Mayor Eric Adams on Oct. 14 signed Executive Order 57 creating the New York City Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain, the first municipal office of its kind in the U.S., and appointed policy veteran Moises Rendon as executive director. The office will promote responsible use of crypto and blockchain, coordinate with the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation and other agencies, and engage state and federal partners. Early priorities include assembling an industry advisory commission, attracting talent and investment, expanding access for unbanked residents, and bolstering public education on risks such as scams—all aimed at reinforcing New York’s position as a global finance-and-tech hub.
Mayor Adams Takes Action to Position New York City as Global Capital of Digital Assets
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Executive Order 57 and established the New York City Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain. The first-ever mayoral office of its kind in the nation positions New York as the global capital of digital assets, including cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. The office will promote the responsible use of digital assets and blockchain technologies, grow economic opportunities for New Yorkers, attract world-class talent, and reinforce the city’s standing as the world’s hub for financial and technological innovation. Mayor Adams also today appointed Moises Rendon to lead the office as executive director. As its first action, Executive Director Rendon will form a commission of leaders in the digital assets space to advise on the office’s work.
“From day one, our administration has kept New York City ahead of the curve because when we embrace technology, we deliver a safer, more affordable city,” said Mayor Adams. “In 2022, I became the first American mayor to convert my first three paychecks into crypto and this past May, our administration hosted the first-ever crypto summit at Gracie Mansion. Today, with the nation’s first mayoral agency focused solely on digital assets and blockchain technology, we continue to signal the opportunities this new form of technology can bring to New York City. Our city has always been the center of innovation, and we’re embracing the technologies of tomorrow today. The age of digital assets is here, and with it comes the chance to grow our economy, attract world-class talent, expand opportunities for underbanked communities, and make government more user-friendly. I’m looking forward to working closer with Moises Rendon as we help make New York City the tech capital of the world.”
“New York City has remained the global center of innovation for decades due to our willingness to embrace new, emerging technologies,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “With the launch of the New York City Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain, New York City is reaffirming its role as a leader in the financial and technology sectors to ensure that working-class New Yorkers are first in line for game-changing economic opportunities of the future and efficient delivery of government services. And Moises Rendon is uniquely qualified to guide New York City through this new frontier of technology, which will, once again, result in New York City growing its economy, delivering real economic benefits to underserved communities, and attracting the world-class talent that makes us the envy of the world.”
“New York City’s future as a global finance center and municipal governance leader depends on our ability to capitalize on the enormous opportunities presented by emerging technologies such as digital assets and blockchain,” said New York City Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser. “Today’s announcement affirms our place at the forefront of this technological revolution and showcases the mayor’s bold, forward-looking vision to make New York City the crypto capital of the globe. This office ensures that we’re partnering with the brightest minds across the fintech sphere and empowering city agencies to harness the transformative potential of digital assets and blockchain for the benefit of 8.5 million New Yorkers.”
“Mayor Adams’ creation of this new office proves that the future is now for digital assets and blockchain in New York City,” said Mayor’s Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Executive Director Moises Rendon. “I am honored to lead the nation’s first municipal office dedicated to successfully and responsibly deploying these technologies. I look forward to collaborating with CTO Fraser, city agency partners, and private-industry leaders to develop policies and programs that make our government more accessible, transparent, and innovative for New Yorkers in the years ahead.”
The Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain will promote long-term economic growth, ensuring that digital assets strengthen the city’s economy, including by:
Fostering innovation and development while guiding the responsible development of cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystems in New York City.
Coordinating efforts between the digital asset industry and government, serving as a bridge to encourage responsible innovation and alignment across stakeholders.
Working in close collaboration with the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) while also coordinating citywide efforts across agencies, ensuring alignment of policies, services, and digital asset initiatives.
Engaging with state and federal partners to promote policies that make New York City more welcoming to blockchain and crypto initiatives that add value and comply with laws and regulations.
Promoting inclusion and access, particularly for unbanked and underbanked communities, by supporting safer ways to save money, access resources, and build resilience against inflation.
Educating and protecting the public through initiatives that help New Yorkers understand the risks of digital assets, including campaigns to raise awareness of scams, fraud, and consumer protections.
Attracting world-class talent and investment, ensuring New York remains globally competitive in financial innovation and technological development.
Supporting nonpartisan, policy-driven legislation, ensuring the office remains focused on sound policy and the delivery of tangible benefits to New Yorkers across all communities.
Through these efforts, the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain will help secure New York City’s leadership in the digital economy, expand opportunities for its residents, and build a foundation of responsible innovation, trust, inclusion, and growth. The office will allow New York City to demonstrate its leadership in embracing innovation while safeguarding the interests of its residents.
About Moises Rendon
Moises Rendon is a digital assets and blockchain policy expert with extensive experience advising federal, local, and international stakeholders. He currently serves as policy advisor for digital assets and blockchain at OTI, where he leads citywide research and strategic initiatives to explore blockchain’s potential for improving government operations.
Previously, Rendon served as a director for the Washington, D.C. office of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas and was a policy consultant for the U.S. Department of State, United States Agency for International Development, and private-sector clients on fintech and economic trends. Rendon holds a Master of Laws degree in International Business and Economic Law from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Andrés Bello Catholic University in Venezuela.
Executive Director Rendon will report directly to Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an $8.5 million pilot, CRIB—Creating Real Impact at Birth—to move more than 300 pregnant New Yorkers into stable housing before delivery using CityFHEPS vouchers or Pathway Home subsidies, part of a broader $650 million homelessness and mental-health plan. The initiative targets a persistent problem—over 2,000 babies were born in city shelters in 2024—while building on CityFHEPS, now aiding 60,000 households. Adams also introduced “New York City Baby Boxes,” $200 kits of essentials for about 7,000 families delivering at Kings County, Elmhurst, Lincoln and Jacobi hospitals. Officials said the paired measures aim to cut red tape, prevent shelter entry, and improve early health and bonding outcomes for parents and infants.
