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Affordability, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State politics, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health

Governor Hochul Signs Budget that Makes New York More Affordable, Keeps New Yorkers Safe, Expands Opportunity for All

Putting New York on Path to Statewide Universal Childcare

$1 Billion in One-Time Energy Rebate Checks

Puts Ratepayers First in Push To Reduce Utility Costs

Protecting New Yorkers From ICE Overreach

Making More Than $900 Million Record Investment in Public Safety Funding To Continue Driving Down Crime and Keeping New Yorkers Safe

Advances First-in-the-Nation Legislation To Ban Illegal, Homegrown 3D-Printed Ghost Guns and DIY Machine Guns

Measures To Reduce Insurance Rates for Drivers

Offsets Rising Costs for Farmers Due to Federal Tariffs

No Tax on Tips for Hardworking New Yorkers

Improving Transparency in the Residential Property Insurance Market

Governor Kathy Hochul signed her FY 2027 Budget making New York more affordable, keeping New Yorkers safe and expanding opportunity for all © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul signed her FY 2027 Budget making New York more affordable, keeping New Yorkers safe and expanding opportunity for all. The Governor delivered sweeping measures to lower costs including putting New York on a path to universal childcare, reducing utility costs and delivering energy rebate checks, and bringing auto insurance rates down for drivers. She also implemented a surcharge on luxury New York City second homes, generating much needed revenue for the City without impacting everyday New Yorkers. Additionally, the Governor continues to build on her unprecedented investments in public safety with more than $900 million in funding, measures to crack down on illegal 3D printed guns, and a nation leading package of immigration protections that keep New Yorkers safe.

“Every proposal included in this Budget was a fight for New Yorkers and their future. Working with my partners in the Legislature, we delivered an ambitious agenda that will lower costs for hardworking families, keep New Yorkers safe and create opportunity for all,” Governor Hochul said. “While Washington continues to make life more difficult for New Yorkers, I’m doing everything in my power to make real, tangible progress on the issues New Yorkers are facing and I will always fight for the people who call this great state home.”

Delivering Universal Childcare

Governor Hochul is putting New York State on a pathway toward universal childcare, beginning with committing to investments that will support the delivery of affordable childcare to up to nearly 100,000 additional children.

The Governor’s landmark investment will increase funding by $1.7 billion bringing the total FY27 investment to $4.5 billion for childcare and prekindergarten services statewide.

These investments will:

  • Make Pre-K truly universal statewide by making funding available to provide high-quality pre-k seats for all four-year-olds in the State by the start of the 2028-29 school year.
  • Partner with New York City to launch the Mayor’s signature 2-Care program and finally realize the promise of universal 3K access in New York City.
  • Support counties in building out New York’s First 3 Program providing high-quality affordable childcare to families across the state regardless of income.
  • Expand childcare subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families.
  • Support the workforce through early childhood educator preparation.
  • Launch an Office of Childcare and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal childcare for New York families and will work to enhance awareness of the Child Tax Credit to ensure as many New Yorkers as possible benefit from the Governor’s historic expansion of the program that increased the credit from $330 per child to $1,000 annually for children under four.

Tackling Utility Costs

New Yorkers deserve reliable energy at a price they can afford, which is why Governor Hochul is proposing a sweeping set of reforms to modernize the Public Service Law, demanding strict fiscal discipline from utilities and empowering the State to fight more effectively for lower bills.

In her FY27 Budget, the Governor is putting ratepayers first by:

  • Issuing one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) checks to help provide needed relief. The POWER program will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Tying executive pay directly to customer affordability,
  • Requiring utilities to present a budget constrained option when requesting a rate increase to ensure efficiency and affordability are prioritized,
  • Ensuring customers do not foot the bill for hidden costs like lobbying, political contributions and unnecessary executive travel.
  • Allowing for the installation of an “Affordability Monitor” within any utility company when the average residential bills creep too high.
  • Modernizing the way utility rate cases are reviewed to help keep prices manageable.
  • Incentivizing the use of smart thermostats to help reduce energy usage and lower bills.
  • Establishing the RATES commission, bringing together consumer advocates and energy experts to investigate the root causes of surging utility bills, evaluate utility profits, review energy market designs and recommend actionable, transparent reforms.

Pied-à-Terre Tax on Luxury Second Homes in New York City

Governor Hochul’s Budget includes a pied-à-terre tax, a surcharge that will apply to high-value – $5 million or more – second homes within New York City. The tax ensures that those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services like policing or parks that make New York City a global destination.

Given the complexity of New York City’s property tax system, the pied-à-terre surcharge makes accommodations in the short term transition phase for the ways in which different property types are currently valued in New York City, while ensuring the surcharge is applied fairly and immediately to luxury properties. The proposal is expected to generate at least $500 million a year in recurring revenue for New York City without impacting everyday New Yorkers.

Protecting New Yorkers From ICE Overreach

Governor Hochul has enacted a sweeping set of laws to protect New Yorkers against aggressive federal immigration enforcement as part of the FY27 Enacted Budget.

These new laws will expand protections by:

  • Prohibiting state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public.
  • Prohibiting local governments, state and local police and state and local corrections from entering into 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local law enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
  • Establishing a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights.
  • Prohibiting the use of state and local civilian agencies and public school resources, including employee time, for immigration enforcement activities.
  • Prohibiting civilian state, local and school employees (including higher education and K-12) from permitting access to any non-public area of a state-owned or operated facility to immigration authorities without a judicial warrant, meaning any state or municipally owned, or operated facility including housing accommodations, parks, childcare facilities, preschools, hospitals, schools, dorms, healthcare facilities, community centers, libraries and shelters, cannot grant or facilitate access to any non-public areas of their facilities to immigration authorities without a warrant.
  • Ensuring immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.

Record Investments in Public Safety

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested more than $3 billion in public safety initiatives. The funding has provided record support for local and state law enforcement that has contributed to gun violence reaching record lows, reduced subway crime and combated pandemic-era surges in motor vehicle and retail thefts.

This Budget adds more than $900 million to those record investments and strengthens public safety by:

  • Prioritizing New Yorkers’ safety throughout the transit system. The Governor secured an additional $77 million to support the deployment of NYPD officers across the subway system and $25 million for expanding the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams initiative to respond more quickly to individuals in acute distress.
  • Establishing a pilot program for New York City requiring the installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in the vehicles of so-called “super speeders,” drivers with a documented pattern of flouting speeding laws and putting New Yorkers at risk.
  • Advancing a comprehensive approach to both prohibit risky drone use and expand responsible use of drones as first responders by creating a crime for dangerous drone use and flying in and around restricted areas, and authorizing the use of detection and mitigation efforts by qualified law enforcement officers.
  • Protecting safe access to worship — creating a new crime for knowingly and intentionally interfering with a person seeking to enter or exit a place of religious worship or acting in a way that makes a person within 50 feet of a place of worship fear for their safety.

Stopping Illegal Homegrown Guns

Governor Hochul has passed the strongest gun laws in the nation and made record investments in gun violence prevention, resulting in New York having the fewest shooting incidents statewide in 2025 in recorded history.

Governor Hochul’s FY27 Enacted Budget will:

  • Require first-in-the-nation minimum safety standards for 3D printers sold in New York to be equipped with basic technology that prevents the unlicensed, illegal production of lethal firearms and firearm parts.
  • Require the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to lead a task force of experts to recommend regulations that will ensure New Yorkers are protected from these dangerous weapons. Following the implementation of the resulting regulations, state law will allow for recourse against any actor who sells a 3D printer in New York without equipping it with such technology.
  • Criminalize the unlawful possession, sale, or distribution of blueprints that allow the printing of illegal guns and gun parts, and the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
  • Prohibit gun manufacturers and firearms dealers from selling pistols that can be quickly and easily converted into machine guns using common tools.

Lowering Car Insurance Rates for New Yorkers

Fraud is a major driver of elevated auto insurance premiums. Increasingly sophisticated actors stage elaborate accidents, designed to allow for “jackpot” payouts from insurance companies or jury awards. These schemes imperil the safety of honest drivers, cause property damage, and increase rates for drivers across the state. Increasingly, scams go beyond just one bad actor at the wheel and are orchestrated by organized criminal rings.

The Governor’s plan will:

  • Cap payouts for drivers engaging in criminal behavior at the time of the incident, including uninsured motorists, drunk drivers, and drivers in the act of committing a felony.
  • Better define what actually constitutes a ‘serious injury’ so that damages for pain and suffering or emotional distress are reserved for those able to objectively demonstrate that they have suffered a serious injury.
  • Ensure that if a driver is found to be mostly at fault for causing an accident, they cannot claim outsized payments for damages.
  • Prevent insurance companies from exorbitantly raising rates by setting a legal threshold that prevents excess profits and returns savings to consumers.
  • Create new regulatory safeguards to prevent insurance companies from raising rates without seeking express approval from the Department of Financial Services.
  • Protect consumers by prohibiting insurance companies from setting rates based on extraneous, personal factors like homeownership status, occupation, education level or zip code.
  • Enable prosecutors to seek criminal penalties against any individual responsible for organizing a staged accident, not just the particular individual behind the wheel.
  • These measures come in addition to the Governor’s whole-of-government approach to combatting fraud by tasking DFS, DMV, DCJS and NYSP with a more proactive and coordinated approach to enforcement.
  • The Governor’s plan also includes transparency for auto insurance policyholders by requiring insurers to notify policyholders about rate changes.

Protecting Vulnerable Renters and Homeowners

High prices and unscrupulous landlords are driving too many tenants out of their homes and making it harder for vulnerable homeowners to make ends meet. Governor Hochul has secured agreements to help address these issues in the FY27 Budget including:

  • Protecting renters by clarifying anti-harassment laws.
  • Enacting stiffer criminal penalties for landlords who engage in systemic harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings or who are repeat serious offenders of existing anti-harassment laws.

To ensure that housing remains affordable for both seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities who are living in rent-regulated housing and Mitchell-Lama affordable housing, Governor Hochul’s final FY27 Budget:

  • Increases income eligibility limits for New York’s Rent Freeze Program for both the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and Disability Rent Increase Exemption from $50,000 to $75,000.
  • Authorizes raising the eligibility for the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption and Disabled Homeowner’s Exemption from $50,000 to $75,000.
  • Adds notice requirements to make more elderly and disabled rent-regulated tenants aware of the SCRIE/DRIE rent freeze programs.

Consistent with current practice, New York City and other communities may opt into both the SCRIE/DRIE and SCHE/DHE programs.

Improving Transparency in the Residential Property Insurance Market

Homeowners and housing providers across the state are contending with escalating home insurance premiums and shrinking options for coverage, which threaten the affordability of New York’s single and multi-family homes. While single family home insurance rates in New York are on average lower than many other states — thanks to New York’s tightly regulated market — year over year increases in insurance rates still threaten to sap money from families’ pocketbooks and make multi-family housing less and less affordable for homeowners and renters. For years, New Yorkers have not been properly informed about the reasons for rising premiums. This year, the Governor’s reforms will increase transparency for consumers and give the Department of Financial Services (DFS) a better understanding of the multi-family market with new data from insurers.

 Governor Hochul is tackling this problem head-on by:

  • Requiring insurers to provide detailed information to DFS on how they price policies for multifamily residential buildings.
  • Increasing transparency for home insurance as well as auto insurance by requiring insurers to notify policyholders about rate changes.

Protecting New York Farmers from the Disruption of Federal Tariffs

Agriculture is a cornerstone of New York’s economy, yet the federal government’s tariff policy has threatened the competitiveness of our farmers. Federal actions have driven up the cost of essential resources — like seeds, fertilizer, and necessary machinery — while creating market instability. Although the USDA recently announced a national assistance program, it is fundamentally flawed for New York since it leaves specialty crops and the dairy sector with no meaningful support. 

To relieve farmers from the adverse impacts caused by federal tariffs, Governor Hochul will:

  • Create the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program, which will provide $30 million in direct payments to New York specialty crop growers, livestock producers, aquaculture, and dairy farmers.
  • This initiative will quickly distribute much needed support to offset rising costs caused by tariffs.
  • This program reinforces New York’s commitment to our agricultural community, while safeguarding local jobs and ensuring our farmers have the certainty needed to compete in a volatile global marketplace.

Helping New Yorkers Put Food on the Table

The recent shutdown of the federal government reminded the nation of how precarious our nutrition safety net is and how many New Yorkers contend with food insecurity. In response to the shutdown, Governor Hochul rushed an additional $65 million toward food assistance programs that delivered meals to tens of thousands of New Yorkers in their hour of need. To build on these actions and further reinforce our emergency food system:

  • Governor Hochul is announcing a $51 million investment in the Department of Health (DOH)’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) program, which will help New York’s network of about 2,700 food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens reach more New Yorkers in need. An additional $15 million will strengthen and expand operations, allowing them to reach more people with healthier options.
  • The Enacted Budget also includes $55 million for the Nourish New York Program, which reroutes surplus agricultural products to those who need them most through the state’s food banks.

Theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is an epidemic across the United States, with hundreds of millions of dollars illegally stolen from families’ EBT cards nationwide using illegal “skimming” devices. Governor Hochul’s FY27 Budget will protect New Yorkers from this predatory behavior by:

  • Upgrading New York’s EBT cards to secure chip-based technology that makes cards virtually impervious to skimming. While the federal administration tries to strip SNAP benefits from as many New Yorkers as possible and turns a blind eye to criminals taking food from vulnerable families, transitioning to chip-based EBT cards will help safeguard the SNAP dollars that New Yorkers depend on.

