Tag Archives: Governor Kathy Hochul

Anti-Trump Activism, Climate Action, Climate Change, Energy, Governor Kathy Hochul, News & Photo Features

Governors Demand Immediate Lifting of Stop Work Orders for Offshore Wind Projects

Long Islanders have been campaigning, crusading and protesting for decades to win offshore windpower and end dependency on climate-killing fossil fuels. Now that the projects are well underway – nearing completion – with millions of dollars invested, the trump administration is arbitrarily but viciously attempting to cancel the projects and bolster Big Oil © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Blasts Rationale Given by Trump Administration and Demands Classified Briefing To Review Purported Threats

Governors Scoff at Claim Offshore Wind Farms Interfere with Radar Systems Given Years of Reviews

Governors Warn Federal Action Will Harm Economy and U.S. Energy Independence Efforts

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Rhode Island Governor Dan Mckee today sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding the immediate lifting of stop work orders placed Monday on five offshore wind projects under construction, including Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind in New York.

The Governors in the letter also demand a classified briefing to review the unexplained national security threats used to place the stop work orders.

The letter notes that the targeted projects were approved after undergoing substantial federal reviews and processes, including by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Governors in the letter blast the national security claims and supposed concerns about the impacts offshore wind farms have on radar as pretexts that contradict years of reviews and established practices. They also charge that the Trump Administration is only using the rationale as a “pretexual excuse to justify a predetermined outcome consistent with the President’s frequently stated personal opposition to offshore wind.”

The letter also warns Burgum that by blocking “gigawatts of domestic clean energy, you are effectively throttling the U.S. economy and handing a strategic advantage to foreign rivals who are building power generation as fast as they can. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report — ironically, also released in November — found that in 2024 alone, China added new capacity equivalent to one-third of the entire United States’ power grid, while the U.S. struggles to meet rising energy demands.”

“With this irrational and erratic action, you are not solving a national security crisis; you are creating both a national security and economic disaster. By obstructing domestic power generation, you are inviting grid failure, surrendering the industries of the future, and threatening the economy and national security.”

The paused Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind projects in New York combined threaten more than 2,600 good-paying union jobs. The two projects combined will also generate nearly more than 1,700 megawatts of power, roughly 10 percent of New York City’s electricity needs, meeting the growing demand for energy.

Here is the text of the full letter:

December 24, 2025

The Honorable Doug Burgum,

Secretary

U.S. Department of Interior

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Burgum:

The undersigned States are in receipt of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (“BOEM”) Orders dated December 2025, purporting to suspend all ongoing activities related to offshore wind project development along our coastlines based on newly asserted “national security concerns” from a so-called “Department of War” assessment.

The States take national security seriously. These projects have already been subject to extensive federal review, including an assessment that expressly addressed national security considerations. Neither the Department of the Interior, BOEM, nor any other federal agency, including the Department of Defense (“DoD”), informed our respective States of any purportedly new risk prior to these suspensions nor did they account for our States’ substantial reliance interests— our States’ economies is dependent on the power that these projects will generate— in these vital projects that already have undergone many federal approvals, including from the DoD. The absence of such notice undermines our ability to plan effectively and violates basic principles of cooperative federalism. The sudden emergence of a new “national security threat” appears to be less a legitimate, rational finding of fact and more a pretextual excuse to justify a predetermined outcome consistent with the President’s frequently stated personal opposition to offshore wind.

We reject this transparent pretext and demand the immediate rescission of these suspensions for the following three reasons:

1. True National Security is Energy Security.

With this irrational and erratic action, you are not solving a national security crisis; you are creating both a national security and economic disaster. By obstructing domestic power generation, you are inviting grid failure, surrendering the industries of the future, and threatening the economy and national security.

The United States is currently in a race for the industries of the future, including onshoring advanced manufacturing, improving the defense industrial base, and maintaining U.S. technology and energy dominance. All consume massive amounts of power. You cannot run a 21st-century economy on a 20th-century grid. By blocking gigawatts of domestic clean energy, you are effectively throttling the U.S. economy and handing a strategic advantage to foreign rivals who are building power generation as fast as they can. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 Annual Report – ironically, also released in November – found that in 2024 alone, China added new capacity equivalent to one-third of the entire United States’ power grid, while the U.S. struggles to meet rising energy demands.

