastating for families across New York and across the country. They are taking an axe to Medicaid and cutting off access to healthcare for low income families, children and people with disabilities. They’re restricting access to the ACA for low- and middle-income Americans. It would make almost 12 million Americans lose their health insurance. All to make sure their billionaire donors get to keep their tax cuts. I’m disgusted and disappointed that they are willing to sell out their constituents like this. I am calling, once again, on New York’s seven Republican members of Congress to stand up for New Yorkers and for all Americans and vote against this travesty when it goes back to the House.
“Rise Up” was the theme of this year’s Pride Parade in New York City – a sad throwback connoting the fact that once again, in Trump’s America, millions of people have to fight for their equal rights and right to live their true lives
Governor Kathy Hochul was assertive in her remarks to press as the parade got under way, declaring, “the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ movement is in our city, our state, and this is a huge point of pride for us.
“Especially now more than ever, when a community that we cherish is under siege from Washington, Republicans in Washington who are trying to strip away their rights and their dignity and their ability to serve – in harm’s way in our military. My God, just like they fought during the Stonewall riots in 1969, they fought back and they won. We will always fight back and defend this community. We’re in this together, let’s continue fighting together and we’ll be victorious.”
Governor Hochul announced the state is contributing $15 million–the largest fund of its kind in the nation–to the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Non-Binary Wellness and Equity Fund, “because we’re putting our money where our mouth is to make sure people have access to the care they need and deserve, number one.”
In addition, the state is providing a new million dollar source of funding for the LGBTQ Center here in New York City and almost a million dollars in workforce development grants to help trans members get jobs.
Indeed, what a change in only six months from when Joe Biden, the man who got marriage equality ball rolling as Obama’s Vice President (the SCOTUS decision, ironically, exactly 10years ago), and from all that Biden-Harris did in his all-too-short four years of whole-of-government focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, summed up as a “Justice Agenda.”
In just 150 days, Trump has all but dismantled 150 years of civil and human rights progress, the animous to gender equity being a special focus of the anti-democracy attack, waging a culture war intended to reverse a generational sea change in empathy, understanding and acceptance.
Trump is doing nothing to recognize Pride month and instead working overtime to eradicate rights and legalize discrimination under the guise of “religious” rights and/or “EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS,” as his executive order barring transgender females in sports was titled. (See: Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ+ Health)
In dramatic and disgusting contrast to Biden’s policies, Trump has:
Defining sex as a biological binary: A central theme of the Trump administration’s approach has been defining “sex” as limited to biological male or female, as determined at conception.
Targeting “gender ideology” and DEI initiatives – not just rescinding prior executive orders promoting LGBTQ+ equity and diversity and inclusion, but rendering such programs illegal and subject to prosecution. In addition, Trump has cut, frozen, or clawed back federal funding for DEI programs.
Restricting gender-affirming care: especially for young people (one of the executive orders that the Imperial Supremes have blessed). This includes directing agencies to assess grant conditions and ensure federal funds do not promote “gender ideology”, potentially affecting funding for institutions that provide or support gender-affirming care. There have also been legal challenges to these policies, with some courts issuing preliminary injunctions blocking parts of their enforcement.
Allowing schools to dismiss Title IX complaints based on stricter standards regarding “severity” and “pervasiveness” of an alleged assault or harassment and imposes the burden of potentially traumatic investigation and hearing processes on survivors.
Limiting access to reproductive healthcare.
Weakening workplace protections: Trump rescinded Executive Order 11246 which for 60 years has prohibited discrimination based on sex, race, and religion by federal contractors for sixty years.
Impact on LGBTQ+ individuals in the military and federal prison: The administration reinstated the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military. In federal prisons, policies were implemented to house transgender women according to their sex assigned at birth and to prohibit the use of federal funds for gender-affirming care. This contradicts the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which mandates housing transgender people based on safety concerns.
And there have been other insults, like stripping Harvey Milk’s name from a destroyer.