The Governor’s plan will also:

  • Establish New York PLATES, a statewide competitive $10 million grant program for eligible food pantries that will fund capital projects, to increase the capacity of these critical organizations and enable food pantries to safely store, transport and distribute food to more families.
  • Support localities in expanding free summer meal sites.

No Taxes on Tips for Hardworking New Yorkers

Tipped workers — New York’s bartenders, servers, and deliveristas — are the backbone of the state’s service economy. In jobs that demand long hours and daily dedication, every dollar is hard-won. Governor Hochul is committed to making sure tipped workers can hold on to more of what they earn. The Governor passed legislation that eliminates state income taxes on up to $25,000 of tipped income in tax year 2026, consistent with federal tax guidance.

Governor Hochul’s FY27 Budget builds on her efforts to put more money back in New Yorkers’ pockets. To date, her administration has:

  • Cut middle-class taxes to their lowest rates in 70 years, ensuring families keep more of the paychecks they earn.
  • Raised New York’s minimum wage and tied future increases to inflation so a day’s work covers a day’s needs.
  • Implemented an historic expansion of New York’s Child Tax Credit, also known as the Empire State Child Credit, to provide families up to $1,000 per child under the age of four beginning in 2026, and up to $500 for school-aged children beginning in 2027, substantially increasing the previous maximum of $330.
  • Made school meals free for every student, saving families $1,600 per child every year and making sure no child goes hungry at school.
  • Sent Inflation Refund checks to 8.2 million New Yorkers — up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for families.
  • Increased the maximum weekly unemployment benefit by $300 a week so people can focus on finding work, not keeping the lights on.
  • Established a nation-leading birth allowance — the New York State BABY Benefit (Birth Allowance for Beginning Year Benefit) — providing $1,800 to new parents receiving Public Assistance when they have a new baby.
Affordability, Governor Kathy Hochul, Infrastructure, Labor and Worker Issues, Labor and Workers, New York State politics, News & Photo Features, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, travel and transportation

Governor Hochul Manages, Mitigates Impacts of LIRR Strike, Calls for Settlement

The Long Island Railroad Strike has stranded some 300,000 riders a day, cost millions of dollars of economic activity daily. The Teamsters’ demands would cause fares to increase 8%, and trigger wage and cost increases across the state’s workforce at a time when commuters can scarcely afford it © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The Long Island Railroad Strike has stranded some 300,000 riders a day, cost millions of dollars of economic activity daily, exacerbated traffic and pollution when air quality is already bad. The Teamsters’ demands would cause fares to increase 8%, and trigger wage and cost increases across the state’s workforce at a time when commuters can scarcely afford it.

Governor Hochul, while showing respect for unions and workers, has noted that Long Island Railroad workers are already the highest paid in the country, and if the MTA accedes to their fairly outrageous demands, it not only will force a further increase in fares for already hard-pressed Long Islanders, but will trigger similar, unsustainable increases throughout the workforce.

Here are Governor Kathy Hochul’s remarks about the Long Island Railroad strike – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

“The Long Island Rail Road is essential. Every day it carries nearly 300,000 commuters and without this service, life on Long Island as we know it is not possible.

“As Governor, I have been proud to make historic investments in the LIRR. Working with the MTA, we increased service by 40%, improved safety for riders and workers, secured the railroad’s fiscal future after the pandemic, and delivered transformative projects like the Main Line Third Track and Grand Central Madison.

“The LIRR is more stable now than it has been for generations. The decision by some unions to strike over demands that would threaten that progress is reckless. These unions represent the highest paid workers of any railroad in the nation, yet they are demanding contracts that could raise fares as much as 8%, pit workers against one another, and risk tax hikes for Long Islanders. This is unacceptable. My priority is protecting affordability for riders and ensuring fairness across the workforce.

“The disruption that Long Islanders face starting tonight is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike. For weeks, the MTA has attempted to negotiate in good faith and put multiple fair offers on the table that included meaningful wage increases, but you cannot make a deal if one side refuses to engage in good faith.

“Commuters are dealing with unnecessary dysfunction and thousands of union LIRR workers are being forced to go without a paycheck because of decisions made by a small group of union leaders. I stand with LIRR riders and will fight to preserve the long term stability of the MTA. I believe a deal can be done and I urge both the MTA and these unions to return to the table and bargain non-stop until a deal is reached.”

After the strike was underway, Governor Hochul gave a briefing and discussed what was being done to mitigate the disruption in transportation:

I want to give Long Island Rail Road riders the latest updates on the strike. Let me be clear, I did not want a strike. The MTA did not want a strike. The MTA has put fair offers on the table, in fact, many of them. And so despite that, for the first time in 30 years, the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the LIRR are without service because of a strike. We all know that the railroad is the lifeblood of Long Island. Without it, life as we know it is simply not possible. The bottom line is: No one wins in a strike. Everyone is hurt — the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the railroad, and the thousands of unionized workers who are losing out on wages. 

I want to speak directly to the men and women of labor at the LIRR: The work you do is absolutely vital. Absolutely. I value your labor, and I believe that you deserve fair wages and benefits. But this strike has put all that at risk. Just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract. We don’t need to be here. Workers deserve better, but also New Yorkers deserve better. That’s why today I’m urging all parties once again to bargain at the table, and to get a deal done. 

I also want to give an update to the Long Island Rail Road riders who are wondering about work tomorrow. Now, I’ve been in close communication, I’ve been touring the sites. I’m here at the Operations Control Center to talk to the individuals overseeing the lines that we anticipate the highest volume on tomorrow — you’ll hear more about that from our MTA leadership team — and we have a plan to ensure that essential workers can get into the city during the workday commute.

Now, starting at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow, the MTA will deploy shuttle buses to bring essential workers from across Long Island to subway stations in Queens, and those shuttle buses will be standing by to bring those essential workers back home to Long Island at the end of the day, to Long Island and Queens.

For those in Nassau County who absolutely cannot work from home, there continues to be the option of taking a Nassau Inter-County Express bus directly to the subway connections in Queens. They’ll run extra bus service weekdays during the strike, and we’ve encouraged the county to add additional capacity. 

Another option is Citi Field. With the Mets hitting the road tomorrow, you can park there and transfer to the 7 train.

So right here, as I said, in the nerve center of the subway, every day four million New Yorkers rely on this system to get around. This subway system is absolutely vital, even more so tomorrow. And the MTA, as I’ve listened and asked questions, they’re ready to meet the challenge. Extra trains are on standby, and the MTA stands ready to run additional New York City subway service to meet the demand. And for the residents of Eastern Queens, who typically rely on the speed and convenience of the LIRR, the E and A trains are there for you as a great option to get to and from the city at this time.

But let’s face the facts. It’s impossible to fully replace LIRR service. So effective Monday, I’m asking that regular commuters who can work from home should. Please do so. And employers should make every accommodation necessary to allow for remote work. Now, I’ve already directed all state agencies affected to implement telecommuting plans for the state employees who typically commute in from Long Island. But also, we have to maintain essential government services. Now, everyone knows these alternatives are not business as usual. But unfortunately, they’re the direct result of this strike. 

Let me be clear: This strike would not have been possible if the Trump Administration had not taken the highly unusual step last fall of releasing labor unions from mediation. Unfortunately for our commuters, the direct consequence of this action is the strike we have today.

Now, New York, everyone knows, is a pro-labor state. We believe in working men and women receiving a fair wage and benefits. But the MTA cannot agree to a contract that would raise fares as much as eight percent and risk hiking taxes for Long Islanders. I have worked too long and hard to reduce costs for our residents, and I will not allow that to be undone. As Governor, my priority is to fight for affordability for all New Yorkers, and this strike puts that affordability at risk. 

Long Islanders deserve a break, as do all the residents who commute on our lines from Queens and elsewhere. They face tariff prices, price hikes on everything from food to school supplies, and skyrocketing gas prices after Trump’s war in Iran. I will not let this dispute lead to higher prices and less money in the pockets of our residents.

So we’re looking at ways to defray the costs caused by this strike, costs that fly in the face of affordability, and I’ll have more to say about that in the coming days if necessary.

Now, remember this — not long ago when I became Governor, the MTA was barreling off a fiscal cliff. Rider post-pandemic was down, and there were calls to reduce service and slash costs. I took a different approach. I said, “Let’s invest more. Let’s create more reliability. Let’s have a higher level of service.” And those results have borne out. We’ve invested billions of dollars, and I need those investments to hold and not be diminished. And as a result, ridership has surged back, nearly all the way back to the pre-pandemic levels, which is an extraordinary result, and I want to thank all the workers across the lines and at the MTA who’ve been responsible for that success. 

Like I said, I put the MTA on stable financial grounds. I worked hard to do that, and I don’t want that undone. I will not let that be undone. But I believe, I know a deal can be reached to end this strike and end it soon. But to reach the deal, as I’ve said before, the MTA needs a partner. The MTA has made multiple generous offers with real wage increases.

I urge both sides to come together as soon as possible and resolve this to avoid a prolonged strike that’ll disrupt the lives of hardworking New Yorkers and affect the pocketbooks of the union members that their leaders are representing. So getting everyone back to the table is the surest way to resolve this strike, also achieving all of our goals, and getting the trains running once again.

See: Long Island Rail Road Strike!

Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Care, New York State politics, News & Photo Features, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, Public Health

Governor Hochul Signs Two Bills Protecting Access to Vaccines for New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul at Northwell medical center on Long Island. The governor signed two laws to protect access to vaccines for New Yorkers as the Trump administration continues to undermine the scientific consensus around the safety and efficacy of immunization © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul signed two bills to safeguard access to lifesaving vaccines for New Yorkers as the Trump administration continues to undermine the scientific consensus around the safety and efficacy of immunization. The bills were introduced in March in coordination with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

“When public health comes under attack by an anti-science administration, New York fights back,” Governor Hochul said. “Sadly, our country has witnessed the deadly consequences of politicizing science and rejecting expert opinion, especially for young people. That’s why this legislation protects access to lifesaving vaccines for New Yorkers of all ages. I thank Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie for partnering with us on this legislation to keep New Yorkers healthy.”

The first bill, A.10710/S.9599, requires that in addition to the vaccines recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP), health insurers also cover vaccines recommended by the Commissioner of Health to the Superintendent of Financial Services, utilizing generally accepted medical standards and taking into consideration recommendations by nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations.

The second bill, A.10711/S.9598, removes references to ACIP in the Public Health Law (relating to school immunization requirements and recommended immunization schedule for newborns), Education Law (relating to the immunizations that physicians and nurse practitioners are authorized to prescribe or order and that pharmacists are authorized to administer), and Social Services Law (relating to Medicaid coverage). The legislation would also authorize pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 immunization to children ages two to 18 under State law. Currently, pharmacists are only authorized by State law to administer the vaccine to adults.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership and unwavering commitment to protecting public health and ensuring New Yorkers continue to have access to safe, effective, evidence-based immunizations. Vaccines remain one of the greatest public health tools in history, protecting individuals, families and entire communities from serious and preventable diseases. At a time when misinformation is undermining confidence in science, this legislation reinforces New York State’s commitment to following trusted medical guidance and keeping New Yorkers healthy.”

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “In an era where federal health officials are undermining scientific integrity and sowing skepticism about lifesaving vaccines, New York is making the conscious choice to champion our medical professionals and reaffirm this state’s commitment to the evidence-based practices that have safeguarded communities for generations. This joint legislative package builds off our previously passed proposals and embodies a comprehensive and scientifically grounded approach to public health. It reinforces our healthcare system while modernizing our vaccine guidance to ensure it is clear, accessible and firmly anchored in expert knowledge. Together, we are not just advocating for public health; we are upholding the principles of science and evidence that have been proven time and again are essential for a healthy society.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “As the administration in Washington continues its attacks on lifesaving immunizations and places people at risk, New York will stand firm on the side of proven science. Vaccines are the bedrock of public health and a critical bulwark against harmful and deadly diseases. The Assembly Majority will always prioritize the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers and we will continue to work with our partners in government to safeguard access to these vital resources that keep our communities safe and healthy.”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for signing these two bills and ensuring that New York State prioritizes scientific research and knowledge when it comes to life saving vaccines as well as making them more accessible to all New Yorkers. This sends a clear message to the federal administration and the rest of the country that public health must be protected from unfounded conspiracies that are putting communities in danger.”

State Senator Jamaal Bailey said, “We are committed to the scientific consensus that keeps our families safe. By having medical experts guide insurance coverage, we are creating a vital safeguard for public health in New York State. This legislation breaks barriers to care by authorizing pharmacists and medical professionals to do their jobs without unnecessary limitations, making it easier for parents to choose the medical resources they deem necessary for their children. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues in government for ensuring that the health of New Yorkers remains in the hands of New Yorkers.”

Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, “As our federal administration continues to undermine the long-trusted science behind lifesaving vaccines, it is critical that we take decisive action to ensure our communities remain safe and healthy. This legislation safeguards vital guidance New Yorkers need to make informed choices regarding their health and ensures that our residents continue to have access to the immunizations they need. I thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast support in protecting public health and ensuring New Yorkers continue to have access to science-based healthcare.”

Assemblymember Erik M. Dilan said, “The Vaccine Access Act ensures that New Yorkers maintain their ability to access vaccines recommended by professional medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians. With the federal CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices pursuing a rollback of recommended immunizations, this legislation is not a vaccine mandate but will ensure coverage that is crucial for New Yorkers to still be able to obtain those vaccines without facing additional out-of-pocket expenses, and I thank Governor Hochul for her forward-looking support of this legislation.”