The Orders directly contradict the President’s purported “Energy Independence” goals. By blocking gigawatts of domestic power generation and killing thousands of jobs, you are forcing reliance on foreign energy markets and volatile supply chains. You cannot claim to be building an energy independent nation while actively dismantling its capacity to generate power.

Independent experts and State officials have documented that our region faces reliability challenges and potential future blackouts without this capacity. A grid that is overly reliant on fossil fuels is a soft target and has higher costs that our residents will be forced to carry. Offshore energy is already providing needed electricity at lower prices to our grid. You cannot claim to protect our nation while knowingly turning off the lights; in effect, these Orders heighten reliability concerns across the East Coast and increase the likelihood of rolling blackouts and will place additional financial burdens on ratepayers.

2. “Classified” Pretexts Contradict Science and Years of Public Vetting.

Administrative actions, such as those you have taken here, cannot be based on undisclosed, secret rationales – especially not when thousands of jobs and vital energy projects are at stake. Yet your letter obliquely alludes to undisclosed “new classified information” regarding “adversary technologies” as the reason for this sudden reversal. We demand an immediate classified briefing for our cleared personnel to review this supposed evidence and all information related to this purported rationale.

It strains credulity to believe that vital, substantial projects that underwent many federal reviews and processes, including by the DoD, all of a sudden present new, existential, unforeseen threats. Erratic, unpredictable, irrational actions like these are no way to govern, let alone plan for power generation capacity decades into the future.

Therefore, in this briefing, we formally request the following specific disclosures:

  • A clear description of the specific national security risks BOEM and the DoD determined in the purported November 2025 “additional assessment”;
    • All information, or a summary thereof, of the information related to those risks;
    • Identification of the particular project components, if any, alleged to give rise to those risks;
    • An articulation of how the “assessment” applies to these projects in light of previous extensive reviews;
    • An explanation of why these risks were not communicated to New York immediately upon their purported “discovery” in November.

You cite a 2024 Department of Energy report to claim that radar mitigation causes “missed targets.” That same report, Mitigating Wind Turbine Radar Interference, concludes that “replacement radar and infill radar solutions enhance degraded radar performance … Infills show less clutter and result in better performance … [and] can serve as a viable mitigation solution.” If “clutter” were a genuine threat, it might also apply to the thousands of oil rigs and other seaborne infrastructure in our coastal waters.

As the report itself notes, for conventional radar, the curvature of the Earth creates a physical radar horizon. You are citing “clutter” from objects that most land-based radars cannot even see because the Earth is round. For long-range over-the-horizon radar systems, the argument is equally flawed, as the report also points out. These systems utilize signal processing algorithms and other techniques to mitigate radar interference. In fact, the current Federal Interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation Strategy explicitly calls for “removing radar interference as an impediment to future wind energy development … while preserving U.S. airways, national security, the lives and property of citizens, and sensitive radar systems”.

The Federal Government, including the DoD, reviewed all information for the offshore wind projects years ago. The military had the opportunity to raise concerns and object. They did not, and further certified there was no threat to national security. To claim a threat exists now, after billions of dollars have been invested in these projects and reviews fully completed, is the height of irrationality.

3. You are Disguising Your Delay.

On December 8, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the federal government’s attempt to arbitrarily halt new offshore wind development. The court explicitly ruled that federal agencies cannot “decline to adjudicate applications altogether… pending the completion of a wide-ranging assessment”.

Your recent Orders are instituting an indefinite delay disguised as a “national security review”. Re-branding the paperwork under the “Department of War” does not cure this defect; it serves only as evidence of pretextual bad faith.

This is a moment for leadership, not obstruction. True national and economic security cannot be achieved by hollowing out our industrial base or leaving our power grid vulnerable to collapse. It requires the courage to build.

