Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted more than $10.1 million in New York State funding to upgrade law enforcement technology across the Capital Region, spotlighting a $387,000 award to the East Greenbush Police Department for radios, drones, night-vision gear, and dispatch center improvements. The Governor said these investments—part of $127 million in statewide tech grants—are helping departments modernize operations, boost officer safety, and better link and investigate crimes. She also pointed to a 45% decline in shooting incidents in GIVE jurisdictions year over year and underscored a broader safety strategy that includes GIVE, SNUG, youth employment, and Project RISE. The message: targeted funding, modern tools, and community programs are reducing crime and strengthening public safety in New York’s Capital Region.
A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:
I’m going to take a moment to shift gears and talk about our efforts to drive crime down — not just all over the State, but particularly here in the Capital Region.
And I’m really proud to be here today with members of the East Greenbush Police Department. We have our great Chief of Police — been chief for seven years, a member of the force for 31 years — Chief Elaine Rudzinski. Let’s give her a round of applause. Our Supervisor, Jack Conway — appreciate all he did, and we had our shared experience about what it’s like on a town board. I spent 14 years as a town board member, and I understand the power of local government to do good for people’s lives, and I want to thank him for his years of public service as well.
And also, we have our District Attorney, Mary Pat Donnelly. We have been through a lot of battles, on the same side, as we worked to change discovery laws and make sure that we had common sense policies so they could do their jobs and protect our communities. She also is the president of the statewide District Attorneys Association. I want to thank our District Attorney for joining us as well.
And also, the men and women of this police force, second to none. I had a chance to meet a number of them. Dedicated. Some, fairly new on the job. Some, been here as long as 40 years. That, to me, is the ultimate in public service. And I thank them and all their colleagues for making sure that they work hard to keep us safe.
Keeping safe people safe is my number one priority — I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it again. And I also believe that dollars, investments make a real statement about your commitment. It’s not just words, it’s real dollars to support that. Last year, we delivered $127 million in grants to help local agencies upgrade their police technology with the most advanced tools that money could buy.
Again, I was on the town board. We would have loved to have the state government help us fund needed technology improvements, but we had to do it on our own. I vowed to change that dynamic when I became the Governor, and to be an ally and support local governments in particular, who are on the front lines of keeping communities safe.
I want them to be able to investigate and link crimes, put dangerous people behind bars. And here in the Capital Region, we allocated over $10 million, including $387,000 for the East Greenbush Police Department.
So earlier today, Chief Elaine Rudzinski — the first female Chief of Police here in Rensselaer County, way to go — showed me how the funding is already working. An upgraded radio console, three radios for their Shared Services [Response] Team. I was just in the vehicle that is the one that’s there when the crises are the most frightening, and the technology that they can use to launch drones from there. New computers and monitors in the dispatch center. And as I mentioned, the drones we saw on display here, the night vision goggles and helmets, just to name a few. And it’s already played a critical role in keeping our region safe, with better communication between departments and people here on the ground.
But technology alone is not enough to keep a region safe. Since I’ve taken office, four years, we’ve invested over $3 billion in State and local law enforcement, $21 million here in the Capital Region for key programs. It’s all about not just money for technology, but you have to create a whole ecosystem of safety and security. That meant $5 million for our GIVE initiative, which is directly responsible for getting guns off the streets. $2 million for our SNUG program, which is violence disruptors who are literally on the ground, in the streets, creating connections, particularly with young people, showing them an alternative path. $2.7 million for youth employment because the best crime fighting tool is a job, no matter your age. And $2 million for Project RISE, supporting community organizations that offer mentorship, mental health services and proven interventions to reduce crime. And I’m here to say, it’s working.
Shooting incidents in the Capital (Region) GIVE jurisdictions have declined by 45 percent since last year alone. That’s extraordinary. If we fund our police, give them the support they need, the respect they deserve, connect people to the resources they need, we can effectively fight crime — and the numbers bear that out.
Now, unfortunately, we’re seeing a different dynamic in Washington where the administration has gutted billions of dollars intended to go for law enforcement. Here, they’ve cut almost a million dollars — a million dollars less because of those cuts here for our law enforcement community. And they’re threatening the slash funding from critical programs such as Hazmat, tactical teams, canine teams and search and rescue.
That money’s not being used to protect hard working Americans, instead, it’s being used for other purposes: beefing up ICE instead of supporting these initiatives. And what is ICE spending more of their time on? I wish they’d spend all their time on going after the worst of the worst, the heinous criminals that we were told they were going to devote their energy to. And I said, “I’ll help you. I will always help you do that.” But instead, we’re splitting up families, terrorizing people just doing their jobs.
Yesterday I was on the phone with a CEO of a small power bar company where they just endured a raid of 70 individuals. I don’t know when the trauma’s going to leave that family and those individuals who were separated, still trying to find the whereabouts of a number of moms who had infants, including one that was nursing.
My friends, we can do better than that. Let’s get that money back where it belongs in places like this. Let’s continue making a difference. Because that’s cruelty. It has nothing to do with public safety.
So here, we know our crime fighting strategies are working in the Capital Region. But as I always say, there’s no such thing as a mission accomplished sign for me. We will not take our foot off the gas. More work to do, continue focusing on what they do. And again, I’m going to say this again and again, I’m so grateful to everyone who goes to the rigors of training, puts on a uniform, knows they can be a target, not sure they’re going to make it back to their families at the end of the day, and they do it anyhow. I’m in awe of their courage. I’m in awe of their public service. And as the Governor of the great State of New York, I’m proud that you are doing what you do, because it lets me sleep better at night as well. So thanks to all of you.