Economic Development, Governor Kathy Hochul, Infrastructure, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Announces 11 Transformational Long Island Downtown Revitalization, NY Forward Projects in Hempstead, Farmingdale

Projects Announced in the Villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale  

Localities Must Be Certified Under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program To Receive DRI or NY Forward Funding  

Governor Kathy Hochul announced awards for a total of 11 transformational projects for the Village of Hempstead, the Round 8 winner of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award and four projects for the Village of Farmingdale, a Round 3 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.  Localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program to receive DRI or NY Forward Funding. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com  

Governor Kathy Hochul announced awards for a total of 11 transformational projects for Long Island as part of two economic development programs: the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward.     

Seven projects were announced for the Village of Hempstead, the Round 8 winner of a $10 million DRI award and four projects were announced for the Village of Farmingdale, a Round 3 winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.    

“Main streets and downtowns across our state serve as a hub for businesses to thrive and residents and visitors to come together in community, especially on Long Island,” Governor Hochul said. “These funds will allow Hempstead and Farmingdale to transform their downtowns in a way that is best suited to the needs of the community and region and enriches their culture.”

DRI and NY Forward communities developed Strategic Implementation Plans (SIPs), which create a vision for the future of their downtown and identify and recommend a slate of complementary,  transformative and implementable projects that support that vision. The SIPs are guided by a Local Planning Committee (LPC) comprised of local and regional leaders, stakeholders and community representatives, with the assistance of an assigned consultant and DOS staff, all of whom conduct extensive community outreach and engagement when determining projects. The projects selected for funding from the SIP were identified as having the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for long-term growth.  

 The Village of Hempstead 

Hempstead’s Main Street is the social, retail and civic heart of the community, serving as a key destination for the Village, Town and County. Its strategic location offers walkable access to essential transit services, commercial corridors and cultural institutions, including restaurants, and the Nassau County African American Museum. Signature buildings with distinctive facades line the street, adding to its character and enhancing its unique visual identity. With a vibrant mix of arts, culture and retail, Hempstead seeks to transform its Main Street into a thriving hub of activity, community and commerce. Specific community goals include creating a broad mix of housing opportunities, increasing business and service offerings, enhancing cultural arts and fostering recreation and entertainment.    

The 7 Hempstead DRI projects, totaling $9.7 million, include:  

  • Implement an Innovation Hub at 150 Bedell Street ($475,000): Transform an unimproved commercial space within the new Estella Housing mixed-use development into a state-of-the-art training hub, providing the community a resource to upgrade their professional skillset.  
  • Construct Infill Mixed-Use Development at 257 Main Street ($1,900,000): Construct a new mixed-use infill housing development on an underutilized lot, creating multi-family housing and retail space in the northern portion of downtown Hempstead. 
  • Establish Small Project Grant Program to Support Capital Improvements ($600,000): Create a grant fund to assist small businesses and property owners to bolster interior and exterior renovations throughout the downtown area. 
  • Install a Pedestrian Plaza at Helen Keller Way ($1,100,000): Revamp the Helen Keller Way intersection between Cooper Square and Denton Green Park by creating a protected area for pedestrians, providing a space for community programming and other recreational activities. 
  • Build Transit-Oriented Development and Greenway at Block 39 ($880,000): Transform several underutilized lots adjacent to the existing LIRR Station to create multi-family housing, as well as ground-floor retail and a green corridor.  
  • Develop a Workforce Center in Hempstead Bank Building at 54 Main Street ($1,250,000): Renovate the existing Hempstead Bank Building into a vibrant office space and workforce development center while providing building facade and sidewalk improvements. 
  • Implement Main Street Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements ($3,495,000): Address critical pedestrian and traffic safety improvements along Fulton Street between Main and Washington Streets while also enhancing the pedestrian experience with new and upgraded amenities such as improved lighting, seating, and planters. 

The Village of Farmingdale   

The Village of Farmingdale’s downtown is a compact area mixed with small parcels and dense building coverage, mixed land uses and charming architecture. It is situated among some of the most popular tourist destinations in New York State. Due to the Village’s characteristics, Farmingdale is focusing on projects that will yield dramatic and positive effects, thereby advancing an active downtown with a strong sense of place. The Village seeks to attract new businesses, encourage a diverse population, improve downtown living and quality of life and enhance the pedestrian walkability and cyclability of the downtown. 

 The 4 Farmingdale NY Forward projects, totaling $4.5 million, include:  

  • Upgrade Streetscapes, Signage, and Village Green ($729,000): Address critical pedestrian and aesthetic needs throughout the downtown to enhance safety, connectivity, and the overall sense of place in the downtown area.
  • Construct New Performing Arts Center in Downtown Farmingdale ($3,000,000): Construct a performing arts center on a municipal parking lot near Main Street to provide a year-round venue for cultural and educational events. 
  • Improve Pedestrian Safety on Fulton Street ($564,000): Implement pedestrian safety and traffic calming improvements along Fulton Street at the intersections of Main Street and Staples Street, which serve as key gateways to the downtown business district.
  • Implement a Small Project Fund in Downtown Farmingdale ($207,000): Establish a Small Project Fund to assist property and business owners with improvements that enhance the appearance and functionality of the downtown. 

To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding, including DRI and NY Forward. Since the launch of the Pro-Housing Communities Program, funds awarded to Pro-Housing Communities throughout the state have supported up to 20,000 more homes. To date, more than 410 communities across New York have been certified, including the Villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale.   

Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 5,000 units of housing – more than 2,000 of which (40 percent) are affordable or workforce housing. The programs committed $9 million to 12 projects that provide affordable or free childcare and childcare worker training. The DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art – such as murals and sculptures – and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.    

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Long Island’s downtowns are vital hubs of economic activity and community life, and these latest investments will help them continue to grow and thrive. Through the DRI and NY Forward, we are supporting projects that strengthen local economies, expand housing opportunities and create vibrant, accessible public spaces. Each project reflects the unique character of its community while advancing smart, sustainable growth across the region. We are proud to partner with these incredible Long Island communities as they bring their bold visions for revitalization to life.”    

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward are helping Long Island communities turn locally driven plans into projects that create housing, support small businesses, strengthen workforce development and make downtowns more vibrant and accessible. These investments in Hempstead and Farmingdale will advance walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, improve public spaces and support the kind of long-term economic growth that benefits residents, businesses and visitors alike.” 

Empire State Development Board Chair Kevin Law said, “Long Island’s downtowns are among our region’s greatest assets, and these projects reflect the power of targeted state investment to support local priorities and unlock new opportunities. From new housing and retail space in Hempstead to cultural amenities and pedestrian improvements in Farmingdale, these awards will help create more connected, active and economically resilient communities across Long Island.” 

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, HCR is helping communities across Long Island transform their downtowns into stronger economic and residential centers. In Hempstead and Farmingdale, these investments will create new housing opportunities, support small businesses, strengthen workforce development and enhance vibrant public spaces that bring residents and visitors together. By tying these projects to the Pro-Housing Communities Program, we are ensuring that revitalization and housing growth go hand in hand, helping communities expand affordability, attract new investment and build more resilient futures. Together, these projects are creating dynamic, walkable downtowns 

where people can live, work and thrive for generations to come.” 

Assemblymember Noah Burroughs said, “On behalf of the residents and businesses of the Village of Hempstead, we extend our sincere gratitude to governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership and commitment in awarding $10 million toward our Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This transformative investment is both greatly appreciated and deeply needed as we continue the important work of enhancing the image, economic vitality, and overall quality of life within the largest village in New York. Governor Hochul’s support represents a major step forward in helping us reimagine and strengthen our downtown corridor, creating a more vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous future for generations to come.” 

Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs said “Governor Hochul’s announcement about funding for transformational projects on Long Island is a real game-changer. This is another step for the Village of Hempstead in our continued work towards revitalization. This is an investment not only in our infrastructure and economic development, but, more importantly, in the great people of our Village. I am so grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership and our state partners for their aid in ensuring Hempstead continues its path toward a brighter future through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.”

Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said “As a Downtown that has gone through incredible revitalization, Farmingdale Village is always very appreciative and enthusiastic to work with New York State on these Programs & Grants. The improvements from being part of the $4.5 Million NY Forward Award; are well recognized! And we utilize all these opportunities to continue to improve our Village and make it a better place for our residents and visitors. And the evidence is everywhere, certainly a boost to our local businesses and especially since Farmingdale Village was voted Best Downtown 11 out of the last 12 years in the Four Leaf Best of LI contest. We thank NYS and Governor Kathy Hochul!”

Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks said “I am beyond thrilled for the seven projects selected for the Village of Hempstead. This is a monumental moment for our downtown and for the hard-working families and small businesses who have made the Village the wonderful place it is. Hempstead has long deserved this level of investment and Governor Hochul‘s commitment to transforming Long Island from the ground up is exactly the kind of action that changes lives.” 

Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis said, “Lasting, sustainable revitalization is built from the ground up to reflect a community’s vision for a brighter and more prosperous future for all. As a Hempstead Village native myself, I am thrilled to see how my hometown continues to embrace these endeavors, and I am deeply appreciative to Governor Hochul and New York State for providing the resources that will help propel this important work.”

LIREDC Co-Chairs Linda Armyn and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said, “The LIREDC is proud to support projects that reflect the vision, character and needs of Long Island communities. These investments in Hempstead and Farmingdale will help strengthen downtown corridors, expand housing and business opportunities, enhance public spaces and support the cultural and economic activity that makes our region thrive. We are excited to see these locally driven projects take shape and help create more dynamic, welcoming downtowns across the region.” 

About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative  
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through nine rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $1 billion to 101 communities across every region of the State. The Governor has proposed another $100 million for the program in her 2026-2027 Executive Budget.       

About the NY Forward Program  
First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.    

NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $400 million to 77 communities across every region of the State. The Governor has proposed another $100 million for the program in her 2026-2027 Executive Budget.  

Economic Development, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, Infrastructure, New York State politics, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul Comes to Long Island to Award Valley Stream, Patchogue Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Program Grants With Pro-Housing Component

Village of Valley Stream To Receive $10 Million From Downtown Revitalization Initiative; Village of Patchogue To Receive $4.5 Million From NY Forward

Localities Must Be Certified Under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program To Receive DRI or NY Forward Funding

Governor Kathy Hochul came to Long Island to announce that Village of Valley Stream will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the Village of Patchogue will receive $4.5 million as the Long Island winner of the fourth round of NY Forward. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul came to Long Island to announce that Village of Valley Stream will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the Village of Patchogue will receive $4.5 million as the Long Island winner of the fourth round of NY Forward. For Round 9 of the DRI and Round 4 of the NY Forward Program, each of the State’s 10 economic development regions is being awarded $10 million from each program, for a total state commitment of $200 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods. To date, total investments in the DRI and NY Forward have reached $1.4 billion.

“Downtowns and Main Streets are powerhouses for localities, and any investments toward them shape the business and recreational scene for residents and visitors — that’s why the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs are so impactful,” Governor Hochul said. “These transformational projects in Valley Stream and Patchogue are a commitment to Long Island’s future, where we will secure walkable downtowns, affordable housing, support for the arts and so much more. I’ll always keep fighting for Long Island.”

To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary state funding, including DRI and NY Forward. Since the launch of the Pro-Housing Communities Program, funds awarded to Pro-Housing Communities throughout the state have supported up to 20,000 more homes. To date, more than 410 communities across New York have been certified, including the Village of Valley Stream and the Village of Patchogue.

Many of the projects funded through the DRI and NY Forward support Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. The DRI has invested in the creation of more than 5,000 units of housing — more than 2,000 of which (40 percent) are affordable or workforce housing. The programs committed $9 million to 12 projects that provide affordable or free childcare and childcare worker training. The DRI and NY Forward have also invested in the creation of public parks, public art — such as murals and sculptures — and art, music and cultural venues that provide free outdoor recreation and entertainment opportunities.

$10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award for the Village of Valley Stream
The Village of Valley Stream’s “International Downtown” stands as a bold vision for the future of Long Island — where diversity, connectivity and opportunity converge in a vibrant, transit-oriented community. As one of the region’s most diverse municipalities, Valley Stream is redefining what a modern downtown can be: walkable, compact and welcoming to residents and visitors of all backgrounds, ages and stages of life. Strategically located near JFK International Airport, Belmont Park and major transit connections, including the LIRR, Valley Stream serves as a true gateway to Long Island’s South Shore. Its bustling Rockaway Avenue corridor and thriving mixed-use center around the train station anchor a downtown rich with local businesses, global cuisine and essential services, which are all supported by ongoing investments in housing, infrastructure and public space. Now, with the DRI, Valley Stream will be able to advance transformative projects that will shape its next chapter. Surrounded by an interconnected network of parks and trails and driven by a deep commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, Valley Stream is emerging as a dynamic hub of culture, commerce and quality of life, which is poised to lead the way in Long Island’s continued growth and revitalization.

$4.5 Million NY Forward Award for the Village of Patchogue
Founded in 1812 along the shores of the Great South Bay, the Village of Patchogue has evolved from an historic maritime hub into one of Long Island’s most dynamic and walkable downtown communities. Once known as “Mill Town” for its thriving shipbuilding and industrial past, Patchogue’s modern renaissance has been defined by strategic reinvestment, beginning with the transformation of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts into a cultural anchor that now draws more than 100,000 visitors each year. Building on this momentum, decades of public and private investment have introduced new housing, arts spaces and small businesses, creating a lively Main Street and a growing reputation as a regional destination for culture, dining and events. Today, Patchogue stands as a model for smart growth, where a compact downtown supports a diverse mix of housing, jobs and recreation within a connected, accessible environment. With this investment from NY Forward, Patchogue will be able to extend its revitalization beyond Main Street, strengthening connections to the waterfront, enhancing public spaces and ensuring its future as a bustling, resilient and welcoming community for generations to come.