We urge you to look beyond bureaucratic games and recognize the real battle being waged: the global race for energy independence, economic dominance, and national security preeminence. Do not be the administration that handed the future to our adversaries by turning off the power at home.

Rescind these suspensions immediately. Let us get back to the work of powering this great nation.

Sincerely,

Kathy Hochul                                                                        

Governor of New York

Maura Healey           

Governor of Massachusetts

Ned Lamont

Governor of Connecticut

Dan McKee

Governor of Rhode Island

cc:

The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense

The Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary, U.S. Department of State, Acting National Security Advisor

Mr. Alex Meyer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

View a Copy of the Letter Here

See also: GOVERNORS FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP’S LATEST ATTACK ON OFFSHORE WIND

Anti-Trump Activism, Climate Action, Climate Change, Donald Trump, Energy, Environment, Environmental Protection, News & Photo Features

Governors Fight Back Against Trump’s Latest Attack on Offshore Wind

Protesting for Climate Action in New York City, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The Trump administration’s latest attack on clean energy, climate action and energy independence in order to bolster the fossil fuel industry, prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee to issue a joint statement decrying the action (which was already overturned in federal court), and promising to continue to fight the action in court. In addition, Governor Hochul published an op-ed in the Empire Report. These are projects that have been years in development, have gone through all the regulatory and environmental reviews, and have been well underway, nearing completion and would supply millions of households with lower cost energy while addressing the crisis in reducing carbon emissions contributing to climate change, climate disasters and sealevel rise. The relationship between the dependence on oil, wars and imperialism is heightened as Trump with one hand overturns clean energy initiatives and carbon emission standards, while he takes over Venezuelan oil tankers threatens an invasion of Venezuela to take over its oil resources.  

Here are their statements: — Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Governors Issue Joint Statement on Offshore Wind

“The Trump administration’s announcement yesterday pausing offshore wind leases is its latest egregious attack on clean energy and it lands like a lump of dirty coal for the holiday season for American workers, consumers, and investors. Pausing active leases, especially for completed and nearly completed projects, defies logic, will hurt our bid for energy independence, will drive up costs for America ratepayers, and will make us lose thousands of good-paying jobs. It also threatens grid reliability that is needed to keep the lights on.

“Atlantic states are working hard to build more energy to meet rising demand and lower costs. Already, these projects have created thousands of jobs and injected billions in economic activity into our communities.

“This baseless, reckless and erratic action from the Department of Interior will also inject further uncertainty into the markets, making it harder for states and private companies to secure financing for public works projects if investors know they can be stopped at any time despite having gone through all the necessary local and federal approval processes.

“A federal judge earlier this month ruled the Trump administration cannot simply halt federal approvals of offshore wind permits arbitrarily. We are committed as governors to again fight back to ensure these projects move forward and provide power, jobs, and grid reliability to our communities.”

Governor Kathy Hochul: ‘Killing Jobs Won’t Power America;

Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul responding to President Trump’s suspension of offshore wind projects. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:

Right in the midst of the holiday season, we learned that President Trump is once again pulling the rug out from under New York workers. Without warning, his administration shut down Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, along with offshore wind projects in other states. In one reckless move, he put thousands of good-paying jobs and New York’s energy future at risk.

Imagine working hard all year, only to find out  that your job is suddenly gone. That is reality for nearly 2,000 New Yorkers who woke up yesterday wondering if they will still have a paycheck. People who did everything right, worked hard, and showed up every day, are now being told their livelihoods do not matter. Not because these projects failed. Not because the permits were flawed. But because the President decided to pull the plug.

The jobs building these wind farms aren’t just good union jobs that keep families afloat — they are also jobs that will create clean energy and keep energy costs down. Just a few months ago, the New York State Independent System Operator warned that unless New York starts generating more power quickly, we could face blackouts as soon as this summer.

That is why New York is aggressively pursuing an all-of-the-above energy approach. We build. We plan. We use every tool available–solar, wind, nuclear, and gas–because keeping the lights on and costs down is not optional.

Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind are central to that effort. Together, these projects are expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 10 percent of New York City. They strengthen reliability at a time of growing demand. They reduce pressure on energy prices for families already stretched thin. And they anchor a robust offshore wind supply chain, from ports and manufacturers to electricians, ironworkers, and longshoremen who depend on these projects to keep working.

President Trump’s vendetta against wind projects is obsessive and baffling. It is also not new. When President Trump issued a stop work order on Empire Wind 1 earlier this year, I convinced him to lift it. Alongside the Attorney General, I went to court to ensure he could not arbitrarily deny new offshore wind permits. Just as canceling Empire Wind 1 was unacceptable months ago, this new stoppage is unacceptable now.

The President is now hiding behind claims of national security, arguing that projects approved by the Department of Defense and fully permitted at the federal and state level, are suddenly a threat. New Yorkers know the truth. The real threat is not a carefully designed offshore wind project. It is a President undermining America’s ability to produce its own energy.

Mr. President, you and I agree: Energy independence matters. So let us build.

I have saved wind power in New York before. And now, in partnership with the other impacted states, I will do it again. This will not be the year that hardworking New Yorkers lose their paychecks during the holidays because their President turned his back on them. This will be the year that New Yorkers have the jobs they need and the power their economy requires, at a cost they can afford, because I will never stop fighting for New Yorkers.

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).

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.

Governor Kathy Hochul, home ownership, Housing

NYS Governor Hochul Launches $215 Million Housing Acceleration Fund to Build Up to 1,800 New Homes Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the Housing Acceleration Fund, a $215 million first-of-its kind program to speed up construction of shovel-ready mixed-income residential projects across New York State. The program, part of Hochul’s commitment to attack the housing crisis,  is expected to generate $1 billion in housing investment and  incentivize construction of 1,800 new homes statewide © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the Housing Acceleration Fund, a $215 million first-of-its kind program to speed up construction of shovel-ready mixed-income residential projects across New York State. One of the Governor’s key housing proposals from her 2025 State of the State, the Housing Acceleration Fund is part of her all-of-the-above approach to increasing housing supply to address acute housing needs, and accommodate job growth statewide. Too often, communities do not have tools to create mixed income rental housing, leaving many developments permit-ready, but unable to secure financing. New York’s Housing Acceleration Fund will help address this vital need and spur the development of new housing statewide. The fund is catalyzed by the Governor’s $100 million investment secured in the FY26 Enacted Budget and matched with $115 million from awarded participating lenders.

“To combat the housing crisis in New York, we’re leaving no stone unturned,” Governor Hochul said. “This new, innovative loan program is a powerful new tool to help jumpstart the construction of mixed-income housing in communities across the state. These new resources are just one more way for us to help build more housing opportunities for our families, seniors and young adults.”

The Housing Acceleration Fund awards announced today are expected to result in approximately 1,800 new homes statewide. The awardees are:

  • Community Preservation Corporation: $45.5 million
    • Merchants Bank: $42 million
    • Enterprise Community Partners: $7.5 million
    • Local Initiatives Support Corporation: $5 million

Half of the State’s $100 million investment is appropriated for projects within New York City and half is allocated to projects throughout the rest of the state. Awardees will provide $115 million in additional capital, bringing the total amount of funding for projects within New York City to $100 million and the amount for projects throughout the rest of the state to $115 million.

The Housing Acceleration Fund, administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), will provide low-cost, construction loans to fill financing gaps in the construction of mixed-income housing developments. The Fund is designed to utilize public capital to leverage private capital investment in mixed-income multifamily rental production. The Fund is estimated to generate upwards of $1 billion in new housing investment throughout New York State.

The revolving loan fund model complements other HCR programs to enhance housing production and will speed up production of new rental housing beyond reliance upon limited resources dedicated to the creation of 100 percent affordable housing such as tax-exempt bonds and low-income housing tax credits. The program is designed to self-sustain over time through loan repayments once projects convert to permanent financing once the project is complete. To learn more about the New York State Housing Acceleration Fund program, visit the HCR website.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “By partnering with these four lending institutions, we are injecting more than $200 million towards the creation of 1,800 new apartments for residents across the state. Other states have shown this innovative, self-sustaining loan model can fill funding gaps that may be the difference between new housing being built or never getting off the ground, and we’re thrilled to bring this important tool to New York. We once again applaud Governor Hochul for her efforts to boost the supply of housing across the state, and we thank our partners for sharing our commitment to creating affordable, modern housing in all our communities.”

