Governor Kathy Hochul, News & Photo Features

In Defiance of Trump EO, NYS Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Regulating AI

Despite – or because – of trump’s Executive Order neutering state regulation of AI, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the RAISE Act, requiring transparency and reporting by powerful frontier AI model developers for incidents of critical harm, and created a new oversight office within the state’s Department of Financial Services to ensure AI frontier model transparency. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Despite – or because – of trump’s Executive Order neutering state regulation of AI (a giveaway to Musk, Ellison, Bezos and Zuckerberg and his billionaire tech enablers –  New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed the RAISE Act, requiring transparency and reporting by powerful frontier AI model developers for incidents of critical harm, and created a new oversight office within the state’s Department of Financial Services to ensure AI frontier model transparency.- Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday, December 19, signed legislation to require AI frameworks for AI frontier models, setting a nation-leading standard for AI transparency and safety. The agreed-upon chapter amendments to the RAISE Act (S6953B/A6453B) requires large AI developers to create and publish information about their safety protocols, and report incidents to the State within 72 hours of determining that an incident occurred. It also creates an oversight office within the Department of Financial Services that will assess large frontier developers and enable greater transparency. The office will issue reports annually.

“By enacting the RAISE Act, New York is once again leading the nation in setting a strong and sensible standard for frontier AI safety, holding the biggest developers accountable for their safety and transparency protocols,”Governor Hochul said.“This law builds on California’s recently adopted framework, creating a unified benchmark among the country’s leading tech states as the federal government lags behind, failing to implement common-sense regulations that protect the public. I thank the leaders and members of both houses of the Legislature, as well as the bill’s sponsors, for their partnership in delivering this responsible, nation-leading approach to AI safety.”

Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than any technology in human history. It is driving groundbreaking scientific advances leading to life-changing medicines, unlocking new creative potential, and automating mundane tasks. At the same time, experts and practitioners in the field readily acknowledge the potential for serious risks.

Under the new law the Attorney General can bring civil actions against large frontier developers for the failure to submit required reporting or making false statements. Penalties are up to $1 million for the first violation and up to $3 million for subsequent violations.

New York State Department of Financial Services Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow said,“DFS has been a leader in developing rules that are facilitating the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence by financial services companies. DFS looks forward to supporting Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to foster innovation and establish standards for the safe development of artificial intelligence models.”

“This is an enormous win for the safety of our communities, the growth of our economy and the future of our society,” State Senator Andrew Gournardes said. “The RAISE Act lays the groundwork for a world where AI innovation makes life better instead of putting it at risk. Big tech oligarchs think it’s fine to put their profits ahead of our safety — we disagree. With this law, we make clear that tech innovation and safety don’t have to be at odds. In New York, we can lead in both.”

“Today is a major victory in what will soon be a national fight to harness the best of AI’s potential and protect Americans from the worst of its harms,” Assemblymember Alex Bores, stated. “New York now has the strongest AI transparency law in the country. This bill moves beyond California’s SB53 in significant ways, and sets the stage for greater disclosure, learning, and legislative action in years to come. In New York, we defeated last-ditch attempts from AI oligarchs to wipe out this bill and, by doing so, raised the floor for what AI safety legislation can look like. And we defeated Trump’s — and his donors’ — attempt to stop RAISE through executive action greenlighting a Wild West for AI.”

The Center for American Progress stated, “On December 11, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” (AI National Framework EO) that seeks to unlawfully nullify state laws enacted to govern artificial intelligence (AI). It does so by wrongfully arguing that these laws threaten the United States’ global AI dominance and directing the federal government to act against states with “onerous” state AI laws, primarily by challenging them in court and withholding federal funding from those states. This EO calls for an unprecedented, unconstitutional, and dangerous assertion of the federal executive branch into the powers of state and local government.” (See: President Trump’s AI National Policy Executive Order Is an Unambiguous Threat to States Beyond Just AI)

Other states have passed laws regulating AI: California’s law requires the biggest A.I. models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, to test for safety and to disclose the results. South Dakota passed a law banning deep fakes (realistic A.I.-generated videos) in political advertisements within months of an election. Utah, Illinois and Nevada passed laws related to A.I. chatbots and mental health, requiring disclosures that users are engaging with chatbots and adding restrictions on data collection. (See: Trump Signs Executive Order to Neuter State A.I. Laws)

NYS: A Global Leader in Artificial Intelligence

The enactment of the RAISE Act complements New York’s global leadership in AI technology through innovation, collaboration and responsibility. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, she created Empire AI, the state’s trailblazing consortium that is uniting academia, industry and government for the public good. This new law ensures that innovation continues to thrive while safeguarding against potential harms, and reinforces New York’s position as a global hub for ethical AI development.

Civil Rights, Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Care, Human Rights

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul: ‘Why I’m Supporting Medical Aid in Dying’

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, after explaining how she came to support medical aid in dying, said that after the Legislature agreed to amendments adding safeguards and guardrails to prevent abuse or coercion, it would be passed and she would sign the legislation in January. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Shortly after penning an op-ed in the Times Union explaining how New York State Governor Kathy Hochul came to support medical aid in dying, she announced an agreement with the Legislature to make medical aid in dying available to terminally ill New Yorkers with less than six months to live after amending the legislation with safeguards and guardrails to prevent abuse or coercion. This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor, who is a devout Catholic. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later.

Announcing the agreement, Governor Hochul stated,

“Such as life and so is death — two forces in life that are inevitable. And so I was moved by their courage and I wanted to help them put an end to a decades long journey and say, ‘You can rest now. Your loved one has been honored in a way that is profound. And to the extent that you’re still wounded, suffering, questioning yourself, may you rest in peace yourself in this life, may you not have that trauma and that angst any longer.’ That’s what I wish for all my friends here….

“That there could be coercion, duress, and pressure put on people. And I was concerned about that and I said, “How can we get out from under that?” That everyone will know that someone who makes that decision did it of free will, not under pressure. And so, those are some of the constraints I put around this….

“So we have our safeguards, you can read them all, but this is one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made as Governor. So I spent a lot of time on this, talked to a lot of people, but I want these people behind me to know, it was their stories that touched my heart the most. Because who am I to deny you or your loved one what they’re begging for at the end of their life?

“I couldn’t do that any longer, and that is why I’m here to announce that we have reached an agreement, and I thank the legislators for listening to me and my concerns and to reconfirm that New York will always continue to be a bastion of freedom to worship, to speak your mind, freedom of choice. It’s time we finally extend those freedoms to the terminally ill and their families.”