And with that, let me turn it over to Chief Rudzinski to speak more about how we’re fighting crime here in East Greenbush.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced 20 recommended additions to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, spotlighting New York’s diverse heritage from a c.1750–1870 Pine Street African Burial Ground in Kingston to community-driven affordable housing like Brooklyn’s Fulton Park Plaza developed by Jackie Robinson, and Buffalo’s McKinley Parkway Historic District, slated to be the state’s largest with 5,000+ buildings. Reviewed on September 10, 2025 by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation in Albany, the nominations span all regions and eras—public health landmarks such as the Mott Haven Health Center (Bronx), early education sites like Clifton Park’s “Little Red Schoolhouse,” and industrial and immigrant history in Buffalo and Solvay. Listing makes properties eligible for grants and state/federal historic rehabilitation tax credits; New York leads the nation with $7.17B in rehab costs (2018–2024), $16.4B in project spending since 2009, 91,386 jobs, and $1.79B in tax revenue (2019–2023)—advancing preservation, revitalization, and pride of place statewide.
Governor Hochul Announces 20 Nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Places
Nominations Represent Diverse Histories and Unique Stories Across New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced recommendations by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation to add 20 properties and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The nominations include a c. 1750-1870 African burial ground in Kingston, a barn that was a creative workspace for influential historic preservationists in Newfield, an affordable housing complex developed by legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn, and the McKinley Parkway Historic District in Buffalo – which is slated to become the largest single historic district in the state with more than 5,000 buildings.
“New York’s history is one of our greatest treasures,” Governor Hochul said. “These sites are more than buildings or landmarks — they are powerful connections to the people and stories that shaped our state. By adding these properties to the State and National Registers, we are reaffirming our commitment to honoring and preserving New York’s rich, diverse history for generations to come.”
The nominations were reviewed September 10, 2025, at the 200th meeting of the New York State Board for Historic Preservation. In addition to acknowledging the milestone of this meeting with a special presentation about the history of the National Register program in New York State, the board recognized the service of former board member Jay DiLorenzo and welcomed two new board appointees, Ruth Pierpont and Felicia Mayro.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “As we work to expand and diversify listings in the State and National Registers of Historic Places, we’re looking to identify and recognize the places that help tell New York’s whole history now and into the future. With listings, historic resources become eligible for support programs that can aid in preservation and rehabilitation efforts — which encourage community revitalization and enhance pride of place. Plus, through this process, we document our knowledge about our state’s history and continue to share compelling new research with the public.”
State and National Register listing 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, “At the Division for Historic Preservation, we are dedicated to expanding the State and National Registers of Historic Places and to connecting communities with the resources they need to help preserve and promote these historic assets so that pieces of our past can have a meaningful role in the present. Listing in the registers is a critical step in connecting property owners with resources that can help them steward this shared history.”
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.
New York City
Brooklyn Garden Apartments (Navy Yard), Brooklyn, Kings County
The Brooklyn Garden Apartments is a privately owned affordable housing complex located in the Wallabout neighborhood of Brooklyn. Built between 1929-1932 and designed by architect Frank H. Quinby, the complex was a direct result of the New York State Housing Law of 1926, which encouraged private development of affordable housing by authorizing limited-divided housing corporations (whose profits were capped at 6 percent), offering tax abatements, and allowing the use of eminent domain to assemble building lots. This project was the first development to utilize the eminent domain provision of the law and was backed by some of New York’s most notable advocates of improved affordable housing including Housing Board member Louis H. Pink, Governor Alfred Smith, and financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. The complex is also notable for its garden apartment-style plan, which comprises two U-shaped buildings enclosing a central courtyard.
East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue Houses, Bronx, Bronx County
The East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue Houses is a public housing development in the Melrose neighborhood of the South Bronx designed by the architectural firm of Ames Kagan Stewart. The complex officially opened on August 31, 1973 and reflected local efforts to revitalize the South Bronx as part of the larger Melrose-Morrisania Study. Beginning in 1968, the New York City Planning Committee worked closely with the Melrose Planning Council (formed by residents of Melrose) to develop an urban renewal plan that would benefit their community. The planners conducted extensive surveys and held public hearings about individual urban renewal sites scheduled around residents’ availability. This process represents a successful collaboration between local government and neighborhood residents. The complex is also an example of NYCHA’s vest pocket and turnkey programs. Vest pocket housing developments were defined by their size—sites were a city block or less and the complex comprised one to four residential buildings—and were designed to minimize demolition and displacement while promoting neighborhood-scale redevelopment. The turnkey program allowed a private developer to construct a housing project and then turn the keys over to the housing authority, ideally speeding construction and reducing costs.
Fulton Park Plaza, Brooklyn, Kings County
Fulton Park Plaza is a publicly subsidized, privately owned affordable housing complex located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Built between 1972 and1974 and designed by the architectural firm of L.E. Tuckett & Thompson, the complex was developed by legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson with considerable input from the area’s Black residents and community organizations. Fulton Park Plaza was the result of a lengthy and sometimes contentious effort to revitalize Bedford-Stuyvesant. During the 1960s, the city proposed an urban renewal program that would have demolished a substantial number of buildings in the vicinity of Fulton Park. The neighborhood’s network of community organizations—most notably the Central Brooklyn Coordinating Council and the Fulton Park Community Council, both championed by local activist Elsie Richardson—quickly organized against the proposal. In the end, what these groups sought, and ultimately achieved, was community input into the form the renewal program would take, who would build it, and who would operate it once completed. Fulton Park Plaza fulfilled these community requests: in form, the complex was a vest-pocket development situated on a relatively small site and fitting in with the low-scale character of the neighborhood; the architects were founding members of the New York Coalition of Black Architects; and its developer was a famed civil rights icon.
