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  • NYC’s ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Overhaul Drives Jump in Housing Permits, Adams Says

    NYC’s ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Overhaul Drives Jump in Housing Permits, Adams Says

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams is marking the first anniversary of his “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning overhaul by touting a 22.8% rise in permitted housing units in 2025 compared with the year before the policy was approved, as well as a growing pipeline of affordable units and office-to-residential conversions. The package, billed as the most pro-housing legislation in city history, relaxes parking mandates, legalizes accessory dwelling units, creates new high-density districts and offers an affordability bonus that has attracted more than 100 projects expected to yield some 5,400 homes, including roughly 900 income-restricted units. New R11 and R12 zones in Midtown South and other locations could add nearly 11,000 homes, while conversions of underused office buildings are projected to produce more than 12,000 apartments, 3,000 of them permanently affordable. Combined with five neighborhood rezonings slated to deliver about 50,000 homes and what City Hall describes as record production of nearly 86,000 affordable units since Adams took office, the administration is seeking to cement its legacy as aggressively pro-development amid a long-running housing shortage.

    NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today celebrated one year since the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing legislation in the city’s history. In the first year since its passage, tools from City of Yes are already creating new housing across the five boroughs while housing permits have seen a significant year-to-year increase. In addition to proposing and passing City of Yes, the Adams administration has also passed five ambitious neighborhood plans; produced historic amounts of affordable housing; secured a landmark deal in Albany to give the city new tools to build housing; convened a historic Charter Revision Commission focused on land-use and housing; and much more to build more affordable housing across the five boroughs.

    “One year ago today, our city said ‘yes’ to more housing and a more affordable future for working-class New Yorkers. We turned the page on decades of half-measures and proved that government can still meet the challenges of our time with energy, ambition, and resolve,” said Mayor Adams. “One year later, we are already seeing the results, with thousands of new affordable homes in the pipeline across our city. Whether it’s passing the first citywide rezoning in six decades, investing historic amounts of money into new homes, or creating record amounts of affordable housing, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.

    “With the adoption of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we have begun to turn the tide on the housing crisis in New York City. The full impact of these changes will take time to be felt, but twelve months in, we’re already seeing success delivering a little more housing in every neighborhood,” said DCP Director Garodnick. “New York City’s housing crisis has been growing for so long that it is easy to take it for granted. But with City of Yes and other policy changes, we are changing course and creating a more affordable city for generations to come.”

    The initiative — which was approved by the New York City Council on December 5, 2024 — aims to deliver “a little more housing in every neighborhood” through carefully-crafted zoning changes, including creating a new affordable housing bonus; legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADU) for homeowners; re-legalizing three-, four-, or five-story apartment buildings near transit and along commercial corridors; reducing costly parking mandates for new construction; and allowing underused office buildings to become housing; among other reforms.

    Already, many of these new tools are being used to create new housing across the city:

    Universal Affordability Preference: Over 100 housing developments across the five boroughs have already applied to use the Universal Affordability Preference, which allows buildings in medium- and high-density parts of the city to add at least 20 percent more housing if the additional homes are permanently affordable. These projects are expected to deliver 5,400 new homes, of which approximately 900 would be affordable to households at an average 60 percent Area Median Income.

    High-density zoning districts: New, higher-density R11 and R12 zoning districts created through City of Yes have been mapped in Mayor Adams’ Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan that the City Council approved in August, where they will deliver 9,500 new homes, including 2,800 permanently income-restricted affordable homes. These new zoning districts are also being proposed at the site of the future 125th Street Second Avenue Subway station and at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension in Downtown Brooklyn, which are currently in public review, where they could deliver another 1,800 new homes.

    Reduced parking mandates: Rolled-back requirements for off-street parking are also helping to deliver more housing near transit. For example:

    • At 2060 Walton Avenue in the Bronx, an underused lot close to the 4, B, and D trains is being transformed into 94 new homes — without the 25 parking spots that had previously been required, a change that meaningfully lowers building costs.
    • At 21 Freeman Street in Brooklyn, a vacant lot close to the G train is set to become over 500 new homes without the 140 parking spaces that would have been required prior to City of Yes.

    Meanwhile, as envisioned, new housing in less transit-accessible areas continues to include parking.

    Office-to-residential conversions: Together with the 467-M tax incentive — which the Adams administration successfully advocated for in Albany — City of Yes has supported a boom of office-to-residential conversion projects. There are more than 12,000 homes in the pipeline from office conversions, including more than 3,000 permanently affordable units.

    Landmark Transferable Development Rights: In the last year, five landmarked buildings have begun seeking approval to transfer their development rights to nearby housing projects through a process that was streamlined and expanded by City of Yes. These transfers will enable over 400,000 square feet of new development, while bringing in additional revenue to support maintenance of landmarked buildings. Those five applications in less than one year compare to a total of 15 applications over more than 50 years before City of Yes.

    Accessory Dwelling Units: So far this year, the New York City Department of Buildings has received 98 filings from homeowners in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, seeking to construct ADUs on their properties. Half of these filings have come in just the past two months, since the city finalized rules for safe, code-compliant ADUs and launched the “ADU for You” homeowner assistance program. ADUs like backyard cottages, garage conversions, and basement apartments are a proven tool to support homeowners and expand housing choice in lower-density areas without a changing neighborhood’s look-and-feel.

    As these City of Yes tools are deployed, new data shows that New York City permitted 22.8 percent more new homes in 2025 than the same time period in 2024 (through October 23), when the Adams administration was already shattering several housing records for the second year in a row. This permitting increase includes a boom in homes from alterations — more than double the number of permitted units from 2024, many of which are from office conversions — and an increase in units from new construction over the previous year.

    The Adams administration has continued working to deliver the full benefits of City of Yes, including successfully defending the policy in court, where a judge recently dismissed a challenge. HPD also recently released the Shared Housing Roadmap, which — building on the City of Yes zoning reforms and in concert with new legislation — clears the way for reintroducing shared homes as a safe, affordable housing option for single New Yorkers.

    The success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is a part of the Adams administration’s work as the most pro-housing administration in city history. In addition to City of Yes, the administration also put forward five neighborhood plans — all of which have been approved by the City Council — that will deliver nearly 50,000 new homes to New Yorkers: the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan in Brooklyn, the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan in Manhattan, and the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan and the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan in Queens.

    Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the Adams administration created the most affordable rental units in city history and celebrated back-to-back-to-back record-breaking years for producing permanently-affordable homes for formerly-homeless New Yorkers, placing homeless New Yorkers into housing, and connecting New Yorkers to housing through the city’s housing lottery. HPD has now produced nearly 86,000 affordable homes since the start of the Adams administration, with the last three fiscal years representing the most new affordable homes ever created in a three fiscal-year stretch (FY 2023 to FY 2025).

    Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his “City of Yes for Families” strategy in his State of the City address earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

    Further, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24-million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.

    “A mayoral administration rarely advances a policy that can fundamentally change the future health of a city for generations to come. The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, coupled with the City Council led “City For All” initiative, is such a policy,” said Marc Greenberg, executive director, Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing. “With City of Yes, the Adams administration has changed the momentum of a city that has been losing ground on affordable housing for decades and has begun again to lift Lady Liberty’s Lamp beside New York City’s golden door.”

    “One year after the passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the results speak for themselves. Across all five boroughs, thousands of new homes are being constructed thanks to modernized zoning that promotes transit-oriented development, the elimination of outdated parking mandates, new tools like the Universal Affordability Preference, expanded opportunities for office-to-residential conversions, and more,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., president and CEO, New York Building Congress. “Among the most significant wins are more than 12,000 homes, including 3,000 permanently affordable units, already in the pipeline from office-to-residential conversions, breathing new life into underused buildings and neighborhoods. This is the smart, forward-thinking development New York has needed for decades, and it’s exactly why the Building Congress worked so closely with the Adams administration to get it across the finish line.”

    “City of Yes is already proving to be a major step toward achievement of our housing goals,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “This carefully crafted initiative is encouraging development that is consistent with neighborhood standards by lowering costs and accelerating or eliminating the need for multiple public approvals.”

    “As we mark one year since the launch of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re already seeing real progress on housing growth in New York City,” said Rachel Fee, executive director, New York Housing Conference. “Housing continues to be one of New Yorkers’ most urgent needs, and City of Yes shows what a common-sense approach can deliver. By modernizing outdated rules and unlocking new housing in every community, City of Yes is giving New Yorkers the tools to spur affordable housing production. This initiative is clearing the path for meaningful housing victories, including the passage of ballot Proposals 2 – 5, and laying the groundwork for even more progress in the year ahead. We commend the administration for advancing these critical reforms to reduce delays and promote a fairer, more equitable distribution of housing across the city.”

    “One year after the passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re seeing what happens when New York City chooses vision over fear,” said Emma Pfohman, CEO, Association for a Better New York (ABNY). “ABNY applauds the herculean work of the Adams administration, in partnership with Governor Hochul and the City Council, to pass the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity and approve the creation of thousands of units through the successful rezonings championed by the Department of City Planning over the last year. Together, these efforts ensure New York remains a city where every resident has the chance to live, thrive, and build their future.”

