Category Archives: Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Anti-Trump Activism, Government Accountability, Governor Kathy Hochul, Human Rights, Immigration-Migration-Refugees, News & Photo Features, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Governor Hochul Sues Trump Administration Over Attacks on NYS’ Critical Public Safety, Transparency Laws

New Yorkers protest against the trump administrations unlawful tactics against immigrants and people of color. Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James are suing the administration to protect newly passed state laws that establish critical accountability measures related to immigration and law enforcement operations in New York © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Lawsuit Seeks To Ensure Local, State and Federal Officers Comply with New State Laws, Including Requirement that Officers Remain Identifiable During Public Operations

Law Enforcement Officers, Immigration Advocates and Community Leaders Join Governor Hochul in Defending New York’s Commonsense Laws To Increase Transparency and Ensure Local Resources are Being Used for Local Crimes

Governor Kathy Hochul, together with Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of law enforcement, immigration and community leaders, announced the state is suing the Trump Administration to protect newly passed state laws that establish critical accountability measures related to immigration and law enforcement operations in New York.

The lawsuit comes at the same time as the Trump Administration’s latest attack on the legislation that prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their identities with masks while interacting with the public and ensures that local law enforcement can remain focused on community safety priorities. The complaint, filed by the Attorney General at the Governor’s request, asks the court to affirm the legality of these laws and prevent the Trump Administration from interfering with New York’s authority to protect public safety, promote transparency and govern the use of state and local resources.

(Meanwhile, the Trump Department of Justice announced it would withhold anti-terrorism funds from states that do not comply with Trump’s illegal voter suppression actions. The DOJ issued sweeping letters to election officials threatening criminal prosecution if noncitizens remain on voter rolls, the specific threat to withhold counterterrorism funds is primarily being enforced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).) 

“In New York, we believe in public safety, accountability and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Governor Hochul said.“These commonsense policies ensure that law enforcement operating in New York carry out their duties openly and transparently without intimidation or concealed identities. New York stands firmly behind these laws — and we will defend them every step of the way.” 

Masked federal immigration officers have flooded communities across the country as part of the federal government’s mass deportation agenda. These officers have often failed to clearly identify themselves to the public while carrying out enforcement operations, sowing fear, undermining public trust and increasing the risk that bad actors could impersonate law enforcement officers. Across the country, the use of masked and unidentified agents has made it harder for residents to know who is acting under color of law, report misconduct and seek accountability when officers abuse their authority. 

New York enacted a comprehensive immigration protection package to address this growing threat and protect the rights of New Yorkers during federal immigration enforcement operations. One of the laws, set to take effect this Friday, prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their identity with masks while interacting with the public and requires all officers to display clear identification. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, another measure in the package, prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements that use local resources to detain people for federal immigration violations. This provision ensures that New York’s local law enforcement resources are directed toward local public safety priorities, rather than the federal government’s mass deportation agenda. 

On June 22, 2026, the Trump Administration sued New York State to prevent these laws from taking effect. New York has a sovereign right under the Tenth Amendment to enact laws that protect public safety, promote transparency and regulate conduct within its borders. Governor Hochul and Attorney General James assert that the new laws establish basic public safety and transparency requirements for law enforcement officers operating in New York and protect the state’s authority to decide how state and local resources are used.

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James are asking the court to declare that the Trump Administration’s efforts to prevent enforcement of the state’s new immigration protections violate the Tenth Amendment. They are also asking the court to block the administration from taking any action to prevent enforcement of the laws.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “New York has the sovereign right to pass laws that protect public safety and transparency for all New Yorkers. Law enforcement officers operating in our communities should be clearly identifiable, and local resources should be used to address local public safety needs. My office will defend these commonsense protections and New York’s authority to enforce them.”

New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh said,“There is no New York without immigrant communities, and New York State took decisive steps to protect our communities from ICE terror and to defend our collective rights. The new State laws are particularly vital at a time when the Trump Administration is using violent and unlawful tactics in New York and across the country to create fear in our communities. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees New York State’s self-determination, which cannot be undermined by the Trump administration’s bullying tactics or threats. It is imperative that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York upholds the right of New York State to enact its own laws to govern New Yorkers, and sides with its lawful efforts to protect every single New Yorker who calls our state home.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said,“As District Attorney, I know that effective public safety depends on strong partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Local law enforcement must remain focused on addressing local public safety concerns and strengthening relationships within their communities, rather than serving as contractors for other agencies. When residents trust that law enforcement is acting fairly and with transparency, they are more likely to report crimes, cooperate with investigations and help keep their neighborhoods safe. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James for their focus on maintaining that trust to help us effectuate public safety.”