With these issues in a background, the 2 million who came to New York City to Celebrate Pride did it with a combination of joy and in-your-face vengeance.
While many companies have yielded to the change in the political winds, other companies participated in the event. Among them: The Walt Disney Company; I Heart Radio; SAG-AFTRA; Directors Guild of Americ;,The Metropolitan Opera; Macy’s Inc; JP Morgan Chase; SUNY; AARP; Girl Scouts of Greater New York; The New York; Foundling; Emblem Health; Kiehl’s; Audible; NYC Health & Hospitals; Starbucks;
Despite the dismal situation outside, there was joy and celebration at this year’s Pride Parade.
The overarching theme: “My sexuality is none of your business.”
And it is important to see and acknowledge who shows up, shows support and who has your back. Here are highlights:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy became the latest commencement speaker promising to fund long-needed improvements to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
“For years, [the Merchant Marine Academy] has been allowed to fall into disrepair – unworthy of the greatest country that has ever existed in history. You’re the class of COVID shutdowns, no hot water for months, not enough food, paper plates and plastic forks, dorms with mold, dilapidated library. Congratulations, you have perseverance.
“Your commitment to service despite hardship inspired everyone at the Department of Transportation to work harder to fix this place to make sure no one else has to go through what you went through for the last four years.
“Your frustrations, sacrifices, call for change have been heard – not just by me, but the president, Donald Trump. This administration understands the storied maritime dominance is critical to national security. We need more brave men and women to not only sail the ships we have now, but also the great ships of future.”
Duffy added, ”This mission could not be more important when the nation stands on precipice of potential conflict in Middle East. Whether the Suez Canal or the South China Sea, there are rough waters ahead.”
Indeed, unlike speakers of the last several years, these graduates who immediately go into the military or the National Guard, have seen their world turned upside down in a matter of days, as the Trump administration has embroiled the U.S. in the Israel-Iran War.
Duffy’s words were a reminder that the U.S. Merchant Marine was founded in 1942 by President Franklin Roosevelt to staff the merchant marine vessels supplying the troops. It is the only one of the service academies that carries a battle standard, a constant memorial to the 142 Cadet Midshipmen who shipped out on those missions but never returned.
As part of their arduous training – the hardest of any service academy – the cadets spend a year at sea. Some served on unarmed commercial ships that came under missile attack from the Houthis.
Vice Admiral Joanna M. Nunan, the USMMA’s 14th Superintendent reflected on the challenges the class of 2025 have faced, calling them “heroes and leaders,” their character forged by their experience.
“Heroes are known for epic deeds that ordinary people cannot or will not attempt…America will need heroes, hardened by experience, who have performed deeds that few others would attempt. We need mariners who have sailed to the furthest corners of the globe, plotted courses through blinding storms, … turned heat and horsepower into forward motion. America needs young military officers who know America cannot just be ready for battle but ready for war. America needs leaders who can turn ideas into reality, [who can manage] a sprawling maritime enterprise with political, economic, cultural goals that will be many and varied..
“You are among America’s greatest hopes…America’s national security will bear the stamp, ‘Acta Non Verba’” – action, not words, the USMMA motto.
The United States Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point, Long Island, NY, is recognized as vital to national security and the economic prosperity: 95 percent of the world’s products are transported over water, and the Academy educates and trains those who are vital to the effective operation of the nation’s merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport, in peace as well as in war. Merchant ships can be ordered into national service, delivering military troops, supplies and equipment overseas, and operating as an auxiliary unit of the Navy.
The United States imports about 85 percent of 77 strategic commodities critical to America’s industry and defense. And while Americans account for only six percent of the world population, we purchase nearly a third of the world’s output of raw materials (that is, before Trump’s tariffs); 99 percent of those materials are transported by merchant vessels.
The USMMA requires more credit hours for a Baccalaureate degree than any other federal service academy – the equivalent of a Masters completed in three-years’ time. The challenging coursework is augmented by the Academy’s Sea Year, which affords midshipmen hands-on, real world experience aboard working commercial or military vessels sailing around the world.