Jackie Robinson Houses, New York, New York County
The Jackie Robinson Houses, constructed in 1973-1974, is significant for its association with public housing programs in East Harlem after World War II and specifically for its association with the history and development of a small area in northeastern Harlem known as the Harlem Triangle. In the post-war period, East Harlem witnessed an unprecedented number of new public housing projects, many championed by Robert Moses, who, after taking charge of the city’s public housing program, formed the Mayor’s Slum Clearance Committee in 1948. The committee gave him license to deem vast areas of the city as slums, raze them, and build large new public housing complexes in their place. Within this era of mass demolition and building, a city report condemned the tiny Harlem Triangle as “one of the most blighted and rundown areas in Harlem … and wholly unsuitable for housing.” This designation led to the city’s efforts to level the area and redevelop it with industrial resources. Beginning in the 1960s, two local groups, the Community Association of the East Harlem Triangle (CAEHT) and the Architects’ Renewal Committee in Harlem (ARCH), took a strong interest in the area’s future and worked to thwart the city’s plans, which faced strong opposition from residents. CAEHT, led by prominent activist Alice Kornegay, and ARCH, led by important African American architect J. Max Bond, fought the neighborhood’s designation as “blighted and run down,” forcing the city to amend its urban renewal plan to permit housing on the periphery of the triangle. In 1966, CAEHT partnered with ARCH to create the East Harlem Triangle Plan, which gave voice to residents’ concerns and proposed new redevelopment plans that favored those who lived there. Although the East Harlem Triangle Plan was never completely developed, the Jackie Robinson Houses emerged directly from it. The building was designed by Bond, Ryder and Associates and composed of two of the most prominent Black architects in New York City, J. Max Bond Jr. and Donald P. Ryder.
Messiah Lutheran Church, Staten Island, Richmond County
Located on Staten Island, the Messiah Lutheran Church is an example of Late Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture designed by architect Leonard Burd. Built in 1931, Messiah Lutheran served as a place of worship for Scandinavian settlers of Annadale and their descendants as the only church in the neighborhood for most of its lifespan. Historically the church was a center of community activity and aid in Annadale. The church was home to various Scandinavian, Lutheran, and non-sectarian cultural and social organizations and played a major role in youth education and development.
Mott Haven Health Center, Bronx, Bronx County
The Mott Haven Health Center was one of fourteen neighborhood health centers built by the City of New York during the Great Depression/New Deal era. First proposed in 1931 and opened in 1937, the building was designed by architects William H. Gompert and Kenneth M. Murchison. The neighborhood health center movement began in the early 1900s when New York City created thirty health districts intended to reduce mortality and morbidity rates – especially in the city’s densely populated tenement areas such as Mott Haven. During the Great Depression, fourteen of these districts received purpose-built health centers funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA). The Mott Haven building is architecturally notable for its Modern Classical style. The exterior design fused a modern sensibility with classical forms and featured a symmetrical buff-brick and limestone façade with stylized ornament including bronze grilles and spandrels with medical iconography. The interior was organized into functional quadrants devoted to specific types of preventative care (i.e. maternity and infant care and dental services) and sicknesses (i.e. tuberculosis and venereal services). Of particular note is the double-height light therapy room, where tuberculosis patients were exposed to natural light that could eradicate disease-causing microbes. The building is also significant for its later history as the Lincoln Detox People’s Program, a drug rehabilitation program established by a group of revolutionary doctors and community organizers in the early 1970s. At a time when drug users faced rampant stigmatization and discrimination, the program helped generate national recognition of acupuncture—a natural, chemical-free healing option—as an accepted drug addiction therapy.
St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, Staten Island, Richmond County
St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the Tottenville neighborhood, is connected to the early growth of Methodism in Staten Island where it served as a hometown church that fostered a strong sense of altruism and community. Built in three separate campaigns (1859, 1862, and 1961) the church is notable for its Romanesque Revival ecclesiastical architecture, use of brick instead of more commonly used wood for its construction, stained-glass windows with Masonic symbolism, and a rare and elaborate Felgemaker pipe organ from Germany.
Long Island
Corwith-Jones Farmhouse, Southampton, Suffolk County
The Corwith-Jones Farmhouse is a Greek Revival style residence in Southampton’s historic Hayground area. The house was built for the Corwiths – one of the earliest English families to settle in the Bridgehampton area – and it represents the evolution of a vernacular Long Island “Half House” that was expanded and adapted to reflect the owner’s increasing affluence and changing needs. The home’s center wing was likely built between 1800-1820 and the main block was likely built following an 1843 fire. In 1866, the farm was sold to the Hand family, who raised potatoes. In 1908, it was sold again to the Jones family, who bred swine. The property was sold to Katharine Parsons Feibleman in 1967, who was a professional member of the American Institute of Decorators. Her restoration work sought to return the house to a more historically appropriate Greek Revival appearance while adapting it to modern living standards.
Capital Region
Chestertown Historic District Boundary Increase and Amendment, Chestertown, Warren County
The original Chestertown Historic District – three adjacent properties located along U.S. Route 9 (Chestertown Main Street): the Fowler House (1837), the Church of the Good Shepherd (1884), and the former Chester High School (1912) – was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The expanded district adds 161 contributing resources across a 154-acre area that comprises the core of the hamlet of Chestertown, capturing its evolution from a milling and tanning hub into a summer resort community. It includes a mix of residential, civic, commercial, and religious architecture in a variety of architectural styles from the 1830s to the 1960s. The district has had minimal infill and, despite some material alterations over the years, retains its appearance and feeling as a rural village nestled in the eastern Adirondack Mountains.
School No. 5 “The Little Red Schoolhouse,” Clifton Park, Saratoga County
School No. 5 “Little Red Schoolhouse” in the Town of Clifton Park was built in 1903 and is historically significant for its association with one-room schoolhouse education during the formative years of New York’s public education system. School No. 5 offered public education to the Clifton Park community until its closure in 1953, when 22 schools were combined to form the Shenendehowa Central School District. After a brief period of disuse, a local group of parents purchased the Little Red Schoolhouse in 1960 and formed the Clifton Park Nursery School Cooperative Preschool, which continues to occupy the building today. Of the original schools that combined to form the Shenendehowa Central School District, the Little Red Schoolhouse is the only one that retains historical integrity and continues to function as a school.