State Senator Zellnor Myrie said,”With our civil rights under attack and our immigrant neighbors facing unprecedented threats from the Trump Administration, I’m proud that New York is stepping up with some of the strongest protections in the nation. State and local law enforcement are here to keep our communities safe — not to act as foot soldiers for Trump’s agenda. I’m grateful to our Attorney General and Governor for their defense of these laws and our entire immigration protection package that will keep our state safe, fair and welcoming to all.”

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association President Maribel Gomez said, “The Long Island Hispanic Bar Association recognizes that law enforcement officers often perform difficult and many times dangerous work. However, when a person’s liberty and constitutional rights are at stake, such as during a law enforcement interaction, the public has a right to know who is exercising authority over them. We thank Governor Hochul for standing with New York’s immigrant communities at a time when so many are living with uncertainty and fear as a result of sweeping immigration enforcement. Her efforts to protect transparency and accountability help ensure that all New Yorkers are treated fairly and with respect.”

Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda said, “For over a year and a half, we have seen the havoc that federal agents have caused on communities across the country — empty classrooms, small businesses permanently closed and parents torn away from their children. The slew of enacted immigration protections passed through the New York State budget was essential in preventing unconstitutional, harmful federal actions that hurt everyone, regardless of immigration status. The Hispanic Federation commends Governor Hochul and Attorney General James for continuing to stand up against this egregious federal overreach and working to keep New Yorkers safe.”

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.
Anti-Trump Activism, Civil Rights, Civil Rights-Human Rights, Governor Kathy Hochul, Immigration-Migration-Refugees, Law & Order, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Governor Hochul Announces Expanded Proposal to Protect New Yorkers Against ICE 

Keeps Immigration Authorities Out Of Sensitive Location And Protects Interactions With Public Employees

Prohibits Law Enforcement from Covering Their Faces in Order to Conceal Their Identities

Protects Every Student’s Right To A Free Public Education Regardless Of Immigration Status

Builds on Governor’s ‘Local Cops, Local Crimes Act’ to Ensure Local Law Enforcement Is Focused on Fighting Local Crime

New Yorkers protest against ICE. Governor Hochul has introduced expanded proposals to restrict and limit ICE activities in New York State and protect New Yorkers’ civil and human rights © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul today proposed a comprehensive plan that would expand protections for New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, safeguard basic rights and hold federal immigration officials accountable. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul introduced several proposals to protect New Yorkers amid an unprecedented escalation in aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Building on her previous proposals, this comprehensive package would enhance protections and safeguard the rights of New Yorkers from the overreach of rogue federal immigration authorities.

“New York prides itself on being the place that immigrants come to build a better life and we will not stand for senseless actions that stand in the way of that promise,” Governor Hochul said. “My top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe, which is why I’m proposing new measures to stop ICE’s flagrant abuse of power under the guise of public safety. By safeguarding basic rights and expanding protections that keep our communities safe, we are fighting to reassure every New Yorker that we will protect them from ICE overreach. The time to act is now.”

Bans Law Enforcement from Wearing Masks

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public. This excludes tactical equipment, sunglasses, or medical masks from the definition of face covering. Willfully violating the statute would be a misdemeanor.

Refocuses Local Law Enforcement on Local Crimes

This proposal would prohibit state and local law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration enforcement for non-criminal violations like jaywalking or minor vehicle and traffic violations. The proposal would also limit law enforcement officers from asking, collecting or sharing information about immigration status unless it is legally required or relevant to a crime.

The Governor’s proposal would also prohibit local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections from entering 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local resources to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Local governments would also be barred from paying or otherwise contributing to the costs related to constructing, owning, or operating an immigration detention facility. They would also be prohibited from changing zoning to allow for construction or use of buildings as immigration detention centers without public input.

Holds Federal Law Enforcement Accountable for Constitutional Violations

Currently, New Yorkers can sue state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights under federal civil rights law but actions against federal officials are much more limited. The Governor’s proposal would establish 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.