Mayor Adams Launches Two Signature Programs to Make Life More Affordable for New Mothers and Families, Avoid Shelter and Poverty
Mayor Eric Adams: Really really proud and happy to be here today. This is something that Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom joined us and we continued this important initiative, our CRIB program. It’s unimaginable when you think about it, in the city for far too long, mothers were giving birth to babies and then returning back to shelters. And we were clear under this administration that we were not going to continue that system of just systemic poverty and just a way of stating that we as New Yorkers and the government, we are not concerned about breaking the clear cycles of poverty.
You know Archbishop Desmond Tutu had a quote that I always remember, “We spend a lifetime pulling people out of the river, no one goes upstream and prevents them from falling in the first place.” And we have professionalized pulling people out of the river. Today, this announcement of CRIB is how we’re going to prevent them from falling in the first place.
Having a child should be the greatest day of one’s life. I remember watching Jordan when he was born and how proud I was and I knew the awesome responsibility of being a dad. But it was a proud moment for me and it’s definitely the way a million of New Yorkers should feel when they give birth to a child. And on that day, you should not have to worry about where you’re going to take your baby to. You should not have to worry about [whether] you’re going to return to an environment that’s not conducive to a child upbringing.
You should not have to worry about whether your child will grow up on the verge of homelessness or in a home. Nothing is more important to our city’s future than making sure every young person, they’re ready for the future that’s ahead of them. And that starts with a place for them to live the moment they’re born. And that’s what we’re delivering with the launch of our new pilot project CRIB, an initiative that aims to create real impact at birth by putting pregnant New Yorkers on a path to permanent housing.
This is an $8.5 million program that will provide pregnant New Yorkers with housing vouchers so they can quickly move into stable homes before the child is born. And earlier this year, in our State of the City address, we made a commitment that no child should ever be born into our shelter system. And that is what CRIB is all about. It’s part of the $650 million plan to tackle homelessness and severe mental illness and to ensure New Yorkers have a safe, clean place to come home to.
In fact, by ensuring mothers and babies do not enter a shelter after leaving the hospital, we are breaking the cycle of poverty and housing instability before it starts. In 2024 alone, over 2,000 babies were born in New York City shelters. Just think about that for a moment. Over 2,000. That’s 2,000 too many. And with every housing voucher that this CRIB program will give to families, it will connect New Yorkers while diverting pregnant parents from shelter and improving their health services and outcomes.
So that our most vulnerable New Yorkers can find the affordable housing they need and get the start in life that they deserve. With CRIB, we are ensuring that families are supported and are able to live in a city that is safe and affordable. This is also another example of how this administration is cutting through the red tape of bureaucracy to give the resources to families when they need it. And that often prevents people from getting government services in a timely manner.
CRIB doesn’t just further our mission to make our city the best place to raise a family. It builds on a record of doing so. Since coming to office, when you think about it, how we have moved people out of homelessness into permanent housing, and a record number of individuals in shelters, with nearly 37,500 New Yorkers moving into subsidized units last fiscal year alone.
An awesome job and responsibility of Commissioner Wasow Park and her team. They have really leaned into breaking this record of getting people into permanent housing. Even when we were facing an asylum seeker and a migrant crisis with 237,000 migrants and asylum seekers, over 90 percent have gone on to the next step of their journey. Not one child or family slept on the streets of the City of New York, and history is going to be kind to that record when we start reflecting on how great this administration has done when it came down to people in need
Starting a family is one of the greatest joys one should have. But barriers and negative reactions have prevented that joy from being what it should be. So we are not just ensuring that pregnant mothers have housing, we’re making sure that families have the support they need. And earlier this year, we launched our New York City Baby Boxes, which sends families home from hospital with vital supplies and resources, including diapers and wipes, clothing, games and guys, and what to expect after giving birth.
These items that we see here, trust me when I tell you, it goes a long way when you don’t have to determine what you will put on your table to eat and buy the supplies for your babies. This is a great way to start off with your child and the support and information that they need. New York City Baby Boxes will reach approximately 7,000 families across our public hospital system. 7,000 New York families will be leaving the hospital with diapers and clothing and other supplies.
7,000 that can have peace of mind, that they have the resources they need to get an early start. And when you add this with what Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart and Community Affairs and the Police Department with his various baby supplies that he has given out to over 20,000 families in the city. It is how every agency is on board for doing what is right for the children and families of the city. We’re helping ease the financial stress of new families and making New York City more affordable for them.
Our children are the next generation and our next generation starts now. Many times and far too often we look at these stats and create them as just numbers on the pieces of paper. But it’s not. It’s individuals and far too often we have denied those individuals the access to government that they deserve. And nothing personifies that more than our next speaker, Tytiana Mitchell. She’s a queer participant and her baby is going to have the early start in life that they deserve. I’m going to bring in Tytiana.
Tytiana Mitchell: My name is Tytiana Mitchell. I’m 25 years old. I am a lifelong New Yorker. I live in Queens, New York. And I recently fell through rough times and had to go into the shelter in mid-September. I am currently three months pregnant and I am excited to start my new chapter in my life. But I know I also need stable housing to care for my baby. When I went into the PATH Intake Center run by the Department of Homeless Services, I was immediately greeted by people who wanted to help.
They told me that because I am pregnant, I am eligible for a new program called CRIB that specializes in helping pregnant women like me. They let me know that I could move in with a family member who received support to house me and my growing family or get a CityFHEPS voucher so I can afford my own housing.
The program has been great in moving to help me quickly and really showed me that they care about me. I work a seasonal job and I am currently on interviews to get full-time work. With the support of the city and the Adams Administration, I am excited [about] what my future will hold for me and my baby and my partner, Jhevon, who is here with me today. And now we’ll be introducing Commissioner Wasow Park.
Mayor Adams: Hold on, hold on. That’s your boo? Come on up here, man. You should be up here with us. Come on. Love it. Go ahead, say a few words, man. Always trying to leave the men out.
Jhevon Higgins: What I would like to say is thank you to the Adams [administration], [Mayor] Adams, [and] commissioner because the steps that we take and the life that we live in this New York City, we know it’s not always easy. It’s a rough path that we have to deal with, but with the help of everybody that’s a part of the system, I think that we have a better chance of getting there.
Mayor Adams: Good luck to you. Thank you. Boy or girl?
Higgins: [Inaudible.]