Mid-Hudson
Pine Street African Burial Ground, Kingston, Ulster County
The Pine Street African Burial Ground in the City of Kingston is locally significant as the city’s first burial ground for enslaved people, their descendants, and free persons between 1750 and ca. 1870. The burial ground, located at 157 Pine Street and portions of adjacent properties, was established by the Trustees of Kingston in 1750 and was used until ca. 1870, when the site became a lumberyard. The site later became a residential property in the early twentieth century. In 1990, the burial ground was reidentified upon the discovery of bones in the adjacent property, and comprehensive archaeological evidence was gathered in 2018 and in the early 2020s by the SUNY New Paltz Archaeological Field School. Harambee Kingston, a non-profit community organization, purchased the property at 157 Pine Street in 2019 and established a cultural center and museum that interprets the history of the Pine Street African Burial Ground. Given limited historical information – specifically regarding the histories of African enslavement and African Americans in Kingston and the mid-Hudson Valley more broadly – further archaeological and historical documentation of the site has the potential to contribute significantly to knowledge of these histories.
Central New York
Pozzi Building, Solvay, Onondaga County
Constructed by inventor, businessman, and padrone of the local Tyrolean community Angelo Pozzi in 1917, the Pozzi Building is a landmark in the Village of Solvay and served many purposes over the years, including as a residential hotel, a grocery, a café/saloon, a savings and loan company, and an oil and lubricant business. The red brick building design emulated classical details of larger Colonial Revival hotels emerging in major cities at the time, lending a stylish dignity to the Pozzi family’s business enterprises. The building served as an immigration gateway to generations of men from Pozzi’s homeland, which was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and became part of Italy after World War I. Pozzi helped these men travel and find jobs at the Solvay Process (later Allied) plant across the street, while renting rooms and providing various services to them. The building’s commercial spaces remain substantially intact, as do the upstairs lodgings. The building remained a popular local dining and gathering spot through the closing of Allied in 1985.
Roswell Beckwith Sr. House, Cazenovia, Madison County
Built in 1804, the Roswell Beckwith Sr. House in the Town of Cazenovia is a 1 ½ story, center-chimney, timber-frame house with walls of wooden clapboards. The interior of the house retains integrity to its initial 1804 plan and appearance, with much of the original Federal period features and detailing intact, including its large, center chimney with cooking hearth and bake oven. The house is one of the town’s oldest existing buildings and is architecturally significant as an early example of dwellings constructed by the first settlers arriving in Cazenovia from New England.
Southern Tier
1883 Barn, Newfield, Tompkins County
The 1883 Barn on Elmira Road in the Town of Newfield began life as a substantial Victorian era hay barn in the early 1880s, but between 1965 and 1977, two pioneering historic preservationists of the region, Victoria Romanoff and Constance Saltonstall, purchased the barn and used it as a laboratory for developing skills, experience, and ideas for future and more public endeavors. Romanoff and Saltonstall rescued the local landmark to serve as their seasonal residence and private art gallery. Newspapers covered the barn’s conversion and later art exhibitions which raised the public profile of historic preservation regionally. The women went on to consult and work on major early historic preservation projects throughout Tompkins County including Ithaca’s Boardman House and Clinton House. The barn’s conversion reflects the broader ethos of this particular era, when historic preservation aligned with a counter-cultural movement that embraced a return to the land, traditional folkways, and environmentally and economically conscious reuse.
Johnson City High School, Johnson City, Broome County
The Johnson City High School, on Main Street in Johnson City, is one of three examples of outstanding Tudor Revival Style public high schools designed in the 1910s in the triple cities of Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott. Features such as its low-slung pointed entry arch, turrets with pepper pot domes, and surface patterning all lend the structure a rich set of references to the English Renaissance. Prominent local architect C. Edward Vosbury designed two of the three, including the nominated buildings. Johnson City High School is an intact example of standardized school construction from the 1910s. Schools from this period followed state and national regulations aimed at safety concerns, responding to theories about optimizing student health and preventing school fires. Among other features, the interior was configured with rows of classrooms on each floor’s north and south sides, with a central corridor running through the center of the building from the east entrance, reflecting the school design standards of this period. While the east wing was constructed in 1914, the plan was completed with the addition of the matching west wing in 1928. At the same time, a compatible gymnasium was added at the rear of the building. The Johnson City High School retains outstanding integrity of its exterior design and many historic features and finishes on the interior.
Western New York
Beth Jacob Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie County
Beth Jacob is the last surviving Jewish cemetery within the City of Buffalo. Located on the city’s East Side, it is a rare and tangible record of the religious, cultural, and social practices of Buffalo’s Orthodox Jewish immigrants – particularly those from Russia and Lithuania – who settled in Buffalo from the 1880s through the 1920s. Beth Jacob Cemetery offers insight into the migration experience, communal organization, religious life, and artistic expression of identity and memory. The cemetery reflects popular and mass-produced American grave makers from the late nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, illustrating adaptation by the Jewish immigrant community to American funerary tastes, but applying unique Jewish symbolism and inscriptions to reflect their cultural and religious identity. The burial practices, configuration, marker typology, gravestone symbolism, and the cemetery’s location offer insights into evolving religious affiliations, immigrant assimilation, and community cohesion. While earlier Jewish cemeteries in the city have vanished beneath urban infrastructure, or moved to Pine Ridge, Beth Jacob Cemetery remains an important physical reminder of the Jewish heritage of Buffalo’s East Side.
Buffalo Lounge Company Building, Buffalo, Erie County
The Buffalo Lounge Company Building, located in the City of Buffalo’s Hydraulics/Larkin neighborhood, is an example of heavy timber-frame fireproof mill construction and was a site for two major businesses. The Buffalo Lounge Company built the sprawling four-story brick-clad building in 1901 to house its production of upholstered furniture. Noted for its high-quality materials and construction techniques, Buffalo Lounge sent its furniture to major dealers and department stores from Maine to Virginia and as far west as Cleveland and Pittsburgh. As consumers’ ability to purchase suites of fine living room furniture declined during the Great Depression, the company’s fortunes waned until it went out of business in 1934. Craver-Dickinson Seed Company purchased the building and used it as a warehouse and distribution center. Both a major importer of seeds from abroad and a vendor of more common products like pine tree seeds and bluegrass seeds, Craver-Dickinson thrived at the location into the mid-1980s.