Here is the text of the op-ed that can be viewed online, explaining how she came to this most difficult decision:

Two and a half centuries ago, our founding fathers established a vision of a country based on limited government and broad individual rights that together protect rights of speech, worship, privacy and bodily autonomy. Proudly, New York has long led the fights championing the rights of individuals, from civil rights to labor rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and reproductive rights. In the true spirit of this country, government has a responsibility to protect, not interfere, with an individual’s deeply personal decisions.

This is the context in which I have considered the Medical Aid in Dying Act, a bill to allow suffering terminally ill individuals with less than six months left to live the right to medical aid to speed up the inevitable.

During this journey I listened to New Yorkers who are in the throes of pain and suffering. I heard from their children, who are watching a parent endure a slow, devastating decline. I heard stories of a parent or spouse pleading for an end to the suffering and how difficult it was to reply, “We can’t in New York.”

This was heartbreaking, and it hit close to home. I watched my own mom die from ALS. I watched that vicious disease steal away the strong woman who raised me as it took her ability to walk, to eat, to speak and, ultimately, to live. I am all too familiar with the pain of seeing someone you love suffer and feeling powerless to stop it.  

At the same time, there are individuals of many faiths who believe that deliberately shortening one’s life violates the sanctity of life. I understand and respect those views. But as I have spoken with people tormented by pain, I have come to see this as a matter of individual choice that does not have to be about shortening life but rather about shortening dying. And I do not believe that in every instance condemning someone to excruciating pain and suffering preserves the dignity and sanctity of life. 

I reflected on this during a Catholic funeral Mass for a family friend where the priest spoke of the welcome home to eternal life. I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate, and so must we be. This includes permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life.

So after careful deliberation, I decided to support legalizing medical aid in dying in very specific circumstances and with significant protections included in the law to ensure it is not misused or broadly applied.

The bill passed by the Legislature already allowed individual doctors and religiously affiliated health facilities to decline to offer medical aid in dying. In my view, those protections were essential but not sufficient. I proposed additional guardrails that also protect family members, caregivers and doctors, and I am pleased that the bill’s sponsors and legislative leaders agreed to include them in the bill I will ultimately sign once the Legislature returns to Albany and approves the amended language. 

These guardrails address the concerns of some who fear that vulnerable populations, including those with disabilities or the elderly, will be pressured into a decision they would not have made on their own. Confirmation from a medical doctor that the individual truly had less than six months to live, and from a psychologist or psychiatrist that the patient is capable of making the decision and not under duress, will now be required. 

There will be a mandatory five-day waiting period to provide the patient the chance to change their mind, and both a written and recorded oral request to confirm free will is present, with anyone who may benefit financially disqualified from being a witness or interpreter. 

Outpatient facilities associated with religious hospitals may elect not to offer medical aid in dying, and the effective date of the bill has been extended to ensure time for regulations and training.

Finally, this is a right afforded to New Yorkers only.

These are fundamental protections to ensure vulnerable people aren’t pressured, misled or left without alternatives.

The Medical Aid in Dying Act will afford terminally ill New Yorkers the right to spend their final days not under sterile hospital lights but with sunlight streaming through their bedroom window. The right to spend their final days not hearing the droning hum of hospital machines but instead the laughter of their grandkids echoing in the next room. The right to tell their family they love them and be able to hear those precious words in return.  

I am grateful to the advocates, families and legislative supporters, especially bill sponsors Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, who worked hard to make this happen in a thoughtful and responsible way. And I hope those who are disappointed by this outcome know this was a difficult decision for me personally. It was not made lightly. It was guided by a genuine and deeply held belief that government must respect the rights and will of the people it serves. I hope that those who oppose this legislation will be able to look with compassion on those who may make a choice they would not make for themselves. And isn’t that, at heart, what the choice and freedom our young nation promised its people 250 years ago is all about?

Kathy Hochul is the 57th governor of New York.

Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Care

Governor Hochul Announces $300 Million to Advance Hospitals’ Health Information Technology, Cybersecurity

22 Projects Funded Through Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV and V

Projects to Enhance Health Information Technology, Strengthen Cybersecurity and Expand Telehealth Services

Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $300 million in new state funding to support health care transformation projects across New York. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $300 million in new state funding to support health care transformation projects across New York. The awards, made through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV and V, will support 22 projects aimed at improving health information technology by expanding patient electronic medical records, strengthening cybersecurity and patient information security, and expanding telehealth services.

“By modernizing our hospitals’ IT infrastructure and protecting patients’ information, we’re strengthening the foundation of health care in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments will help ensure that hospitals have the tools they need to safeguard patient data, expand telehealth services and deliver a healthier future for all New Yorkers.”

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “With these investments, we are focused on developing safe, reliable and connected patient-centered care. By expanding data capabilities and improving cybersecurity defenses, we’re enhancing clinical decision making across the state’s health care network.”

This funding prioritizes projects that:

  • Support financially distressed providers;
    • Modernize critical health information technology infrastructure;
    • Strengthen cybersecurity and patient information security; and
    • Expand telehealth services.

Awardees include hospitals in every region of the State.

A full list of awardees, project descriptions, and award amounts is available here. Funds are administered by the New York State Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).

This investment builds on Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to strengthen New York’s health care delivery system. The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program has awarded more than $1.75 billion to providers working to improve access, equity, and quality of care across New York. These awards are part of a broader, long-term commitment that has directed more than $4.7 billion in health care capital funding statewide since 2016.

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State enacted nation-leading cybersecurity regulations for hospitals, establishing a robust blueprint to protect critical systems and enhance the resilience of the state’s health care network against cyber threats.

Recently, the State made additional funding awards for 55 projects under Statewide IV, and additional projects under the Safety Net Transformation Program.

Governor Kathy Hochul, Gun Violence Prevention

Safer Streets: NYS Governor Hochul Credits GIVE Initiative for 60% Drop in Gun Violence Since 2021

Lowest Number of Shootings for First 11 Months of The Year Since 2006

28 Communities Participating in GIVE Also Reported 81 Fewer Shooting Incidents With Injury and 142 Fewer People Shot From January to November 2025 vs. 2024

Double-Digit Decreases in Shooting Incidents With Injury in Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse During First 11 Months of 2025 vs. Last Year

Governor Hochul’s Doubling of Funding for Nationally Recognized State Initiative Has Contributed to Sustained Progress in Reducing Gun Violence 

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on Long Island announcing drop in crime. Governor Hochul announced that shooting incidents with injury in the 28 communities that participate in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative have dropped 60 percent since she took office in 2021, with the lowest number of incidents with injury reported for the first 11 months of the year since the state began tracking this data in 2006. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As trump reallocates law enforcement and military assets to pick up garbage instead of protect communities and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose only crime-fighting initiative was to establish a murky private militia and ban wearing masks in public, and promising to set up border control on the New York City line in reaction to Mamdani’s election to Mayor, announces his candidacy for Governor, Governor Kathy Hochul announced significant success in reducing gun violence as a result of her Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative.—Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that shooting incidents with injury in the 28 communities that participate in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative have dropped 60 percent since she took office in 2021, with the lowest number of incidents with injury reported for the first 11 months of the year since the state began tracking this data in 2006. New statistics reported to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services by those police departments also show 81 fewer shootings and 142 fewer people shot from January to November 2025 as compared to the same time last year. Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse continue to lead the way with double-digit declines in gun violence. Governor Hochul’s investment of more than $3 billion in public safety — including doubling the annual funding to combat gun violence through GIVE and expanding the communities eligible for funding through the initiative — has contributed to these dramatic reductions in gun violence. 