Commissioner Molly Wasow Park, Department of Social Services: Good morning. Having a baby is both a wonderful life moment and immensely challenging. My baby is now twenty, but I still remember very distinctly both the joys and the stresses of those first few months. That time is profoundly important, both for the family and for the baby. The instability and, frankly, trauma of homelessness can have lasting impacts on an infant.
And with over 2,000 babies born in shelters in 2024, there’s no bigger way to impact a child’s first days on this earth than to ensure the child is born into a stable home. With CRIB creating real impact at birth, we’re working creatively and strategically to break the cycle of infant homelessness. Our goal is to identify the best tools to connect parents facing homelessness to permanent housing in real time so that their babies will be born into stability.
CRIB is a pilot to study the impact of housing stability on the newest of New Yorkers by providing expecting mothers housing support to avoid entering shelter. Through the pilot program, DSS will identify more than 300 pregnant people who are applying for shelter and assign them to a housing subsidy, either the rental assistance program CityFHEPS or Pathway Home, which pays people to stay with friends or family. This will allow them to more quickly move into stable homes before their children are born.
The pilot builds off our experience serving families over many years. For example, during COVID, the number of families with children entering the shelter system dropped significantly. One of the reasons for this is that substantial federal income support meant that families could afford to stay together. We know that the city has a historically low vacancy rate, and it’s hard to go out and find an apartment.
So we’re looking to see if we can support people to stay with their friends and families in a moment of great change for them with Pathway Home. And as for CityFHEPS, DSS helped nearly 32,000 individuals obtain permanent homes or stay stably housed through CityFHEPS in 2025, reflecting a threefold increase in the number of new households using the voucher since the launch of the program.
Today, more than 60,000 households or more than 136,000 New Yorkers are using CityFHEPS for their housing. This reflects a more than 200 percent growth in the program since its launch and makes CityFHEPS the second largest rental assistance program in the country. Through CRIB, we are looking to evaluate these two different models to see which one best helps pregnant people either avoid shelter altogether or have very short shelter stays so that we minimize the number of babies born in shelters.
Thanks to Mayor Adams, this is an innovative program that we anticipate will lead to improved outcomes for families and babies during a transformative and precious, yet also deeply vulnerable time in their lives. I want to say a big thank you to the DSS staff who took my crazy idea and turned it into reality, and particularly to the two deputy mayors who are here who have championed the work from the very beginning. And now it is my great pleasure to introduce New York City Health + Hospitals Chief Women’s Health Officer, Dr. Wendy Wilcox. Thank you.
Dr. Wendy Wilcox, Chief Women’s Health Officer, New York City Health + Hospitals: Good morning and thank you. Mr. Mayor, deputy mayors, thank you all who are here for joining us at New York City Health + Hospitals Kings County today for this special announcement. My name is Dr. Wendy Wilcox. I’m the inaugural Chief Women’s Health Officer for New York City Health + Hospitals. I also was previously chief of service here at OBGYN because I am an obstetrician gynecologist. So in case you need anything, I know it’s too early, but we’ll see.
We know that the first few months of parents and babies’ lives together are extremely important. The less that they have to worry about some of the essentials, the more time they have together to bond. That bonding is incredibly important for the lifetime health of both the baby and the mother. Relieving this stress is so necessary for a future of health and for the health of the entire family. That’s why these baby boxes are so important to birthing families. Not only do they take the burden off of new parents, allowing the time to care and bond with their newborn, but also to take stress out of their lives.
The baby boxes, along with the CRIB program that you just heard about, are to make sure that all of those outside stressors will be relieved. These baby boxes are going to be available for all birthing families. You heard me. All birthing families who deliver at our four sites that have the most deliveries within the system. These would be Kings County, Elmhurst, Lincoln, and Jacoby. I want to thank the mayor and the deputy mayors for their commitment to New York City Health + Hospitals and the families of New York City.
I also want to thank Welcome Baby and the United Way, as well as both the City Hall teams and the central office women’s health and communications teams for really making this become a reality. We know that New York City loves babies, and just in case you had any doubt, New York City loves babies. We know that this will program the baby boxes and the CRIB program will make a difference. And now, I will introduce Deputy Mayor Suzanne Miles-Gustave.
Deputy Mayor Suzanne Miles-Gustave, Health and Human Services: Thank you so much. Good morning. It is such a pleasure to be here with all of our Health + Hospital heroes. Wonderful room to be in. But from day one, I think you heard the mayor say, the Adams administration has made supporting children and families a core focus, not just a policy priority, but as a reflection of our values. Project CRIB is a powerful example of what it looks like when we bring our health and social services systems into alignment, treating housing not as separate from health, but as essential to it.
We know that the conditions into which a child is born shapes everything that follows. Development, health, family stability, even long-term opportunities. When a newborn enters the world into shelter, that child and their parents are already facing trauma, stress, and barriers to care. With CRIB, our Creating Real Impact at Birth, we are piloting an approach that meets families at the exact moment when coordinated support can make the greatest difference. It’s smart government, but it’s also deeply human government.
This initiative reflects our administration’s belief that early intervention works, that prevention is powerful, and that health and housing outcomes improve when we connect people to the right services and resources at the right time, before [a] crisis hits. It also reflects a broader shift we’re leading across city government, and that’s integrating care, moving away from fragmented systems toward ones that see families holistically, not as cases or numbers, but as New Yorkers who deserve to thrive.
A thanks to our partners at DSS, to our healthcare providers here at H + H, and to Mayor Adams for working to give every child a strong, stable start at life. This is really what it means to put families first. And I have to give a huge, huge, huge shout-out to my predecessor, for whom this would not be possible without her vision and commitment. And I want to bring former Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom up to say a few words.
Former Deputy Mayor Anne Williams‑Isom: Good afternoon, everyone. Yes, my title was former deputy mayor, but ten weeks ago I got a new title. The title is Gigi Anne. We had our first grandchild, ten weeks ago. My whole life I have been a child advocate, so I know all the research. I have seen the data. I have three children of my own. But I will tell you that seeing my daughter and her son-in-law these past two months, months right before giving birth, has given me a refresher course that I didn’t realize I needed, about how vulnerable you are, how fragile, and frankly, how sacred this time is.