The Village of Valley Stream joins Hempstead, Smithtown-Kings Park, Huntington Station, Amityville, Baldwin, Central Islip, Hicksville and Westbury as winners of the DRI for Long Island, while the Village of Patchogue joins Farmingdale, Mineola, North Bellport, Long Beach and Lindenhurst as NY Forward winners for Long Island.

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Across Long Island, we’ve seen how the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs help communities build momentum and spark new possibilities. With this investment, the Villages of Valley Stream and Patchogue can begin shaping a vision that reflects the community’s desired goals for their downtown and its future growth. Thanks to Governor Hochul for her continued support of these great programs, and congratulations to both communities and look forward to working together in this next phase.”

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, we are partnering with communities like Valley Stream and Patchogue to turn local priorities into lasting progress. These investments will support locally driven visions that strengthen small businesses, expand housing opportunities and enhance public spaces — ensuring Long Island remains a dynamic place to live, work and visit.”

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, we are helping communities across Long Island turn bold local visions into real, lasting progress. In Valley Stream and Patchogue, this $14.5 million investment will unlock new opportunities to create housing, support small businesses and strengthen vibrant, transit-connected downtowns that reflect the diversity and energy of these communities. By linking these resources to our Pro-Housing Communities Program, we are ensuring that growth goes hand in hand with expanding housing supply and affordability. Together, these efforts are building stronger, more resilient communities where people can live, work and thrive for generations to come.”

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “New York State is transforming downtowns into vibrant, environmentally friendly hubs that strengthen local economies and improve quality of life for residents. By integrating modern features and infrastructure into these updated spaces across Long Island, we are advancing a more sustainable, resilient, and healthy future for communities across the region.”

Empire State Development Board Chair Kevin Law said, “Long Island’s economic future is rooted in strong, connected downtowns, and Valley Stream and Patchogue are communities ready to seize that opportunity. This investment reflects Governor Hochul’s commitment to growing every corner of the state — and it will generate a real, lasting impact on Long Island families, small businesses, and the region.”

Long Island Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Linda Armyn and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said, “These awards reflect the strength of Long Island’s communities and the thoughtfulness of their vision for the future. Valley Stream and Patchogue each bring a compelling, community-grounded plan for growth — one centered on diversity and transit access, the other on culture and waterfront connection. The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council is proud to support projects that create opportunity, strengthen small businesses and improve quality of life.”

The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all criteria before recommending these communities as nominees.

State Senator Dean Murray said, “Patchogue Village has become a model for revitalization not just on Long Island, but across New York State, and this $4.5 million dollar NY Forward grant is a tremendous investment in its future. The ‘Storefront to Shorefront’ project will strengthen the connection between Patchogue’s thriving community and its beautiful waterfront, creating new opportunities for residents, visitors, and local businesses alike. Patchogue’s transformation has been remarkable, and this exciting next step will continue the Village’s growth and success for years to come.”

Assemblymember Michaelle Solages said, “This $10 million investment in Valley Stream is exactly for what DRI was originally established. Valley Stream is the gateway to Long Island: a diverse community filled with families and small businesses who will benefit from this initiative. Through this funding, we will build a more walkable, connected community while supporting local economic growth and ensuring our beloved village receives the updated infrastructure that it deserves. This funding will go a long way to keeping Valley Stream a neighborhood that residents can be proud of for generations to come. I thank Governor Hochul for this timely and well-considered investment.”

Assemblymember Judy Griffin said, “I am truly grateful that the Village of Valley Stream will be awarded $10 million as the well-deserved winner of the Long Island Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and I applaud the dedicated and determined efforts by all involved in achieving this milestone. Congratulations Mayor Fare, residents, and business owners! This will be a game-changer for this over 100 year old village and I am proud to have played a role in bringing it to fruition. I am excited to see the many ways this vibrant community and downtown village hub will be enhanced. Already a well-planned and attractive residential, business, recreational and commuter community, Valley Stream will further become a dynamic destination for shoppers, diners, and patrons – offering new employment and residential opportunities. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for shining a light on the welcoming Village of Valley Stream.”

Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri said, “Success is built on partnerships and Governor Hochul has been a dedicated partner to the Village of Patchogue since she first walked our streets years ago. With this ‘Storefront to Shorefront’ grant, we are finally bridging the gap between our vibrant downtown and our beautiful waterfront. This funding allows us to expand recreation, improve walkability, and ensure that as our Village grows, our residents’ quality of life remains on top priority. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for being the dedicated advocate our community deserves.”

Village of Valley Stream Trustee Kevin Waszak said, “On behalf of the Village of Valley Stream, I want to thank Governor Hochul for this transformational investment in our downtown and our future. This $10 million DRI award will help us create a more vibrant, connected and welcoming community for residents, businesses, commuters and future generations.”

Long Island Association Acting President & CEO Stacey Sikes said, “Our downtowns and its small businesses are the lifeblood of Long Island’s economy, and the Long Island Association thanks Governor Hochul for her commitment to ensuring the vibrancy of our local communities and the success of the businesses that drive them. We appreciate the collaboration of officials at all levels of government to support these critical investments in Valley Stream and Patchogue.”

Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander said, “Special thanks to Governor Hochul for continuing the NYS DRI and NY Forward programs to bring resources to Long Island’s downtowns.The Village of Valley Stream has been working on revitalization of Rockaway Avenue and supported transit oriented development housing for many years and has tremendous opportunities to expand its diverse business base, arts, pedestrian safety and housing. This grant funding can help realize goals from residents and business owners for their business district we have heard in recent years.”

Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nunez said, “Governor Hochul continues to deliver real investments for Long Island communities, and I’m pleased to see the Village of Valley Stream receive this transformative $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award to help create a safer, more vibrant, and more walkable downtown for residents, commuters, and local businesses.”

Valley Stream and Patchogue will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns. A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners. The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s investment.

About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State’s bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through nine rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $1 billion to 99 communities across every region of the State. The Governor has proposed another $100 million for the program in her 2026-27 Executive Budget.

About the NY Forward Program
First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $340 million to 77 communities across every region of the State. The Governor has proposed another $100 million for the program in her 2026-27 Executive Budget.

Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Statewide ‘Cost of Blakeman’ Tour Launches Where Republican Candidate for Governor is Nassau County Executive

Former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, on the steps of the Nassau County Executive Building at the launch of a statewide “Cost of Blakeman” tour © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

The “Cost of Blakeman” tour through New York State launched here in Nassau County, Long Island, on the steps of the Executive Building where Bruce Blakeman presides as County Executive, by the people “who know Blakeman best.”

They gathered to expose Blakeman’s record as County Executive – or the lack of it – and how he has prioritized appeasing Trump above working to benefit constituents.

“No one knows better than us how important it is to keep him away as far as possible from Governor’s mansion,” declared Jay Jacobs, state and county Democratic Committee chair. “We are taking this message across New York State because we know his record.”

“He has made the county less safe, more expensive for all, in hopes of making Trump happy.”

Blakeman backed Trump’s tariffs and downplays price hikes as a result of the tariffs and the Iran War, and raising property taxes indirectly because, despite his campaign promise, has done nothing to fix assessment system.

Jacobs accused Blakeman of abusing power by creating an armed private militia.

Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages and candidate for Lt. Governor Adrienne Adams with SEIU members at “Cost of Blakeman” rally © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Blakeman has taken to opposing anything that Governor Hochul has proposed, from reforming the bail system to be more just (disregarding the changes to insure violent and repeat offenders are not released), to addressing the crisis in affordable housing, to her gun violence prevention legislation after the Supreme Court knocked down New York’s 100-year old gun control law, to challenging congestion pricing in New York City to improve air quality, reduce traffic and raise necessary funds for capital improvements to mass transit.

When Trump pulled billions from appropriated funding for the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project (hinting the money would be restored if New York renamed Penn Station for him), Blakeman didn’t

When Trump pulled millions of federal spending for local law enforcement and community violence prevention programs, Blakeman refused to a lift finger, but Hochul got the money back.

Under Blakeman – who interestingly has always made crime his Number One campaign issue – violent crime has gone up, spiked to the highest levels in decades, Jacobs said,  “and excuses too”, despite violent crime rates dropping across the state and nation.

“Nassau declared ‘America’s safest suburb’ was bestowed on Blakeman’s predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran,” he noted.

But under Blakeman, Nassau County Police Department is lower in numbers, detective ranks lower (though pay has been significantly increased).

“The people who know Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman best” join launch of “Cost of Blakeman” tour at the County Executive Building, calling attention to Blakeman’s failed leadership and unpopular policies that he would bring to the state if he wins election for governor © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Blakeman has diverted County detectives to work with ICE for deportation, rather than focus on keeping us safe, and holds a press photo op every time alleged gang members are arrested (most recently, touting that 9 out of 35 people arrested were gang members). He has claimed the county arrested 2,000 criminal migrants, without noting that they were not adjudicated as guilty of crime. Among them, a long-time Great Neck resident, Tomas Orellana, who for years ran the railroad station café, a father of eight who the community is rallying around to provide support, while he was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana where it is difficult for him to obtain legal counsel.

Trump and the Republicans tax bill caused 500,000 New Yorkers to lose healthcare, and as governor, Blakeman has indicated he wants to further gut Medicaid and New York health care, while Hochul has been working to expand access to health care.

“He won’t disagree with Trump privately or publicly, ever. He finds new ways to praise Trump. He couldn’t even condemn Trump for bashing the Pope.

“His entire record is that he has done absolutely nothing…We need a governor who works for us, not to keep Trump happy. Hochul has been laser focused on her Affordability Agenda” – for example, working to build affordable housing, lower car insurance rates, provide child care, and give residents a Trump tariffs rebate. She has fought to claw back the federal funds – such as halting construction of the Hudson Gateway Tunnel and offshore wind projects that are nearing completion – that Trump unilaterally rescinded out of pique or to extort the state to enact his policies. Hochul is laser focused on her Affordability  agenda.

“Hochul will make sure that Blakeman adds to his long, long track record of losing elections at every level,” Jacobs declared.

Adrienne Adams, former speaker of the New York City Council who is running with Hochul as Lt. Governor, also accused Blakeman of being 100% MAGA, costing families money while putting safety at risk.

He’s not just supporting Trump, he is promising to enact similar policies at the same level.

Trump stripped 500,000 New Yorkers of healthcare and Blakeman promises further cuts.

Blakeman supports tariffs that hurt New Yorkers while Hochul is demanding refunds to keep money in your pocket.

She is fighting for ICE accountability while Blakeman is fighting for a private MAGA militia [mimicking the unaccountable ICE agents].

He saw Trump go after New York for public safety, infrastructure, child care funds. “But from Blakeman only crickets. He’s not fighting back like Hochul.

He promises Trump-style leadership as governor. “New Yorkers know exactly what that means – and they want no part.

They want a governor to stand up for them. Hochul takes on trump and wins.

“Hochul is getting results, she has the receipts.”

The choice is a governor who fights for you or a MAGA politician who follows trump.

Nassau County Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, jointed by Democratic county legislators, describes a difficult four years trying to deal with County Executive Bruce Blakeman © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whittonnoted, “The past 4 years I’ve had the distinct challenge of trying to work with Blakeman. [His tenure is defined by] headlines, photo ops and political ambition. You don’t see the executive unless there is a camera.”

Democrats, who are relegated to a minority by gerrymandered districting by the Republican Supermajority, have put forward legislation to cap the gas tax, establish a 311 system to reduce pressure on 911, which she said, Blakeman ignored.

Under Blakeman, whose entire political persona is based on public safety and partisanship, The Safe Center, the only place for victims of domestic violence could go in the county, suddenly discontinued services as of March 14, 2025, when it lost county grant funding (https://longisland.news12.com/safe-center-li-nassaus-only-agency-for-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-victims-ends-client-services-friday).

Terry Clark of Moms Demand Action: “A private militia poses danger to law enforcement, neighborhoods, creates confusion, undermines trust, puts communities at risk.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Terry Clark of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown which advocates for gun violence prevention, railed against one of Blakeman’s pet achievements, the creation of a private militia.

“A private militia poses danger to law enforcement, neighborhoods, creates confusion, undermines trust, puts communities at risk. There should be no reason to guess who is charge, who is trained. When lines blurred, violence escalates. It is a matter of accountability and public trust. We deserve to know who the trained professionals are.”

Blakeman has argued for the need for his militia in the event of some emergency. But she noted, “we already have community response teams” who are trained for such emergencies.

“When lives are on line, clarity saves lives, confusion costs lives.”

Local Moms Demand Action activists with Adrienne Adams, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor: Nassau County Executive opposed Governor Kathy Hochul’s gun violence prevention legislation after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s 100-year-old gun control law © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Blakeman has a knee jerk response to anything that Hochul and the Democrats do. When the Supreme Court overturned New York’s 100-year old gun control law, he came out against Hochul’s newly crafted gun violence prevention law.

“The priorities are never about Nassau County, always about Bruce Blakeman,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “From the start, he has been more interested in auditioning for a role in the Trump administration” so has cheered tariffs, ICE enforcement, and has hosted Education Secretary Linda McMahon at Massapequa high school in decrying a state mandate to replace disrespectful (and inaccurate) Native American mascots at Nassau County schools, and recently hosted Treasury Secretary Bessent for a business roundtable.