“When I came into office, gun violence was surging. Thanks to our record investments in public safety and law enforcement, we are seeing major progress in our ongoing mission to eradicate gun violence from our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “By partnering with more than two dozen police agencies, we are driving down gun crimes to record lows — and I remain laser focused on doing everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe.”

Governor Hochul announced record-low shooting data with local elected officials and law enforcement executives from the Albany Police Department, which experienced the largest reductions of any GIVE jurisdiction. Albany saw a 47 percent drop in shooting incidents with injury and a 44 percent decrease in shooting victims during the first 11 months of this year compared to 2024.

The 28 police departments participating in GIVE reported 477 shooting incidents with injury during January through November 2025, a 15 percent drop compared to the 558 incidents reported during the same period last year. The number of people shot decreased by 21 percent, 547 compared to 689, and there were 29 fewer gun violence-related deaths, 87 compared to 116, during the same time frame.

The GIVE initiative currently provides $36 million in State funding for equipment, overtime, and personnel, as well as comprehensive, focused training and technical assistance, to participating police departments and their county law enforcement partners: district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices. These police departments are on the front lines of fighting gun violence outside of New York City and account for roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of all violent crime reported outside the five boroughs.

Governor Hochul also highlighted the work of the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, one of 11 in a unique, statewide network supported by DCJS in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The center, located at Albany Police Headquarters, is currently staffed by crime analysts, police and probation officers, and investigators from 10 local, state and county law enforcement agencies from across the region. Through October, the center had handled 13,198 requests for service that have allowed police and prosecutors to more effectively solve, reduce and prevent crime. The center serves agencies from 11 counties — Albany, Columbia, Greene, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie, Warren and Washington — and any agency upon request.

“Law enforcement had not been funded at the levels I believed was appropriate… I knew this coming in as Governor, and I wanted to change that dynamic radically — and we have,” Governor Hochul noted. “We funded police and public safety now at record levels; $3 billion over the last few years — that is staggering… We’ve more than doubled the funding to the GIVE initiative, and that expanded to eight additional police departments, four more counties. So we now provide funding to 28 law enforcement agencies in 21 counties…

“I’ve been going all over the state from Long Island up to Buffalo to see exactly how they’re using the money we’ve deployed,” Governor Hochul. “They’re equipping our officers with the best crime fighting technology. Whether it’s license plate readers or whether it’s in-vehicle computer systems that connect to others, whether it’s drone technology, I’ve seen everything… Last year we had the lowest number of shootings on record… With only three weeks left in 2025, we’re on our way to shattering last year’s record. So we’re keeping it going. We’re keeping the momentum going. It was not just a one-off and we’re done and we’re mission accomplished. We’re still moving forward to drive the numbers down even more.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I want to offer my gratitude to Governor Hochul for the resources provided to help the State Police focus on this public safety mission. The numbers show that reducing gun violence is no small matter. They are a testament to the immense support and dedication of law enforcement to disrupt the flow of illegal guns and to locate and mitigate their source of supply. The State Police remains committed to leveraging partnerships with our law enforcement partners to continue the reduction of gun violence in New York State.”

State Senator Patricia Fahy said,“This year, Albany experienced the largest drop in gun violence of any GIVE jurisdiction in New York State with a 47 percent drop in shooting incidents with injury and a 44 percent decrease in shooting victims. That is real lives saved, neighborhoods beginning to heal, and a positive step in the right direction for the Capital Region. When we implement community-based solutions with organizations like SNUG and partner with local law enforcement, we address the root causes of gun violence while taking illegal guns off the streets, which ultimately makes our communities safer. Where there is progress, however, there remains work to be done, and I will continue to aggressively address the epidemic of gun violence with my colleagues in the State Legislature and Governor Hochul. Every resident in every neighborhood across our Capital City deserves to feel safe in their communities and on their streets and today represents an important step forward in the fight against gun violence here in our Capital Region.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, “The ongoing investments in technology, recruitment, and evidence-based programs like GIVE are delivering measurable results. Communities across the Capital Region are witnessing significantly fewer shootings, fewer victims, and safer neighborhoods because we are giving law enforcement the tools and training they need to prevent violence before it occurs. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s support for these efforts, and I will continue championing policies and resources in the State Legislature that help keep our families and communities safe.”

In addition to significant decreases in gun violence in Albany, Governor Hochul’s sustained investment in GIVE funding has contributed double-digit decreases in shooting incidents with injury in Buffalo (18 percent) and Syracuse (13 percent), during the first 11 months of this year compared to 2024. These police departments participating in GIVE also reported declines in shooting incidents with injury during the same timeframe:

  • Village of Hempstead Police Department
  • Mount Vernon Police Department
  • Nassau County Police Department
  • Niagara Falls Police Department
  • Poughkeepsie Police Department
  • Rochester Police Department
  • Troy Police Department
  • Utica Police Department

Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association President Chief Brian Paladino said, “Gun violence can only be stopped with a community partnership between the police department and community members. The GIVE Program allows these relationships to blossom as communities get behind the police department and help us get guns off the street. The result of which is a safer community and getting guns out of the hands of criminals who are detrimental to the future of the community. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support for programs that help address public safety.”

Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs said, “Here in Hempstead, we know how much our families depend on safe streets, and GIVE has helped us make real progress block by block. Governor Hochul’s continued investment means our police officers have stronger tools, technology and partnerships to address gun violence in the places that need it most. We’re committed to building on this momentum so every resident from Terrace Avenue to Jackson Street can feel the difference in their daily lives.”

An interactive dashboard featuring current-year and historical data reported by each of the 28 police departments is available on the DCJS statistics page.