And so it has been so important for me to come from my Gigi duty, to come and to tell you, I spent so much time talking about adverse childhood experiences. And we study all the negative stuff. We study what happens if a child has a death in the family, or if they experience homelessness. But we know what works. We act like we’re on Mars. Was it surprising [to] you to hear that if a child is born into [a] shelter that that is traumatic?
I saw my daughter and my husband and I picked her up with flowers and all kinds of stuff, and I saw that glaze in her eyes because of what she was going through. And she was going through a beautiful apartment on the Upper West Side with people to help her. And the child, a 33 years old lawyer, looked like she [was a] deer in the headlights. What is it that we don’t understand? She had complications with breastfeeding. And I didn’t know what to do, but I called my 95-year-old mom and I was like, “Mom, how do we do this?”
And people that we could call. I don’t even want to call it a service. I want to call it support because it is something that we all need, no? Yes? And so we sit up here and we act like this is an amazing thing. But to say something so profoundly like no child should be born in a shelter, when the mayor said that, we all kind of went like, “Hh yeah, that’s nice.” You guys should clap for that. That is a bold vision of saying that this is the way the world is, but we can do something different. Yes? And we can do it together.
We talked about commitment. We talked about what the science says, which is why I love this so much. But we need to say the word love. If we loved all children like I love Noel, we would make sure that they have all of this and more. And it is possible for us to do that. Noel’s middle name is Ijeoma, which means safe journey. Her dad is from Nigeria. And Ijeoma’s safe journey doesn’t mean when she goes to school or when she gets a good early childhood program or when she goes into a good college. It means from the moment she’s born. I’m going to say one last thing.
When I go into the room and she hears my voice, she’s ten weeks old. She doesn’t know me from a hole in the wall. But she knows that someone is coming to help her, that when she cries, someone will be there for her to pick her up to comfort her, to give her a bottle that’s the right temperature, to hand it to her mom. You guys, we can do this. We can support moms and these fabulous dads that are here to do better for our children if we want a better world. I want to say thank you to all of the folks at the Department of Social Services, Health + Hospitals, Department of Health, all of you, because it’s a crazy time.
But what you do is you continue to put your head down. In the midst of, like the mayor used to say, “Block out the noise and just do what you need to do.” And we see that and we appreciate it. Lastly, I want to say something about Mayor Adams. We can say a lot about Mayor Adams. What I will say is that what I have always admired is his commitment, his compassion, and his superpower, which is his proximity to pain.
When there was any situation, whether it was a homeless person, a person with severe mental illness, he doesn’t go away from it, he doesn’t lean back from it, he leans into it. Sometimes I was like, we need to lean back, I don’t want to do that, please. He was just talking about the asylum seekers, and I feel like I have a post-traumatic stress system. But he leans in, and so I appreciate you dearly for all that you have done, and especially for the people that we love and the folks that are the most vulnerable in this city. God bless you all and thank you very much.
Mayor Adams: Thank you. I’m looking around the room and I’m seeing the faces of this amazing hospital. Sheldon, thanks so much for allowing us to host this here. As we were walking up the steps, Sheldon was sharing with me, the chief executive officer was sharing with me, you had 102 percent capacity, and you’re seeing the byproducts of COVID. Many of our young people are dealing with severe mental health issues. They’re finally coming out and talking about it. And so I just want to say thank you.
This hospital, I represented you as the state senator, as the borough president. You have always been on the ground, and your staff here is just amazing. Whenever we call on you, you’re always there, and we cannot thank you enough. This is a quality hospital in a community that needs quality care. I’m so glad what the deputy mayor stated. We have just put so many things in place to build on. We are leaving this city in good care, folks.
What this administration has done, whomever comes next, they need to build on what we have done. We’re handing off in this relay of life. No one runs the whole relay. There’s a team behind it. The baton we’re handing off. We’re giving everyone a great lead, a great foundation. We cannot mess this up. We can’t go backwards. We have to continue to lift up children and families in the city. So we’ll ask a few questions before I bounce.
Question: What’s the approximate value of the baby box?
Mayor Adams: H + H, do we have approximate values? You come up to the microphone.
Sarah Gould Steinhardt, Executive Director, Welcome Baby USA: I’m Sarah with Welcome Baby. The city is investing about $200 in each of these boxes for families who need them.
Question: So a few questions. On the baby box, are they customized to the mother? Because every mother is different when they’re pregnant and for their child. I also was wondering about the CityFHEPS voucher. Those people that already have vouchers complain that it’s difficult to get into apartments. So what’s the work being done so that the mother actually gets in before she’s due? And then I heard it’s a pilot program. Does that mean it’s only going to go to the end of this year or it’s going to be able to be funded into the next year?
Steinhardt: I can talk about the first question. These are the core essentials that really every birthing family needs when they bring a baby home from the hospital. So this really does satisfy all of those basic needs of a newborn and a postpartum mother in those first four weeks and, frankly, beyond.
Commissioner Wasow Park: So you’re absolutely right that the tightness of the New York City housing market is an immense challenge for everybody, and that’s one of the reasons why we are really testing two different housing pathways. There’s CityFHEPS vouchers, but we’re also working with Pathway Home, which is a program that helps cover costs when people are staying with friends or family.
We are really structuring this so that we understand what works best for parents when they are on a very specific timeline for getting housing. And I think at least one theory is that Pathway Home may be a good interim solution to help people address the fact that we do have a 1.4 percent vacancy rate in the city. With respect to the pilot, it has been funded over a five-year period.
Mayor Adams: That’s why we have to build more housing. That’s why we zoned the city for 426,000 new units of housing with our City of Yes program, the most comprehensive housing program in the history of the city. That’s why we built more housing in year one, year two, and year three in the history of the city. Our program is more than 12 years of Bloomberg, eight years of de Blasio combined.
We did it in three and a half years. That’s why more people are participating in the FHEPS voucher program, getting housing than any other administration in the history of the city. 3,500 people removed out of street homelessness into permanent housing, 1,000 off our subway system. We did it. And now the next guys have to do it. Thank you. Thank you all.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the return of Israeli hostages after two years of suffering, offering prayers for their healing and honoring victims including Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. Reflecting on her post–October 7 visit to Israel and meetings with grieving families—some from New York—Hochul thanked the U.S. administration for helping secure the releases. She called for a permanent ceasefire, swift delivery of humanitarian aid to families in Gaza, and a new chapter of lasting peace and freedom for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul
“After two years of immense suffering and loss, the Israeli hostages have finally returned home. I join their families in celebrating this long-awaited homecoming and pray they find peace and comfort in the days ahead.