“Blakeman has spent four years chasing attention rather than results,” DeRiggi-Whittonsaid.

Nearly half of the reserves have been spent down, she said, asserting wasteful spending and cronyism, like the millions of dollars handed to outside legal services.

Instead of spending the opioid settlement funds on programs, Blakeman has used the interest revenue to avoid having to raise taxes “while programs are desperately in need of funding,” she said.

The Nassau University Medical Center crisis was so severe – financial mismanagement leading to a massive $1.4 billion deficit, executive corruption allegations, and FBI scrutiny over diverted Medicaid funds – Governor Hochul and the state legislature executed a hostile takeover of the hospital’s board, clashing with Blakeman. 

Health worker and SEIU union delegate John Sabo, pointing to the $2 trillion in cuts to health care by Trump, warn that Bruce Blakeman would further undermine New York State healthcare if he becomes governor © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
 

“I don’t see how Blakeman helps people. He is loyal to Trump, even after his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ gutted health care, by $2 trillion, said John Sabo, a healthcare worker and 1199 SEIU delegate who said “the hospital where I work is the hospital where I was born.”

“As a health care worker, I see workers laid off, hospitals closing, health care premiums shooting up so that people pay more or don’t have. To what end? To line the pockets of billionaires, give money for ICE to terrorize neighborhoods and conduct warrantless searches, detaining on a whim, mothers and children. If you just look like a targeted group, you can be detained.

“Blakeman is loyal to Trump, not to people at health risk or who fear ICE will detain, or workers who have to work two jobs to get by. We can do better. Vote right in November.”

Blakeman’s push for the Sands casino project despite community opposition (which Sands ultimately withdrew), and push away of a proposed NYU Langone complex lost the county $7 billion in economic opportunity, DeRiggi-Whittonasserted.

Another example: Blakeman diverted $15 million in tourism promotion funding, taking $5 million for a television ad campaign in places like Oklahoma which promoted himself, and took $10 million the county had paid for years to the professional tourism marketing organization, Discover Long Island, awarding the tourism promotion contract instead to a home-based brand marketer with no experience or connections in tourism marketing.

While Long Island experienced a boom in tourism in 2024, generating $945 million in local and state tax revenue, and a record $7.9 billion in total spending, it was Suffolk County, not Nassau that accounted for the vast majority of the increase, while Nassau actually had a decline. Since Nassau County withdrew from Discover Long Island and redirected its $1 million annual tourism contract to the private marketing firm, Nassau’s tourism receipts declined by 0.4% in 2024, while neighboring Suffolk County experienced a 7% increase. Additionally, the split cost the region $500,000 in annual matching funds from New York State’s “I LOVE NY” program.

Blakeman has taken no action to boost economic development or invest in infrastructure to boost the county’s climate resilience, or address the epidemic of traffic accidents and deaths. What improvements and projects that have been underway have mostly been funded by the state, through such programs as Downtown Revitalization Initiative, grants through the state’s Environmental and Climate bonds, and Department of Transportation grant programs, and while his Comptroller (and possible successor Elaine Phillips) recently attacked state Democrats for sending $9.6 billion to Albany while receiving $4.8 billion in State funding, it is questionable whether the County ever applied for grants.

Partisanship, cronyism and self-service define Blakeman’s tenure.

“Now Blakeman wants to run the state. His arrogance is only matched by [incompetence]. Hochul’s leadership is dedicated to serving all – not just political allies and cronies – and governing seriously,” DeRiggi-Whitton stated.

Blakeman Responds

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for New York Governor, said that to address New York’s high utility costs, “I would end green energy scam, open Marcellus Shale to drilling,” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Bruce Blakeman took only two questions during his hastily called presser to rebut the rally speakers, but refused to answer a question about his economic development accomplishments and how much he has invested out of the nearly billion dollars held in reserve – the interest revenue used to avoid raising taxes – but indicated that he would bring the policies from the county to the state.

He blamed high utility costs on Hochul – not on Trump attempting to cancel wind power projects nearing completion – while mimicking trump’s claim of “clean energy scam”, and vowed to overturn bans on drilling in the Marcellus shale. (Note: consumer’s problem isn’t a lack of availability of fossil fuel, because the cost is set on world market. The USA already produces more than it consumes and has become the #1 exporter.)

He complained about the county sending billions more to state than the county receives back, but there is a question about whether the county has bothered to seek grants for infrastructure, water projects, climate resilience and mitigation, or road safety.

Meanwhile, Blakeman did not bother to show up for an announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul of $150 million in state funding toward a $430 million New York BioGenesis Park, a world-leading specialized cell and gene therapy innovation hub located in Lake Succes (actually telling the Governor never to set foot in Nassau again) and immediately walked out of a ceremony before Hochul appeared to announce the completion of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant in Westbury.

Instead of offering any economic development achievements, he derided Hochul that the budget has been late for the fifth time.

He stressed as his major accomplishment removing 2,000 undocumented migrants, who he claimed were criminal rapists, gang members, gun traffickers (though it is unclear how they were adjudicated, since there are local groups that have monitored how people are being snatched off the street).

“We are the most overtaxed, overregulated state in the United States, 49 out of 50 in economic development, utility costs are 70% higher thanb the national average,” he claimed. “Hochul has made us less affordable, less safe,” despite data that shows the state’s crime rate declining.

“The last 4 years we have had budgets on time, surplus without raising tax. I cancelled the $150 million tax increase put in by my predecessor, and got 7 bond upgrades.

As for the unspent opioid funds that are being used to avoid needing to raise taxes, he claimed he would not do what Hochul does, throw money at programs and also uses the opioid fund interest to balance the budget.

When asked if the voters who put Republicans in power nationally and in Nassau County, are “losing faith” because of pocket book issues, tariffs, the Iran War, Blakeman explained away affordability problems using a phrase that mimics Trump, “The issue is with Hochul and green energy. She has been governor for four years and we have less affordable utility rates. Why aren’t we drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation, one of the largest reserves? That will cut utility costs.

“I would end green energy scam, open Marcellus Shale to drilling,” Blakeman stated.

Asked about the Trump tariffs impacting what New Yorkers spend, Blakeman pivoted to again attack Hochul for increasing energy costs for New Yorkers. (Actually, the increases in New York are being felt nationally, largely due to increased demand from new data centers, advanced manufacturing, and residential electrification, as well as some added fees to fund the transition to clean renewable energy and meet carbon-emission targets, but Trump sought to cancel clean energy projects which will increase supply and lower utility rates, and it is unlikely that Blakeman, if governor, would move forward with the state’s Clean Energy programs.)

As for “international affairs” – the war with Iran which has caused global energy shortage, price hikes and is threatening global recession – Blakeman mouthed the Trump administration line, saying “If in 9/11 they were willing to take out 3000 New Yorkers, if they had a nuke, they would take out 3 million. They hate Americans and have no respect for human life. I am in favor of the Iran War if it ensures Iran will not get a nuke.”

This provided another example of how Blakeman falls into line, recalling when he hosted a rally and blasted President Biden for not expelling Russians from their compound at Glen Cove, Long Island, held a photo op in which he gave Ukrainians a proclamation, but no longer supports providing aid to Ukraine to push out Russia in keeping with Trump favoring Putin.

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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.Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Climate Action, Conservation, Environment, Environmental Protection, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Local Activists Rally to Save Kings Point Park from NYS Legislators Slipping Alienation Legislation Through Before End of Session

Local Save Kings Point Park activists worry that New York State legislators will try to slip through alienation legislation to take 2 ½ acres of parkland for a private parking lot, in the dead of night in June, just before the end of the Legislature’s session

Local Save Kings Point Park activists worry that New York State legislators will try to slip through alienation legislation to take 2 ½ acres of parkland for a private parking lot, in the dead of night in June, just before the end of the Legislature’s session  © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

An estimated 200 people gathered under cloudy skies on Sunday, April 19, to protest the taking of 7 ½ acres of old-growth forest and wetlands in a 173-acre preserve that for decades has been a public park – an astonishing number considering the population of the Great Neck, New York, peninsula.

The taking of the land in two separate but related moves – 2 ½ acres for a 397-space private parking lot and private pool to serve a massive, four-story United Mashadi Jewish Community of America (UMJCA) center and five acres for a Village of Kings Point public works facility which is said to also include a bunker for Kings Point residents to seek emergency shelter – smacks of secret dealings among elected officials of the Village of Great Neck, the Village of Kings Point, and the Great Neck Park District, along with the state representatives Senator Jack Martins and Assemblyman Daniel J. Norber (both Republicans).

The 173-acre Kings Point Park is in the Manhasset Bay Watershed, 90% is protected wetlands, and the largest remaining pristine forest and wetlands on the Great Neck peninsula. A public parkland for the past 90 years managed by the Great Neck Park District under a lease arrangement with the Village of Kings Point, its wetlands, trees and forest help protect the peninsula from storm surges and flooding. Its creek feeds into Manhasset Bay.  The Peninsula, which depends on sole source aquifer for drinking water, has been under threat of saltwater intrusion.

The 173-acre Kings Point Park is a haven for all living things in every season © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The “alienation” of the 2 ½ acres – requiring the state Legislature and Governor’s approval – was initially passed by the state Senate literally in the dead of night at the end of last year’s state Legislative session but as a result of an outcry by activists, the legislation never made it out of committee in the Assembly.

Subsequently, the community, aided with pro-bono legal representation, filed an Article 78 arguing the required SEQRA (State Environment Quality Review Act) process was inadequate. After the lawsuit was filed, the Village of Kings Point eventually withdrew the request for alienation.

However, quietly, still without public hearings or transparency, the village of Kings Point hired an environmental consultant, and the community is worried they will try again to slip legislation through in the dead of night before the end of this year’s legislative session in June.

Save Kings Point Park activists gathered on the grassy section adjacent to the basketball courts and playground, maintenance building and bathrooms, park parking lot and the opening to wooded trails through old-growth forest, beside a creek – all of which will be paved over for the parking lot. It is likely that the ballfields will also have to be paved over to replace the lost parking area.

The Great Neck Park District – which leases Kings Point Park from the Village at a cost of $350,000 a year, an increase from $35,000 a year in the prior lease – will then have to spend millions of dollars (actually $15 million in capital expense in the village of Kings Point including $10 million in Kings Point Park is required under the terms of the latest lease agreement) in order to build new playground, maintenance building, bathrooms and parking lot. This will likely require the loss of a major picnic area and the ballfields, at minimum, though the park district has yet to offer an actual plan.

Nancy Sherman is leading Save Kings Point Park campaign to prevent the Village of Kings Point Park from taking 7.5 acres of the 173-acre preserve © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“This is our public park, It is not for sale or for trade with private entities,” declared Nancy Sherman, one of the leaders of Save Kings Point Park group. “Kings Point Park is 90% protected wetland – they can’t build on wetlands. This has been enabled by elected officials of Village of Kings Point and Great Neck Park District, working together to make this happen. This is not about religion. If permitted, they will take public parkland, cut down hundreds of trees, destroy wildlife habitat, flora, disturb bird migration.”

Building a structure of this size – it is one of the biggest on the entire Great Neck Peninsula – required many variances from the Village of Great Neck, including for insufficient on-site parking. It would have required 200 parking spots but the variance allowed the building to have only 77 on-site because the UMJCA claimed they had two other facilities along Steamboat Road and would provide shuttle services.

While the UMJCA never publicly stated they would eventually seek 2 ½ acres from the Village of Kings Point and Kings Point Park, 2018 maps show that was the plan all along.

“So use the shuttle [as promised] and do not take any parkland,” Sherman told the gathering. “You would think Park District commissioners who are supposed to be stewards, would stand up and fight, but they are in cahoots, not standing up to protect our parks.”

Jody Kass Finkel, a leader of Concerned Citizens of NY03 pointed to the failure of the Villages of Great Neck and Kings Point, as well as the Great Neck Park District to comply with New York State’s SEQRA in seeking to alienate 2 ½ acres of protected land to build a private parking lot © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Jody Kass Finkel, a leader of Concerned Citizens of NY03, the group that successfully forced the ouster of fraudster George Santos from Congress, pointed to the failure to comply with New York State’s SEQRA. SEQRA requires public hearings and transparency before going forward with legislation to take the parkland if there is significant impact. But because both Great Neck and Kings Point villages each made itself the lead agency for the building and the alienation and declared the projects would have no significant impact, they were able to skirt the public hearings required under SEQRA.

But no one believes these projects will not have significant impact. The concern is that the village of Kings Point will again deny transparency and public hearings, Kass Finkel said.

In January 2025 the village of Kings Point and UJCMA filed for permission from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to use 2 ½ acres of the protected land for a parking lot, as a possible end run.

Robert Lincoln, who had served as Great Neck Park District commissioner for decades, said “the 2 ½ acres is more than just what we see, because what they are displacing has to go somewhere – the playground, the trail where people run, walk, cross-country  ski will be cut off. Other areas will be affected because of alienation – the ballfield will probably become the park’s parking lot and maintenance building, so youth and adult programs will be affected. The picnic area, the biggest in Kings Point with running water, bathrooms, used by major organizations, will probably be displaced so more acres of woods will be lost. So there is a lot more to lose than just parking lot.

“This board of commissioners is different [from when Lincoln served]. We worked hard for transparency and open communication. There are lots of fingerprints on the daggers. It’s making me sick. We worked hard to make things better.”