New York City also experienced notable declines. Through Dec. 7, the NYPD reported a 23 percent decrease in shootings (662 vs. 862) and a 22 percent drop in shooting victims (823 vs. 1,048) compared to the same period in 2024.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced that she secured record-level funding for GIVE for the third consecutive year: $36.38 million, with $36 million awarded and the remainder reserved for emerging needs identified by participating agencies, which are required to use evidence-based strategies to drive down shootings and combat violent crime. See the breakdown of funding awarded to GIVE partners in 21 counties outside of New York City for the contract period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Anti-Trump Activism, Military, Military Issues, News & Photo Features

Veterans, Supporters Urge Military to Defy Illegal, Immoral Orders of Would-Be Authoritarian

Vets Say No War on Our Cities © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

As New York City’s Veterans Day Parade wound up uptown, a protest by and for veterans and military got underway at City Hall Park downtown, calling for military who oppose the illegal, immoral orders to abuse civilians in their communities without due process, and to blow up boats in international waters as a pretext to start a war in Latin America, being handed down from the defacto commander in chief, Trump, and Defense Secretary (who likes to call himself the Secretary of War) Pete Hegseth.

No Cuts. No ICE, No Occupation © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

For many at the gathering, the daily headlines brought up the war crimes they saw in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Others related how they signed up in order to afford college and healthcare and to protect communities, and soon found they were being used by corporate elites and billionaires to further their own interest, and Trump who is using well-armed forces and a private militia to further his own authoritarian ambitions by quelling any civic protest.

No Troops in Our Cities © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

They called for “no troops in our cities” and “no cuts so veterans or social services.”

The gathering was one of about 90 around the country.

No Cuts. No ICE, No Occupation © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Noting the long tradition (even the constitutional obligation) to not obey illegal or immoral order, they pointed to various organizations that are ready to help soldiers defend themselves.

“If you resist or refuse to follow an illegal or immoral order, there is a community who will defend you,” declared Rebecca Roberts, who spent 12 years in the New Jersey Air and National Guard.

 Among them: May Day Strong (maydaystrong.org), About Face Veterans Against the War (which works to dismantle the military-industrial complex and resist fascism); Task Force Butler (which monitors and disrupts extremist groups through intelligence gathering and law enforcement collaboration, www.taskforcebutler.org), Veterans Fighting Fascism (www.veteransfightingfascism.org) and Common Defense (a political organization that mobilizes veterans and their families to fight against authoritarianism).

Bill Rittenhouse, Vietnam veteran, recalling horrors he endured, joins New York City protest against illegal, immoral actions of military under Trump and Hegseth © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

But they also called on their state and local electeds from Governor Kathy Hochul on down to the newly (historic) elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani to protect communities against Trump’s illegal, unconstitutional occupation, and his illegal, unconstitutional cuts to services.

Instead of spending billions on bombs and drones, on a militia to brutalize civilians in their communities and perpetuate wars and instigate new ones in order to advance authoritarian ambitions, the government of the richest country in the world should be spending on providing health care, public education and housing.

Rebecca Roberts: For those military who are grappling with “moral injury” at being asked to obey an illegal or immoral order, there is support © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Rebecca Roberts, a 12-year veteran of New Jersey’s Air and National Guard, related that when she enlisted at the age of 17– to pay for college and to give back to the country that took in her grandmother from Cuba and gave her freedom and democracy – “I thought I was fighting for freedom and justice,”  but found she was furthering the interests of corporate elites, and instead of protecting refugees in a camp in Africa, was protecting the bombs at an air base used on civilians. When she returned to the US in 2020, during the George Floyd protests, she saw the administration use those same tactics against its own cities and communities. And now, the Trump administration is turning the same forces against our own cities and communities.

“Many are now grappling with the same dilemma of being sent to communities, attacking civilians who they are supposed to protect, facing that same ‘moral injury’. The same politicians on thanking us on Veterans Day are cutting vital services for veterans, wasting billions to start a war in Venezuela based on lies and waging war on communities. Soldiers have no place on our streets. ICE has no right tearing families apart.”

Tom Teppin:“Trump is using the military for his own authoritarian ambitions…If you resist, refuse to follow illegal, immoral order, there is a community who will defend you” © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Tom Teppin, of About Face, Veterans Against War, related how he was sent to Bagram air base in Afghanistan and was told to “Be prepared to kill them all,” – referring to the locals who were assisting the Americans. “I saw them drop bombs on civilians. I saw the systemic disregard for civilians. The US military is feared around the world  – they advance the interest of politicians and cronies.

“Trump is using the military for his own authoritarian ambitions…If you resist, refuse to follow illegal, immoral order, there is a community who will defend you.”

He said that Trump wants to send the National Guard to NYC because he doesn’t like who was elected mayor. “We need state leaders to protect the rights of National Guard when they refuse orders. Trump wants to call protest civil unrest, and will disappear people for opposing genocide. We have a real threat of fascism.”

Faria Aktar: “Fund what we care about, what cities need. In the richest country, there is no reason to have homelessness, to have hunger.”

Instead of spending billions on mass deportations and extrajudicial murder, “Fund what we care about, what cities need,” said Faria Aktar. “In the richest country, there is no reason to have homelessness, to have hunger. Defend immigrants and working class against the twin threats of deportation and displacement. This city is on front line of defense.”

Joe Termic: “This Veterans Day, don’t stand with the flag stand with the people. Defend life, not the empire.”

Joe Termic declared, “This Veterans Day, don’t stand with the flag stand with the people. Defend life, not the empire.  Instead of spending billions on war and prisons, spend on schools, homes. Our strength is our solidarity. Organize and protect each other. We call on New York officials to stand with people or step aside.”

Tax $ for our communities, not for ICE © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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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

Military, Military Issues, News & Photo Features

NYC Veterans Day Parade Celebrates 250th Anniversary of America’s Military

The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

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

The annual New York City Veterans Day Parade was a reminder that even before the 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain, there were those who were fighting for independence. Floats and banners paid homage to the 1775-2025 legacy as onlookers cheered and shouted their support for all those who served. The 106th annual parade, hosted by the United War Veterans Council, the largest Veterans Day Parade in the country, celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military, with grand marshals representing the Army, Marine Corps and Navy.

Vietnam Veterans at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Produced by the UWVC, the Parade included some 300 marching and vehicle units, 20,000 participants from across America representing every service branch of the military and every era since the earliest founding, as thousands of well wishers, veterans among them, who lined the route from 23rd to 47th street on Fifth Avenue cheered them on.

The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

To mark the 250th Anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Navy, former SSG and Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, Marine veteran and homeless veterans’ advocate Stephen Peck, and NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Sunita “Suni” Williams will lead this year’s parade as Grand Marshals. 