“Since October 7, I’ve come to know several of the hostages’ families, including New Yorkers whose children were brutally murdered by Hamas. When I visited Israel in the immediate aftermath of the attack, I grieved alongside the families of Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. My heart is with them today, and with the many others who are still awaiting the closure they deserve. May the victims’ memories be a blessing, and may we never forget their loved ones’ pain.
“I’m grateful to the administration for its role in securing the hostages’ release. With their return and a permanent ceasefire, I’m hopeful that vital aid will soon reach families suffering in Gaza and that today marks the beginning of a new chapter of lasting peace and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after all remaining living hostages in Gaza were returned home to Israel:
“Our hearts are filled with joy as an end to the war in Gaza appears to be on the horizon and families have finally been united. All living Israeli hostages have returned home after Hamas kidnapped them from their communities more than two years ago. Since the October 7th terrorist attacks, I have met with families whose children were ripped from their homes, mourned the innocent lives lost, and seen how this unspeakable pain impacted our city. We pray that this news will bring lasting peace, justice, and prosperity to Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a State of Emergency for eight counties across southern New York after urging New Yorkers to continue to prepare as a strong coastal storm is set to impact much of New York beginning Sunday afternoon. The State of Emergency includes the Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester Counties as well as counties contiguous to those eight. New York State has been working in close coordination with all county and city partners on storm preparations including the City of New York. The storm has strengthened as it has moved up the mid-Atlantic coast toward southern New England and is expected to cause widespread moderate to major coastal flooding throughout Downstate New York, along with bringing strong winds and long duration rain to the region. In response, utilities have added more than 1,600 workers throughout the Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island Regions to support storm response operations.
“As the Nor’easter continues making its way through New York, I’m declaring a State of Emergency across boroughs and counties most impacted by the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution until the storm has passed through the state.”
Governor Hochul began warning New Yorkers of this storm and its impacts earlier this week and is continuing to urge New Yorkers to closely monitor their local forecasts, prepare their households accordingly and avoid traveling in impacted areas this weekend.
New York State Department of Public Service staff have been in communication with the electric utilities with service territories in the forecasted area anticipated to be affected by this weekend’s Nor’easter event. Con Edison, Orange and Rockland, PSEG Long Island, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, and NYSEG are all actively monitoring forecasts and preparing for potential impacts to their respective service territories.
Utility preparations have included bringing in an additional 1,618 workers, activation of respective Incident Command, staging equipment, conducting outbound calls to Life Support Equipment (LSE) customers and critical facility customers in the areas anticipated to receive the most impacts, as well as conducting municipal officials calls. Utility crews are prepared to operate in the overnight hours to respond where safe to do so. All utilities continue to monitor the forecast and will make resource adjustments in alignment with existing emergency plans.
The utilities have approximately 7,118 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts across the state, as necessary. This includes the addition of more than 1,600 workers since Friday, with ConEd and Orange and Rockland adding 900 workers, PSEG LI adding 520, and NYSEG adding 198 workers, and Central Hudson adding 44 workers. Department staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.
The threat for coastal flooding has increased as the storm has moved up the coast and the National Weather Service now has Coastal Flood Warnings in place for Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County beginning 12 p.m. Sunday through 8 p.m. Monday. Forecasts are calling for widespread moderate to major coastal flooding for the south shore bays of Nassau and southwestern Suffolk counties during times of high tide until Monday. Widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding remains a threat for the remainder of the coastline, with the widespread possibility of dune erosion and localized overwashes along the Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Strong winds are also expected to be a major hazard throughout the duration of the storm. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for much of Suffolk County beginning at 12 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday, with a Wind Advisory in place for the rest of Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County. During this period, wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour are possible and could result in downed trees and possible power outages. Due to the forecasted high wind conditions, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem (piggyback, dual, triple, etc.) trucks on its seven bridges beginning 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Based on the current forecast and the overall timing of this weather event, it is anticipated this ban will be in place until 6:00 p.m. Monday.
Forecasters are also calling for long duration rainfall as part of this storm, the most intense of which will be focused downstate where between 1.5 and 3 inches of rainfall is expected in the lower Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island Regions and minor flooding resulting from poor drainage is possible. The northern Mid-Hudson and southern Capital Regions are forecast to receive between an inch and 1.5 inches of rain, while the rest of the state should see an inch or less. The rainfall has the potential to cause flooding in urban areas with poor drainage throughout Sunday and into Monday.
New Yorkers are encouraged to monitor their local forecasts, weather watches and warnings. It is critical to ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. New Yorkers can also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.
Safety Tips
Power Outages:
Check with your utility to determine area repair schedules.
If you lose power, turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.
To Report an Electric Outage, call:
Central Hudson: 800-527-2714
Con Edison: 800-752-6633
National Grid: 800-867-5222
NYSEG: 800-572-1131
O&R: 877-434-4100
PSEG-LI: 800-490-0075
RG&E: 800-743-1701
Flood Safety:
Learn the safest route from your home or business to high, safe ground should you have to leave in a hurry.
Develop and practice a ‘family escape’ plan and identify a meeting place if family members become separated.
Make an itemized list of all valuables including furnishings, clothing and other personal property. Keep the list in a safe place and consider maintaining photo and video documentation.
Stockpile emergency supplies of canned food, medicine and first aid supplies and drinking water. Store drinking water in clean, closed containers.
Plan what to do with your pets.
Have a portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries and emergency cooking equipment available.
Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Have a small disaster supply kit in the trunk of your car.
Find out how many feet your property is above and below possible flood levels. When predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can determine if you may be flooded.
Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing.
Check on your insurance coverage. Homeowners’ insurance policies generally do not cover flood damages. Only flood insurance can protect your home against flood damages. You can purchase flood insurance whether or not you live in a mapped flood zone.
For a complete list of weather terms and preparation ideas before, during and after a flood, visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services website at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/flood.