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering to conceal their identities while interacting with the public. This would exclude tactical equipment, sunglasses, or medical face coverings.

Safeguards Interactions with Public Employees

The Governor’s proposal would strictly prohibit the use of state, local or school resources—including employee time—for immigration enforcement activities. This includes a ban on questioning or investigating individuals solely for civil immigration purposes, as well as inquiring about a person’s citizenship or country of origin unless required by a federal judicial warrant. Proposed legislation would also prohibit officials from disclosing personally identifying information to immigration authorities, granting them access to non-public areas of public facilities or using immigration officers as interpreters, and would prohibit the release or transfer of a student into immigration custody even if a parent has been detained, unless specifically mandated by a judicial warrant or court order.

Additionally, SED would develop a model policy for schools regarding interacting with immigration authorities.

Keeps Immigration Authorities Out Of Sensitive Locations

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit all state, local and school employees (including higher ed 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. That means 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 facility access to any non-public areas of their facilities to immigration authorities without a warrant.

The Governor’s proposal would also empower privately owned or operated sensitive locations, including hospitals, daycares, schools, housing accommodations and houses of worship to do the same.

Protecting Every Student’s Right To A Free Public Education

In addition to protecting schools as sensitive locations, the Governor’s proposal would ensure immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.

The proposal prohibits various practices, particularly around data collection and disclosure regarding immigration status, that could chill the exercise of that right by undocumented students.

“We will always help federal law enforcement when it comes to tracking down, apprehending and assisting in the prosecution of individuals who are accused of violent crimes, serious crimes — always have, always will,” Governor Hochul stated. “There is no deviation in our policy on that. But we will not let them go in and terrorize our cities, go after our neighbors because of the color of their skin, as we saw unfold in many cities across the country. We don’t want families to have parents afraid to send their children to school — as has been happening — or go to worship, and not go after neighbors just because of where they come from.”

Nassau County Government, News & Photo Features, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health, Public Safety, Health, Security

Nassau County Exec Bruce Blakeman Touts Immigration Arrests, Law Enforcement Creds in State of County Speech

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman touts  immigration arrests, law enforcement creds in his State of the County speech © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

In his State of the County speech, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman focused on public safety, law enforcement, boasted about the county’s alliance with ICE and its ban on transgender school kids playing on girls’ teams, as the key accomplishments  of his administration.

Blakeman, who declared his intention to run for governor the day after his reelection, thanked the audience of county officials and electeds for the honor of serving as the county executive, closed out his 20-minute speech saying, “Looking ahead my commitment will remain stronger than ever. I want us all to continue to thrive. We have the lowest poverty rate in the state- that makes me happy. I want all our residents to live in prosperity, have a good job, good benefits, enjoy not just the necessities but luxuries – vacation, going out to dinner, buying daughter a prom dress. I want Nassau County to remain safest, most affordable, healthiest to live, work, and raise a family in all of America”

Missing from this speech was his usual jabs at Governor Hochul – such as Hochul’s audacity at proposing a no-nonsense plan to build affordable housing – which is interesting in light of his declaration to challenge her for governor. But the speech deliberately omitted any mention of his aspirations or the fact that if he is serious about running for governor, that will be his focus until November, leaving the county’s administration to an unelected underling.

Blakeman offered little in the way of economic development achievements, beyond reducing the time for approvals for business applications. Most of the significant projects were actually through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Program, infrastructure grants and other programs. But he was unable to cite any projects to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience or sustainability, or build upon efforts to turn Long Island into a biomedical, science and research hub.

Blakeman, who vigorously opposed Governor Hochul’s efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing, uncharacteristically cited one project: Frank Stiller’s Tunnels to Towers Foundation is investing $20 million to turn “a rundown, crime ridden” stretch of Long Beach into 50 new homes for vets, first responders and Gold Star families, “which guarantees all who served … a safe and welcoming place in Nassau.”

He boasted of not having raised property taxes for the entirety of his time in office – not mentioning that he has been sitting on close to $1 billion in unspent federal and state grant money, including almost $100 million in opioid settlement funds, in order to use the interest revenue.

But what he is most proud of are the policies and programs that mimic the Trump/MAGA administration’s “anti-woke” – that is anti-political correctness – policies:

“Under our leadership, we stand up for fairness, commonsense in sports- in Nassau County boys play with boys, girls play with girls,” he declared to a standing ovation. “Girls should not be forced to compete in an unfair, unsafe environment. We won’t have bullying. We always protect our girls.”