Iroquois Door Company Building, Buffalo, Erie County
The nation’s first professional female architect, Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856-1913) designed the Iroquois Door Company Building in Buffalo’s Hydraulics/Larkin neighborhood to house the company’s factory and office facilities. An example of heavy timber-frame fireproof mill construction, it received three additions and a fourth floor by 1925, the size of the building mirroring the company’s financial success. A notable local employer of skill laborers, Iroquois Door Company prolifically produced exterior and interior architectural trim from its inception, particularly in the Craftsman and Colonial Revival Styles. The company also promoted storm doors and storm windows as a path towards energy savings as early as the late 1910s. Iroquois Door later expanded to Syracuse and Albany (its post-World War II era base) with the Buffalo building remaining at the center of its production and distribution.
McKinley Parkway Historic District, Buffalo, Erie County
The McKinley Parkway Historic District is a large, architecturally and culturally significant neighborhood that reflects the growth and development of South Buffalo. Spanning both sides of the Olmsted-designed McKinley Parkway, the district encompasses more than 5,000 buildings. The district’s location south of the Buffalo River meant that the area developed somewhat isolated from downtown Buffalo. But in the 1890s with the creation of the Olmsted Park System, access to the city center increased and the availability of near-by employers (such as the Lackawanna Steel plant) encouraged more intensive development of South Buffalo. The proximity to steel plants and grain elevators attracted a growing population of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans looking for good paying jobs and later established community centers, Roman Catholic churches, and commercial storefronts. The isolated location, development potential, and large immigrant population helped to forge a distinct community that was more suburban than was typical within the city limits. The relative prosperity and stability of the neighborhood is reflected through the repeated patterns of development that extended well into the 1960s. Notably, the McKinley Parkway Historic District is slated to become the largest National Register historic district in New York State.
Meteor Manufacturing Corporation Building, Buffalo, Erie County
A simple one-story steel and brick building just off Main Street in Buffalo’s Cold Spring neighborhood, the Meteor Manufacturing Corporation Building was built in 1923 to serve as an auto repair shop alongside the many other automotive-related businesses in the neighborhood. It is primarily significant, however, for its use between 1935 and 1958 as the incubator workshop for two businesses that later went on to flourish and move to larger facilities. The first of these, the Sponge-Aire Seat Company, pioneered vehicle seats made from shock-absorbing foam rubber, lending more comfort to the driver and passenger experience than the previous bouncy coil-based cushions. The second company, the Meteor Manufacturing Corporation, produced miniature wrench and ratchet sets that enjoyed nation-wide distribution via mail-order advertisements in magazines, as well as quirkier items such as gumball machines and cheese slicers. Both companies received patents for their inventions, as well as military contracts. The Meteor Manufacturing Corporation Building embodies the sort of modest and affordable mid-twentieth century space where invention could pave the way for entrepreneurial success.
State Senator José M. Serrano said, “Congratulations to the 20 properties and districts being recommended to be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places! The 29th Senate District proudly represents two of the recommendations, East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue Houses and the Mott Haven Health Center, both in the Bronx. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Board for Historic Preservation for recognizing the unique and diverse stories that these nominations represent throughout New York State.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L Gibson said, “The story of East 152nd Street-Courtlandt Avenue Houses reflects the history of our great borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank Governor Hochul and the New York State Board for Historic Preservation for valuing our local legacy and taking steps to preserve it for future generations.”
Summary: On September 11, 2025, in Albany, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a three-bill package designed to deliver targeted, operational relief to stakeholders affected by 9/11. A.2123-A/S.1165-A (“Ignazio Giacalone Act”) strengthens the public-sector talent pipeline by awarding additional civil service exam credits to children and siblings of NYC sanitation workers who died from 9/11-related conditions; A.8417/S.8181 modernizes governance by reconstituting the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force with new appointments, biannual meetings, expanded study scope, a reset reporting deadline, and an extension through June 10, 2030; and S.4554-A/A.5458-A streamlines benefits administration by allowing the NYC Police Pension Fund to rely on a timely Notice of Participation to establish World Trade Center rescue/recovery service, accelerating disability and death benefit determinations for eligible responders and families.
On September 11, 2025 in Albany, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of 9/11 laws to expand support for survivors’ families and first responders: A.2123-A/S.1165-A (the “Ignazio Giacalone Act”) grants extra civil service exam credits to children and siblings of NYC sanitation workers who died from 9/11-related illnesses; A.8417/S.8181 revitalizes the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force with new appointments, twice-yearly meetings, broader study areas, a reset annual report deadline, and an extension through June 10, 2030; and S.4554-A/A.5458-A streamlines World Trade Center disability and death benefit claims by allowing the NYC Police Pension Fund to rely on a timely Notice of Participation—ensuring eligible responders and their families receive benefits faster.
In Honor of 9/11, Governor Hochul Signs Legislation To Support Families of 9/11 Victims
Legislation (A.2123-A/S.1165-A) Bolsters Pathway to Public Service for Children and Siblings of Deceased NYC Sanitation Workers
Legislation (A.8417/S.8181) Revitalizes the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force
Legislation (S.4554-A/A.5458-A) Expedites the World Trade Center Disability and Death Benefit Application Process
On the anniversary of September 11, 2001, Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that she has signed legislation to expand access to resources and provide more opportunities for the families and loved ones of those who have been impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The package of bills will revive and strengthen the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force, bolster the pathway to public service for children and siblings of New York City sanitation workers who lost their lives due to exposure and cleanup after September 11th, and expedite the World Trade Center disability and death benefit application process to ensure survivors are eligible to obtain vital benefits.
“The 9/11 terrorist attacks are events that we will never forget. We must continue to honor the fallen heroes who put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers, as well as their families who have been impacted by these horrific events,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation will give back to the families of 9/11 victims, ensuring they are supported by the state and their loved ones are forever remembered.”
Governor Hochul signed the following bills into law:
Legislation A.2123-A/S.1165-A provides children and siblings of NYC sanitation workers who have died from 9/11-related illnesses and injuries additional civil service exam points for a position located in the municipality where their deceased parent or sibling served.