    “In just its first year, City of Yes has opened the door to more homes in every borough,” said Andrew Fine, chief of staff and policy director, Open New York. “In the Bronx, longtime proposals are finally moving forward with deeper levels of affordability. Homeowners from Staten Island to Queens are excited to add ADUs, and in Brooklyn, new apartment buildings near the subway are being built without costly parking requirements. In Manhattan, the Midtown South rezoning was the first to use new higher-density districts, creating room for more homes through office conversions and new construction. All of this shows what is possible when City leaders work together to break down barriers to housing. And since then, the need for homes and the public’s support for building them have only grown. With November’s historic pro-housing ballot proposals behind us, we are ready to keep working toward a more affordable future for New York.”

    “A year on from the most expansive citywide zoning changes for housing that New York City has seen, it’s a great moment to reflect on this achievement, and redouble our commitment to its implementation,” said Howard Slatkin, executive director, Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “City of Yes has opened the door for a generation of new housing achievements, which with sustained effort can stand as a legacy to what we can do when we agree that no challenge is too large for New Yorkers to tackle.”

    “One year ago marked a turning point in the fight against New York City’s housing crisis with the enactment of the City of Yes zoning text amendments,” said Baaba Halm, senior vice president for programs, Enterprise Community Partners. “By allowing more housing types, increased density, and more flexible zoning options in a wider swath of New York, we collectively took a major step toward significantly increasing needed housing supply and reducing development barriers which add costs. Importantly, the amendments also specifically increased affordable housing, and came alongside robust new capital and programmatic resources. The results are already evident through more projects in the pipeline, and we look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”

    “Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester is driven by a simple goal, to create permanent, affordable homeownership opportunities for New Yorkers who need them most,” said Sabrina Lippman, CEO, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester. “One year after the approval of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re already expanding our pipeline by nearly 50 percent as a direct result of zoning reforms that remove barriers and make it easier to build. City of Yes is perfectly aligned with Habitat’s work to build stable, inclusive communities and ensure more families can call New York City home.”

    “One year in and we are already seeing the tremendous impact of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. This landmark rezoning has already begun to unlock meaningful opportunities to deliver high quality, affordable homes in neighborhoods across the city. By removing outdated barriers and enabling smarter, more flexible design, we are creating the conditions for a more equitable and resilient city,” said Jesse Lazar, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. “Building on the momentum generated by City of Yes, we must continue to explore how we capture the future value of our city today, creating thriving communities and building housing that serves all New Yorkers.”

    “The rising cost of housing is chipping away at hard-earned wages and pushing too many New Yorkers out of the city. Last year’s passage of the landmark City of Yes legislation represented a monumental step forward toward addressing the urgent housing affordability crisis,” said Manny Pastreich, President of 32BJ SEIU. “We’re seeing progress and look forward to continuing this momentum alongside stakeholders, to deliver the housing essential workers and their communities need, while creating thousands of good jobs.”

    “City of Yes is a landmark achievement and a testament to the hard work of everyone who helped make these vital zoning reforms a reality,” said Basha Gerhards, executive vice president of public policy, Real Estate Board of New York. “With growing momentum behind adaptive reuse, New York City has the best conversion rules in the country, positioning us to unlock much needed homes across all five boroughs.”

    “After one year, City of Yes is delivering on the promise of more affordable housing and giving hope to the over 2 million New Yorkers struggling to keep a roof over their head,” said Rich Buery, CEO, Robin Hood. “By taking an all-of-the-above approach, the city is unleashing the pent-up potential we knew existed. When paired with the recent pro-housing City Charter amendments, overwhelmingly approved by voters, our city is making progress toward being a place where people of all incomes can live, raise children, and flourish.”

    “City of Yes set a new bar for what pro-housing policy can look like in New York, and the first year has already shown that the old excuses for doing nothing don’t hold up,” said Aaron Carr, founder and executive director, Housing Rights Initiative. “It’s given us a real foundation to build upon and proven that smarter zoning and bolder reforms can actually make a dent in our housing crisis. This is just the beginning.”

    December 5, 2025 New York City Hall

    Sources: NYC.gov, Big New York news BigNY.com
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  • Governor Hochul Advances 19 New Historic Site Nominations, Unlocking Investment and Tax Credit Opportunities Across New York State

    Governor Hochul Advances 19 New Historic Site Nominations, Unlocking Investment and Tax Credit Opportunities Across New York State

    NEW YORK News Gov Hochul list sites

    Governor Kathy Hochul announced 19 new nominations to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, positioning communities across New York to leverage powerful economic development tools, including state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits and preservation grants. Spanning urban public housing, energy-efficient commercial design in Buffalo, industrial complexes, rural mill neighborhoods, and architecturally significant churches and residences, these designations help drive private investment, support adaptive reuse, and catalyze community revitalization. New York already leads the nation in the use of historic tax credits, with $7.17 billion in rehabilitation costs between 2018 and 2024 and more than $16.4 billion in project expenditures since 2009, generating over 91,000 jobs and $1.79 billion in tax revenue. The newly nominated sites further align historic preservation with economic growth, offering property owners and municipalities expanded access to incentives that strengthen local economies while safeguarding long-term cultural and real estate value.

    Governor Hochul Announces 19 Nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Place

    Governor Kathy Hochul… announced recommendations by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation to add 19 properties and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The nominations include an office building with a pioneering design in energy efficiency in Buffalo, an Arts and Crafts church on Staten Island, a new historic district in Essex County, and the Cortland home of a leader in New York’s Women’s Club Movement.

    “The history of the people of New York is imprinted in the architecture and places around us,” Governor Hochul said. “These nominations to the State and National Registers show our commitment to preserving New York’s rich and diverse story and making it accessible for future generations. By recognizing these landmarks and the people behind them, we are strengthening our communities, boosting local pride and ensuring that history remains a living part of New York’s future.”

    The nominations were reviewed on December 3, 2025, at a meeting of the New York State Board for Historic Preservation.

    New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “Identifying and nominating historic resources for the State and National Registers is a key step in preserving our shared past. As stewards for New York’s history, we recognize the positive impact listings in the registers have on communities throughout the state. From recording local history before it is lost to unlocking access to grants and incentive programs, the State and National Register programs create opportunities to inspire pride of place, encourage investment, and catalyze collaborations.”

    State and National Register listings can assist owners in revitalizing properties, making them eligible for various public preservation programs and services, such as matching state grants and federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.

    New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation Daniel Mackay said, “The Division for Historic Preservation works to ensure that the State and National Registers of Historic Places continue to grow and reflect New York’s remarkable history. With this goal, we are expanding our understanding of our past and providing access to incentive programs that can help preserve and revitalize our historic assets for the future. By connecting property owners with resources, historic preservation becomes a shared, statewide effort. We’re proud to be part of this impactful work.”

    New York State continues to lead the nation in the use of historic tax credits, with $7.17 billion in total rehabilitation costs from 2018-2024. Since 2009, the historic tax credit program has stimulated over $16.4 billion in project expenditures in New York State, creating significant investment and new jobs. According to a report, between 2019-2023, the credits in New York State generated 91,386 jobs and over $1.79 billion in local, state and federal taxes. 

    The State and National Registers are the official lists of buildings, structures, districts, landscapes, objects and sites significant in the history, architecture, archaeology and culture of New York State and the nation. There are more than 128,000 historic properties throughout the state listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as components of historic districts. Property owners, municipalities and organizations from communities throughout the state sponsored the nominations. 

    Once recommendations are approved by the Commissioner, who serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, the properties are listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places and then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed by the National Park Service and, once approved, entered in the National Register. More information, with photos of the nominations, is available on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website. 

    Capital Region

    Dr. Jay McDonald Towers, Albany County – Constructed in 1972, this ten-story senior housing tower is the City of Cohoes’ first example of senior apartments. The building is located in the central business district, anchoring the north end of Remsen Street as a mid-rise, red brick building with an exposed concrete structural system. The design embodies a restrained modern aesthetic with an emphasis on form, materials, and structure. Inside, the apartments follow standard recommendations for senior housing, featuring bathtubs with grab bars, non-skid floors, and wider door openings. The McDonald Towers are associated with the Cohoes Housing Authority’s Model Cities Program, authorized by the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966. In addition to funding new, improved housing, the Model Cities program also endeavored to provide additional community services, such as job training, code enforcement, and improved public education. In 1970, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved a $13 million Model Cities grant to Cohoes, and McDonald Towers was among the most significant of the projects proposed.

    Roulier Heights Historic District, Albany County – This small complex of ten apartment buildings and one community center in the City of Cohoes was the Cohoes Housing Authority’s first completed project. Built in 1961, the complex was designed around an elliptical drive just west of Cohoes’s central business district. The rows line both sides of the street, face each other, and there are paved paths in front of and behind the buildings. Each apartment block comprises a row of six to ten two-story townhouses, with individual entrances, interior wood floors, and dedicated storage space. Established in 1952 with support from state legislation and federal funding, the Cohoes Housing Authority was formed to respond to post-World War II housing shortage pressures in the city, which was felt even more severely with the significant downsizing of Cohoes’ nation-leading textile manufacturing mills which also happened after the war.