“I applaud Governor Hochul and Commissioner Visnauskas for continuing to advance an ambitious housing agenda that puts the needs of New York’s communities at the forefront,” The Community Preservation Corporation CEO Rafael E. Cestero said. “At a time when cities large and small are facing challenges of housing affordability and supply, this Administration has given us a tool that drives critical investment in housing and will speed the development of new projects across the state. My thanks to the Governor and her team at HCR for their continued partnership. We stand ready to put this funding to work alongside our capital to get shovels in the ground and provide new housing opportunities to all New Yorkers.”

Merchants Capital Vice Chairman of Agency Lending Mathew Wambua said,“Merchants Capital is honored to be selected to participate in the HCR Housing Acceleration Fund Program and thrilled to deepen our partnership with HCR and our clients in this important initiative. This program represents a powerful opportunity to accelerate the development of shovel-ready affordable housing projects across New York City and New York State. By leveraging these low-cost loans, we can help bring much-needed housing to communities throughout the region—ensuring more New Yorkers have access to safe, stable and affordable homes.”

“Enterprise Community Partners is honored to partner with New York State’s Homes and Community Renewal through its Housing Acceleration Fund.,” Enterprise’s Capital Division President Lori Chatman said. “This innovative program reflects our shared vision of making home and community places of pride, power, and belonging. By combining public resources with mission-driven capital, we can move shovel-ready, mixed-income housing projects forward faster — closing critical financing gaps and delivering the affordable homes New Yorkers urgently need.”

LISC NY Senior Executive Director Valerie White said, “We thank Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Homes and Community Renewal for their leadership and partnership in creating the Housing Acceleration Fund and moving swiftly to bring it to fruition. LISC NY is proud to work with the State to deliver critical resources that help communities develop mixed-income housing and move more projects from vision to reality. This $5 million investment from HCR, alongside LISC NY’s own $25 million commitment, will empower affordable housing developers to overcome predevelopment barriers, strengthen housing pipelines, and deliver the quality, affordable homes New Yorkers urgently need.”

State Senator Rachel May said, “The Housing Acceleration Fund is a smart, targeted investment in New York’s future. Communities across the state want to build more housing, but too often good projects are held back by gaps in financing. This program helps get good projects off the ground, including mixed-income housing that supports the workforce and strengthens neighborhoods. In Syracuse and across Central New York, the need for new, affordable, and energy-efficient housing is especially acute, and the State’s investment will help meet that demand while creating more vibrant, inclusive communities.”

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “The Housing Acceleration Fund is a welcome tool to help ease the housing crisis facing New York State. Communities around the state are grappling with rising construction costs and would welcome new rental housing, but lack the financing to get the job done. With Governor Hochul’s welcome announcement of a $215 million investment from the state, we can jumpstart construction on these projects and continue our work toward ensuring that every New Yorker has a safe, affordable place to call home.”

Assemblymember Micah Lasher said, “It is outstanding that Governor Hochul and HCR are announcing a major public revolving loan fund for affordable housing. I was proud to introduce legislation at the beginning of the year with Senator May to create this kind of fund, and Governor Hochul and her team have done it even bigger and better. By leveraging public dollars to unlock private investment, this fund will create thousands of new homes and generate over a billion dollars in housing development across the State. When we think creatively to solve our housing crisis, we can deliver real results for New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY26 Enacted Budget includes more than $1.5 billion in new State funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. These measures complement the Governor’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, included in the FY23 Enacted Budget, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 68,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

The FY25 and FY26 Enacted Budgets also strengthened the Governor’s Pro-Housing Community Program — which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. Currently, more than 370 communities have received Pro-Housing certification.