At graduation, the Kings Pointers are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license, a merchant mariner’s license and an officer’s commission in the U.S. armed forces of their choosing. Graduates can choose to work five years in the U.S. maritime industry with eight years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the Armed Forces, or five years on active duty.
Of the 124 graduates, all of whom earned Merchant Marine licenses, 44 are going into active dutyin the U.S. Navy; 13 into the U.S. 77Coast Guard; 4 into the U.S. Army; 14 into the U.S. Marine Corps; 9 into the U.S.Air Force and 1 into the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
“You are dedicating your life to maritime tradition, giving America the seapower… to assure our prosperity and security – keep shores, borders, ports secure, safeguarding homeland, keep shipping lanes open, commerce flowing, and combat threats – as sailors defeat hundreds of drones… and missile attacks,” declared Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, Jr., USN and Director for Strategic Systems Programs for the U.S. Navy and a USMMA graduate (’89).
“We are a global maritime nation. ..You are the reason our nation is postured and ready to insure prosperity, to fight wherever the fight, wherever the battle…Deeds not words.”
Estimates of more than 2,000 turned out in the rain for the No Kings rally and march at Nassau County Courthouse on June 14 – just one of several No Kings protests on Long Island.
Long Island’s protests were among the 2,100 taking place in all 50 states and the world that collectively drew an estimated 5 million in response to the authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration and rejecting Trump’s attacks on democracy and the Rule of Law, for one of the largest single days of protest since the 2017 women’s marches in Trump’s first term.
“The power of the presidency has been used to attack universities, the arts, political adversaries and the very fabric of our democracy,” wrote the organizers, Show Up LI, Engage LI, Long Island Network for Change. “It has been used to terrorize our immigrant communities and disappear them off the streets. It has been used to decimate the ranks of our federal employees who keep us safe, oversee our social security checks, care for our veterans, develop cancer treatments, monitor severe weather, attend to disasters and maintain our national parks. Disastrous cuts to the services and healthcare hard-working and vulnerable Americans rely on are on the horizon. The painful ramifications of these senseless cuts are being felt across the country while enriching a cabinet of billionaires and their allies.”
The No Kings protests were a counterpoint to Trump’s $45 million military parade, ostensibly to mark the formation of the U.S. Army on June 14, 1775 by the Continental Congress, to stand up against Britain’s monarch who claimed absolute power over the colonists, but actually for his own glory on his 79th birthday. Trump had been mooning over such a display – extraordinary in American history and more typical of tyrants and dictators – since his first term, when more patriotic advisers than surround him this time talked him out of it. The $45 million boondoggle is also a harsh contradiction to the millions of dollars cut from veterans benefits, health care, education, research, climate action, foreign aid, and administration of such critical programs as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in order to fund billions more in tax cuts for the richest 1% and corporations.
“So on June 14th 2025, we come together to say NO KINGS in America. We say no to the cruelty and the chaos. Our country belongs to the American people and we will peacefully stand up to authoritarianism and defend our democracy.”
Speakers included Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, NYS Deputy Speaker Assemblyman Phil Ramos, and NYS Assemblyman Chuck Lavine.
NYS Assemblyman Chuck Lavine began his remarks by mourning the political assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the critical wounding of Rep. John Hoffman and his wife – an event which prompted U.S. Senator Mike Lee to tweet “This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way,” when Speaker Mike Johnson called for U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to be censored for daring to ask DHS Secretary Kristy Noem a question during a press conference, at which point he was thrown to the ground and handcuffed, and while in Los Angeles, law enforcement continued to provoke encounters with otherwise peaceful protesters, no doubt to give Trump an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law. Raising the danger to our democracy, Lavine could also have quoted Noem who stated about the provocations in Los Angeles, “We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist & burdensome leadership that this governor & this mayor have placed into this city” and just a couple of days before, U.S. Senator Padilla was thrown to the ground and handcuffed merely for trying to ask Homeland Security Sec Kristy Noem a question at a press conference.