NEW YORK—Oct. 10, 2025—Mayor Eric Adams marked the first year of the Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness (PATH), a police-clinician “co-response” program launched in August 2024 to address homelessness and severe mental illness in the subway system. City officials said PATH teams have made more than 20,100 contacts, delivered services over 6,100 times, and connected nearly 1,900 people to shelter, while NYPD officers working with clinicians removed 2,100+ riders for rule or law violations. The initiative is a pillar of the Subway Safety Plan and the administration’s “End the Culture of Anything Goes” push, bolstered by 1,500 new Safe Haven and stabilization beds (4,000 total) and a $650 million mental-health and homelessness package. Mr. Adams also pointed to 2025 state law changes on psychiatric care and a proposed 2026 “Compassionate Interventions Act,” arguing the combined enforcement and outreach have contributed to record-low transit crime and steadier ridership.
Mayor Adams Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of Path Co-Response Program Connecting New Yorkers in Need on Subways to Shelter, Health Care, and Support
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park today celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness (PATH) program — a public safety and social services co-response outreach initiative, launched in August 2024, to help keep New Yorkers safe and healthy on the subway system. The PATH teams have made over 20,100 engagements with unhoused New Yorkers living in the subway system, delivering critical services — including shelter, meals, medical care, and mental health support — more than 6,100 times. Additionally, NYPD Transit Bureau officers, working alongside PATH clinicians, have removed more than 2,100 individuals from the transit system for various violations of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) rules of conduct or state law.
Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign, the administration’s landmark effort to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed. This initiative simultaneously makes the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing — to make lasting impacts on lives and communities, and improve New Yorkers’ quality of life. Mayor Adams is bringing the same energy and approach that proved to be successful in carving a new path for people with severe mental illness to address other health crises playing out on city streets, like drug addiction, and he recently laid out plans realize that vision by connecting those suffering with treatment.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is our number one commitment — especially on the subways, which millions of riders rely on every day,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are proud to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our PATH program, which has already connected thousands of New Yorkers in need on our subways to critical services. When we took office, we made it clear: the days of ignoring people in need on our streets and in our subways were over. And since then, our administration has fundamentally changed the conversation on severe mental illness and fought to end the culture of ‘anything goes.’ Our PATH program shows that compassion, public safety, and justice must all go together — and this anniversary marks an important milestone in making New York City just that: more kind, more just, and safer for everyone.”
PATH teams bring together NYPD Transit Bureau officers, New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) nurses, and outreach staff from NYC Health + Hospitals to connect New Yorkers to services, including shelter, meals, medical care, and mental health support. From 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM the next day, teams conduct targeted outreach across Manhattan stations and trains, engaging anyone who appears to be unsheltered.
The program is part of the city’s growing use of “co-response” — a crisis response model gaining traction nationally in which clinical professionals are paired with police to engage with members of the public in need of medical care and/or social services. Participating police officers receive specialized training in crisis de-escalation and allow their clinical partners to take the lead once safety is assured. While co-response is not meant to replace traditional outreach conducted without police involvement, in certain situations, the presence of police officers affords clinicians a greater sense of personal safety, enabling more meaningful engagement with those in need. Co-response also greatly enhances the ability of a clinician to initiate transport to a hospital for evaluation in circumstances where an individual exhibits symptoms of mental illness presenting a danger to themselves or others.
Co-response offers tailored support based on each person’s needs — from a hot meal and a bed for the night to medical attention or psychiatric evaluation — improving both the safety and effectiveness of outreach efforts and increasing the changes of connecting people to lasting care.
“Strengthening interagency collaboration through initiatives like PATH is vital to expanding the scope of the city’s outreach efforts and increasing reliance on social workers to ensure meaningful engagements with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness,” said DSS Commissioner Wasow Park. “We are grateful for the dedication of our outreach workers and nurses who always lead with dignity and compassion as they engage New Yorkers who have fallen through every safety net, building trust and connecting them to life-saving supports. We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to reach and support some of our most vulnerable neighbors and improve health care and housing outcomes for them.”
“The PATH program is a critical initiative to address homelessness and other quality of life conditions in our subway system, and one year later, the results of this whole-government approach speak for themselves,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Thousands of New Yorkers are getting access to the resources they need and deserve, and transit crime is at record lows across the city. None of this is by accident — it’s because of the incredible work of the NYPD, DSS, DHS, and NYC Health + Hospitals that have all provided this important care, and Mayor Adams who has always put the safety of our city first.”
“We’ve known all along that more effective mental health outreach and treatment were needed in our subway system to help cut down on transit crime and deal with disorder underground,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Thanks to investments from Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams, we’ve made progress on both fronts — as proven out by surging ridership and customer satisfaction.”
Addressing transit crime and homelessness in the subway system has been one of Mayor Adams’ top public safety priorities since taking office. In February 2022, Mayor Adams first launched the Subway Safety Plan to address public safety concerns, protect riders, and connect some of the city’s hardest-to-reach New Yorkers to services. Since the start of the plan, over 8,600 New Yorkers have been connected from the subways to shelter, with over 1,000 now in permanent, affordable housing. These outreach efforts, along with others, such as Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT), encounter a range of people living unsheltered with various needs.
These safety efforts together are delivering indisputable results: overall transit crime fell 17 percent in September compared to the same month last year — the lowest level for any September in recorded history, excluding the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years. This follows record low major crime in transit for July and August, excluding the pandemic years.
PATH complements the city’s 24/7 above-ground HOME-STAT outreach efforts — one of the most comprehensive outreach programs in the nation — which have also resulted in vital connections to shelter services for thousands of New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness across city streets, parks, and other public places. As of today, DSS has approximately 400 outreach staff canvassing the five boroughs around-the-clock; this includes a reliable network of contracted outreach workers from not-for-profit human services providers with extensive experience addressing unsheltered homelessness.
Throughout his administration, and as laid out in “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for NYC,” Mayor Adams has been committed to taking a public health approach to supporting people with severe mental illness, focusing on prevention and intervention.
That Adams administration has opened 1,500 new low-barrier Safe Haven and stabilization beds for New Yorkers — bringing the total to 4,000 — and invested in innovative mental health programs like SCOUT, the opening of 13 new Clubhouses, and expanded Intensive Mobile Treatment teams.