Legislation A.8417/S.8181 revitalizes the September 11th Worker Protection Task Force by requiring new appointments to the taskforce, setting a biannual meeting requirement, expanding areas of study, resetting the June deadline for the annual report and extending the provisions of the act until June 10, 2030.
Legislation S.4554-A/A.5458-A expedites the World Trade Center disability and death benefit application process by allowing the NYC Police Pension Fund to rely on a timely and properly filed Notice of Participation as requisite criteria for establish participation in rescue, recovery and cleanup operations at the World Trade Center, unless an employer proves otherwise.
State Senator Robert Jackson said, “September 11th forever reshaped our city — but it also revealed the courage and sacrifice of those who stood up when it mattered most. Among this legislative package are two bills I am proud to sponsor: the Ignazio Giacalone Act, which ensures that the legacy of sanitation workers who gave their lives lives on through the children and siblings who follow in their path of public service; and the revitalization of the 9/11 Workers Protection Task Force, which guarantees that the health, benefits, and dignity of those who answered the call will never be overlooked or forgotten. Alongside the other measures in this package, these bills turn remembrance into responsibility, and grief into justice. I thank Governor Hochul for signing them into law and standing with us to uplift the memory and the rights of 9/11 victims and their families.”
State Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “For responders of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the pain of that day has never faded, nor have the physical and emotional burdens they’ve carried in the years since. Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber served with honor at Ground Zero, but the toll of that commitment was the loss of his life and a financial hardship left to his family. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation to provide Stacie Stueber with the benefits her husband earned through his service and sacrifice.”
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Every year on this day, New York feels the weight of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, but no one more so than the brave first responders who returned to Ground Zero day after day, putting their health on the line for our city. For them, 9/11 is something they grapple with every day, not just through memory, but through the countless health complications that have arisen for them since. The least we can do is make sure they receive the benefits they earned through their dedicated service, which is why I introduced this legislation to cut through all the existing red tape. Securing these benefits has been an uphill battle for too many 9/11 first responders, and I’m proud that on this 24th anniversary, Governor Hochul signed my bill into law. Now every officer who risked everything to protect our city — and their families — can access the benefits they deserve.”
Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato said, “I applaud Governor Hochul’s leadership by signing these bills into law, including A.8417 which strengthens and extends the impactful work of the 9/11 Task Force, along with A.5458 which will allow for survivors and heroes from that horrendous day to be eligible to obtain the vital benefits they deserve. It’s clear that when New York says we’ll never forget — we mean it. May the memories of those we lost forever be a blessing, and God bless those who saved lives that day, and helped in the aftermath.”
Assemblymember Joseph DeStefano said, “Today’s bill signing is about justice, compassion, and keeping faith with those who answered the call after 9/11. Deputy Sheriff Stueber gave everything he had to his community and his country, and this law ensures that his family will finally receive the benefits he earned. This legislation is a promise kept — that New York will not forget its 9/11 heroes. It is a pledge to the Stueber family and to all first responders that their service and sacrifice will always be honored.”
Assemblymember Sam Berger said, “As the youngest member of the Assembly, I believe it is my generation’s duty to ensure the sacrifices of the past are never forgotten. This bill honors the legacy of sanitation workers like Ignazio who put their lives on the line for New York. But more, signing this bill into law is a statement from New York State that we see you, we thank you, and we will never forget your heroism and your sacrifice. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for recognizing those brave New York sanitation workers and paving the path for those children who choose to follow in their footsteps.”
Police Conference of New York President Michael O’Meara said, “On this 24th Anniversary of 9/11 we want to thank Governor Hochul, Senator Jackson, Senator Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblywoman Pheffer-Amato for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of our community of first responders and their families who were forever affected by the horrific attacks on September 11th. They continue to support us, not only in their words, but in their actions. Thank you.”
New York State Public Employee Conference Chairman Peter D. Meringolo said, “On behalf of the 95 member units comprising the New York State Public Employee Conference, collectively representing more than one million active and retired public employees, many of whom participated in the rescue, recovery, and aftermath of the 9/11 attack on our country, I thank Governor Hochul for signing these important bills into law. Enactment of this legislation once again exhibits her true commitment to the working men and women who dedicate themselves to public service.”
New York City Sanitation Officers’ Association President Joseph Mannion said, “We are very pleased with the passage of New York State Senate Bill 1165-A / Assembly Bill 2123-A, which provides additional credits to children and siblings of New York city sanitation members who died in the performance of duty as the natural and proximate result of the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. On behalf of all NYC Sanitation Officers, our sincere thanks go out to Senator Robert Jackson and Assemblyman Sam Berger for sponsoring this important legislation, and to Governor Kathy Hochul for enacting it into law.”
Michael Giacalone, a sanitation worker and the son of Ignazio Giacalone for whom the bill is named after, said, “I’m beyond grateful for the signing of the ‘Ignazio Giacalone Act.’ I want to thank the Governor, the NYS Assembly and Senate, Local 831 and 444, and NYS Assemblyman Berger. A very big thank you to Retired DSNY Supervisor Edward Panzarella. This bill would not be where it is today without his efforts. It is truly an honor to have this bill carry the name of my father.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday that commuters have saved more than $100 million since the Metropolitan Transportation Authority expanded its CityTicket program in 2022 to cover all off-peak and later peak trains. The program, which has sold 37.2 million discounted tickets, has boosted ridership on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North to record levels while lifting customer satisfaction and on-time performance across both railroads.
Money in Your Pockets: Governor Hochul Announces MTA Customer Savings Surpasses $100 Million With Commuter Railroad Cityticket Expansion
MTA Sold 37.2 Million CityTickets Since March 2022 Following Expansion to All Off-Peak Trains and Further Expansion to Peak Trains in Late Summer 2023. CityTicket Provides NYC Residents Greater Access to Affordable Commuter Rail Travel Between the Outerboroughs and Manhattan. Milestone Reached as Railroads Experience Record Year of Ridership and Performance.