    Central New York

    Benton-Sherwood House, Cortland County – The house at 79 Central Avenue in Cortland is significant for its association with Jeannette Benton Sherwood (1863-1938) and the Women’s Club Movement of the early twentieth century. A key organizer of women’s clubs in Cortland County and later a leader in statewide roles with the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, Sherwood hosted numerous meetings at her childhood home, which she occupied from 1899-1921. Sherwood’s father, lumberman and one-time village president Henry F. Benton, built the substantial brick Second Empire style house in 1874. The largest and most elaborate of its type in Cortland, the house features a French-inspired mansard roof, a central tower that contains both the front entrance and spiraling cantilevered stair, as well as fine doors, moldings, and parquet floors. Many architectural details may have been manufactured at Benton’s nearby planing mill. The house’s parlor was a popular meeting space for groups connected with Sherwood; it served as the location of the founding meeting of the Tioughnioga Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1900. In addition to her women’s clubs activities, Sherwood was also chair of the Cortland Fresh Air committee, chair of the statewide Victory War Fund during the First World War, participated in the Women’s Suffrage Movement, served as the founder and first president of the Cortland County Historical Society, and served on the board of the New York Historical Association.

    Lustron House Westchester Deluxe Model 02, Onondaga County – Located in the city of Syracuse, the house showcases important developments in post-World War II prefabricated houses. It is an excellent example of the Lustron Corporation’s Westchester two-bedroom “Model 02” and includes “deluxe” features such as a pass-through cabinet dividing the kitchen and dining area, a living room bay window, and a built-in vanity in the master bedroom. The Lustron Corporation, located in Columbus Ohio, used an assembly line to produce all-steel building components that could be shipped in pieces across the country and assembled on-site. The technology was an advanced prefab solution to the severe housing shortages in the post-war era.

    Mohawk Valley

    West Winfield Historic District, Herkimer County – Located in the Town of Winfield, the historic district consists of 315 resources at the intersection of the historic Great Western Turnpike (State Route 20) and County Route 51. The district embodies a community that developed because of these transportation routes and the local mills along the North Winfield Creek and the East Branch of the Unadilla River. The built environment in West Winfield represents its development from ca. 1790 through 1970. Architectural styles convey popular trends from the 1800s to the mid-1900s.

    New York City

    Bay View Houses, Kings County – Bay View Houses is a large public housing complex for middle-income tenants in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. It was built in 1955-56 under New York City Housing Authority’s City IV program, the last phase of city-funded public housing before legislation such as the Mitchell-Lama law of 1955 shifted the responsibility for building middle-income housing onto private developers and away from city government. It reflects ideas about public housing, methods of financing, siting, and design at a time when the nation as a whole was grappling with the proper role of government and private capital in developing affordable housing, especially for middle-income residents.

    Northwest Bronx Scatter Site Housing, Bronx County (Three Nominations: Bailey Ave-West 193rd St Houses; East 180th St-Monterey Ave Houses; Fort Independence St-Heath Ave Houses) – These three public housing developments in the Bronx, all completed in the early 1970s, are the bricks-and-mortar embodiment of the long, often messy, and ultimately imperfect work of implementing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They were built under New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) scatter site program, a federally mandated attempt to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. That law prohibited discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any federally funded program, including public housing. The federal government’s solution was to require local housing authorities to disperse (or scatter) a portion of new housing developments throughout the city, particularly in middle-class neighborhoods on the periphery, away from areas of racial concentration. New York City’s scatter site program launched in early 1966 during the first months of Mayor John Lindsay’s administration, with NYCHA completing its first scatter site developments in the early 1970s. In developing the scatter site housing program, federal and local housing officials implicitly acknowledged that decades of earlier policies had actively contributed to racial discrimination and residential segregation. Reactions to New York’s scatter site program revealed deep divisions among city residents, as well as persistent prejudice and racism. The first of NYCHA’s proposed scatter site developments met with significant resistance in many of the neighborhoods for which they were proposed, including those in the Northwest Bronx.

    Richard Mott House, Queens County – The Richard Mott House is locally significant as a rare, unique, and intact example of Shingle-style architecture in the Bayswater neighborhood of Far Rockaway. Richard Mott, a hotel owner and member of a well-established Far Rockaway family, refashioned a barn or outbuilding into a two-story beachside cottage in 1909 to use as his art studio. After his retirement in 1915, he lived full-time in the house until his death in 1925. With the demolition or alteration of many other Shingle homes in the neighborhood, the Richard Mott House stands as a remnant of a style which was common among coastal vacation towns such as Far Rockaway in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Moreover, the house is significant as an idiosyncratic, vernacular labor of Richard Mott. Mott was a hobbyist landscape artist and builder who customized the house as his personal refuge, studio, and gallery of his work and tastes. The house is replete with Mott’s own murals of Far Rockaway’s scenic marine landscapes, built-in wood furniture, custom wood molding, and stained-glass windows.

    Unitarian Universalist Church of Staten Island, Richmond County – The Unitarian Universalist Church of Staten Island (UUCSI) is locally significant as an example of the application of Arts and Crafts principles to a suburban church complex. Designed by Brooklyn-based architect, Quaker, and social reformer Frank Haviland Quinby, UUCSI’s buildings incorporate Tudor Revival, Queen Anne, and Shingle style references in an eclectic mix. Quinby’s choice of Arts and Crafts principles is notable because of their alignment with Unitarian faith’s social and political aims, placing UUCSI’s campus in a tradition of late-1800s Unitarian “Church Home” buildings emphasizing warmth, functionality, natural materials, and modest, residential scales.

    North Country

    Au Sable Forks Historic District, Essex County – Au Sable Forks Historic District is in the far northern reaches of Essex County and is uniquely positioned on a peninsula where the western and eastern branches of the Saranac River meet. The region’s abundant lumber, waterways, and proximity to iron deposits made it an ideal location for logging and iron ore processing in the 1800s, and it later became a hub for the pulp industry. The J.&J. Rogers Company was the primary driver of industrialization, with Au Sable Forks as their headquarters. The district, which is roughly bound by the branches of the river, essentially developed as a company town for the Rogers Company and remained as such until the early 1970s. The town is notable as one of the few intact company towns in this part of the Adirondacks. Additionally, Au Sable Forks suffered a tragic fire in 1925 that wiped out its entire commercial corridor. The resulting architecture in the wake of the fire was entirely fireproof and provides a good representative example of a Main Street almost entirely composed of 1920s and early 1930s commercial architecture. There are 80 resources within the district, including two properties that are already individually-listed on the National Register: the Graves Mansion and the Tahawus Masonic Lodge.

    Hamlet of Schuyler Falls Historic District, Clinton County – The proposed district is located at the intersection of NY Route 22B (Pleasant Street) and Felton Road in the Hamlet of Schuyler Falls and comprises twenty-two resources. After the Turner Grist Mill was established on the Salmon River in 1827, the area developed as a largely residential neighborhood for mill owners, managers, and working-class employees. The extant grist mill and remaining homes express the ways in which residents created a tight-knit rural community that was collectively focused on both industry and agriculture throughout the 1800s. Buildings range from the 1820s to approximately 1900 and include a variety of architectural styles.

    Western New York

    Buffalo Envelope Company Building, Buffalo, Erie County – The Buffalo Envelope Company Building, at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seneca Street, derives its significance from industrial history for its association with envelope manufacturing and sales between 1909 and 1959. The Buffalo Envelope Company, founded at another location in 1888, moved into the six-story portion of this building (built for speculative purchases in 1899) in 1899. Multiple additions to the building were built during the twentieth century until it occupied an entire city block, attesting to the growth and success of the industry. A spiraling chute is still intact in the tall portion of the building, showing how envelope production started at the top and then step by step the envelopes worked their way down through the building as part of the assembly process. Buffalo Envelope Company was bought by Ohio-based Champion International in 1959, and they in turn sold the building in 1989, when it ceased to be used as a production facility.

    Burton H. Hurd House, Erie County – The Burton H. Hurd House in Elmira is locally significant as an early-1900s suburban residence with Colonial Revival style features. The house was built for Burton H. Hurd, a descendent of one of Elma’s earliest families and a regionally prominent business figure in Buffalo’s lumber industry. In 1912, he commissioned architects Harris & Merritt to design a secondary residence for use in the summer months. As a member of a wealthy and prominent family, Hurd desired a space to entertain guests and demonstrate his social status while also allowing servants to discretely perform domestic labor. The emphasis on separation of utilitarian space is evident in Harris & Merritt’s plan, with all such areas housed in the north wing, offsetting the facade’s design. The separation of service space is further emphasized by features such as the small first floor pantry that connects to the kitchen and dining room, and a set of stairs that provides direct access to the maids’ room, kitchen, and laundry room in the basement. These design choices allowed staff to remain virtually hidden while serving the family or guests. Essential elements, including the front and rear porches, balustrades, and windows have all remained largely intact to the building’s original design. While some alterations have occurred, the primary spaces retain the majority of their materials, finishes, and configuration, reflecting their contemporary use and patterns of living.

    Center and Pearl Streets Historic District, Chautauqua County – The Center and Pearl Streets Historic District is part of the former village of Forestville in the town of Hanover. Situated between Forestville’s commercial Main Street and the railroad depot, the district encompasses an area that evolved from a collection of mills and houses in forested land in the early 1800s, into a vibrant tree-lined streetscape that was the home to some of the community’s most prosperous families. The district grew in the sparsely developed land between the town center and rail depot following the arrival of the New York & Erie Railroad in 1851. The Center and Pearl Streets Historic District preserves a rare residential enclave that experienced continued changes and expansion over the course of a century as passenger and freight use of the railroad gave way to automobiles and trucks. The residents of the historic district directly contributed to and benefitted from access to railroad, ranging from railroad employees, local business owners, farmers, and locally significant professional lawyers, all who settled along for convenient access to both a major regional transportation route and the nearby town business district. This broad pattern of development was unique to Forestville, providing a rich study in the development of an isolated rural agricultural community into one connected to the larger world through the railroad.