“With more than a decade of Army service and another decade providing support to returning veterans, I have devoted myself to defending the nation, standing up for our rights and values, and uplifting men and women who serve,” said former Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient and spokesperson for American Warrior Partnership.I am incredibly grateful to lead this year’s NYC Veterans Day Parade as a Grand Marshal, especially for the 250-year anniversary of the U.S. Army, and march alongside thousands of other brave servicemembers.” 

Stephen Peck, a former Marine, is one of the Grand Marshals for the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“It is a tremendous honor to serve as a Grand Marshal for the NYC Veterans Day parade and take part in the long tradition of commemorating service, remembering the incredible debt we owe those who have served our nation and appreciating the challenges many of them face long after service has ended,” said Stephen Peck, a former Marine Corps officer who served in the Vietnam War and now retired president and CEO of U.S.VETS, the largest nonprofit providing supportive housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. “I join my fellow honorees in expressing our gratitude and recognizing that the freedoms we enjoy today have come at a cost borne by those who have bravely defended this nation. In celebration of Veterans Day, let’s recommit ourselves to supporting veterans in tangible ways not just today but every day, whether through hiring veterans, giving to organizations that help veterans or simply saying ‘thank you for your service.'” 

2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

“I look forward to honoring the service and sacrifices of our brave veterans alongside my fellow Grand Marshals at this year’s Parade,” said Sunita L. Williams, NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy veteran. “I truly understand the sacrifices that veterans and their families make every day to protect our rights, freedoms, and way of life as Americans. I am grateful for the chance to help recognize their enormous contributions as one of this year’s Grand Marshals.”

The parade was established in 1919 following the armistice agreement that was signed on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918, that ended hostilities during WWI. 

Here are highlights:

The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Onlookers cheer the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Onlookers cheer 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Veterans among the onlookers cheering at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Korean American Vietnam Veterans. at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
ROK Marines at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
ROK Marines at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
U.S. Sanitary Commission. The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Honoring WWII veterans at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Restore VA Funds! 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
American Legion 9-11 Memorial Post 2001: Never Forget. 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade paid homage to 250 years of America’s military © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Promoting suicide prevention among veterans at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Black Veterans for Social Justice at 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
British Bobbies join American veterans at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
All-City High School Marching Band, New York City at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Marching band from Westbury, NY at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marches in the NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Ecuadorian War Veterans at 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
ROC marches at the 2025 NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Vote! NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Native Americans join the NYC Veterans Day Parade © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The United War Veterans Council, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that honors and serves veterans. The UWVC supports and promotes a wide range of initiatives that provide vital services to our veterans community (including health, wellness and education); raises positive awareness and increases public understanding of the needs of our veterans community through major public events and promotional activities; and brings together veterans groups, community organizations, government agencies, businesses of all sizes and the general public. For more information, visit uwvc.org

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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

Government Regulation, Infrastructure

USDoT, FAA Outline Proactive Actions to Maintain Safety in the National Air Space Due to Government Shutdown

Includes 10% reduction in flights at 40 high traffic airports across the country 

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is one of 40 airports where the US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration is reducing service. A 4 percent reduction in operations will take effect Friday, November 7, ramping up to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and 10 percent by November 14. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford today outlined the proactive actions the FAA will take to maintain the highest standards of safety in the national airspace system. This includes achieving a temporary 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 high traffic airports across the country.  

Since the beginning of the shutdown, controllers have been working without pay, and staffing triggers at air traffic facilities across the country have been increasing. This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers. This past weekend, there were 2,740 delays at various airports.   

“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.” 

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” said Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford. “The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”   

The full emergency order can be read HERE. 

Summary of Actions:

A 4 percent reduction in operations will take effect Friday, November 7, ramping up to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and 10 percent by November 14. 

The FAA will also:

  • Prohibit some visual flight rule approaches (VFR) at facilities with staffing triggers.
    • Limit commercial space launches to non-peak hours so they are prohibited between 11:01 a.m. and 2:59 p.m. UTC.
    • Prohibit parachute operations and photo missions near facilities with a staffing trigger.  

These actions were directly informed by the FAA’s review of aviation safety data, including voluntary, confidential safety reports that pilots and air traffic controllers file. The data indicates increased stress on the system, which increases risk.   

Additional Information:

Airlines will be required to issue full refunds. They will not be required to cover secondary costs. This is the normal procedure when a delay or cancellation is not at the fault of the carrier. 

The order does not require a reduction in international flights. Carriers may use their own discretion to decide which flights are canceled to reach the order’s goal. 

Decisions to increase or decrease these flight reductions will be informed by safety data.  

The 40 affected high impact airports include:  

ANC – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport 
ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 
BOS – Boston Logan International Airport 
BWI – Baltimore/Washington International Airport 
CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport 
CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport 
DAL – Dallas Love Field 
DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 
DEN – Denver International Airport 
DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 
DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 
EWR – Newark Liberty International Airport 
FLL – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport 
HNL – Honolulu International Airport 
HOU – William P. Hobby Airport 
IAD – Washington Dulles International Airport 
IAH – George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport 
IND – Indianapolis International Airport 
JFK – New York John F. Kennedy International Airport 
LAS – Las Vegas McCarran International Airport 
LAX – Los Angeles International Airport 
LGA – New York LaGuardia Airport 
MCO – Orlando International Airport 
MDW – Chicago Midway International Airport 
MEM – Memphis International Airport 
MIA – Miami International Airport 
MSP – Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport 
OAK – Oakland International Airport 
ONT – Ontario International Airport 
ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport 
PDX – Portland International Airport 
PHL – Philadelphia International Airport 
PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 
SAN – San Diego International Airport 
SDF – Louisville International Airport 
SEA – Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 
SFO – San Francisco International Airport 
SLC – Salt Lake City International Airport 
TEB – Teterboro Airport 
TPA – Tampa International Airport

Climate Action, Energy, Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul Named to 2025 Time 100 Most Influential Leaders Driving Climate Action

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has been named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list, recognizing the 100 most influential global leaders driving business climate action. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul has been named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list, recognizing the 100 most influential global leaders driving business climate action. (View the full list on TIME’s website.)

“I’m proud that New York’s work to build a cleaner, more resilient future is being recognized on a global stage by such an esteemed publication as Time Magazine,” Governor Hochul said. “Our approach is rooted in partnership and practicality: supporting innovation, protecting communities, and ensuring New York’s future is both sustainable and affordable.”

Meanwhile (and in contrast), Trump has stopped work on leading edge  Empire Wind project, an offshore wind farm planned to power about 500,000 New York City homes, with construction and the development of a port facility in Brooklyn already underway, and cancelled $7.6 billion in clean, renewable energy grants nationwide, including $450 million destined for New York.