Governor Hochul today announced that Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) customers have saved more than $100 million since March 2022 by using CityTicket to travel within New York City on the Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North Railroad. The savings are measured against the cost of regular one-way peak and off-peak tickets. This milestone comes after Governor Hochul and the MTA expanded the CityTicket program from a weekend-only option to being available on all peak and off-peak trains in recent years.
“The results are in and it is clear: expanding CityTicket has been a huge affordability win for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “For years, residents of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens had high-quality rail service right at their doorsteps, but the fare was just too high. Not anymore. By making LIRR and Metro-North service more affordable for city riders, we have welcomed millions of new customers, getting New Yorkers out of their cars and onto fast, reliable rail service in and out of Manhattan.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Liebersaid, “Thirty million customers can’t be wrong – the City Ticket is a smash success, saving New York City residents $100 million, plus a faster commute. It’s another proof point that low cost, reliable transit is one of our most important solutions to the affordability crisis, especially for folks outside Manhattan.”
The savings analysis is based on ticket sales from March 2022 through August 2025. Tickets are $5 off peak hours and $7 during peak hours anywhere within New York City on either LIRR or Metro-North, significantly less than the cost of point-to-point tickets prior to the start of the program. For the Long Island Rail Road, 30.4 million CityTickets were sold, totaling a cost savings of $83.2 million. For Metro-North Railroad, 6.8 million CityTickets were sold, totaling a cost savings of $17.6 million – achieving a combined $100.8 million in savings for customers.
Between March 2022 and August 2023, the MTA collectively sold 7.5 million CityTickets. When the program was expanded to include peak trains in August of 2023, 29.7 million CityTickets were sold between September 2022 and August 2025.
At a time of surging railroad ridership across the MTA network, CityTicket expansion has seen ridership grow at city stations faster than systemwide baselines. From 2021 to 2025, monthly average ridership across the LIRR has grown 179%, while ridership grew by 183% at Rosedale, 215% at Queens Village, and 224% at Jamaica. Over 766,000 monthly riders now travel to and from Jamaica Station on the LIRR, which includes connection to the JFK AirTrain and the 168 St Bus Terminal, with connections to 10 New York City Transit and five NICE bus routes.
Bronx riders are also benefitting from more affordable Metro-North service. While overall monthly average railroad ridership grew 126% from 2021 to 2025, ridership was up 163% at Tremont and 152% at Spuyten Duyvil.
Today’s announcement comes as the railroads continue to deliver strong performance and reliability, while breaking post pandemic ridership records. The ridership highs across both railroads reflect the increasing customer satisfaction rates and record-breaking on-time performance statistics.
For this year so far, 96.4% of LIRR trains reached their destination on time, the best rate in its history, even surpassing pandemic years. Customer satisfaction with the LIRR reached 81% in the spring of 2025, up five percentage points from the fall of 2024, when it reached 76%, which was itself a six-point increase from spring 2024’s rate of 70%.
On Metro-North, 98.0% of trains have reached their destination on time this year. Metro-North continues to be the MTA’s highest-rated service with 89% of customers reporting being very satisfied or satisfied with Metro-North overall, an increase from 85% in Fall 2024. Satisfaction increased across all lines, up four points to 90% on the Hudson Line, four points to 89% on the Harlem Line, and five points to 89% on the New Haven Line.b
On September 7, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, warning that federal Medicaid cuts could force hospital closures and cost New Yorkers their health care jobs. She vowed to protect families from rising costs by enacting the largest middle-class tax cut in 70 years, providing inflation rebates, and expanding free school meals statewide. Hochul also highlighted new policies banning cell phones in classrooms to improve learning, while emphasizing her commitment to unity, community investment, and protecting New Yorkers from divisive politics.
Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at True Bethel Baptist Church’s Sunday Service
Governor Hochul: “He is taking away health care from our families. He’s taking away food from our babies. He’s eliminating education opportunities here in this country. The pathway out of your circumstances… When we have people who want us divided… I have to stand up as the Governor and say, ‘I’m not letting the people of my state crash out. You’re not going to divide us. We will be stronger in the face of what you are doing to us, Mr. President.’”
Hochul: “There are hospitals all across New York that are going to end up closing because of these huge cuts in Medicaid — people will lose their health care jobs and I don’t want to see that happen. So I’m putting more money back in people’s pockets. The largest middle class tax cut rate in 70 years. An inflation rebate because you all paid so much in inflation. We collected more in sales tax. I said, ‘That’s not my money. That’s their money,’ you people across the State of New York. Checks are coming out soon. Watch the mail.” Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at True Bethel Baptist Church’s Sunday Service in Buffalo.
A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:
Good morning, church.
[…]
Oh, I feel some energy. I have a question, Reverend– Bishop Pridgen.
[…]
Bishop. No, he’s got the big title — you deserve it. Can I go before you next time? Because I mean, I have to give a lot of speeches, but I have to go after something like that — people are like, “Okay, we’re just walking out the door now,” because how do you top that? But as I think about the message, it is so powerful — I’m trying to process so much of what you said and how it affects my life as your Governor. But also, I just come to church always with a heart full of gratitude and love, especially here. You have embraced me and lifted me up sometimes when life was a little harsh.
[…]
A few years ago — and I try not to remember it, but I lost an important seat in Congress. I loved that job. I thought I would never be able to do something as exciting and impactful for people as I was in Congress. And I came here right after I lost that election, and you embraced me, and you reminded me that perhaps God has another plan. Thank you, Bishop Pridgen, for being the spiritual advisor I needed during the tough times — and, of course, now during the good times. He is one of the leaders of a statewide leadership conference I put together of the top clergy in the State. So he is out there helping shape policy all across New York. So thank you for what you do here, but all across New York.
Your son, Pastor Craig Pridgen, has become a dear friend of mine as well. He’s a wonderful family. I want to welcome them here as well, but also his passion for building housing, and lifting up people and what we’re doing is truly making a difference — I want to thank him for years of friendship.