Governor Kathy Hochul

NYS Governor Hochul Steps in to Protect Critical Healthcare Provided by Planned Parenthood, Emergency Food Relief in Face of Federal Cuts

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State will protect access to reproductive health care services despite Washington Republicans’ targeted attacks against Planned Parenthood health centers and the services they provide, as well as provide funding to local food banks with the cuts to SNAP © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State will protect access to reproductive health care services despite Washington Republicans’ targeted attacks against Planned Parenthood health centers and the services they provide. Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans voted to end Medicaid patients’ ability to seek care at Planned Parenthood, threatening Planned Parenthood’s ability to operate in New York and compromising New Yorkers’ access to health care services, including contraception, abortion, STI and HIV prevention, prenatal and menopausal care, mental health services, and preventive care like wellness visits and cancer screenings.

”Washington Republicans have shown time and again that they’ll stop at nothing to undermine women’s health care and restrict access to reproductive rights,” Governor Hochul said.“In the face of Congressional Republicans voting to defund Planned Parenthood, I’ve directed the state to fund these vital services, protecting access to health care that thousands of New Yorkers rely on. I will always stand up for reproductive rights and the health care that New Yorkers deserve.”

Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services in New York State via five affiliate organizations, including Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. This network of affiliates currently operates 47 health centers that serve over 200,000 patients each year. This includes 100,000 Medicaid patients, totaling over $35 million in annual Gross Medicaid revenue.

Over 60 percent of Planned Parenthood health centers are in rural or medically underserved areas, and these centers are often the only option available to New Yorkers living in these rural areas. They are a critical source of affordable health care to Medicaid and non-Medicaid recipients.

What Washington Republicans Voted To Do:

  • H.R. 1, enacted into law on July 4, includes a one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid funding for organizations that provide abortions and that received $800,000 or more in federal Medicaid funds in 2023.
    • H.R. 1 classified these organizations as “prohibited entities.” Planned Parenthood’s five affiliates in New York are the only providers in the state that meet the definition of a “prohibited entity.”
    • Prior to the passage of H.R. 1, Medicaid claims submitted by Planned Parenthood were reimbursed with a combination of federal and State dollars, though no federal dollars are used to reimburse abortion services.
    • Now that they are deemed a “prohibited entity” under H.R. 1, Planned Parenthood is no longer eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for any of the services they provide.

Governor Hochul is protecting access to reproductive health care for all New Yorkers by allocating state funds to cover lost federal funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates in New York.

Governor Hochul continues to reaffirm her commitment to keeping reproductive resources safe and accessible in New York State. The Governor has made historic investments to expand reproductive freedom for New Yorkers, including increasing funding for abortion care providers, signing legislation to protect New York doctors and securing $25 million annually to fund abortion health care services through the New York State Abortion Access Program.

Additional guidance for providers can be found here on the Department of Health website on the “Medicaid Guidance to New York State Planned Parenthood Providers and Payors” page.

Hochul Sends $11 Million to Support Local Emergency Food Relief

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $11 million to support emergency food relief for New Yorkers in need. More than $5 million in Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants were awarded to nearly 100 not-for-profit organizations, including food pantries, soup kitchens, and other programs dedicated to assisting New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity across the state. In addition, more than $6 million will support a renewed partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks by funding critical staffing and essential operations at food banks and their local partners statewide. This action comes at a time when the Trump Administration refuses to ensure the nearly 3 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP will have access to their benefits next month.

 “While the Trump administration continues to starve federal food assistance programs of funding, New York State is investing directly in local organizations that feed New Yorkers who are struggling with skyrocketing food prices,” Governor Hochul said. “With more than three million New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity, including more than 750,000 children under the age of 18, we are making investments in community-based food relief organizations to fight hunger and complement our wide-ranging affordability efforts.”

 A total of 97 Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants, ranging from $1,200 to $100,000, will help organizations purchase emergency generators and equipment used for cooling and transporting donated food, and expand the quantity and type of food emergency food relief organizations can provide to New Yorkers in need. The grant program is administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as part of an ongoing commitment to properly manage wasted food, prevent food from needlessly being thrown away, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, feed hungry New Yorkers and engage with communities across the state.