Building a Climate-Resilient Future

Governor Hochul served as Co-Chair of the US Climate Alliance from 2024-2025 and now serves on its Executive Committee, utilizing the Alliance to champion climate science and push back against federal resistance to climate progress. As a founding-state, New York has helped achieve the Alliance’s collective reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions 24 percent below 2005 levels. This historic emissions reduction milestone puts the 24 Alliance states on track to achieve its near-term target of 26 percent reductions by 2025, with New York leading the way.

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York launched the New York State Adaptation and Resilience Plan, a first-of-its-kind, unified statewide initiative to prepare communities for the challenges of a changing climate. The plan coordinates efforts across state agencies to strengthen climate readiness through projects like shoreline restoration, resilient infrastructure upgrades and protecting critical assets from flooding, building upon funding from various sources including the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and other state programs. As part of the Environmental Bond Act, the Governor has committed historic levels of resources to protecting New York’s coastlines through programs like the Coastal Rehabilitation and Resiliency Projects Program and Inland Flooding and Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) Implementation Projects Program, which deployed over $30 million to fund essential coastline protection projects, utilizing nature-based solutions to combat erosion, flooding and sea-level rise.

Governor Hochul has also championed the Green Resiliency Grant program, dedicating millions in funding to support flood-prone communities. This competitive grant program prioritizes innovative, nature-based infrastructure like green roofs, permeable pavement and restoring natural habitats to help reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate flooding.

Through the Resilient Economic Development Initiative (REDI), the Governor is deploying $300 million to Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communities for resiliency projects in response to past extreme flooding and high water level events. Furthermore, her administration has provided the State action and leadership necessary to secure critical federal partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), successfully advancing long-awaited, large-scale coastal storm risk management projects that will provide vital shoreline stabilization and protection for communities across the state.

Driving A Greener Economy and Green Jobs

Governor Hochul successfully launched New York City’s first-in-the-nation Congestion Pricing Program this January, which has reduced traffic, improved air quality and secured $15 billion for capital investments to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Additionally, under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is making historic investments in a greener economy through the $1 billion Sustainable Future Program, the largest climate investment in state history. The program accelerates New York’s transition to a clean energy economy, lowers costs for homeowners and small businesses, and creates thousands of family-sustaining jobs.

Key Investments Include:

  • $150 million for the Green Small Buildings Program to help homes and small buildings install energy-efficient upgrades like heat pumps.
    • $200 million through the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to finance renewable energy projects that expand clean power generation and lower ratepayer costs.
    • $200 million dedicated to expanding thermal energy networks, which use a system of pipes to share heating and cooling resources among multiple buildings.
    • $100 million for zero-emission school buses and an additional $100 million to expand EV charging infrastructure statewide.
    • $50 million allocated to the EmPower+ to help low- and moderate-income residents make their homes more energy-efficient, while targeted investments in public schools improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
    • Approximately 180,000 jobs, making New York among the nation’s leaders in creating clean energy jobs.
    • Passing nation-leading Green CHIPS legislation providing up to $10 billion in incentives for semiconductor manufacturing projects that commit to environmental sustainability measures.

Advancing New York’s All-of-the-Above Energy Approach

Despite federal headwinds and post-COVID inflation and supply chain issues, New York under Governor Hochul’s leadership continues to chart a bold path towards a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy future. By investing in a diverse mix of energy resources, innovative projects, and cutting-edge technologies, the State is expanding access to clean power that supports families and businesses. These efforts are creating cleaner environments and driving economic growth, ensuring that New Yorkers share in the benefits and advantages of a sustainable and reliable 21st-century energy system.

Key Initiatives and Accomplishments Include:

  • Operating the nation’s first utility scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind, and advancing other offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind.
    • Exceeding the 2025 distributed solar goal of six gigawatts of solar ahead of schedule, solidifying New York’s leadership in the solar industry.
    • Approving 31 large-scale solar and wind projects representing more than 4.2 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power roughly 1.5 million homes.
  • Signing the RAPID Act into law, consolidating environmental review, permitting, and siting of major renewable energy facilities and major electric transmission facilities under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), cutting permitting timelines by up to 50 percent while maintaining strong local engagement and environmental protections.
    • Constructing the Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission line to deliver a significant portion of New York City’s electricity from clean Canada hydropower by mid-2026.
    • Directing the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build at least one gigawatt of new advanced nuclear energy, which will provide enough clean energy to power 1 million Upstate homes.
    • Modernizing the grid by completing the Central East Energy Connect (93 miles) on time and $200 million under budget. The Smart Path rebuild (78 miles), upgraded lines to carry more power, hardening infrastructure against extreme weather.
    • Expanding future infrastructure by modernizing 90 miles of lines including the Smart Path Connect, which is under construction with NYPA and National Grid, and Propel NY, a $3.2 billion initiative led by NYPA and New York Transco, which will upgrade underground and submarine lines through Westchester, Long Island and New York City, while incorporating community input at every step.
    • Boosting reliability and saving money through transmission upgrades, like the Empire State Line in Western New York, which is moving gigawatts of clean power efficiently, improving reliability and saving ratepayers money. Since 2021, under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has completed or advanced hundreds of miles of new and upgraded transmission lines.
  • Directed state agencies in August to work together to responsibly advance shovel-ready renewable energy projects as quickly as possible to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits.

Protecting Natural Resources and Strengthening Communities

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership in Fiscal Year 2025, New York State’s coordinated clean water grants and financing surpassed $3.8 billion in 2025 alone — an unprecedented investment that is transforming water systems in communities of every size. This includes Governor Hochul’s continued $500 million annual commitment to clean water projects.

Additional Key Investments Include:

  • $26 million made available through the Climate Resilient Farming and State’s Ecosystem Based Management Program to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health and protect water quality.
    • Moving forward with the Governor’s 25 Million Trees initiative to enhance reforestation and green infrastructure statewide.
    • $30 million in Environmental Bond Act funding for 19 projects across the state designed to mitigate flood risk, restore wetlands, and strengthen coastal and inland protections.
    • Investments building on the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which directs at least 35 percent of all benefits to disadvantaged communities — ensuring equity remains central to New York’s climate agenda.

State Zero-Emission Credits Program Helps Spark $151 Million in Energy Savings and Clean, Reliable Electricity Generation

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major affordability win for millions of New Yorkers: $151 million in energy bill savings in 2026 as a result of the State’s Zero-Emissions Credits (ZEC) program, with the potential for additional savings in future years depending on market conditions. These cost savings will flow directly to New Yorkers, reducing the costs associated with keeping vital existing nuclear power plants online.