    Norstar Building, Erie County – Downtown Buffalo’s Norstar Building, conceived by Mark Mendell of Cannon Design and constructed in 1981-1982, is architecturally significant for its pioneering design in the realm of energy efficiency. In the wake of the energy crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the office building’s design utilizes multiple elements that enabled cost-saving systems, including its dramatically angled site orientation that incorporates passive solar design and wind screening, an emphasis on natural lighting using light shelves and a skylit atrium, and roof-mounted phase change solar collectors for heat transfer. Many of these elements were the first of their kind in downtown Buffalo and represent their first appearance together to provide an innovative approach to energy efficiency. Despite being less than fifty years of age, the building has exceptional significance as an early experiment in what is now recognized as sustainable design.

    The Saint Mary of the Angels Complex, Cattaraugus County – Nestled on a small hill rising from the Allegany river in a shady residential neighborhood in the City of Olean, the Saint Mary of the Angels Complex encompasses five buildings: the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, the former Saint Mary’s convent, former rectory and carriage house, and the parish life center/former Saint Mary’s Academy. Built in 1915, the basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels is a magnificent twin-spired three-story Gothic Revival stone church, renowned not just for its exterior beauty but also the magnificent Munich-style windows and interior art. The former Academy building and convent, built together in 1924, are themselves stately red brick Tudor-style buildings with limestone trim, and the former rectory and carriage house form a well-preserved example of a Victorian residence. The Saint Mary of the Angels complex has long been a significant part of the spiritual and educational fabric of the Olean community and the basilica – one of only 93 so designated in the United States – is widely regarded as an architectural and artistic gem.

    Smith-Henry Building, Erie County – Originally built in 1855 as a two-story single-family residence with a rear extension for hatmaker Samuel Smith, the Smith-Henry Building in Buffalo is an exemplary example of early 1900s adaptive reuse that demonstrates the impact of commercial real estate development on 1800s domestic architecture in an evolving urban setting. In 1914 the brick building was altered and enlarged by lawyer and real estate developer John J. Henry to accommodate two ground-floor storefronts and several apartment units upstairs. Henry’s unorthodox alteration of the building involved enveloping the front of the house with a new three-story portion that expanded the building’s potential to meet the changing rental needs of the neighborhood. The result is a building that contains both mid-1800s details in what otherwise appears as a 1910s two-part commercial block.

    December 4, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Sources: NY.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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  • NYC Subway Attack: Teen Hiram Carrero Accused of Setting Homeless Man on Fire

    NYC Subway Attack: Teen Hiram Carrero Accused of Setting Homeless Man on Fire

    NYC Teen Hiram Carrero Accused of Setting Homeless Man on Fire

    A shocking attack in the New York City subway has raised new fears about rider safety. Police say 18-year-old Manhattan resident Hiram Carrero allegedly set a sleeping homeless man on fire in a No. 3 train car around 3 a.m. The incident happened near Times Square/Penn Station. The 56-year-old victim suffered serious burns but is expected to survive, according to the NYPD.

    The suspect, who was seen in surveillance video, was later perp walked out of the 9th Precinct after his arrest. Carrero has been identified by police and is being charged with attempted murder, three counts of assault, arson, and reckless endangerment. The case has quickly become another example used in the debate over crime and safety in the NYC subway system.

    New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis called the attack “horrific” and says it proves that the subway is still not truly safe. She notes that the NYPD is thousands of officers below past staffing levels and argues that more police are needed on trains and platforms. In Congress, Malliotakis is pushing a bipartisan transit security bill to increase federal funding for subway safety, including more officers, better lighting, more cameras, and upgraded surveillance systems to protect riders and the city’s most vulnerable residents.

    Sources: U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis , Midtown Tribune News
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  • New York. 30 Million Boost to Staten Island’s Parks, Culture, and Zoo

    New York. 30 Million Boost to Staten Island’s Parks, Culture, and Zoo

    NYC Mayor Adams and BP Fossella

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella are teaming up to deliver nearly $30 million in upgrades to some of Staten Island’s favorite places to play and explore. The funding will revamp Bloomingdale Park’s playground with new equipment, water features, lighting, and landscaping; modernize Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, along with key improvements for the Staten Island Museum and Noble Maritime Collection; and create a new interactive, sensory-friendly education center at the Staten Island Zoo. Together, these projects aim to make Staten Island’s parks, cultural hubs, and zoo more fun, accessible, and welcoming for families and visitors of all ages.

    Mayor Adams, Staten Island Borough President Fossella Celebrate $30 Million in Funding for Parks, Open Space on Staten Island

    – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella today announced that they have partnered to invest nearly $30 million of capital funding in three parks and public recreation projects on Staten Island. Investments will improve quality-of-life for Staten Islanders by making upgrades at Bloomingdale Park playground, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, and the Staten Island Zoo. The investments were made in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget, which builds on Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Executive Budget, often called the “Best Budget Ever.”

    “Public space in our city is precious, and we cherish every inch of it — no matter where it is, no matter what borough it is in,” said Mayor Adams. “Under our administration, we have always made it a priority to take care of Staten Island and today’s announcement is just the latest example of how we are living up to that promise. In partnership with Staten Island Borough President Fossella, we are proud to celebrate nearly $30 million in investments in several parks and recreation projects throughout the borough invested through our ‘Best Budget Ever.’ This funding will upgrade Bloomingdale Park playground, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden, and the Staten Island Zoo — expanding access to these public spaces and improving quality of life for all Staten Islanders. We thank Borough President Fossella for his partnership and helping bring us closer to becoming a city that is the best place to raise a family.”

     “We have some of the most scenic spaces and vibrant cultural institutions right here in Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “We will continue to improve our parks and open spaces, and to support cultural institutions so they can continue to flourish and provide the best for our residents. We appreciate that we have a partner in Mayor Adams, who is committed to helping us to achieve our goals. We thank Mayor Adams for being a strong partner to make our parks and public spaces even better.”

    “Bloomingdale Park is a thriving oasis of greenspace and recreation on Staten Island,” said New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “These new capital investments in Bloomingdale Playground will offer the community a revitalized place to gather and play, with all-new play equipment, an enhanced spray shower, improved lighting, and more plantings. We’re excited to watch this project come to fruition and are grateful to Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella for funding improvements that will benefit Staten Islanders for years to come.”

    “As my fellow Staten Islanders and I know, our cultural institutions contribute so much to making this borough an extraordinary place to visit, live, and raise a family,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “We’re proud of the city’s investments in the borough’s cultural infrastructure, which will enhance the incredible museums, cultural centers, and zoos that serve residents and attract visitors for years to come.”

    As a result of a $5.6 million investment made by Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella, Bloomingdale Park playground will see significant improvements resulting in a vibrant reconstructed play space for the community. The reconstruction project — led by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation — will include new play equipment, a spray play area, fencing, security lights, and an upgrade of electrical and water utilities. This project will also be supplemented with new landscape improvements. The renovations are the next major investment in this heavily utilized park, building on recent improvements, including installation of adult fitness equipment, as well as a shade structure at the bocce court. In 2021, the Bloomingdale Park athletic field project was completed, resulting in new multi-use and soccer synthetic turf fields to accommodate activities, including toss sports, free play, picnics, and more. The project is expected to begin design in the spring of 2026 following a community input meeting where members of the public will have the opportunity to share their vision for this space. 

    The Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden received $6.5 million in funding from the Adams administration and Borough President Fossella to advance key infrastructure projects for the 83-acre campus and its cultural tenants. The site-wide improvements will upgrade the building management system and other infrastructure to improve the security, energy efficiency, and visitor experience across the campus. The project will modernize one of Snug Harbor’s key facilities, which provides the cultural center with programming space and revenue-generating rentals.

    Several organizations located on the Snug Harbor campus also received new funding from Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella in the FY 2026 Adopted Budget. The Staten Island Museum received $6 million for the next phase of the museum’s expansion project, which will transform the currently vacant Building B into a state-of-the-art STEAM education center, with additional public space for natural history collections and exhibitions, a lab classroom for hands-on STEAM learning, and a café. The project will also include exterior restoration of the historic, Greek revival building. The Noble Maritime Collection, located in Building D on the Snug Harbor campus received $3.8 million to replace the museum’s existing chiller and air conditioning system. The group has struggled to maintain its existing aging system to ensure the comfort for guests in hotter weather and to maintain the protection of their extensive collections of maritime history from Staten Island and beyond. The Noble Maritime Collection’s 20,600 square foot space is one of the anchor institutions for the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and contains the entirety of the museum’s administrative and programmatic space.

    At the Staten Island Zoo, a combined $8 million in funding from Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella will support the creation of a new interactive education center, which will provide a fun and enriching experience for children and visitors themed around sensory abilities in people and animals. The project will create a public purpose for special opportunities to have guests with sensory or developmental disabilities enjoy defined experiences for them, as well as a 1960’s-era children’s center with a modern, diverse and inclusive “Learn & Play Zone.”

    “At the Noble Maritime Collection, our staff and Board of Trustees are deeply committed to ensuring that our landmarked building remains a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible space for all,” said Megan Beck, executive director, Noble Maritime Collection. “We are grateful to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo, and the Department of Cultural Affairs for their generous capital investment in a new chiller and air conditioning system — an essential upgrade that will help preserve our collections and historic building. We also appreciate their continued support for major capital improvements at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and at the Botanical Garden, the beautiful and storied campus we are proud to call home.”