With funding provided by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), DEC has awarded millions to 145 emergency food relief organizations since the program was first created in 2018 to assist with the purchase of equipment used for the cooling and transportation of donated food to New Yorkers in need.

DEC is also renewing its nation-leading partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks as part of the ongoing implementation of the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law. DEC is providing more than $6 million to Feeding New York State to support the ongoing deployment of staff to grocery stores, supercenters, restaurants and other food service and food retail businesses to enhance donation activities. Funding will also be used to purchase essential equipment and supplies that support food recovery efforts at food banks and their local partners and hire additional staff at food banks. It will also enhance the Venison Donation program that supports additional processing of high-quality venison. DEC has provided $10.8 million to Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks through the EPF since 2018.

Governor Hochul today penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to take immediate action to ensure SNAP recipients receive their November benefits. As the shutdown continues, come November 1, millions of New Yorkers will lose access to the nutrition assistance they need to feed themselves and their households — and our economy will be hurt as businesses throughout the food supply chain, including farmers and small businesses, feel the residual effects. Governor Hochul is calling on Secretary Rollins to use her power to fund SNAP and prevent a public health crisis.

“As the GOP government shutdown continues, thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits come November 1,” Governor Hochul said. “I am calling on the Trump administration to guarantee these essential funds so that New Yorkers can continue to put food on the table, and I urge Washington Republicans — including the seven from New York — to actually stand up for their constituents, come to the negotiating table and end this uncertainty and chaos.”

The Governor’s letter comes as SNAP access has already been attacked by the Big Ugly bill, which is anticipated to strip over 300,000 New York households of their SNAP benefits.

Governor Kathy Hochul, Health Care, News & Photo Features, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, Obamacare

Hochul Slams Washington Republicans for Spiking Healthcare Costs for New Yorkers

Costs Rise nearly 40% for 140,000 New Yorkers

Impacted New Yorkers Are Now Receiving Notices About Rising Premiums

Skyrocketing Costs for New Yorkers Who Rely on Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

Average Annual Increase of Nearly $1,400 for Individuals and $3,000 for Couples

Governor Kathy Hochul at Northwell Health, Long Island. The governor slammed Washington Republicans for sending health care costs skyrocketing for 140,000 New Yorkers. © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul today slammed Washington Republicans for sending health care costs skyrocketing for 140,000 New Yorkers. As the GOP refuses to extend the existing enhanced premium tax credits, New Yorkers who rely on the ACA subsidies for affordable, quality coverage are now being notified that their health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 38 percent next year – an average annual increase of nearly $1,400 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. This news comes as New Yorkers are preparing for open enrollment, set to begin November 1.

“Republicans in Washington have made it clear – they don’t care about New Yorkers’ health care,” Governor Hochul said. “It’s shameful. By refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, they are turning their backs on their constituents and ripping away access to affordable, quality health care. Republicans in Congress need to do the right thing and extend these credits that make health insurance for New Yorkers more affordable.”

Given the magnitude of federal funding reductions enacted under H.R.1, which are now compounded by the GOP shutdown and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, no single state, including New York, will be able to provide funding to offset these losses.

The Governor is calling for Congressional Republicans to make the right choice and extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits that help make insurance more affordable for New Yorkers.

Regional Breakdown of Increased Monthly Health Care Costs:

RegionAverage Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple ($)Average Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple (%)
New York City$21138%
Mid-Hudson$20631%
Long Island$21932%
Capital Region$23133%
Western New York$26738%
Central New York$25643%
Finger Lakes$24842%
Mohawk Valley$27049%
Southern Tier$26548%
North Country$25344%
Statewide$22838%

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said,“I thank Governor Hochul for standing up for New Yorkers who rely on the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to keep their health care costs affordable. These are hardworking everyday people who deserve affordable health insurance. The start of the open enrollment period is fast approaching and without immediate action at the federal level, the threat of increased premiums is quickly becoming a reality. Allowing these enhanced premium tax credits to expire will be devastating for hardworking New Yorkers who will be forced to choose between paying for food, rent or paying for the health care they need to survive.”