Blakeman also took a jab at the state’s Education Department which has banned the use of Native American mascots. “My admin will continue to support the traditions and histories of local communities. We are a staunch ally to keep Massapequa the Chiefs, and Wantagh the Warriors, resisting Albany’s efforts to erase our history.” (Actually, the Indian American mascots they have used are not the same tribe that actually lived in Massapequa or Wantagh.)

But he is most visibly connecting to Trump’s policy with his anti-immigrant stance, boasting “Nassau County under my executive order is not a sanctuary county,” receiving another standing ovation.

“In partnership with our federal partners in ICE, Nassau County coordinated the largest gang take down in history – hundreds of arrests, we removed dangerous criminals – MS13.. Our partnership with ICE has removed over 200 illegal migrants who committed crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, carjacking and human trafficking,” Blakeman said, adding that there were no raids at schools, hospitals, churches, daycare. “All arrests are targeted to removing criminals from community.”

He was referring to an incident where over the course of four days in August, 42 people were arrested, of which 25 were gang members, mostly of MS-13.

Of these, 33 of the offenders were in ICE custody without bond, pending removal.

“If there was somebody that was apprehended, and that individual was going to be released because of the cashless bail laws, we notified ICE, came and picked them up, so that they would not continue to do harm to our community,” Blakeman said. (https://abc7ny.com/post/ms13-gang-arrest-42-arrested-4-days-nassau-countys-largest-takedowns/17586503/)

But he tried to moderate his stance, announcing he is working with federal officials to launch a guest worker program aimed at helping businesses fill jobs across Nassau County. The program would focus on what he described as “law-abiding” immigrants.

“Our business community needs these workers. We will continue to work to improve their situations in Nassau County by working with federal officials,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman focused almost entirely on law enforcement, noting that Nassau County is once again (as it was under his Democratic predecessor Laura Curran) the safest county of its size in the country.

Governor Kathy Hochul in Long Island in 2024 to tout steep reductions in crime rates © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Actually violent crime is down across the state and New York City remains the safest big city in the country largely because of federal funding and historic state investments in new crime-fighting initiatives statewide including Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. SNUG Street Outreach program, Crime Analysis Centers, and Project RISE.

But while Blakeman likes to focus on public safety, he has ignored the epidemic of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities in Nassau County, a no-show at summits and conferences dedicated to road safety.

Traffic fatalities in Nassau County rose to at least 78 in 2025, up from 67 in 2024,  according to data from Newsday’s fatality tracker, while serious injuries increased significantly in 2024 (latest available data) to 873, up from 744 in 2023, according to Newsday. The increase in traffic fatalities in Nassau County is despite the fact traffic fatalities fell across New York State in 2025. Newsday has had an ongoing investigation into Long Island’s Dangerous Roads, concluding that the area has experienced higher rates of fatal crashes due to heavy car reliance, aggressive driving, and dangerous road designs for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Almost at the same time as Blakeman was delivering his speech at the County’s Theodore Roosevelt Legislative Building, two pedestrians were struck and killed in separate accidents in Roslyn. 63-year old Elena Crowley, worked as a security aide at Roslyn HIgh School, was struck by a 57-year-old man driving a 2025 GMC pickup truck on Briard Street; earlier in the day, 69-year-old woman, Claudia Moncada of Glen Cove, was crossing the eastbound lanes of Glen Cove Road when she was struck by a red 2018 Dodge Challenger driven by a 26-year-old man traveling north.

Blakeman has done nothing to attempt to incorporate the recommendations of traffic engineers to improve road safety, nor promote a public education campaign aimed at encouraging a responsible, safe-driving culture.

His one public statement on traffic enforcement came from an attack on the state legislature which was contemplating restricting law enforcement’s ability to stop drivers as a pretext to checking their immigration status.

By the same token, he has done nothing for public health, using the same “ostrich with head in the sand” as Trump, resulting in hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. Coming into the office during the Omnicron version of the COVID-19 epidemic, he immediately declared COVID finished, and has never published incidents of coronavirus or flu, or urged residents to get vaccinations and boosters, in light of the administration’s anti-vax crusade.