The 173-acre Kings Point Park is the largest remaining pristine forest and wetlands on the Great Neck peninsula © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Tina Bickerstaff, a certified professional geologist and Great Neck resident, pointed to the importance of Kings Point Park to the environmental health of the Peninsula and Manhasset Bay.

“It’s not just about having grass and greenspace. We need a healthy ecosystem to filter contaminants, slow erosion, and combat increased frequency of storms…We can’t continue making snap decisions without thinking about the future consequences.”

Dan Capruso, a Great Neck resident who successfully prevented the Village of Kings Point from alienating parts of Kings Point Park before, asserted, “The Village of Kings Point owns it but it is a public trust and the village is responsible to hold it for the people.”

On a walk on Kings Point Park trails, ornithologist Stefan Perrault pointed to critically imperiled plant communities, native plant and old growth forest that would be destroyed or disrupted, and the impact on the ecosystem they support. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

During a walk on some of the Kings Point Park trails that will be destroyed if the parking lot is built and the village of Kings Point takes five acres for a public works building and emergency shelter (some are calling a bunker), ornithologist Stefan Perrault pointed to critically imperiled plant communities, native plant and old growth forest that would be destroyed or disrupted, and the ecosystem they support.

“There are not many of these forests left. There is not a lot of diversity but it is special because 90% is covered by imperiled plant community.” He points to 160 year old Beech tree, a 200-year-old Oak that can grow to 100 feet and Tulip trees that grow to 120 feet (a race to reach the top for sunlight), Carolina Silverbell tree that is native, but rare.

He notes that there has not much done to protect what is there – to address the invasives, and the Beech leaf disease that is threatening all the Beech trees on Long Island (it causes defoliation, eventually killing the tree after 10-15 years), the algae bloom on the stagnant creek (some is benign but some is toxic), but instead has been fixated on building new structures and facilities, like new fields and a bike trail through the park.

“Once you replace soil, the plant community is done.”

“There are not many of these forests left,” said Stefan Perrault, conducting a nature walk through Kings Point Park. “There is not a lot of diversity but it is special because 90% is covered by imperiled plant community.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Jody Kass Finkel again challenged the village for lack of transparency in its effort to take parkland for other purposes.

“State Law requires an official investigation into the impacts of decision making – SEQRA – if a project might have significant impact. It triggers intensive investigation, wider responsibility to engage the local community, and requires transparency.”

She accused the villages of illegally segmenting the two projects – first approving the building, then alienating the 2 ½ acres – in order to avoid public engagement.

“Who’s sick iof the lies and deception.? State Law requires an official investigation into the impacts of decision making – SEQRA – if a project might have significant impact,” said Kass Finkel. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“The Villages of Kings Point and Great Neck, the Great Neck Park District and Senator Jack Martins and Assemblyman Daniel Norber tried to hide it, sneak it through last June. They are starting again and still hiding. They don’t tell us the scope, cumulative impact, or about flooding that might be caused. CCNY03 FOILed, but they ignored us. We are fighting back,” Kass Finkel said.

“It’s illegal to segment the environmental review of the impacts from this over-sized UMJCA building from the environmental review of the impacts of the parkland alienation proposed to accommodate their on-site parking needs. By chopping it up, they’re trying to claim that there’s no significant impact so they can avoid public hearings. The 2018 maps show they were always planning to build a parking lot on parkland.

“They will likely try to ram this through again in the middle of the night in June, with the hope that by hiding the impacts as long as possible, it will be fast-tracked just before the Legislature adjourns so the community won’t be able to fight it. It’s outrageous behavior by public officials who are supposed to be serving our community, not hiding their actions from us. We must continue to show up to prevent them from doing this,” Kass Finkel declared.

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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. Blogging at www.dailykos.com/blogs/NewsPhotosFeatures

Climate Action, Climate Change, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State politics

Gov Hochul: Why Seeking to Delay Climate Action in Favor of Affordability for New Yorkers

Long Islanders protest for offshore windpower in 2016. Governor Hochul successfully fought back against Trump’s attempt to cancel and dismantle offshore wind projects nearly complete but is now urging a delay in implementing the state’s Climate Agenda because of the strain on New Yorkers’ wallets © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“Some benefits of electric vehicles are hard to put a price on, like the peace of mind that comes from not being at the mercy of geopolitics,” reports the New York Times.

“‘There are tentative signs that “people want to be taken off the gas-price roller coaster’ said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds. “

The fact that Iran War is expected to generate the biggest shock to global energy and economy in history is why New York State, states, localities and the nation should not be retreating from clean renewable energy. Rather, it should be the added incentive to accelerate the transition and break the dependence on tyrantss, Big Oil billionaires and conglomerates.

Energy independence is why the dictator wannabe trump, with aspirations of Empire, is going in the opposite direction – reversing all that Biden and Hochul accomplished in transitioning to clean, renewabale energy. It should inform Americans all they need to know when he attacks windpower and declares no windmills will be built while he reigns, as he tries to actually deconstruct the projects already well underway.

New York State has been a stellar leader combating trump’s anti-climate actions since his first term when his first action was to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accord. New York is a founding member of the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance since 2017. The Alliance members represent 55% of the US population and 60% of GDP. The Alliance continues to lead in state-level climate action. Governor Kathy Hochul currently serving as a co-chair.

The state is committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. Recent actions include joining the Alliance’s Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative to train 1 million apprentices by 2035. 

But now Governor Hochul is saying it will be too expensive for New Yorkers to meet the 2030 commitment, which is enshrined in law. She is asking the Legislature to amend the law to delay the transition because of her affordability goal – the hallmark of her reelection campaign. But dependence on fossil fuel is more costly in the short term, medium term and especially the long term, so what we spend on meeting that goal is an investment in a future of less costly utilities and energy, less costly healthcare and climate disaster.

It is clear that Governor Hochul is trying to go all-in on affordability in order to win reelection this November, but in the process, she will alienate young, progressive voters and environmentalists.

And that might cause the biggest problem of all, just as when these voters “showed” Biden (he didn’t completely end fossil fuel or break with Israel over Gaza, and he was old) and didn’t come out to vote for Kamala Harris. The result was returning Trump to office, where he has aggressively overturned all that Biden-Harris accomplished in implementing historic Climate Action. Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is a mini-trump who would overturn New York’s Climate Agenda entirely (along with women’s reproductive freedom, gun control, voting rights, criminal justice reform).

This op-ed by Governor Hochul better explains her position but may not succeed in mollifying environmentalists. We hope the State Legislature, especially in light of the evidence of the Iran War’s impact on fossil-fuel dependency, will reject delaying implementation of the Climate Agenda. (She may have a point about adopting more reasonable standards that are more commonly held.) –Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding her commitments to clean energy and climate action while ensuring that New York becomes more affordable. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and here:

Citing the need to give New Yorkers relief from high costs, Governor Hochul is explaining her desire to delay climate commitments: “We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030. We are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to – including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits. Nothing else in the CLCPA is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability.” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

All New Yorkers should be immensely proud that their home state is a national leader for clean energy and climate action. As Governor, I take that role very seriously, knowing it is our mission to leave our world better than we inherited it.

My worldview was shaped growing up in Western New York during the era of the toxic Love Canal, swimming in a Great Lake contaminated by industrial pollution, and breathing the orange smoke emitted from nearby smokestacks. That’s why leading the fight against climate change and protecting our environment is deeply personal for me.

Since I have been Governor, more than $88.7 billion has been invested in clean energy through programs that have made us an example for the rest of the nation.

We have the first-ever utility-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, and two more under construction that we have protected from Trump administration efforts to stop these fully-permitted projects dead in their tracks. Just one of those projects will power half a million homes in Brooklyn later this year.

My efforts to reduce emissions meant taking on tough fights, including stopping the White House from killing congestion pricing – a program that’s already delivering results, even as it faces fierce opposition from the President.

We met our 2025 solar goals a year early, positioning New York as a national leader, approved 31 large-scale solar and wind projects, and just last year allocated the largest investment to address climate change in state history

While other states wavered, New York remains a backbone of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and its early efforts to keep the multi-state climate partnership strong.

And in just a few months, the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) that I championed will become operational, delivering clean hydroelectric power to New York City, and helping to compensate for the increase in emissions driven by the shutdown of the Indian Point nuclear plant.

All of these actions have brought us closer to the goals of the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act passed by the State Legislature back in 2019. And I remain fully committed to the blueprint for a sustainable future laid out in that landmark legislation.

But so much has radically changed since the Climate Act was enacted, necessitating common-sense adjustments that keep us on our path to a greener future in a way that is affordable for New Yorkers.

Post-COVID inflation and supply chain disruptions have created a far more challenging economic landscape. That has been compounded by federally imposed illegal tariffs that have driven up project costs, and a dramatic shift in Washington. We have moved from a federal government eager to partner on the clean energy transition to a White House under Donald Trump, aided by a Republican-controlled Congress, that launched a full-on assault on renewables and the tax incentives that encouraged companies to build and residents to convert.

President Trump has denied the science, calling climate change a hoax. Just this week, he again vowed to block all new offshore wind projects and is actively attempting to dismantle those already under construction. At the same time, the federal government is also canceling grants and tax credits for solar and wind, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other pollution-reduction initiatives while rolling back key scientific findings and regulations that would have helped the nation move toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Without a federal partner, there is only so much states can do on their own. It is impossible to push new offshore wind projects and the clean energy they would produce when we have a President who prefers a “drill baby drill” mantra that focuses on oil and coal. And even within our own borders, we have been dealing with NIMBYism, moratoriums and outright bans that have made siting alternative energy facilities such as on-land wind, utility-scale solar and battery storage impossible in too many parts of our state.

Meanwhile, the war in Iran is driving up gas prices at the pump to the breaking point for too many New Yorkers. With energy demand growing and the state having retired far more fossil fuel plants than it’s been able to replace with renewable sources, our electric system operator is projecting potential energy shortages, particularly downstate, that could lead to brownouts and blackouts. 

Put simply, something has to give.

It’s why I am pushing a Ratepayer Protection Plan that will hold utilities accountable, reform the process by which regulators consider rate hike requests, and make it easier for working families to learn about and access the state’s Energy Affordability Programs.

And to make sure we keep the lights and heat on and costs down for New Yorkers, I have adopted an all-of-the-above approach to energy that includes more renewables, emission-free, reliable round-the-clock nuclear, and other needed power sources.

It’s also why, despite supporting the intentions of the Climate Act, I am pushing changes to the law as part of our budget discussions with the Legislature. This is solely out of necessity – to protect New Yorkers’ pocketbooks and economy.  Despite all the headwinds and obstacles that could not have been foreseen when the law was enacted in 2019, advocates still took the extreme step of suing the state to force it to issue regulations to meet the Climate Act’s 2030 emission reductions targets.

A judge agreed and ruled that the state must swiftly issue regulations to achieve what now would be costly and unattainable targets, unless the law is changed.

I have repeatedly said that utility rates in our state are too high. And while the Climate Act is not the driver of the high energy prices we are experiencing, the undeniable fact is we cannot meet the Climate Act’s 2030 targets without imposing new and additional crushing costs on New York businesses and residents.

Absent changes to the law, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority found the impact of meeting the Climate Act’s 2030 targets would be staggering—more than $4,000 a year for upstate oil and natural gas households, and $2,300 more for New York City natural gas households. And gas prices at the pump would jump an additional $2.23 per gallon above where it would otherwise be.

As Governor, I can’t let that happen. While I am still committed to working toward our targets, with all the stress our residents are under, New Yorkers expect their elected officials to prioritize affordability.  They are suffering from high costs every single day and I for one will not ignore their cries for relief.

The fact is, we will be dealing with a White House outright hostile toward renewable energy for at least another three years, making it impossible for us to meet our targets without imposing higher costs on homeowners, renters, and businesses.

We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be issued at the end of 2030. We are seeking to change what emission limits the regulations are tied to – including a new 2040 target as well as the existing 2050 statewide emission limits. Nothing else in the CLCPA is changing regarding the existing statewide emission limit targets and these new regulations would still require the state to make timely progress, ensuring long-term policy stability.

Additionally, we need to change the accounting methodology we use to count emissions to align with the international standards used by the global community and nearly every other U.S. state. Otherwise, these impossible emission reduction targets…only used by NY and one other state…will ensure our failure despite all of our efforts and billions of dollars spent.

These proposed changes preserve the intent of the law while realistically recognizing the economic and political challenges we face. Even with these adjustments – which bring us in line with other climate leading states like California, Washington, and Colorado – New York will still boast one of the most ambitious laws in the country. And it’s important to note that our state is not alone in dealing with these issues. A number of other states with aggressive climate goals are also struggling to meet them given the current federal headwinds and have had to make amendments.

I cannot make these changes alone. We need our partners in the Legislature to enact these needed and practical revisions. I look forward to working with lawmakers to achieve an outcome that will make our state both more sustainable and more affordable. The people of New York are counting on us to get this right.

Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Care, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Launches Campaign to Raise Public Awareness on Improved Access to Behavioral Health Treatment in NYS

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a public awareness campaign to educate New Yorkers on regulations that improve access to mental health and substance use disorder care. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a public awareness campaign to educate New Yorkers on regulations that improve access to mental health and substance use disorder care. The ‘Real Care, Real Access to Behavioral Health Services’ campaign highlights regulations that give New Yorkers with qualifying health plans access to initial outpatient appointments for behavioral health care within ten business days of the request and require insurers to help insured individuals access the care they are entitled to receive. The campaign also includes a new website with information about patient rights and how to file a complaint if those rights are violated.