It was a reminder that since Trump first entered the political scene 10 years ago down a gilded staircase, he used bigotry, sexism, xenophobia, scapegoated, stoked hatred and violence and basically gave permission for those to act on the grievances he created. And record numbers of threats and assaults have occurred as a result, including the January 6 2021 insurrection intended to keep Trump in office. (Notably, Trump pardoned 1,500 of the insurrectionists on his first day, and has weaponized the Justice department against the prosecutors and scores of his declared enemies and politicized the military.)
“You are not fair-weather sailors,” Lavine said as people stood steadfast as rain poured down. “We are here because we care, and if you care about the future of American democracy — you join us.”
Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos denounced the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on immigrant communities and railed against Trump’s $45 million military parade. “While mothers in Brentwood are praying that their children make it home safely, while ICE agents tear fathers from their families without warrants, Donald Trump is having a birthday party — let that sink in,” Ramos said.
Ramos’ impassioned remarks echoed his previously issued a statement after the militarism in Los Angeles and ICE raids in Long Island “America-and the world-witnessed what we have long feared: the unchecked abuse of presidential power unleashed against communities of color. Families are being torn apart. People are being taken without explanation, without warrants, and far too often, without due process. What remains is a trail of fear, heartbreak, and outrage….The painful truth is we can no longer trust this administration to uphold the law, respect the courts, or honor basic human dignity….
“In Los Angeles and here on Long Island, people are marching in defense of their families, their dignity, and their right to live without fear. They are standing against an authoritarian tide gaining strength each day. And when masked officers descend on our neighborhoods, abducting loved ones and escalating tensions with military force, we must ask: what choice do the people have but to resists?
“The tools of authoritarianism are in full effect. While 1% of the population hoards 99% of the nation’s wealthy, they poison our drinking water, erode our democracy, and drive the cost of living to unbearable heights. They gut our healthcare system and dismantle the foundations of everyday life. And yet, President Trump wants us to believe the blame lies not with the powerful but with the people who build our cities, harvest our food, mow our lawns, wash our dishes and hold this country together through honest, back-breaking work…
“We cannot fall for these cruel, calculated lies. We must reject this propaganda and speak the truth: immigrants are not the problem, they are part of the solution.
“The people are demanding an end to these raids. They are demanding justice. Many are prepared to risk their own safety to protect their families because for them, this is a should understand that. We must support peaceful protest, and wemust demand an end to this campaign of fear.
“We are at a turning point in our nation’s history. We must condemn the use of ICE and the National Guard as political tools deployed by a president who thrives on hate, division and fear, and who undermines constitutional rights and human dignity for political gain. This is not leadership. This is cruelty disguised as policy…
“I call on all freedom-loving people-Democrats and Republicans, Black, White, Latino, Asian – to stand in solidarity with our immigrant communities. History has taught us a painful lesson… We cannot-we must not – turn our backs on those now suffering these fascist assaults.”
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said, “No one is above the law” and every person is entitled to “equal protection under law. Without the Rule of Law, the most vulnerable would be trampled, the mighty would take what they want. But that’s not America. Democracy is based on a moral idea that all are created equal. If we lose sight of that moral essence, we will crumble. In New York, we are diversity, we are inclusion, we are tolerance. We are the essence of what it means to be American, what it means to be human.”
Rachel Klein, founder of Engage Long Island and an organizer of the rally, said immigration raids across the country has stoked fear, even on Long Island. “There are people in Brentwood and Westbury and Huntington Station and Glen Cove who are afraid to leave their homes right now,” she said. “We can’t function as a society like this.”
Other No Kings protests were held in Port Washington, which drew hundreds; outside Heckscher Park in Huntington, where Newsday reported 2,000; Patchogue, where Newsday estimated 2,000 demonstrated outside the local office of Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), Riverhead, Orient, East Hampton, Hampton Bays and Southampton.