Democratic Response

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (third from right on dais) with County Legislators at the end of County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s State of the County speech © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

In her Democratic response, Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton declared, “Tonight we heard a polished speech filled with promises. But Nassau County residents deserve results, and after five years, the gap between Bruce Blakeman’s rhetoric and reality couldn’t be clearer.”

DeRiggi-Whitton pointed to several key promises the County Executive made when he first ran for office that remain unfulfilled.

“When he ran in 2021, Bruce Blakeman promised to fix Nassau’s broken assessment system,” she said. “Five years later, it’s more broken than ever because he kept assessment rolls frozen, a move that hurts taxpayers while benefiting tax grievance firms that fund his campaigns.”

She also criticized the administration for failing to deliver on promised tax relief.

“He promised tax cuts. Not one has been delivered,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “Instead, $385 million in federal pandemic relief meant to help families and small businesses was used to plug budget holes while millions were spent on politically connected lawyers, parades, and galas.”

In contrast to his boasts about adding 600 police officers to the ranks and intention to add more, DeRiggi-Whitton said the administration has failed to address critical public safety staffing shortages.

“Police staffing is below required levels. 911 operator positions remain dangerously understaffed,” she said. “Those are basic responsibilities of government, and this administration is falling short.”

She also raised concerns about the County Executive’s decision to divert detectives to assist federal immigration enforcement while local staffing shortages persist.

 

DeRiggi-Whitton further criticized the administration for failing to deploy opioid settlement funding meant to combat addiction.

“More than $100 million in opioid settlement funds are sitting unspent while families continue to lose loved ones to addiction,” she said. “Those funds were meant to save lives — not make a budget look better.”

Nassau residents rally against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s private militia © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

She also cited a lack of transparency surrounding the County Executive’s controversial armed volunteer deputy program – derided as his private militia.

“Nassau residents deserve transparency, especially when taxpayer dollars and public safety are involved,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

DeRiggi-Whitton concluded by urging residents to judge the administration by its record.

“Campaign promises are easy,” she said. “Governing requires focus. Nassau residents deserve leadership that is focused on their needs, not personal political ambition.”

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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

Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Safer Streets: Crime in NYC Falls in 2025, NYC Remains Safest Big City in USA

New York City remains the safest big city in the country. New 2025 data released by the NYPD show that the city is safer above and below ground, with murders, retail theft, robberies, and subway crime continuing to decline. Shooting incidents and the number of individuals harmed by gunfire also reached record lows last year across the city © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced that New York City remains the safest big city in the country. New 2025 data released by the NYPD and detailed this morning during a press conference show that the city is safer above and below ground, with murders, retail theft, robberies, and subway crime continuing to decline. Shooting incidents and the number of individuals harmed by gunfire also reached record lows last year across the city.

“When I became Governor, I made keeping New Yorkers safe my top priority and tackled crime head-on in New York City and across the state. Since then, I have made unprecedented investments in police and public safety – more than $3 billion – to make New York’s neighborhoods and subways safer,” Governor Hochul said.“Our aggressive approach is paying off: crime has fallen to record lows, making New York a safer place to live, work and visit. I look forward to continuing this work with Mayor Mamdani, Police Commissioner Tisch and the brave men and women of law enforcement who sacrifice so much to ensure New York remains the safest big city in the country.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “Last year, New York City had its safest year for gun violence ever. This achievement—among many others—is a testament to the leadership of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the dedication of the NYPD, and the tireless work of community-based organizations that help keep our neighborhoods safe. This work, however, is not done. Together with Police Commissioner Tisch and Governor Kathy Hochul, we will continue to drive down crime—addressing the needs of New Yorkers and working with our officers to deliver public safety.”

“These historic reductions in crime did not happen by chance or accident — they are the direct product of a deliberate, data-driven strategy achieving unprecedented public safety milestones for New York City,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said. “The NYPD drove shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in recorded history and delivered the safest year on our subway system, outside of the pandemic era, since 2009. These numbers describe an agency that’s firing on all cylinders: taking down violent gangs, removing thousands of guns off the street, and shattering record-low violent crime numbers. New York City is still the safest big city in the country, thanks to the extraordinary work of the women and men of the NYPD who answer the call every day to protect and serve.”   

The following data were compiled by the New York City Police Department as of December 31, 2025.