Building off all this work, in August, Mayor Adams announced a new change he is proposing in the 2026 state legislative session to support people struggling with substance use disorder and address public drug use on city streets that degrades quality of life and leaves a feeling of disorder among many city residents. The “Compassionate Interventions Act” will give clinical professionals the authority they need to bring someone who appears to pose a danger to themselves or others due to substance use disorder to a hospital and allow a judge to mandate treatment if the person is unwilling to enter treatment voluntarily. The change would help put New York in line with 37 other states that authorize involuntary commitment for substance use disorder as it builds on Mayor Adams’ successful work since the start of the Adams administration to address the interwoven crises of severe mental illness, addiction, and homelessness playing out on city streets.
By combining targeted enforcement with compassionate, evidence-based outreach, the PATH program and broader Subway Safety Plan — along with these other public safety, public health, and housing plans — are delivering safer subways, stronger communities, and better futures for New Yorkers.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned a federal move that left the Metropolitan Transportation Authority without $34 million from FEMA’s Transit Security Grant Program—the only one of 21 applicants to receive no award—saying the state will pursue legal remedies to restore the funds. The MTA had earmarked the money for cyber defenses, hundreds of additional cameras and access controls, expansion of chemical-detection systems, TSA-required training for 16,000 employees, and MTAPD counterterror deployments and vehicles. Following a lawsuit by the state attorney general, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking FEMA from executing the reduction; FEMA hasn’t formally reinstated the grant. City and MTA security officials warned of operational impacts, while the governor pointed to state and city investments she says have pushed transit crime to multiyear lows and noted separate restorations of $187 million in homeland-security funding.
Governor Hochul Slams Federal Cuts to Counterterrorism Funding for New York’s Mass Transit Safety
Governor Kathy Hochul today called out Washington Republicans for cutting critical safety and security funding for New York’s mass transit system. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had been slated to receive $34 million in federal Transit Security Grant Program funds, which support essential counter-terror and transit security functions. Last week, lawmakers were notified that the MTA was to be the only agency of 21 applicants nationwide to not receive federal security dollars via this program.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe, from our streets to our subways, is my highest priority,” Governor Hochul said. “Since 9/11, New York has relied on federal support to ensure that our transit system has the counterterrorism resources it needs to keep millions of riders safe every single day. The shocking actions of Washington Republicans to slash these funds and defund the police put New York City at risk. We will not tolerate these cuts; New York will take every action available to us — including the courts — to ensure the MTA gets this critical funding to keep millions of riders safe.”
The Transit Security Grant Program was started after 9/11. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), these grants support critical functions to keep mass transit systems safe from security threats. The MTA carries a significant portion of the United States’ mass transit riders, with over 6 million daily trips taken on Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road, and New York City Transit. In addition to approximately $12 million which would go to the NYPD, the MTA had planned to utilize this year’s grant funding to support the following public safety and counter-terror investments:
Two cybersecurity projects, extending cyber visibility into MTA’s key systems, and a cyber lab to develop protections and vet operational technology systems.
The procurement and deployment of approximately 330 tactical cellular cameras to replace & expand upon current unsecure offline devices in a cost-effective manner.
The expansion of MTA weapons of mass destruction chemical detection system across 9 subway lines and a commuter rail terminal.
The TSA mandated frontline security awareness training of 16,000 MTA employees.
374 deployments of MTAPD counterterrorism teams.
The procurement of 3 MTAPD counterterrorism coordination and response vehicles.
The installation of several hundred cameras, access control points, and laser intrusion detection systems at a major subway complex.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, MTA has made huge progress on every front – safety, reliability and ridership. It’s truly strange that Washington keeps spinning stories about subway crime, but then defunds the NYPD and MTA cops who patrol the system.”
MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper said, “I can’t overstate the importance of this grant funding in reinforcing and advancing our counterterrorism initiatives. It significantly enhances our operational capabilities, all with the goal of providing a safe and secure transit environment for our riders and workforce — a responsibility we take seriously every single day.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe, from our streets to our subways, is my highest priority”
Governor Kathy Hochul
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “The NYPD’s counterterrorism operations are essential to keeping people safe both above ground and below ground on our subways. Withholding these critical funds from the busiest transit system in the country is a profound mistake, and one that will make New York City’s subways meaningfully less safe. Counterterrorism operations – and public safety in general – cannot be politicized, and I thank Governor Hochul for her efforts to ensure the NYPD has the resources it needs to protect New Yorkers.”
Following initial reporting that the MTA would not receive Transit Security Grant Program funding, the Office of the New York Attorney General filed suit in the Southern District of New York, which issued a Temporary Restraining Order barring FEMA from executing the cuts. To date, FEMA has not formally notified the MTA that their funding has been restored.
New York State and the NYPD continue to make significant investments in subway safety. These investments, which support an ongoing surge of NYPD officers in the subway system — including overnight train patrols announced by Governor Hochul in her 2025 State of the State address — have succeeded in reducing transit crime to historic lows in 2025. In 2022, Governor Hochul directed the MTA to install cameras in all 6,000 of its subway cars, which it completed last year. To further enhance safety, this year, the MTA began installing brighter, safer LED lights in all 472 subway stations as well as platform edge barriers to improve customer safety at 100 stations throughout the system.
Subway crime in September was down 31 percent from September 2024, and year-to-date, crime is down 4.3 percent compared to 2024. This summer was the safest summer in the subway since 2009, with major crimes down nearly 10 percent from 2024. Felony assaults in the transit system were down in September, and were down every month this summer when compared with the same month last year.
Last week, Governor Hochul successfully fought to restore $187 million in critical counterterrorism and homeland security funding cuts which had been planned by the Department of Homeland Security. These unprecedented cuts would have had a direct impact on public safety agencies throughout the state.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams lauded votes by the Council’s Land Use and Zoning committees to advance his Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, sending the Queens rezoning to the full Council later this month. Framed as a bid to jump-start housing and jobs in a key transit hub, the proposal would map the city’s largest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing zone across 230 blocks and is projected to unlock thousands of units, including permanently affordable homes. The plan also commits hundreds of millions of dollars to sewer upgrades aimed at reducing flooding. Adams cast the move as part of his broader pro-housing agenda to clear outdated rules and speed construction, while thanking Speaker Adrienne Adams, Land Use Chair Rafael Salamanca Jr., Zoning Subcommittee Chair Kevin Riley, and Councilmembers James Gennaro and Nantasha Williams for their support.