    “The Staten Island Zoo staff and visitors are excited to launch our vision for an entirely new re-imagined experience in our popular Children’s Center at the Zoo,” said Ken Mitchell, executive director, Staten Island Zoo. “Thanks to the generosity and support of Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella, as well as our Staten Island City Council delegation, the zoo can start to bring this vision into the planning stage and ultimately reality. With our expertise in animal care, education, and exhibit design, the zoo can provide a unique experience and special place for children of all backgrounds to connect with nature and animals.” 

    “The Staten Island Museum’s board and staff are grateful to Mayor Adams, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Cumbo, and Borough President Fossella for their deep support of and investment in the STEAM Education Center expansion that will activate the adjoining historic building at Snug Harbor into a distinctive environment for exploring natural history while meeting professional standards for collections preservation,” said Janice Monger, president and CEO, Staten Island Museum.

    “Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is profoundly grateful to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo, our New York City councilmembers, and Borough President Fossella for their visionary investment in Staten Island culture,” said Jessica Vodoor, president and CEO, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. “This funding will support critical ongoing HVAC infrastructure projects in buildings that support a myriad of public activities at Snug Harbor.”

    December 4, 2025 New York

    Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York News BigNY.com
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  • Community First Republican Club Debuts in Southern Brooklyn With ‘Community Before Politics’ Message”

    Community First Republican Club Debuts in Southern Brooklyn With ‘Community Before Politics’ Message”


    At a packed grand opening on December 4 in Sheepshead Bay, former Councilman Ari Kagan and GOP leaders pitch a multi-ethnic, “open door” Republican movement.

    A new Republican clubhouse has joined the Brooklyn political map. On December 4, 2025, the Community First Republican Club held its grand opening at 2101 East 16th Street, 2nd floor, near Avenue U in Southern Brooklyn, drawing a standing-room crowd of local voters, activists and elected officials. Online listings billed the evening as a two-hour reception with greetings from GOP officials, networking and refreshments, including kosher food.

    Club president Ari Kagan, a former New York City councilman, opened the event by explaining why the new organization carries the name Community First. “People ask me, why did you decide to name it Community First?” he told the room.
    “I believe it should be the priority for every elected official, for every party leader, for every American, for every New Yorker to put community first – to support our local communities, to make sure that we have a good quality of life.”
    He stressed that the club plans to work with “all other clubs, not just in Brooklyn but beyond,” and even offer associate memberships to “common sense Democrats” willing to cooperate on public safety, taxes and quality-of-life issues.

    The night doubled as a show of Republican unity in a borough where the party has quietly expanded its footprint over the past decade. Newly elected Kings County Republican chairman Liam McCabe – introduced by Kagan as an EMS worker “saving lives” by day – praised both the turnout and the club’s name.
    “Community First is a perfect name for Ari Kagan,” McCabe said, recalling years when the two worked as staffers solving neighborhood problems from opposite parties. “There’s no Republican or Democratic way to pick up the garbage – and that’s really the truth… So it’s a perfect name for this club and for you to be the president of it.”

    McCabe framed the club as part of a broader effort to reconnect the GOP with everyday neighborhood concerns rather than abstract ideological fights. His remarks echoed social media posts from party activists who described the opening as “crowded, crowded” and celebrated the launch as a sign of “growing energy” among Southern Brooklyn Republicans.

    Former Brooklyn GOP chairman Richard Barsamian (introduced by Kagan as the man who “carried the Republican torch in Brooklyn for some difficult years”) used his speech to send a message of internal unity and outward outreach. He stressed that he and McCabe are “unified in delivering success after success” and insisted, “We are not interested in attacking Democrats. We are not interested in negativity. What we are interested in is the future of New York City… for all those who follow the law, who have love in their heart, whether they are Christians, Muslims, or Jews. They are New Yorkers and they are Americans.” Barsamian said the “R” in Republican should also stand for “responsible,” urging activists to “fight” for their neighborhoods while rejecting hatred and division.

    The club’s political mission was spelled out most clearly when Kagan ran through the 2026 election calendar – from governor and statewide offices to the State Assembly and Senate – and urged members to back GOP candidates on a platform of “strong national security, public safety, low taxes, legal immigration and sanity of life.”
    He reminded the audience that just 20 or 30 years ago, “everybody would say, Republican? No, no, not a chance,” but noted that today Brooklyn has “many, many Republican elected officials – and more to come.” That message was reinforced by the lineup in the room: Assemblymembers Michael Novakhov, Alec Brook-Krasny, Lester Chang and others were repeatedly name-checked as examples of a new GOP presence in heavily Democratic New York City.

    When his turn came to speak, Assemblymember Michael Novakhov described what he called a “Republican movement” taking shape in Brooklyn. He pointed to the diverse crowd – Pakistani community members, Chinese Americans gathered in a Chinese adult day care center, Russian-speaking Brooklynites and longtime locals – as proof that the party is becoming “a party of the people” in neighborhoods that feel things have gone “really, really wrong” in recent years.
    Clubs like Community First, he argued, do more than host meetings: they recruit candidates, knock on doors and help Republicans survive in a deep-blue city. “It’s very tough to be a Republican in a blue state… extremely tough,” Novakhov said, but insisted that more clubs mean more recruits, more volunteers and, ultimately, more elected officials.

    The grand opening also highlighted the club’s recent community-service work. In the weeks leading up to December 4, members of the new organization joined a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway that distributed around 180 turkeys to nonprofits and families across Southern Brooklyn – a story that featured prominently in the club’s early social media presence and in posts by local elected officials.
    That outreach fits Kagan’s repeated refrain that the Republican Party must be “on the ground, talking to people, listening to communities,” not “living somewhere in the air.”

    On its official channels, the Community First Republican Club says it intends to “support Republican candidates and advocate for Southern Brooklyn communities”, positioning itself as both a campaign hub and a neighborhood problem-solving center.
    After its debut night, organizers signaled that the club will continue regular meetings, voter-registration drives and candidate events at its East 16th Street address – with the explicit goal, as Novakhov put it, of electing “more and more Republican officials in the great city of New York and the great borough of Brooklyn.”

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  • Governor Kathy Hochul Touts New York Classroom Cell Phone Ban, Youth Mental Health and NY Affordability on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York”

    Governor Kathy Hochul Touts New York Classroom Cell Phone Ban, Youth Mental Health and NY Affordability on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York”


    In an appearance on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York,” Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted early successes from New York’s statewide classroom cell phone ban, saying students are more engaged, talking to each other at lunch, and “being kids again” instead of fixating on screens. She framed the policy as a key step in addressing a youth mental health crisis driven by constant online bullying, toxic content, and addictive social media algorithms, noting New York’s efforts to restrict unsolicited harmful content to minors and warning parents about AI chatbots that mimic human relationships. Hochul also discussed her partnership with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on housing affordability and child care, reiterated her opposition to raising personal income taxes while leaving other revenue options on the table, and strongly criticized federal threats to SNAP funding on privacy and moral grounds. Additionally, she defended investments in the MTA, including congestion pricing and safety measures that she says have boosted ridership and reduced traffic, and closed by sharing personal holiday traditions with her family.

    Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul is a Guest on Fox 5’s ‘Good Day New York’

    Governor Hochul: “We’re the largest state in America that went literally bell-to-bell… I have kids talking to each other during lunch now and making eye contact and playing games, they’re bringing board games to recess. I think this is fabulous. And so we’re letting kids be kids again.”

    Hochul: “With the cell phone ban, our kids are going to emerge as more well-adjusted, happier, more functioning adults when they go into the workplace because they’ll be used to working in collaborative settings instead of just staring at their phone all day.”

    Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on FOX 5’s “Good Day New York.”

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: Well, New York’s statewide cell phone ban in classrooms is already showing positive results and making a big impact for students and teachers.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: There’s new data and it reveals 83 percent of schools that implemented the smartphone restrictions reported a better classroom environment as well as better student engagement.

    Joining us now with more on this and protecting students in this digital age is New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. Nice to have you back on Good Day.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: Thank you for coming in.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: So what have you found out about the cell phone ban?

    Governor Hochul: Well, the results are what I expected, but I had to persuade the rest of the state. I have been traveling around for almost two years, gathering teenagers and having forums with parents and understanding that our kids are really in the throes of a mental health crisis.

    And you ask, why is this happening now? We know teenage years are always tough. We lived through that. But it really is the presence of a cell phone that all day long in school is taking you to a dark place. Or you’re being mocked or bullied by other kids. Or the girls are meeting in the restroom and they’re excluding you and you’re stressed out about that. Or they’re making plans for a party on a Friday. These are all the stories I heard. And I said, you know what? We have to do something.

    And I talked to school boards and superintendents and teachers, no one wanted to take it on because of the fear of the backlash from parents or students, and “we just want to teach, we don’t want to get in the middle of this.”

    And I said, “You know what? I’m a mom. I’m used to getting blamed for everything, blame me. I will take this on behalf of the kids of this state.”

    And I am so delighted about the cooperation we’ve had. We did a lot of training with our school districts, talked to teachers, talked to students. So literally, starting in September, this was a whole new game in classrooms.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Yeah, we’re hearing, “My kids are actually talking to one another.” But also, Governor, you know about the studies, the studies with these kids with cell phones, they’re finding if they have them before they’re 12 years old, they’re depressed, they’re overweight, there’s so many things. Do you have more plans with the cell phone ban? What are you going to do next?