“My top priorities are energy affordability for New York consumers and making sure the lights stay on,” Governor Hochul said. “The Zero Emission Tax Credit program is a prime example of how the state was able to take a federal tax credit and turn it into needed energy savings for ratepayers while at the same time supporting clean and reliable electricity generation in the state.”

The ZEC program was created by the New York State Public Service Commission in 2016 to compensate the four Upstate nuclear plants for their zero-emissions power. Under the program, any benefits received from the federal nuclear production tax credit (PTC) enacted in 2022 are required to be passed along to ratepayers.

Constellation Energy owns or controls the four operating nuclear power reactors, located across three facilities, including Ginna, Fitzpatrick, and Nine Mile. All three facilities are located along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The federal nuclear PTC now being claimed by Constellation Energy will result in a $151 million benefit to electricity consumers in New York State.

Culture & Lifestyle, News & Photo Features

NYC’s 2025 Village Halloween Parade Showcases City Harvest as Grand Marshal and ‘It’s a Potluck’ Theme – Photo Highlights

What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants, towering puppets, electrifying performers, and 50 bands © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

City Harvest, an unconventional choice to be Grand Marshal of New York City’s 2025 Village Halloween Parade, themed, “It’s a Potluck,” proved prescient, for within hours of the 50,000 marchers, performers, puppeteers and bands marching up Sixth Avenue under the delighted gaze of a million onlookers, the Trump Administration was set to cut SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans, including three million New Yorkers (14% of the state’s population – talk about trick or treat!).

The theme for the 2025 Village Halloween Parade was “It’s a Potluck!” and the Grand Marshal, City Harvest, was represented by famed restaurateur and philanthropist Simon Kim © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

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

This year’s theme was “It’s a Potluck!” and, in a considerable break with past practice, the Grand Marshal was City Harvest instead of a single person, in the incarnation of famed restaurateur and philanthropist Simon Kim.

Lots of audience engagement at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“We recognize and celebrate the extraordinary work of this organization that feeds New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity every single day,” writes Jeanne Fleming, the parade’s Artistic and Producing Director, announcing this year’s grand marshal. “City Harvest is committed to being there – rescuing fresh produce and delivering it for free to New Yorkers across the five boroughs.”  

“City Harvest feeds the BODY and the SPIRIT, bringing a literal Feast every day to New York City, just as the Parade feeds its imagination on Halloween!”

The theme for the 2025 Village Halloween Parade was “It’s a Potluck!” © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

“Right now, food insecurity in New York City is at the highest level on record,” commented Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest. “City Harvest is committed to making sure that every one of our neighbors has access to the high-quality, nutritious food they need to thrive. Together, we will feed our city—one day, one meal, one New Yorker at a time.”

And while there was the usual smattering of costumes with a political message, the overwhelming majority of people reveled in the escapism and fantasy that Halloween affords, and the sheer joy of blood, gore, horror and fairytales. (In New York City, it is often hard to tell who is actually wearing a costume.)

The ever-popular thrillernyc zombies © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The joy and delight was there, as always, along with the traditional skeleton puppets that creep into the crowds, and the perennial favorite, ThrillerNYC flash dancing zombies.

The Village Halloween Parade perennial favorite thrillernyc flash dancing zombies © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade perennial favorite thrillernyc flash dancing zombies © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

It seemed the crowds watching the parade and roaming the city’s avenues were in some of the greatest numbers, with people needing a respite from the true horror of news headlines  and the hunger for a shared communal experience. New York City had just experienced a history-making march – 350,000 turning out – so no doubt many were practiced in humongous gatherings and even had the costumes.

The Village Halloween Parade perennial favorite thrillernyc flash dancing zombies © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The Village Halloween Parade has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” Artistic Director Jeanne Flemming enthuses.

What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

With participation in the parade open to anyone in a costume, each year some 50,000-60,000 join the march from Canal Street up Sixth Avenue to 15th Street. Crowds line the route 10 -20 deep, (A VIP ticket for special seating is available; and parade marchers can also skip the line with a VIP ticket; ticket holders are automatically admitted to The Vampire Ball, the official after party, at House of Yes).

What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Started in 1973 by Greenwich Village mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee, the Parade began as a walk from house to house in his neighborhood for his children and their friends. After the second year of this local promenade, Theater for the New City stepped in and produced the event on a larger scale as part of their City in the Streets program. Today the Parade is the largest celebration of its kind in the world and has been picked by Festivals International as “The Best Event in the World” for October 31.

In 1994, the Mayor of the City of New York issued a Proclamation honoring the Village Halloween Parade for 20 years of bringing everyone in the City together in a joyful and creative way and being a boon to the economic life of the City. “New York is the world’s capital of creativity and entertainment. The Village Halloween Parade presents the single greatest opportunity for all New Yorkers to exhibit their creativity in an event that is one-of-a-kind, unique and memorable every year. New Yorkers of all ages love Halloween, and this delightful event enables them to enjoy it every year and join in with their own special contributions. The Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village is a true cultural treasure.”

Here are more photo highlights:

Lots of audience engagement at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The towering skeleton puppets are a signature feature of the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The towering skeleton puppets are a signature feature of the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade is famous for its giant puppets © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade is famous for its giant puppets © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade is famous for its giant puppets © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Lots of audience engagement at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
What has become “the nation’s most wildly creative public participatory event in the greatest city in the world!” the Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants, towering puppets, electrifying performers, and 50 bands © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The ever-popular thrillernyc zombies © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
The Village Halloween Parade features more than 50,000 costumed participants © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A smattering of political statements amid the escapism © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Sending a message to Governor Hochul: no pipelines © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A smattering of political statements amid the escapism © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A smattering of political statements amid the escapism © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
One of the 50 bands marching in the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Tail Shakers, one of dozens of performers, at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
One of the many floats in the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
A Wild Thing at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
One of the 50 bands marching in the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Fogo Azul Drum Band at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Village Halloween Parade pays homage to the Day of the Dead© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Some 50,000 costumed participants join the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Exuberance at the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
One of the 50 bands marching in the Village Halloween Parade © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

New York’s Village Halloween Parade,  www.halloween-nyc.com

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© 2025 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Visit instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near and instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/ Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Bluesky: @newsphotosfeatures.bsky.social X: @TravelFeatures Threads: @news_and_photo_feature

Democracy, News & Photo Features

Freedom Fighters from Around the World Meet in Berlin Nov. 10 to Address Worldwide Rise of Autocracy, Dictatorship; Public Invited

Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. The first-ever Berlin Freedom Conference is being held November 10, 2025 to address the rise of dictatorship and autocracy around the world. Have pluralism, freedom and democracy had their day? Tickets are available to attend. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Berlin – Freedom is in retreat worldwide. Have pluralism, freedom and democracy had their day? What role do economics, technology and the media play? How do we defend freedom? Berlin, a city that stands for freedom and the overcoming of dictatorship like no other, is hosting the Berlin Freedom Conference, 10 November 2025, Gasometer (EUREF Campus) to address these difficult issues.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are available from 19 euros.