Mayor Adams’ Statement After City Council Committee Votes to Advance Jamaica Neighborhood Plan
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the New York City Council Land Use and Zoning Committees voted in favor of the Adams administration’s Jamaica Neighborhood Planopens in a new tab, moving it on to a vote by the full Council:
“With its rich history and diversity, Jamaica represents so much of what makes New York City the greatest city in the world. As a bustling commercial and transit center in Queens, it’s exactly where we should be building new homes and creating high-paying jobs. But unfortunately, Jamaica’s zoning has curtailed new housing opportunities and limited new businesses, making it harder for working-class families to stay in their community. It’s past time we changed that.
“With today’s vote, we’re one step closer to bringing forth an even more thriving and vibrant Jamaica where New Yorkers of all income levels can thrive. Spread out over 230 blocks, this plan will be the largest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing zone ever mapped in New York City, unlocking thousands of new homes, permanently affordable homes, and jobs. Furthermore, this plan reflects our commitment to a more resilient future, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in upgraded sanitary sewer infrastructure to reduce flooding and help this community weather future storms.
“When it comes to housing, our administration is doing more than talking about it. We’re taking action every single day, cleaning up outdated zoning rules to get shovels in the ground and folks into new homes. Whether it’s crafting neighborhood plans like this one, passing the most pro-housing zoning reform in city history, or shattering affordable housing records year after year after year, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.
Thank you to Council Speaker Adams, Land Use Committee Chair Salamanca, Jr., Zoning Subcommittee Chair Riley, Councilmember Gennaro, and Councilmember Williams for their support for this important proposal and for working with our administration to build the homes that New Yorkers need. We look forward to a full vote later this month and bringing this ambitious plan to fruition.”
U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia said a federal grand jury has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on bank fraud (18 U.S.C. §1344) and false-statement (18 U.S.C. §1014) charges, calling the alleged conduct a serious breach of public trust. If convicted, Ms. James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, fines of up to $1 million per count, and forfeiture; actual sentences typically fall below statutory maximums and will be set by a federal judge under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James Indicted
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging New York State Attorney General Letitia James with Bank Fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1344 and False Statements to a Financial Institution under 18 U.S.C. Section 1014.
“No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
If convicted, Letitia James faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count, and forfeiture. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
October 9, 2025Share
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul launched Secure Choice, a state-run program that lets private-sector employees without workplace plans save automatically through payroll into portable Roth IRAs. The initiative—free and simple for employers—follows a pilot and now applies to businesses with 10 or more employees that don’t offer a qualified plan, targeting the more than half of working New Yorkers lacking retirement coverage. Ms. Hochul cast the rollout as part of her Affordability Agenda, saying automatic enrollment will boost long-term savings and help workers retire with greater security; legislative and city leaders praised the move as a practical fix for small-business employees and the self-employed.
Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New York State Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the New York State Secure Choice Savings Program, a new state-sponsored retirement savings program for private-sector employees who do not have access to a workplace retirement plan. Over 50 percent of working New Yorkers do not have access to a retirement plan through their employer — now for the first time in State history, those New Yorkers will have an easy way to save for their future. Governor Hochul continues to deliver on her Affordability Agenda, providing both direct financial assistance for today, and now with Secure Choice helping New Yorkers plan for tomorrow.
“With the launch of the New York State Secure Choice Savings Program, we are expanding access to retirement savings and empowering New Yorkers to invest in their future,” Governor Hochul said. “The program provides another tool for employees to build long-term financial security and plan for a dignified retirement.”
New York Secure Choice is free and easy for employers, and allows employees to save automatically through payroll deductions into portable Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) they own and keep.
Following a successful pilot program, New York employers with ten or more employees that do not already offer a qualified retirement plan will now be able to provide their employees the opportunity to save for retirement at work.
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said, “New York Secure Choice provides a simple way for workers in New York State to save for retirement with every paycheck. By making saving automatic, the program helps more New Yorkers take control of their financial future.”
State Senator Jessica Ramos said, “The launch of the NYS Secure Choice Savings Program marks a major step forward in our commitment to financial security for all New Yorkers. For too long, many workers, especially in small businesses, have lacked access to building a stable retirement. This program changes that, and I thank Governor Hochul for making this part of her agenda.”
Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, “I am eager to see the New York Secure Choice Savings Program finally launch from idea to implementation. By making it easy for employees and self-employed individuals to save for retirement and employers to facilitate the process, New York Secure Choice provides an opportunity for previously uncovered workers to participate in long-term savings for the future. With more than half of New Yorkers left without an employer-sponsored retirement plan and hundreds of thousands of workers across the state, this program fills a critical gap with accessible financial assistance. Economic security and the ability to finish a hard-earned career with dignity are not privileges, but rights that each working person deserves.”
Assemblymember Rebecca A. Seawright said, “As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, I commend Governor Hochul for launching the Secure Choice Savings Program, which offers working New Yorkers a simple and reliable way to plan for their financial future. Too many older adults face economic insecurity in retirement because they lacked access to savings options during their working years. This program will empower employees to build stability and independence, ensuring that every New Yorker has the opportunity to age with dignity and peace of mind.”
Council Member Yusuf Salaam said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership in advancing the Affordability Agenda and for launching the New York State Secure Choice Savings Program. This initiative is a game-changer for the more than half of working New Yorkers who’ve had no access to retirement plans. By giving workers a simple, automatic way to save for the future, the Governor is helping ensure that more New Yorkers, including those right here in our community, can look forward to a more secure and dignified retirement.”
Council Member Keith Powers said, “It is crucial for all workers to plan for retirement. The time to prepare for the future is now, but employees who do not have the option to save for retirement lose out on the ability to let their savings grow and ensure long-term security. New York Secure Choice opens that opportunity to all, allowing New Yorkers to have power over their future.” New York Secure Choice will notify employers required to facilitate the program and provide them with registration details. If you are an eligible employer, you can also enroll today by visiting www.NewYorkSecureChoice.com.