    Governor Hochul: Well, the ban was dramatic. We’re the largest state in America that went literally bell-to-bell. Some say you can use it during recess or during lunch. That defeats the purpose because I have kids talking to each other during lunch now and making eye contact and playing games, they’re bringing board games to recess. I think this is fabulous. And so we’re letting kids be kids again. So don’t underestimate the power of this. I think every state should do this, absolutely. But we’re also looking at the addictive algorithms that they’re being bombarded with from social media companies, and we’re the first state in the nation last year to ban this, to say that unless the parent’s consent, you cannot be sending all this unsolicited information to your kids.

    For example, a student looks up, “suicide.” They’re having dark thoughts. They want to look for a place that maybe gives them some advice. It’ll tell you how to commit suicide instead of giving you the relief you’re looking for, the support you’re looking for. So we have to protect our kids, number one job, and I’m committed to this all the way through. We’re going to have some new ideas in my State of the State, even those AI companions where kids think they’re dating somebody and getting emotionally involved with an AI [chatbot] —

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: But they think they’re talking to a human because they’re kids.

    Governor Hochul: They think they’re talking to a human. And so, moms and dads, we’ve got to be aware of what’s going on. These threats were not there when we were growing up. So I’m going to continue educating, but also passing laws to protect.

    But with the cell phone ban, our kids are going to emerge as more well-adjusted, happier, more functioning adults when they go into the workplace because they’ll be used to working in collaborative settings instead of just staring at their phone all day. And I encourage parents, at the end of the day, to find other activities for their kids and do not be on your own cell phone during dinner because your kids are watching everything you do.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: Lots has been accomplished. Lots more still to be done, as you just said. This is the first chance we’ve had to talk to you since the election here of Zohran Mamdani. He’s the Mayor-elect right now. I know you congratulated him right after he won the election. Have you been in constant communication with him? Regular communication with him? You’ve talked to him, what do you talk about?

    Governor Hochul: Fairly regular. We’re talking about how we can work together to make New York City more affordable. This is what the majority of voters want to have happen when they put their faith in him.

    It is my job as Governor to make sure that whomever the Mayor is, they’re successful. I work closely with Eric Adams. I worked with Bill de Blasio during the time we overlapped. And I’m committed to making sure that we focus on the issues like building more housing to reduce the cost of rent. That we focus on child care — I already started universal child care in the State of New York. We’re on the path to get there. But what people need to realize is that you can’t just declare there’s universal child care. You have to have enough facilities. You have to have enough teachers and caregivers. And so we’ve worked on this over the last couple years to really position ourselves to take more steps together, and I know that’s a priority of the Mayoral-elect, and we can work on that together. So our conversation has been very positive just about the future of New York and what we’re going to do together.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: You endorsed him. You congratulated him. You talk about talking with him constantly. But you have some political differences, you’ve been public about that. He has talked about free buses, which you’re against. Universal child care, you explained a little bit right there. Do you discuss all of that before he takes office? Or is this something that he’s not going to get day one, but you will work with him down the road?

    Governor Hochul: No, of course. We’ve already had meetings. Our staffs are in constant communication because I want him to hit the ground running. But also, he understands this is a four-year term he has. There will be a rollout of some ideas, you have to build support for others. But also, just the everyday running of city government requires a lot of support from the state. We fund a lot of programs. He’ll be coming to Albany like all the Mayors do, asking for financial support and making sure that we continue investing in the subway system and safety there.

    And we’re seeing dramatic changes in the investments that I have made in supporting police overtime, so there’s more police officers visible, hundreds of millions of dollars to make sure that every train has a camera on it. And right now, we have had the safest few months in a row in recorded history on our subways. We want to keep that going. So I talked to him about public safety as well, keeping those investments, keeping rebuilding the police force and supporting our police officers because they’re out there protecting us every day.

    So I think there’s a lot of common ground, but where there’s differences, I have no trouble talking about them. We’ve had those conversations. Or the timing of some of the ideas, what we can actually afford now. And remember this, we’re taking a lot of financial hits from Washington, programs that had been funded by the federal government, they’re now putting on the backs of the states. So we have to step back and assess — okay, wait a minute. This is the federal government’s responsibility. This is why we pay federal taxes for programs like health care, support for hospitals, nutrition programs, but to the extent that they stop doing this, we have to have those conversations in our next Budget about what we’re going to do. So it’s a very fluid situation, but it’s very positive. I think people should know that. It’s a very positive conversation about what’s good for New York.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Can we talk about taxes? Because obviously, New Yorkers are talking about that. I know at one point you said, “No new taxes,” but then I felt like there was room for taxes. Are we talking about taxes, personal or business in New York? I know next year’s also an election year for you.

    Governor Hochul: That’s independent, because I’ve focused on reducing taxes since I’ve been Governor. We expedited a middle class tax cut my first year in office. Then we instituted our own tax cut last year, the largest middle class tax rate cut in 70 years.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: But will we have new taxes?

    Governor Hochul: Well, I’m not raising income taxes because I believe that we want to make sure that New York is more affordable for everybody and I want people who are successful to keep creating the jobs and investing here. But we have to look at other revenue sources to fund — again, we’re dealing with a lot of hits from Washington.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: So would you raise business taxes then? Because Mr. Mamdani keeps saying New York doesn’t pay as much in business taxes as Jersey does, and that’s not true. Businesses pay a payroll tax. There’s plenty. You tax everything.

    Governor Hochul: We have other taxes as well. So I would just say this, the Budget process is unfolding. We’ll be working with the Legislators over the next couple months and we’ll find out how we can take off a bite of what we need to do — like what is doable in this upcoming year, in the following year.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Would you veto a tax increase?

    Governor Hochul: I’m not raising income taxes.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Personal. What about business?

    Governor Hochul: Anything else has to go into our Budget process. So we are not there yet. We don’t know what our needs are. I have to see. I have to look at the revenues coming in. We’re even going to look at how well we’re doing with the end-of-year stock market bonuses, the bonuses, we get tax revenues from those. So I don’t have a clear view of what the resources are coming in, the revenues, and manage that against the Trump cuts versus what our needs are. All will be told in due time, but we’re really focused on just delivering for New Yorkers the programs and the services they come to expect.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: You talked about cuts from Washington. Just yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture said that they’re debating withholding some funds that would allow Democrat-run states to fund the SNAP program. You’ve obviously been against that. But what they’re saying in Washington is, we just want the roles of people that are on public assistance, you’ve been resistant about that. Several states have, by the way, more than 20. Why not just say, okay, here are the names of the recipients.

    Governor Hochul: Let me tell you what’s going on here. We actually went to court about this because people sign up for a particular program, not to have their name in a — think about it. Do you really want every bit of information about you in other parts of the government monitoring you and tracking what you do?

    This is a privacy issue as well. Even if you’re on SNAP and getting nutrition benefits, like 42 million Americans do. Does that mean that your privacy should be invaded now or that you should be giving out this information unrelated to this program? So we went to court. A judge in October said, Governors of these states, you are correct. You do not have to turn over this information, and they cannot withhold that money. Now to have a secretary in the Trump Administration basically saying, “We’re going to ignore a court order,” that is problematic. That is problematic. And that’s what we’re dealing with right now.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: What are your concerns other than just privacy?

    Governor Hochul: Privacy is a big one. Privacy is a big one. Now we are working on the fraud issues. It’s something we monitor at the state level. We don’t want anyone to abuse programs, but basically to end a program for everybody in the expectation you might find a few who are abusing it — don’t you care about everybody else who’s hungry?

    The Mayor-elect, Mamdani, told me that on Veteran’s Day he was sitting down with some veterans who had had a hard life. One of them said when the SNAP benefits stopped, he went to his refrigerator and it was empty. And that is a heartbreaking story to know that those who wear a uniform to keep us safe at night to defend our country and our values can’t count on a program to feed them. So that is just cruelty. They need to stop trying to find ways to hurt Americans, make them go hungry, and work with us. We’ll work with you to fight fraud, of course, we do that already. But I think there’s just this base feeling that these are programs that no one needs and we should eliminate them to save money. And what do they do with that money? That helps fund tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, and that’s exactly what’s going on.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Can we talk about the MTA? They’re close to balancing the budget. But it does seem like it’s a big abyss with the MTA and they’re depending on the casino licenses. They’re going to make, what, a billion and a half from the just upfront casino licenses? Is that going to be enough for the MTA?

    Governor Hochul: We have found sustainable sources of revenues for the MTA.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: So does that mean they’re not going to raise fares anymore?

    Governor Hochul: I think that — very incremental. You see some other states, they keep it very low and all of a sudden it goes up dollars, if it goes up a dime or nickel here and there, that is what happens in the normal course of business to cover escalating costs. Look at the tariffs for having to pay extra for everything. Even supplies that we used to manufacture our train cars from Canada. Like we’re spending more because of the Trump tariffs on something like that. So we have to make adjustments for that. But I don’t want to see any increases that people are going to think are significant at all. It’s just incremental.

    So we have the MTA on a path to sustainability. It was going off the cliff when I first became Governor. Nobody was making the proper investment. I stepped in and said, “I will support at the state level. You have to find savings.” I put that on the MTA, “You have to find savings or I’m not going to keep funding this.” And we did.

    And also congestion pricing. I know your favorite topic, is another —

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Governor, I’ve come to think that, okay, maybe it’s okay. We’re funding the MTA. It hasn’t really helped with congestion, but —

    Governor Hochul: No, it has. No, traffic, there’s 20 million fewer cars that went into that zone since last January.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Go in there now.