The more than 60 international speakers include Masih Alinejad (Iranian women’s rights activist and president of the World Liberty Congress), Garry Kasparov (world chess champion, Chairperson of the Renew Democracy Foundation and outspoken critic of Putin), Leopoldo López (Venezuelan opposition leader and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress), Oleksandra Matviichuk and María Corina Machado (both Nobel Peace Prize laureates, with Machado joining virtually), the legitimate President of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia and Audrey Tang (Taiwan’s digital ambassador), winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize.

German politicians participating include Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and Education Minister Karin Prien. The patron is the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner. Evelyn Zupke (former civil rights activist and SED victims’ commissioner at the German Bundestag) will open the conference by drawing parallels between today’s struggle for freedom and democracy and Berlin’s historical legacy, the peaceful revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall. For 1989 showed that democratic change is possible and walls can come down – even those of today.

Important voices for freedom and democracy

Other international guests at the Berlin Freedom Conference include Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther (Director of the German Economic Institute), Larry Diamond (Professor at Stanford University) and Annie Boyajian (President of Freedom House). Lithuanian politician Mantas Adomėnas represents the Community of Democracies as its Secretary General.

International human rights lawyers Brandon Silver and Irwin Cotler (former Minister of Justice of Canada) will speak about supporting political prisoners.

The role of business and global cooperation will be discussed by Mariana Oleskiv (European Affairs Advisor to the World Travel and Tourism Council), Franziska Giffey (Berlin Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises) and Ulrich Reuter (President of the German Savings Banks and Giro Association), among others.

Speaking in defence are Ben Hodges (former Commanding General of the US Army in Europe), Damon Wilson (President of the National Endowment for Democracy) and Major Philipp Wolf (German-French Corps).

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s cyber ambassador, first minister for digital affairs and winner of the alternative Nobel Prize, the Right Livelihood Award, and Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko of the Ukrainian Army will speak about the connection between freedom and technology, media and artificial intelligence. Other guests include Ahmad Ahmadian (President of Holistic Resilience) and Hannah Neumann (Member of the European Parliament).

The significance of art for freedom is discussed by Chinese exile artist Badiucao and American journalist and author Melissa Chan. 

A stage for 5-minute ideas: courage meets practice

Another special feature of the Berlin Freedom Conference programme is the “Ignite Talks” format: on stage, personalities from various fields present their “Freedom Ideas” – new perspectives, initiatives and practical solutions – in five-minute, concise short presentations. The format underlines the conference’s claim to not only discuss freedom, but to actively shape it.

Berlin as a stage for freedom 

The Berlin Freedom Conference is part of Berlin Freedom Week, which begins on 8 November and features more than 130 events at over 80 locations throughout the city, bringing freedom to life in both the past and the present. The initiative stems from the World Liberty Congress, whose two-day general assembly will take place on 8 and 9 November in Berlin’s House of Representatives. Around 200 dissidents and democracy activists from over 50 autocratically ruled countries will gather there. In doing so, the city is sending a strong signal to the world: those who are oppressed and persecuted elsewhere will find a parliament in Berlin.

Initiators, media partners and sponsors

The patron of the Berlin Freedom Conference is Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner. The Berlin Freedom Conference is a joint initiative of visitBerlin, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and the World Liberty Congress, the largest global democracy alliance with more than 200 dissidents from over 50 autocratically ruled countries around the world. 

The Berlin Freedom Conference is sponsored by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin, with Airbnb and Berliner Sparkasse as sponsoring partners. The media partners are Die Zeit, Politico, radio3, Tagesspiegel, Wall GmbH and Welt. Details and the programme can be found at berlin-freedom-conference.com and berlin-freedom-week.com; Instagram: @berlinfreedomconference and @berlinfreedomweek.

Berlin Freedom Conference
The Berlin Freedom Conference will take place for the first time on 10 November 2025 at the Gasometer Schöneberg. It will bring together leading voices from politics, business, civil society, culture, and the media to launch new democratic alliances and powerfully advance the global commitment to freedom and democracy. More information and tickets at berlin-freedom-conference.com.

Berlin Freedom Week

Berlin Freedom Week (8–15 November 2025) is a new event week that focuses on the idea of freedom. With a diverse programme of conferences, art, culture and public dialogue, it aims to inspire Berliners and international guests and promote exchange on the importance of democratic values in today’s world. berlin-freedom-week.com and visitBerlin.de/de/berlin-freedom-week

World Liberty Congress

The World Liberty Congress is the largest global democracy alliance, with more than 200 dissidents from more than 50 autocratically ruled countries around the world. It will take place on 8 and 9 November in the Berlin House of Representatives. Its goal is to support the fight for freedom in autocratic regimes, promote international solidarity and develop a common strategy for the advancement of democracy. worldlibertycongress.org 

Axel Springer Freedom Foundation

The Axel Springer Freedom Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports human rights defenders from countries where freedom is restricted. Defending freedom and democracy and showing solidarity with those who live and suffer under authoritarian rule were always guiding principles for our company founder Axel Springer, and the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation is continuing his legacy with renewed determination. Supported by a strong advisory board of experienced human rights defenders, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation organises events, installations and publications. It also collects donations to directly support the work of dissidents and their organisations. freedom.axelspringer.com 

visitBerlin
“Inspiring the world for Berlin.” With this mission, Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH promotes Berlin’s destination management as well as the city’s tourism and congress marketing. Under the visitBerlin brand, the company is a partner, actor, source of creative ideas, and networker. Its remit is focused on sustainable product development and marketing city-compatible tourism services in all twelve Berlin boroughs with the aim of maintaining the life quality of local residents and harmoniously increasing experience value for visitors. As a tour operator, visitBerlin also issues the Berlin WelcomeCard, the city’s official tourist ticket. The company also operates the Berlin Tourist Info Centres and the Berlin Service Center advice line on +49-30-25 00 25. On visitBerlin.de, Berlin’s official tourism website, visitors can find all the information they need on every aspect of their trip to the city. Find out more about visitBerlin on about.visitBerlin.de