Record-Lows for Shooting Incidents and Victims, Shattering Previous Records 

In 2025, New York City recorded 688 shooting incidents, shattering the previous record low set in 2018 by 10 percent with 66 fewer shootings (688 vs. 754). Compared to 2024, shooting incidents declined 24 percent, a staggering 216 fewer shootings (688 vs. 904). In the fourth quarter of 2025, shooting incidents decreased 36 percent (134 vs. 211) compared to the same period last year. In December, there were only 35 shooting incidents citywide — the fewest shootings ever recorded in any single month in New York City history. 

For comparison, Chicago – a city of roughly 3 million people — recorded more than 1,400 shooting incidents last year, more than double New York City’s total, despite having roughly one-third of the population. Philadelphia — less than one-fifth of the size of New York City, with 1.5 million people — recorded more than 825 shooting incidents in 2025.    

The number of people shot in New York City also fell 5 percent to a historic low in 2025 with 856 shooting victims citywide, compared to the previous low of 897 reported in 2018. Compared to 2024, shooting victims declined by 22 percent, a stunning 247 fewer people shot (856 vs. 1,103). In the fourth quarter, the number of shooting victims fell by more than 34 percent (161 vs. 246), with December experiencing the lowest victim total ever recorded.    

The historic decline reflected a citywide effort, with reductions across all five boroughs in 2025 and Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island each recording the lowest number of shooting incidents in their history. Shooting incidents declined by 38 percent in Manhattan, 26.7 percent in Staten Island, 25.4 percent in the Bronx, 24.4 percent in Queens, and 15 percent in Brooklyn.

The NYPD’s work to remove guns from the streets and take down the most dangerous gangs also helped achieve historic lows in shootings. Last year, officers seized more than 5,293 illegal guns and NYPD detectives carried out 70 gang-related takedowns, getting the most dangerous criminals off the streets and out of our communities. 

Reductions in Major Crime Across All Five Boroughs   

In addition to addressing gun violence, the NYPD successfully drove down major crime by implementing a data-driven, precision policing strategy that resulted in consistent declines throughout the entire year. The Department deployed an unprecedented number of officers assigned to nightly foot posts to areas with high crime across precincts, public housing, and the subway system. This targeted strategy led to a three percent decline in major crime in 2025 (121,542 vs. 125,026). 

Across the city, murders declined by 20.2 percent (305 vs. 382), with 77 fewer murders compared to 2024. In December, there were only 15 murders citywide, down nearly 38 percent from 2024 (15 vs. 24). Alongside those reductions, the NYPD’s Detective Bureau maintained a murder clearance rate of 69 percent in 2025. Murders also decreased in four of the five boroughs. On Staten Island, murders fell by more than 60 percent in 2025, with no murders reported in December. Murders decreased 33 percent in Manhattan, 24 percent in Brooklyn, and 18 percent in the Bronx. In Queens, murders increased seven percent.  

Citywide, robberies declined by nearly 10 percent, with 1,600 fewer incidents compared to last year (15,065 vs. 16,696). For the month of December, robberies declined by 15 percent (1,039 vs 1,224). Burglary dropped nearly four percent (12,777 vs. 13,301), marking the third consecutive year of declines. In December, burglary decreased by more than 15 percent (1,017 vs. 1,201) and by 9.9 percent (3,168 vs. 3,518) in the fourth quarter. Auto theft decreased by five percent (13,520 vs. 14,233) citywide in 2025, with a nearly eight percent (3,127 vs. 3,386) drop in the fourth quarter compared to 2024. Grand larceny declined nearly two percent (48,034 vs. 48,963).   

In the city’s housing developments, crime declined by 3.6 percent (5,794 vs. 6,009). Hate crimes decreased by 12 percent compared to 2024 (576 vs. 657). Antisemitic incidents were down three percent, but still accounted for 57 percent of all hate crimes reported in 2025, despite Jewish New Yorkers representing approximately 10 percent of the city’s population. 

Rape incidents increased by 16 percent (2,049 vs. 1,767). The rise in reported incidents is partly attributed to legislative changes made in September 2024 that importantly broadened the legal definition of rape in New York State to include additional forms of sexual assault.

Domestic-violence-related rapes increased by 25 percent, and now account for roughly half of all reported rape cases citywide. To address this concerning trend, the NYPD launched the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) in October 2025 — the largest unit of its kind in the nation with 450 fully dedicated domestic violence investigators — to investigate domestic violence cases, build stronger relationships with survivors, and receive enhanced training. The NYPD continues to encourage survivors of sexual assault to come forward and report these incidents. 