    Governor Hochul: And that’s down. It would’ve been worse. It’s down 10 percent, right?

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: Doesn’t get rid of all traffic. It just reduces traffic —

    Governor Hochul: And ridership on the subways and the buses is up 11 percent. So you’re getting what we’re looking for, that adjustment in behavior plus the revenue.

    Curt Menefee, FOX 5: We can talk to you forever. Your staff told us you have a hard time out here.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: I know, but wait, can we just so you have, go find out what the Governor’s going to do for the holidays?

    Governor Hochul: Yes. Yes. My house is being decorated right now. My sister who’s very good at this. She brought up some of her decorations. We’re decorating. I’ll be having grandchildren over, a little three-year-old and a four-month-old. And so I’ll be out shopping for some real pretty dresses for them and playing.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: Is there a traditional meal in the Hochul house?

    Governor Hochul: Usually it has some beef tenderloin and I’m all about pies. I’ve still been eating leftover pumpkin pie for days. I can’t — I inhale pumpkin pies.

    Rosanna Scotto, FOX 5: That could be a problem.

    Governor Hochul: I’ll make sure I have fresh pies for that. But it’s great to see the fa

    Sources: NY.gov , Midtown Tribune news
    Big New York news BigNY.com

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • Mayor Eric Adams Urges Americans to Stand Together Against Antisemitism at 2025 Mayors Summit

    Mayor Eric Adams Urges Americans to Stand Together Against Antisemitism at 2025 Mayors Summit

    At CAM’s 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, Mayor Eric Adams gave a powerful speech asking people to stop “outrunning the lion” of hate and instead work together to remove it from our communities. He said that while many groups face hate and injustice, this moment is focused on fighting antisemitism, especially in New York City where Jews are a small part of the population but suffer more than half of all hate crimes. Adams urged everyone—teachers, faith leaders, and community organizations—to “play their position” by pushing back against antisemitism, misinformation, and the radicalization of young people. He announced an executive order against BDS and confirmed that New York City will keep investing pension funds in Israeli companies. Adams also reminded people of the long history of Jewish support for Black civil rights and called on Jewish communities to stand proudly and openly as Jews. He ended by saying he is willing to “leave everything on the ice” in the fight against hate and asked everyone to “lace up their skates” and join him.

    New York Adams forum against antisemitism 2025

    Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at CAM’s 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism Closing Gala Dinner

    Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much, mayor. Throughout this afternoon, you shared something that resonated with me, and I’m hoping people didn’t miss it. A good friend of mine, Rabbi Potasnik, told me a joke about two lions. Two hunters in a jungle, hunting for big game, they came up against a lion. One hunter looked at the other and said, “Let’s run, let’s get out of here.” The other hunter replied, “What’s wrong with you, we can’t outrun a lion.” The hunter replied, “I don’t have to outrun the lion, I have to outrun you.” 

    And when Rabbi Potasnik told me the story, I laughed, and he had this look on his face. He said, “That’s the problem. We’re trying to outrun each other.” Yes, the lion of foreclosure took your home, but I have my home, I outran that lion. The lion of crime may have taken your child, but I outran that lion. The lion of poverty, the lion of domestic violence, the lion of hatred. As long as I outrun that lion, I’m alright. 

    But what the hunter did not understand is, that if you don’t take the lion out of the jungle after he devours one hunter, he’s going to devour you. You were so right. The goal is not to outrun each other. The goal is to remove the lion of hatred from our community. That’s the goal. 

    If you go back to what Lyndon B. Johnson did in 1964 when he signed the Civil Rights Act, there were Jewish brothers and sisters that didn’t say, “Well, that had nothing to do with me.” When you look in 2013 and the Black Lives Matter movement took place after we saw the devastation, murder of a young man in Florida, and people used to say to Black folks who said Black lives matter, they said, well, all lives matter. Well, right now we’re not talking about all lives, we’re talking about Black lives. 

    And so, when we come to a conference and talk about combating antisemitism, don’t start telling me about other issues. Right now, we’re talking about antisemitism. And talking about a specific incident during a time does not dismiss the other incidents. Yes, we know we have other issues, but right now the focus is on antisemitism. That’s what it’s on. 

    And we can engage in other conversations. I’m going to continue to lift up my Asian brothers and sisters that are dealing with Asian violence. I’m going to continue to lift up the overproliferation of abuse in young African American males and the incarceration of them. I’m going to continue to lift up what’s happening with men and women of the LGBTQ+ community. We’re going to continue to do that. 

    But right now we’re in this stadium talking about antisemitism. And we need to be focused on what is happening, particularly in New York City, where you have a numerical minority of the community from the Jewish community and over 50 percent of the victims are Jewish people of hate crimes. That’s a real issue. And what we must focus on is to be laser focused on that. Because when we marry talking about this issue and bridging it with the other issues that we’re facing, we will raise the standard of who we are as human beings. 

    But how do we do it? That’s why I grabbed the football. This is a team sport, folks. If I’m the quarterback, you should not be the running back standing behind the center. Get your ass out of the way. Each player, play your position. We all got to play our positions. 

    If you are a teacher, you need to be in our public school system pushing back on the radicalization of our young people who not only hate Israel, they hate America because they were taught to hate America. That’s what we saw on the Columbia campus when the protests took place. We saw flyers that said hatred for Israel and hatred for America. Now, I don’t know who’s in this room, but I think you are Americans, right? 

    So, my educators must play their role. My faith-based leaders, play your position. You’re not the mayor. Be the rabbi, be the preacher, be the monk, be a Sikh leader. Play your position. And to my organizations, play your positions. Play your roles. And stand outside your comfort zones. Because if all we do all the time is speak to the same people, the choir heard the song, folks. It’s time to sing to those who are singing off-key so they can learn the lyrics and chorus of ending hate in our city and in our country. 

    And then let’s be honest with ourselves. Folks have been hating Jews for a long time. Our Jewish brothers and sisters have been fleeing and running from the days of Moses to when Columbus left Spain and Jews had to get out because of the edict, to being in Rome and watching the Jewish quarter. You can go over and over and over again to see how Jewish people have fled and ran from particular places. 

    And I’m saying to my Jewish brothers and sisters, your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don’t live in fear hoping that it goes away. We don’t allow certain groups to take to the streets and determine that you should be eradicated. And you’re sitting back contemplating what block you take off your yarmulke or what morning you remove your star of David. If you want to win this fight, then you need to stand up, stand firm, and say, “I am Jewish and there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.” 

    And you need to be strong in your faith and your belief. And people should see it in your presence and in your posture and in your stance. And that’s what we must do as a team. And then you need to lift up those who stand with you and let them know you support them. Because many of these mayors in this room will lose their races because they’re standing tall with you and not with the numerical loud minority that have hijacked the narrative. 

    They will be targeted, they will be focused, and they will go after them one at a time. That’s the hate that has swept our entire country and globe. You are being targeted. And we have to be as intelligent and as focused, as strategic as possible. That’s why we put the IHRA definition in place in New York City. 

    That’s why I am signing an executive order today to deal with BDS so we can stop the madness that we should not invest in Israel. That is why we’re going to sign an executive order stating that our pension funds will invest in Israeli companies because we’re getting a high return on our investment because they’re doing the right thing. 

    But Israel and Jews must tell their story. When I talk about ending antisemitism, you know what I talk about to that young African American man that’s in Brownsville? I tell him about the device that was discovered in Israel that helped his mother deal with a medical condition that she’s facing. 

    When I talk about ending hatred, you go look at who has the highest number of Nobel Peace Prize winners. Go look at the technology that’s coming out of Israel today because of the partnership that we have with New York City and Israel that is saving the lives of people from communities across the globe. 

    So, when you eradicate Israel and when you put them on an island and don’t allow their companies to go to trade shows and don’t allow their companies to participate in innovation, it is impacting us directly because it impacts us every day and the health and welfare of our communities. That’s what we have to do today. Don’t just talk about stopping antisemitism because it stops attacks on Jewish people. Stop antisemitism because we are all connected together and we’re all involved in this together. 

    I was sitting in a restaurant, as I conclude. It must have been October 10th. I’m sitting down at the table having a meal and a young African American woman walked in with a Howard University shirt on. She looked at me and said, “You’re one of those Zionist lovers. We know what you’re about. I just came from the march. We know what you are about.” 

    And while she’s saying that, I’m on my phone. I’m Googling Howard University. And I handed her my phone. And she looked at the founder of Howard University, Julius Rosenwald. And I told her, “Read on.” And she read on and she looked at the fact that almost 40 percent of the children in the Deep South were educated in schools that he opened, a Jewish philanthropist. 

    When segregation was the norm in the Deep South, he was opening schools so Black and Brown children could go to school and become teachers and educators to go into the Black and Brown communities and deal with segregation. And I said, “Read on.” And she saw how he was one of the original co-founders of the NAACP. 

    And I said, let’s go talk about the two Jewish young men who were down in Mississippi and lost their lives. But let’s not stop there. Let’s talk about when young white students went to the Deep South, 51 percent of them were Jewish, putting their lives on the line. And so yes, call me a Zionist. But what you can’t call me is mis-educated. And if you are going to denounce what gave birth to the college that you’re in right now, then they’re not educating you. 

    So, the next time you go in the street to celebrate October 7th, buy a plane ticket and go see what happened there. The next time you believe that you should eradicate from the river to the sea, first know where on the map you’re talking about. The next time you want to align yourself with groups who are proliferating hatred and talking about genocide, go look at what’s happening in Sudan and the thousands of lives that are being lost. 