“Every New Yorker deserves to have access to the care they need, and it is crucial now more than ever that the State continues to expand services,” Governor Hochul said. “By launching this public awareness campaign, more people across the state will be able to know their rights when it comes to behavioral health treatments and find more affordable options for providers.”

Led by the State’s Department of Financial Services and Office of Mental Health, the statewide public education campaign is aimed at encouraging more New Yorkers to access in-network mental health and substance use disorder care and understand their rights under these rules. Through June, multi-lingual ads will be featured on multiple digital and out-of-home platforms, including social media; transportation signage and digital kiosks; traditional television and radio; and on other digital platforms, including search and streaming services.

The campaign highlights the pillars of New York’s behavioral health regulations, including:

Timely Appointments

New Yorkers covered by individual and group health insurance policies that are subject to New York law, including policies purchased through the New York State of Health Marketplace, Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus, and the Essential Plan, are entitled to see a mental health or substance use disorder provider within ten business days for initial outpatient visits, or seven calendar days for a follow-up after being discharged from a hospital or emergency room.

Help Finding Providers

Health plans must post on their websites an accurate and up-to-date directory of their health care provider network, including the provider’s city/town and zip code, telehealth options, languages spoken if the provider is a health care professional, any restrictions concerning the conditions treated or ages served, and any affiliations the provider has with participating facilities, among other information.

The regulations also require health plans to have dedicated employees who can help their insureds find an in-network provider that treats the insured’s specific behavioral health condition. Additionally, the health plans must provide a list of in-network providers available to treat the insured’s specific behavioral health condition within three business days, following the request of an insured or the insured’s designee.

Out-of-Network Care

If an insured is unable to schedule an appointment with an in-network behavioral health care provider within certain specified wait times because there is no such provider available, then the insured, or the insured’s designee, may submit an access complaint to the health plan. The health plan has three business days from receipt of the access complaint to locate an in-network provider that can treat the insured’s behavioral health condition and is able to meet the appointment wait times.

If no in-network behavioral health care provider is available after an insured or the insured’s designee files an access complaint, the health plan must approve care from an out-of-network provider that can meet the appointment wait times. To ensure cost is never a barrier to getting care, if an out-of-network provider is approved because in-network care is not available, the insured only must pay the in-network copay, coinsurance, and deductible.

These rules do not apply to self-funded Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans. New Yorkers who are unsure of their coverage should contact their insurer or employer. Those needing mental health or substance use disorder services should also check their health insurance policies for a list of what is covered.

New Yorkers can file a complaint against health plans not in compliance. New Yorkers covered by Medicaid, Essential Plan, or Child Health Plus may file a complaint with the State Department of Health, while New Yorkers with state-regulated commercial insurance coverage may file a complaint with DFS. The new website has pages dedicated to providing more information about mental health and substance use disorder coverage requirements, protections and how to file a complaint, visit here.

The Community Health Access to Addiction & Mental Healthcare Project or ‘CHAMP’ is a resource available to help people with insurance issues related to substance use disorder and mental health care. CHAMP can answer questions, help file complaints against insurance companies, and assist with insurance denial appeals. To learn more, visit www.champny.org or call the CHAMP hotline at 1-888-614-5400.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369)

New York State Department of Financial Services Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow said, “DFS is committed to ensuring New Yorkers have access to the essential care they are entitled to. A critical component to access is awareness — and this campaign strives to ensure that every policyholder understands their rights to behavioral care in New York.”

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “These regulatory changes are helping to ensure New Yorkers have timely access to behavioral health care and that health plans, including commercial insurers, have adequate networks to serve them. This public awareness campaign will enable individuals and families to understand the changes now in effect and ensure they have access to high-quality mental health and substance use services whenever needed. Spreading word of the changes reflects Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to expand access to behavioral health care for all New Yorkers.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul understands that often the first step for those in need of mental health or substance use health care is knowing what services are available and where to find them. This public awareness campaign will help New Yorkers navigate the options that are available to them so they can access timely appointments, find in-network providers and can access care at no extra cost when in-network care is not available. New York State will continue to be a leader in expanding access to lifesaving health and behavioral health services while removing barriers to care.”

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “New Yorkers shouldn’t have to struggle to find the mental health and substance use disorder care they need, when they need it. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State has made significant strides in strengthening access to behavioral health care, and this initiative further advances equitable access by ensuring timely appointments and stronger accountability across health plans.”

Affordability, Economic Development, Governor Kathy Hochul, Housing, Infrastructure, New York State politics, News & Photo Features

Governor Hochul Rallies Statewide Support for “Let Them Build” Agenda to Address Housing Crisis, Critical Infrastructure

Common Sense Reforms to State Environmental Quality Review Act Will Speed Up Building of Housing Localities Want While Preserving Environmental Safeguards

Agenda Will Cut Red Tape That Delays the Building of Critical Infrastructure like Clean Water, Green Infrastructure, and Parks

State Will Establish Clear Timelines for Environmental Review, Standardize and Simplify Review Process, and Expedite Major Projects

Builds on Governor’s Historic Agenda To Address New York’s Housing Crisis and Make the State More Affordable and Livable for All New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul is rallying state-wide support for her “Let Them Build” agenda to address the housing shortage and critical infrastructure © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul rallied with local leaders from across the state to highlight her “Let Them Build” agenda, a series of landmark reforms to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her 2026 State of the State. This initiative will spur a series of common sense reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and executive actions to expedite critical projects that have consistently been found to not have significant environmental impacts, but caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays. Together, these actions will make it easier to build the housing and infrastructure that localities want.

The Governor’s proposal has now secured the backing of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the New York State Association of Towns (NYAOT), and the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), along with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and dozens of other local elected officials from communities across New York.

“For far too long needless, outdated red tape has stood in the way of the housing and infrastructure that New Yorkers need to address the housing crisis and make life more affordable in communities across our state,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is a place defined by our boundless ambition — we are a state that builds. It is time that we cut the red tape that too often slows down projects and let communities build, so we can offer all New Yorkers the more affordable and livable state that they deserve and attract new residents who want to call New York home.”

Today, it is too difficult to build major projects in New York: manufacturing, housing and energy projects can take as much as 56 percent longer in New York State to get from concept to groundbreaking compared to peer states. Longer projects mean higher costs, a challenge that is especially critical in New York’s housing crisis, where the only solution to high costs and scarce homes is to build more housing faster and cheaper than before. According to a report from the Citizens Budget Commission, red tape increases the cost to build a unit of housing in New York City by as much as $82,000 per unit. Similarly, burdensome requirements delay needed investment in clean water infrastructure, child care centers, and parks.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “We cannot address our housing crisis without making it easier to build housing in New York City. Environmental review reform would bring our regulations into the 21st century and ensure we can deliver an affordability agenda on the timetable needed. I commend Governor Hochul for this commonsense proposal and hope it will be a part of the enacted state budget this year. New Yorkers can’t wait any longer for action on housing.”

New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said,“Counties across New York State recognize that the State Environmental Quality Review Act plays an important role in protecting our natural resources and communities, but we also know that the current SEQR process can be overly complex, time-consuming, and costly — often delaying housing and infrastructure projects that have little or no environmental impact. We welcome the Governor’s review of the SEQR framework and look forward to working with her and the Legislature to modernize the process in a way that preserves strong environmental protections while allowing counties and municipalities to deliver the housing and infrastructure New Yorkers urgently need.”

New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “NYCOM applauds Governor Hochul for her efforts to streamline the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process, while preserving local control. SEQRA was designed to protect the environment, but it has too often been used to delay or block projects that would deliver clear environmental and community benefits. These targeted reforms would strike an important balance by expediting projects with minimal environmental impact while allowing communities to move forward with critical investments in housing, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other essential services.”

“The New York Association of Towns supports the governor’s effort to cut red tape and modernize the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA),” said New York Association of Towns’ Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the governor and our shared work together helping local governments become more efficient while still ensuring the integrity of the land-use review process.”

Helping Our Communities Build Housing We Need

One of the Downtown Revitalization Projects in Hicksville, Long Island, tied to the Long Island Railroad Third Rail and transit-oriented development, presented at Vision Long Island’s Smart Growth Summit. Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to eliminate the red tape that has delayed and raised costs of housing and infrastructure development.  © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

When Governor Hochul took office, she vowed to tackle the housing crisis and bring down costs by building the housing that New Yorkers desperately need so that more hard working households and families can afford a place to call home. However, too much critically-needed affordable housing development is forced to navigate a web of red tape created by state mandates that add unnecessary costs and years of needless delays, despite such housing development consistently being found to have no significant environmental impact. Studies have quantified how State-mandated environmental review can slow down housing projects by an average of two years, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per project, at a time when New Yorkers can least afford the wait for the housing they need to continue to live and thrive in New York.

To speed up the development of housing to create a more affordable and sustainable New York, Governor Hochul is proposing to amend the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to exempt certain types of housing that have no significant impacts on the environment from additional SEQRA review. Housing exempted from SEQRA will still be required to comply with crucial State regulatory and permit requirements governing water use, air quality, environmental justice, and protection of natural resources. The proposal does not supersede local zoning and other permitting requirements, and exempted housing also must be located outside of flood risk areas in order to qualify.

Years of experience in both New York City and across the state, involving more than a thousand projects, has shown that virtually none of such projects ultimately were found to have significant environmental impacts, but nevertheless were still subject to lengthy reviews. These reforms will accelerate the delivery of much needed housing and reduce the cost of building in ways that are consistent with sustainable and environmentally-protective development, driving down the cost of housing and rents across the state while protecting our natural resources.

“We’re not eliminating local review permits or approvals. And we’re not saying anything goes,” Governor Hochul stated.” What we are saying, and I’ll repeat it. When a community says yes, they know that it’ll not impact the government, that the State is going to step out of the way and let them go forward and build. And right here in New York City, we can significantly speed up construction of housing units up to 250 citywide.

“But in areas that are medium and higher density, up to 500 units without having to go through this redundant review. And of course they have to comply with preliminary environmental regulations, State and local law permitting. None of that’s changing, but my reformers will be a game changer and send a strong message to communities and developers alike. We are open for business and just like all the other challenges I approach, as I mentioned, I approach this one with urgency. I am impatient as our New Yorkers, we cannot wait anymore. And those who oppose us, who want to keep the status quo. You explain that to the family living in a homeless shelter, waiting for a home. You explain your opposition to the young couple who wanted to start a family here in New York, but can’t.”

Accelerating Critical Infrastructure Projects That New Yorkers Depend On

Governor Hochul also has proposed to facilitate the speedier, cheaper delivery of a broad range of beneficial infrastructure projects that New Yorkers depend on. Specifically, the Governor has proposed to adjust SEQRA’s classifications to exempt the following important categories of infrastructure that meet specific criteria from additional SEQRA review to start serving New Yorkers faster:

  • Clean Water Infrastructure: Critical water infrastructure that avoids impacts to natural resources.
    • Green Infrastructure: Nature-based storm water management.
    • Parks and Trails: Public parks and recreational bike/pedestrian paths
    • Child Care: New or renovated child care centers

Governor Hochul’s proposal would reserve these fast-track environmental review processes for only infrastructure that would be located at previously disturbed areas, protecting our natural resources and undisturbed lands, while strengthening our neighborhoods. The Governor’s approach would yield tangible environmental benefits including improved air and water quality, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the preservation of critical habitats when compared to policies which encourage sprawl and unchecked development of natural areas.

Currently SEQRA review timelines vary greatly across projects, creating unpredictability for local communities, project sponsors, and state agencies alike. To cut through the red tape, Governor Hochul has proposed to:

  • Deliver faster decisions for local communities by setting clear timelines for environmental impact statements and driving accountability
    • Streamline environmental impact statements to cut down on review timelines for key categories of projects
    • Modernize New York’s permitting processes to save time and money for localities by improving processes and utilizing new technologies
    • Expedite major state infrastructure projects to serve New Yorkers faster
    • Support local communities through a new permitting academy

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said,“New Yorkers desperately need more opportunities to rent apartments and buy homes they can afford. The SEQRA reforms outlined in the Governor’s Let Them Build agenda will deliver that by bringing clarity, speed, and fairness to the process of increasing housing supply and building the infrastructure and community resources that go along with it. The changes and modernization that the Governor is proposing will reduce the time it takes to get shovels in the ground by more than fifty percent while continuing to preserve and protect our natural resources. This is a brilliant idea that will make an enormous difference toward creating the homes and the thriving communities that people deserve.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said,“Governor Hochul’s ‘Let Them Build’ agenda is centered around incentivizing doing the right thing, avoiding impacts to natural resources, by driving development to previously disturbed sites. Common-sense reforms to SEQRA will speed up the delivery of zoned and permitted affordable housing and other critical infrastructure projects that New Yorkers need, and secure more certainty in environmental review timelines on vital transportation improvements, municipal infrastructure, and other projects benefitting local communities. The Governor’s approach will yield tangible environmental benefits compared to policies that encourage sprawl and unchecked development of natural areas.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Governor Hochul’s ‘Let Them Build’ agenda is a critical step toward delivering the housing, infrastructure, and clean energy projects to benefit all New Yorkers. By modernizing environmental review, setting clear and accountable timelines, and removing unnecessary barriers while maintaining strong environmental protections, these reforms will lower costs, speed responsible development, and strengthen communities throughout the state.”

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply through nearly $4 billion in targeted investments, a comprehensive Housing Plan, 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 $750 million in discretionary State funding. Currently, more than 400 communities have received Pro-Housing certification.