Felony assault increased slightly: 29,792 vs. 29,684, or 0.4 percent. During the month of December, however, there were 106 fewer felony assault victims compared to the same period in 2024 (2,235 vs. 2,341), a decrease of 4.5 percent citywide. The increase in felony assaults is largely driven by assaults on public sector employees and domestic violence. Assaults on public sector employees, which include police officers, increased by roughly 25 percent in 2025. Domestic violence incidents accounted for 41 percent of recorded felony assaults. To address this issue directly, the Domestic Violence Unit will continue its work with providers and survivors to prevent and investigate domestic violence incidents.

Safest Year on the Subways in 16 Years, Excluding the Pandemic Years   

Below ground, the NYPD delivered the safest year on the subways since 2009, excluding the pandemic years. For six consecutive months, major crime on the subways declined, contributing to a four percent reduction in 2025 (2,160 vs. 2,251). Officers recovered an all-time high of 77 firearms, which helped drive a reduction in shooting incidents from eight to three as well as a reduction in shooting victims from 14 to three. This decline in violence also contributed to a drop in murders in the subway system, which reached their lowest levels in five years and declined by 60 percent (four vs. 10) from 2024. 

Transit robberies reached their lowest levels ever, including the pandemic years, and fell 12.5 percent (398 vs. 455), compared to last year. Grand larceny pickpocketing within the subways declined to its lowest level outside of the pandemic years, down nearly 44 percent (122 vs. 217), compared to last year. 

In January, the NYPD strategically shifted officers onto trains and platforms where the vast majority of transit crime — 73 percent in 2025 — occurs. Governor Hochul secured $77 million in the current state budget to support this effort and has committed to funding an additional $77 million for enhanced patrols in her FY 27 Executive Budget proposal. This additional funding and targeted deployment has led to a more secure, orderly transit system. New Yorkers are feeling the results: a recent MTA poll revealed that seven out of ten subway riders say they feel safe in the transit system, an increase of 12 percent from the start of 2025. Finally, the NYPD continues to deploy drones to monitor, respond to, and intervene in subway surfing incidents.  Drones enabled 163 rescues and overall subway surfing incidents declined 37 percent (11 vs. 16) compared to 2024. 

Addressing Retail Theft

In addition to these historic declines the NYPD’s revamped strategy on retail theft led to a 14 percent (52,696 vs. 61,328) decline in retail theft citywide compared to 2024. Last year, the NYPD developed and executed a new strategy to respond to retail theft, a recidivist-driven crime, including identifying the patterns driving retail theft, concentrating resources at high-propensity locations during peak hours, and shifting from pass-through enforcement to sustained investigation. 

Government spending, Governor Kathy Hochul, Homeland Security, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Governor Hochul Slams Federal Cuts to Counterterrorism Funding for NY’s Mass Transit Safety

FEMA Pledged To Zero Out MTA’s Transit Security Grant Award in 2025; MTA Was Due To Receive $34 Million To Fund Counterterrorism and Safety Measures

New York State and NYPD’s Investments In Subway Safety Continue; Transit Crime Down 30 Percent in September

Governor Hochul Successfully Fought To Restore $187 Million in Homeland Security Grant Funding Last Week

Governor Kathy Hochul called out Washington Republicans for cutting critical safety and security funding for New York’s mass transit system © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

Governor Kathy Hochul today called out Washington Republicans for cutting critical safety and security funding for New York’s mass transit system. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had been slated to receive $34 million in federal Transit Security Grant Program funds, which support essential counter-terror and transit security functions. Last week, lawmakers were notified that the MTA was to be the only agency of 21 applicants nationwide to not receive federal security dollars via this program.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe, from our streets to our subways, is my highest priority,” Governor Hochul said. “Since 9/11, New York has relied on federal support to ensure that our transit system has the counterterrorism resources it needs to keep millions of riders safe every single day. The shocking actions of Washington Republicans to slash these funds and defund the police put New York City at risk. We will not tolerate these cuts; New York will take every action available to us — including the courts — to ensure the MTA gets this critical funding to keep millions of riders safe.”