    Lift up your educational understanding so you can properly fight a fight on the right side of the issue. That’s where we are missing this. They have indoctrinated and radicalized our children in the social media generation that is taking them down the road of devastation, of not knowing who their allies and brothers and sisters have historically been. 

    And you’re right, mayor. You are our cousins. You marched with us for Dr. King. You committed and volunteered your lives throughout the generations to stand side by side. But now your story can no longer be a tree that falls in a forest where no one hears a sound. It’s time for you to tell your story. Because if you don’t tell your story, people will distort your story. 

    So, I’m going to play my position. I may not be the best at it, but I’m going to do everything possible. We had a hockey player called Wayne Gretzky. They called him the ‘Great One.’ I loved his story. Wayne lost his first Stanley Cup. That’s a championship for hockey players. And he went into his locker room and all his teammates were pointing the finger at each other. “Who missed the puck? Who didn’t do their job?” 

    And then Wayne, being the gentleman that he is, walked down the hall to the opposing team’s locker room. It was quiet. He thought they went home. He peeked his head inside. They were laid out on the benches, bloody and bruised. They left everything they had on the ice. He knew then, that’s how you win. 

    And I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. But I’m going to fight hate. And I’m going to be battered, I’m going to be bruised. I’m going to leave everything I have on the ice. And all I’m asking all of you, lace up your skates and get on this ice with me. And let’s win. 

    December 3, 2025 Manhattan, New York

    Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • Why Gen Z Is Renting Everything From Clothes to Strollers Instead of Owning (Video)

    Why Gen Z Is Renting Everything From Clothes to Strollers Instead of Owning (Video)

    Gen Z is driving a major shift away from traditional ownership and toward a rental-first lifestyle, according to a Fox Business discussion on the growing “rental boom.” Young consumers are now renting everything from clothes and kids’ strollers to glassware, treating access as more important than possession. What older generations might see as a financial red flag, many Gen Zers now see as a smart, flexible way to live—one that allows them to enjoy variety and convenience without long-term commitment or big upfront costs.

    USA news Z Rental Boom

    The panel highlighted that this rental trend has both lifestyle and environmental benefits. Renting fashion and children’s toys, for example, keeps items in circulation longer and reduces waste compared to fast fashion that ends up in landfills after just a few wears. At the same time, there’s still tension between the pride and responsibility that comes with owning assets and the ease of simply renting what you need, when you need it. The guests cautioned against calling things like clothes or shoes “assets,” noting that most people don’t recoup much value when they try to resell them.

    Technology is the backbone of this new rental economy. Subscription platforms and apps now make it easy to rent clothes, accessories, and even household items on demand, in much the same way services like Uber and Airbnb reshaped transportation and travel. Companies such as Nuuly, FashionPass, and rental programs by major brands leverage cloud-based technology to manage inventory, logistics, and customer preferences at scale. The result is a fast-growing business model where Gen Z can constantly refresh their lifestyle—wardrobes, baby gear, and more—without needing to own it all.

    Sources: Midtown Tribune news , Video Fox Business

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • Governor Hochul Launches Second $50 Million County Infrastructure Grant to Support Housing and Local Growth in New York

    Governor Hochul Launches Second $50 Million County Infrastructure Grant to Support Housing and Local Growth in New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul has opened a second round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, adding another $50 million to help New York counties upgrade local infrastructure and support more housing, tourism, and community projects. Counties can apply now through April 1, 2026, with grants of up to $1 million for projects that create at least 10 new homes and up to $500,000 for smaller or non-housing projects. The program, run by Empire State Development, builds on a first round that funded 49 projects and more than 2,750 new homes, giving local governments the resources they need to fix aging systems, attract new residents and visitors, and create stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods across the state.

    Governor Hochul Announces Additional $50 Million for Second Round of County Infrastructure Grant Program

    Applications Now Open for County-Led Infrastructure Projects that Encourage Housing Growth, Placemaking and Tourism . Applications Due April 1, 2026

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a second round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, which will provide an additional $50 million to support small- and medium-sized county-led infrastructure projects. Modern infrastructure is fundamental to New York State’s economic vitality. By supporting small- and medium-scale projects, the state can maintain its competitiveness, generate additional economic growth and continue to advance Governor Kathy Hochul’s bold housing agenda. Applications will be accepted now through April 1, 2026. Empire State Development (ESD) requires submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to filing a final application. Links to the LOI and application are available here.

    “Coming from local government, I know firsthand how funding for local infrastructure projects can change a community — uplifting residents and providing those communities with a sense of purpose,” Governor Hochul said. “When counties are offered assistance to build more infrastructure, it gives these communities the opportunity to attract more visitors and spur housing development for generations to come.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Growing the state’s housing stock is not just a priority; it is a structural pillar of Governor Hochul’s administration and the essential catalyst for robust, sustainable economic growth. With another round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, we are making a targeted investment that will provide critical housing stability for New Yorkers. This simultaneous effort will enhance the sense of place and vitality across our communities, creating the groundwork necessary to cultivate new jobs, attract new residents, and welcome visitors.”

    New York State Housing and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “With this second round of funding, Governor Hochul is building on the millions already invested to strengthen local infrastructure and unlock more than 2,700 housing opportunities across New York. The additional $50 million will pave the way for more homes, ensuring that counties have the tools they need to grow sustainably. By investing in the foundations of our communities, we are not only expanding the supply of housing, but also fueling economic vitality, supporting tourism, and creating vibrant neighborhoods where families can thrive. We are proud to continue partnering with counties throughout New York to turn these investments into lasting results.”

    New York State Association of Counties President Phil Church said, “This innovative grant program provides vital resources that empower counties to strengthen local communities — addressing critical housing needs while upgrading aging water and wastewater systems. The New York State Association of Counties applauds Governor Kathy Hochul, the State Legislature, and Empire State Development President & CEO Hope Knight for their leadership and continued investment in county infrastructure. These partnerships between state and local governments are essential to building vibrant, resilient communities across every region of New York. With this second round of funding totaling $100 M, counties have new opportunities to deliver projects that improve quality of life and lay the foundation for sustainable growth statewide.”

    State Senator Sean M. Ryan said, “Strong communities are built on reliable, modern infrastructure, and counties across New York have no shortage of worthy projects that just need the resources to move forward. This program gives local governments the support they need to upgrade aging systems, attract new housing, and lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for continuing to invest in the growth of our communities.”

    Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, “One of the biggest obstacles to economic development in New York State is housing — and a substantial amount of it for New Yorkers to live and work where they want to. The second round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program takes the housing crisis head-on, building on the success of its initial round to encourage additional housing, placemaking, and tourism in virtually every corner of the state. Small-scale infrastructure projects lacking the capital to get off the ground will get the chance to lift off and go from idea to implementation. This is an exciting opportunity to continue modernizing our neighborhoods and maintaining New York’s economic competitiveness, benefitting both residents and tourists alike.”

    An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, December 18 at 11:30 a.m. More information will be posted on the County Infrastructure Grant Program website.

    The County Infrastructure Grant Program was established to assist counties in developing infrastructure to better meet the needs of New Yorkers. The original $50 million program was included in the State’s FY 2025 Enacted Budget, with an additional $50 million included in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget. Grants of up to $1 million are awarded to priority projects that propose the creation of 10 or more housing units. Projects fewer than 10 housing units, or no housing creation, can receive up to $500,000. Projects are identified by the county and must support economic development, contribute to placemaking or encourage tourism. In July 2025, Governor Hochul announced that more than $37 million was awarded to 49 projects, supporting the construction of over 2,750 new homes, through the first round of the program.

    More information on the program, including how to apply, is on the Empire State Development website. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis through the Consolidated Funding Application portal.

    About Empire State Development

    December 2, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Sources: NY.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune news

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • Donald Trump and Venezuela: ‘Pinpoint Attacks’ on Drug Boats and Possible Ground Strikes

    Donald Trump and Venezuela: ‘Pinpoint Attacks’ on Drug Boats and Possible Ground Strikes

    In this segment, President Trump reaffirms his support for U.S. strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats and pointedly leaves the door open for potential land operations in Venezuela. He highlights that, in his view, more than 90% of narcotics arriving by sea have been stopped and frames the maritime campaign as a series of “pinpoint attacks” that are “saving hundreds of thousands of lives.” The messaging clearly positions these actions as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s regime and to treat the narcotics flow as a direct national security threat.

    The report then focuses on the controversy surrounding a two-strike incident on a suspected drug vessel in September. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth states he watched only the first strike live before leaving the room, after which operational control rested with Admiral Frank Bradley. According to U.S. officials cited by Fox News, Bradley authorized the second strike to fully sink the vessel, arguing it could have posed a threat to other ships or allowed survivors to call for armed backup. Hegseth references the “fog of war,” noting that fire, explosions, and smoke made it impossible to clearly see survivors in real time.

    Finally, the piece highlights the growing political and legal scrutiny in Washington. Both Democrats and some Republicans are questioning whether the second strike could qualify as a war crime under international law and U.S. rules of engagement. Lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are expected to press Admiral Bradley for detailed explanations in upcoming briefings. As a result, the Venezuela pressure campaign and anti-drug operations in the Caribbean are becoming not only a foreign and security policy issue, but also a test case for how far U.S. military force can be used in counter-narcotics missions without crossing legal and ethical red lines.

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York