The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year, $25 billion 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 77,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Executive Budget also invests $250 million to accelerate affordable housing construction to speed up the building of thousands more affordable homes.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said,“East Hampton needs more affordable housing so the people who keep our town running can continue living here, including teachers, health care workers, first responders, town employees, and young families. I appreciate Governor Hochul for making this a priority and for backing a clearer, more consistent review process that helps communities build the homes New Yorkers need while continuing to protect our environment, our water, and our open space.”

“I applaud Governor Hochul’s proposed SEQRA reforms through her Let Them Build Agenda,” said White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch. “These common-sense changes cut through unnecessary red tape while striking the right balance-encouraging smart growth and preserving zoning authority, home rule, and environmental integrity. As the fastest-growing city in New York State, White Plains needs tools that allow us to build faster and more affordably, and this plan delivers.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, “Our city and state face a generational housing crisis that endangers countless families living on the sharp edge of homelessness, and we must leave no stone unturned in order to protect, preserve and rapidly build affordable housing. That is exactly what these reforms put forth by Governor Hochul will do by removing the red tape that has contributed to this crisis by unnecessarily delaying and blocking construction. I commend the Governor for putting forward her comprehensive Let Them Build initiative, and I am proud to partner with her in this effort.”

New York State Association for Affordable Housing President and CEO Carlina Rivera said, “New York is running out of time to address its affordable housing crisis, and unnecessary delays in the SEQRA process are making it harder and more expensive to build the homes New Yorkers need. Governor Hochul’s proposed SEQRA reforms strike the right balance by streamlining review for appropriate affordable housing projects while preserving critical environmental protections. These changes will reduce costs, create predictability, and help deliver more homes faster. We urge the Legislature to work with the Governor to ensure these important reforms remain in the final budget.”

New York Housing Conference Executive Director Rachel Free said,“Reforming SEQRA is critical to unlocking housing production in New York. The current process often creates years of delay, drives up costs, and blocks housing and infrastructure projects without delivering better environmental outcomes. The Governor’s suggested modernization would rightly focus on projects with truly significant impacts, while reducing the delay on key housing projects. SEQRA reform is essential to advancing affordable housing and the economic vitality New York urgently needs while maintaining strong environmental protections.”

National Federation of Independent Business New York State Director Ashley Ranslow said, “Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to reform SEQRA is a practical and necessary step to help streamline and expedite the development and building process. In New York, it takes too much time and resources to get a project off the ground — inevitably driving up the cost of construction. Reforming SEQRA will cut red tape, accelerate building projects, and make them more affordable, ultimately helping the state’s economy, small businesses, and communities across the state.”

Partnership for New York City President and CEO Steven Fulop said,“I hear often from Board members at the Partnership that SEQRA has needed fixing for a long time. It is needlessly bureaucratic, and it drags out projects. I am glad Governor Hochul is taking this on, because it is an unnecessary factor driving up the cost of housing development in the city.”

Open New York Executive Director Annemarie Gray said, “Modernizing SEQRA is about restoring faith that our government can deliver on the things New Yorkers need. When critical projects spend five years being delayed by paperwork, people lose faith in government. Right now, we’re facing both an affordability crisis and a climate crisis — these demand immediate action, and New York families can’t afford to wait years for delays driven by frivolous lawsuits. We commend Governor Kathy Hochul for taking this on and urge the State Legislature to pass SEQRA reform in this year’s state budget.”

Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein said, “We commend Governor Hochul for proposing this bold step to boost much-needed housing production. Reforming the onerous environmental review process will make building housing cheaper and faster, without additional cost to the State. That’s the sort of smart choice that will make our state more affordable and competitive.” 

Regional Plan Association President and CEO Tom Wright said,“Reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) will help fast-track the smart, sustainable infrastructure our region needs, and we commend Governor Kathy Hochul for her bold leadership in taking on this long-overdue work. For over one hundred years, RPA has focused on one core mission: improving quality of life across the tri-state region by advancing solutions that lead to economic vitality, environmental resilience, and healthy, thriving communities. SEQR modernization will greenlight the housing, energy, and transit investments New Yorkers support, and that our region needs to remain competitive, equitable, and resilient.”

Association for a Better Long Island Executive Director Kyle Strober said,“This is a significant update for the New York economic development community. One of the biggest hurdles that economic development projects face is unpredictable timelines and prohibitive soft costs for small to mid-sized projects. These reforms, proposed by Governor Hochul, will help spur economic development, create housing and help make New York more affordable.”

Long Island Contractors’ Association Executive Director Marc Herbst said, “Contractors across Long Island welcome efforts to modernize SEQRA so essential infrastructure projects can move forward in a more timely and predictable way. Streamlining reviews for projects with minimal environmental impact will help communities deliver critical upgrades to roads, water, energy, and public facilities — supporting good-paying local jobs while maintaining strong environmental standards.”

Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA Executive Director Lisa Daglian said, “SEQR reform is a crucial complement to transit-oriented development projects around the MTA region, simultaneously combating the housing affordability and climate change crises. We applaud Governor Hochul for taking on this common-sense legislation that will cut red tape and encourage more transit ridership across the region.”

New York State Economic Development Council Executive Director Ryan M. Silva said, “Cutting through red tape and reducing timelines for project approvals is critical to achieve our housing, economic development, and renewable energy goals. The governor’s proposal to exempt housing projects from SEQRA and install a two year cap for review is an important and necessary first step to help support New York’s business climate. These initiatives will help reduce project costs, create predictability in the permitting approval process, and create economic opportunity across the state.”

Westchester County Association President & CEO Michael N. Romita said, “Governor Hochul’s SEQRA reforms are a very important step toward addressing the state’s critical housing shortage. Notwithstanding its noble underpinnings, over the past half century, SERQRA has become increasingly abused by overuse and modernization is overdue. These reforms do not override local control, and they don’t require communities to change their zoning. Rather, they empower local officials to meet today’s needs.”

Westbury, Long Island is taking advantage of its $10 million state-funded Downtown Revitalization Initiative and its Pro-Housing Certification to build new transit-oriented housing and attract new businesses © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Long Island Association President & CEO Matt Cohen said, “Red tape and overregulation stifles innovation and hinders sorely needed projects that contribute to economic growth. The LIA commends the Governor’s proposal to streamline environmental reviews for new housing, which would go a long way to addressing our existential cost-of-living crisis on Long Island.”

New York State Business Council President & CEO Heather Mulligan said, “New York’s housing shortage is an ongoing economic concern in all regions of New York State. Modernizing environmental review rules — without hindering protections — can cut years of red tape, lower construction costs, and accelerate the delivery of housing that families and workers can afford. Expediting essential investment projects — will support job creation, community growth, and help make New York more competitive.”

Rockland Business Association CEO Jeffrey Greenberg said, “Governor Hochul’s proposal to cut red tape and modernize permitting is a smart, common-sense step for New York. By streamlining outdated processes while preserving environmental protections and public input, these reforms will help Rockland move critical projects forward faster and at a lower cost while simultaneously supporting economic growth across New York State.”

Westchester Business Council Vice President John Ravits said,“The BCW has always advocated for SEQR Reform. Governor Hochul’s proposal to streamline New York’s permitting and environmental review process is a practical step toward helping communities get projects built more efficiently. By reducing unnecessary delays while maintaining strong environmental safeguards and public engagement, these reforms will lower costs, improve timelines, and support the housing, infrastructure, and economic development projects our region needs.”

New York State Builders Association President Peter Florey said,“It is important that we get back to the original intent of the SEQR process which was to protect our environment. SEQR was not intended to be used as a means of slowing or preventing much needed housing production. Governor Hochul’s meaningful recommendations will go a long way towards ensuring that SEQR is used to help housing production and affordability while also safeguarding our environment.”

Enterprise Community Partners Senior Vice President of Programs Baaba Halm said, “When it comes to delivering affordable housing, every second counts. Too often, SEQR creates lengthy, costly, and sometimes insurmountable barriers to affordable housing projects. Enterprise applauds Governor Hochul for recognizing sensible SEQR reform as a way to accelerate the delivery of the affordable homes that New Yorkers so desperately need.”

Real Estate Board of New York Executive Vice President of Public Policy Basha Gerhards said,“The Governor’s thoughtful reforms to SEQRA will accelerate new housing production and save significant time and money. We applaud the administration for identifying a solution to streamline this process while protecting the opportunity for local review.”

Long Island Builders Institute CEO Mike Florio said,“New York’s housing shortage is a crisis that demands action, and Governor Hochul’s proposed reforms to SEQRA are a critical step in the right direction. SEQRA was never intended to be a tool to delay or block much-needed housing for years at a time. Modernizing the review process while maintaining strong environmental protections will help communities add housing faster, reduce costs for families, and support smart, responsible growth across Long Island and New York State.”

Long Island Housing Services Executive Director Ian Wilder said, “On Long Island, SEQRA has long been an essential tool for protecting our drinking water, open space, and air quality, and those protections must remain strong. At the same time, a small number of bad-faith challenges have abused the statute to delay or derail lawful, environmentally responsible housing — particularly infill development, code-compliant homes with appropriate sewage systems, and accessory dwelling units. Thoughtful SEQRA reform restores balance. It preserves meaningful environmental review while reducing misuse that has worsened traffic congestion and fueled sprawl that puts greater strain on groundwater and infrastructure. On an island with limited land and a severe housing shortage, smart, compact housing is not in conflict with environmental protection — it is one of the most effective ways to achieve it.” 

New York Housing Conference Executive Director Rachel Fee said, “Reforming SEQRA is critical to unlocking housing production in New York. The current process often creates years of delay, drives up costs, and blocks housing and infrastructure projects without delivering better environmental outcomes. The Governor’s suggested modernization would rightly focus on projects with truly significant impacts, while reducing the delay on key housing projects. SEQRA reform is essential to advancing affordable housing and the economic vitality New York urgently needs while maintaining strong environmental protections.”

New York State Association of REALTORS® President Ron Garafalo said“The New York State Association of REALTORS® supports Governor Hochul’s proposal to streamline New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The proposals will expedite project timelines for key initiatives like the critical need for housing, accelerate the implementation of necessary infrastructure projects, reduce red tape and focus on meaningful revisions while maintaining strong environmental protections. These reforms are essential to addressing housing affordability across New York.”

Suffolk County Village Officials Association President and Village of Brightwaters Mayor John Valdini said, “The Suffolk County Village Officials Association supports common sense efforts to cut unnecessary red tape and help communities with smart, responsible growth. Governor Hochul’s approach respects local zoning and home rule while streamlining a process that too often delays projects our residents need.”

Rebuilding Together NYC Executive Director Valerie Payne said,“As the Executive Director of Rebuilding Together NYC, whose mission is to repair homes, rebuild lives, and revitalize communities, our work is directly aligned with the Governor’s initiative to “Let Them Build”. As a nonprofit that provides critical repairs to preserve existing homes in the midst of a housing crisis, we acutely understand the need to build more and to improve the infrastructure of New York City neighborhoods. We work with so many homeowners who cannot afford to keep up their homes and are living on fixed incomes and without our support, have nowhere to turn. Our critical home repairs prevent displacement, as well as avoidable hospitalizations due to older adults living with environmental hazards and preserving family assets. If forced to move, homeowners would not be able to afford the rent in a new building. “Let them Build” offers hope that in the future, our low-income NYC homeowners will not be in such a vulnerable position. Thank you, Governor Hochul!”

Supportive Housing Network of New York Executive Director Pascale Leone said, “The Network strongly shares the Governor’s commitment to building more housing, including urgently needed supportive housing. The proposed reforms in this year’s budget thoughtfully balance environmental protections with the pressing need to address New York’s housing crisis,”

LISC NY Head of National Housing Strategic Initiatives & Senior Executive Director Valerie White said, “The most effective way to address New York’s housing crisis is to build more housing, and removing barriers that slow projects down or stop them altogether by cutting red tape and modernizing outdated rules will help achieve that goal. Governor Hochul advancing these important reforms will spur housing development across New York State and we look forward to seeing how they will help neighborhoods grow in ways that are community-centered, sustainable, and responsive to real housing need.”

CDC LI President and CEO Gwen O’Shea said, “Long Island’s has a serious housing crisis; driven in part by lack of inventory and affordability. Removing unnecessary barriers to allow more housing opportunities to develop is a win for all Long Island. This proposal will allow more homes to be available to Long Islanders while protecting the uniqueness and beauty of Long Island’s environment.”

NYU Furman Center Faculty Director Vicki Been said, “NYU’s Furman Center has long raised concerns about whether the costs of the environmental review process for infill housing and some other types of development outweigh the benefits. A few other states have begun to make progress in streamlining and targeting environmental review, and we commend Governor Hochul and her team for tackling this critical issue for New York.”

Nassau County Village Officials Association president Elena Villafane said, “The Nassau County Village Officials Association backs efforts to simplify the approval process, eliminate needless hurdles, and give communities the tools to act efficiently. Preserving local decision-making on zoning is extremely important, and Governor Hochul’s plan allows villages to advance sensible growth.”

Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive who is the Republican challenging Hochul for governor, has consistently opposed Hochul’s efforts to address the state’s housing and affordability crisis. He has done nothing to improve critical infrastructure; the only infrastructure improvements, such as to the Long Island Railroad, and downtown revitalization programs have been funded by the state. His one economic development project during his term was to award the Nassau Coliseum property (dubbed “The Hub”) to the Sands to build a casino resort, which was opposed by much of the surrounding community.