The Transit Security Grant Program was started after 9/11. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), these grants support critical functions to keep mass transit systems safe from security threats. The MTA carries a significant portion of the United States’ mass transit riders, with over 6 million daily trips taken on Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road, and New York City Transit. In addition to approximately $12 million which would go to the NYPD, the MTA had planned to utilize this year’s grant funding to support the following public safety and counter-terror investments:

  • Two cybersecurity projects, extending cyber visibility into MTA’s key systems, and a cyber lab to develop protections and vet operational technology systems.
    • The procurement and deployment of approximately 330 tactical cellular cameras to replace & expand upon current unsecure offline devices in a cost-effective manner.
    • The expansion of MTA weapons of mass destruction chemical detection system across 9 subway lines and a commuter rail terminal.
    • The TSA mandated frontline security awareness training of 16,000 MTA employees.
    • 374 deployments of MTAPD counterterrorism teams.
    • The procurement of 3 MTAPD counterterrorism coordination and response vehicles.
    • The installation of several hundred cameras, access control points, and laser intrusion detection systems at a major subway complex.

“What the  federal government is doing to us is a stark moment of hypocrisy, literally threatening our ability to keep these operations safe, our ability to protect public transit riders compromised,” Governor Hochul said during a press conference. “Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is trying her very best to slash $35 million in funds for security on subway system–a  person who swore an oath, as we all did, to protect Americans.

“Clearly defunding police  without justification has no rational other than to punish blue states like New York.  Of the 20 regions that applied for security funding, New York is the only one that has been denied.”

Governor Hochul chided the seven Republican New York members of Congress who pretend to “back the blue” and be the party of “law and order” for not standing up against these cuts.

Just this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi, deflecting from questioning from Senate Democrats on the Oversight Committee, repeated the meme that Democrats want to defund police. But it is Trump, her Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security that are defunding police and public safety in cities and states led by Democrats.

“We are the #1 terror target in America – not just 9/11, but countless cases have thwarted. We are safer because of the invested dollars from federal, city and state together. That’s what is in jeopardy – our safety compromised.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “The NYPD’s counterterrorism operations are essential to keeping people safe both above ground and below ground on our subways. Withholding these critical funds from the busiest transit system in the country is a profound mistake, and one that will make New York City’s subways meaningfully less safe. Counterterrorism operations – and public safety in general – cannot be politicized, and I thank Governor Hochul for her efforts to ensure the NYPD has the resources it needs to protect New Yorkers.”

Tisch said that eight terror plots against the New York City subway system have been foiled since 9/11.

Following initial reporting that the MTA would not receive Transit Security Grant Program funding, the Office of the New York Attorney General filed suit in the Southern District of New York, which issued a Temporary Restraining Order barring FEMA from executing the cuts. To date, FEMA has not formally notified the MTA that their funding has been restored.

New York State and the NYPD continue to make significant investments in subway safety. These investments, which support an ongoing surge of NYPD officers in the subway system — including overnight train patrols announced by Governor Hochul in her 2025 State of the State address — have succeeded in reducing transit crime to historic lows in 2025. In 2022, Governor Hochul directed the MTA to install cameras in all 6,000 of its subway cars, which it completed last year. To further enhance safety, this year, the MTA began installing brighter, safer LED lights in all 472 subway stations as well as platform edge barriers to improve customer safety at 100 stations throughout the system.

Subway crime in September was down 31 percent from September 2024, and year-to-date, crime is down 4.3 percent compared to 2024. This summer was the safest summer in the subway since 2009, with major crimes down nearly 10 percent from 2024. Felony assaults in the transit system were down in September, and were down every month this summer when compared with the same month last year.

 “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, MTA has made huge progress on every front – safety, reliability and ridership,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “It’s truly strange that Washington keeps spinning stories about subway crime, but then defunds the NYPD and MTA cops who patrol the system.”

MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper said, “I can’t overstate the importance of this grant funding in reinforcing and advancing our counterterrorism initiatives. It significantly enhances our operational capabilities, all with the goal of providing a safe and secure transit environment for our riders and workforce — a responsibility we take seriously every single day.”

Last week, Governor Hochul successfully fought to restore $187 million in critical counterterrorism and homeland security funding cuts which had been planned by the Department of Homeland Security. These unprecedented cuts would have had a direct impact on public safety agencies throughout the state.

Meanwhile, Trump is also taking advantage of the government shutdown to axe $500 million in grants for NY energy businesses and projects  (see https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/trump-clean-energy-bw2ma648)

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© 2025 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