But speaking of years of friendship, there’s a guy who’s been my friend for about 45 years, married for 41 — give a round applause to your very first First Gentleman, my husband, Bill Hochul. Your former United States attorney who worked so hard with the violence disruptors and tried to reduce crime and make sure that you could be safe again. So that is part of his legacy. But I cherish this man, and I just can never tell him enough how much I love him, and certainly in the presence of God, I want to do that today. And we signed up for another 41, so we’re good.
Also Commissioner Timothy Hogues. I stole him out of Buffalo, but he is a champion of civil service. So I used to be able to give out jobs when I was a county clerk, this guy has jobs across the whole state, so you want to get him on speed dial — you know somebody who needs a job, hard workers, talk to our Civil Service Commissioner as well.
Also, it’s funny about the word “majority,” “majority leader.” How can one church produce the most powerful people in the entire state? One church, one church. Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. One church. Crystal Peoples-Stokes — been a friend of mine since she ran for Congress a long time ago. I think she’s doing better off here because she influences the entire state. And I just love our friendship, Crystal and everyone here. Your name is synonymous with us doing really impactful things for a community — a community that sometimes suffers a lot. And I understand that because I was there during the depths of the worst pain we could have endured on that fateful day in May of 2022.
I will never forget that, but I’ll never forget how this community rose up and stood together. Oh, the resiliency, the strength, the determination to rebuild and never forget those whose lives were shattered on that day, but also to say, “We will come back stronger.” And so we have been strongly investing — into this community — over $50 million to the East Side in the aftermath of that, for people to be able to fix up their homes, and to be able to live where they want to live and just to give them the dignity of a roof over their heads. Since I’ve been Governor, we’ve invested over $250 million in the East Side of Buffalo alone and just another $10 million this year as well.
So I want to thank Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes for her leadership there, but also to have a Majority Leader who’s got a beautiful voice, by the way, in the City Council. Our City Councilmember, Leah Halton-Pope. I mean, my gosh, she must have a direct line to God with that voice. You want something done? I would just ask Leah — beautiful. And Rasheed Wyatt is here as well.
So I really appreciate all the elected officials, but I was thinking about many things you said. If you just give me a couple minutes, I want to share what’s in my heart. We are under siege, my friends. This country is under attack, and I think about what you’re talking about, Bishop, about crashing out, and sometimes there’s people who want us to crash out to divide us — right?
And I’m pained to say this, but I actually believe there’s someone sitting in the White House who wants us to crash out because he is taking away health care from our families. He’s taking away food from our babies. He’s eliminating education opportunities here in this country. The pathway out of your circumstances — like the reason my mom and dad could leave a trailer park minutes from here when my dad worked hard at the steel plant where his father and brothers worked, he got out of that circumstance because of an education. So I value that tremendously.
But, when we have people who want us divided — and even recently saying, no more vaccines, no more COVID shots — I have to stand up as the Governor and say, “I’m not letting the people of my state crash out. You’re not going to divide us. We will be stronger in the face of what you are doing to us, Mr. President.” And don’t underestimate a woman from Buffalo who gets really– and I’m not going to say the word, but I am–
[…]
I’m not going to say it. Alright. Forgive me. Who gets really pissed off about what you’re doing to my people, okay?
Let me just put that out. That’s okay.
[…]
Okay. But, I don’t want to crash and burn over this guy. No, I don’t want to, I don’t want to crash out, so I’m going to get calm, take a breath. I’m going to my calm, happy place. But it just makes your blood boil what they’re doing to our people. So I’m going to do what I can as your Governor. I’m going to fight like heck. But when they’re taking more money out of your pockets — I mean, didn’t they promise lower prices day one? Wasn’t day one back in January? Didn’t they promise lower utility prices day one? Any of your bills going down?
[…]
I mean, this is the line that they fed us, and I’m keeping track of all the promises that have all been broken and I have to clean up the mess.
And again, women, we know how to clean up the mess, okay? Been doing this a lot, okay? So that’s what I’m doing. We’re going to do COVID shots without a prescription because I want our children and our families to be safe. We’re going to find a path to help people have their health care so we don’t have to have our emergency rooms as the first place you go when you get a small illness, right?
I love our health – I love ECMC. We have great hospitals here, but come on, the system can’t hold up under that weight. There are hospitals all across New York that are going to end up closing because of these huge cuts in Medicaid — people will lose their health care jobs, and I don’t want to see that happen.
So I’m putting more money back in people’s pockets. The largest middle class tax cut rate in 70 years. An inflation rebate because you all paid so much in inflation. We collected more in sales tax. I said, “That’s not my money. That’s their money,” you people across the State of New York. Checks are coming out soon. Watch the mail, okay? Okay? Don’t spend it all one day. Get something you really need, okay? Don’t stop by the liquor store, okay? Buy something for the kids — buy them some food.
Sometimes I have to stop by the liquor store too. I understand. It’s alright. It’s alright. But listen, the inflation rebate, the middle class tax cut, a thousand dollar tax credit for everyone who has a child under the age of four — all your grand babies. Let’s take care of the grand babies that we know — $500 for older kids. We’re putting up to $5,000 back in people’s pockets. And also, because I’m a mom, New York’s first Mom Governor, I don’t want any child’s tummy to be growling when they’re in school. Free breakfast, free lunches for every child in the State of New York. These kids are going to learn, not sit there and be hungry.
And speaking of our kids in schools, I actually want them to learn something while they’re sitting there. I want them to pay attention to the teachers and not TikTok dance videos. No more cell phones in our schools. We’re taking our kids back. We’re taking our children back, letting them have a childhood again, letting our teachers be able to teach once and for all.
So as a result of our policy this week — and I’ll tell you, a lot of people didn’t want to go there. “Oh no, you can’t tell us what to do.” Well then do it yourself. Nobody did. Nobody did. I said, “I’ll be the heavy.” I’m a mom. I’m used to getting blamed for everything anyhow. So we did this, and I’m going to tell you this is going to be one of the most impactful policies I ever could have done — it is bipartisan. How often do you hear that? Not very often. People support this. People understand our kids deserve the best in life. And I now have 3 million school-aged children in the State of New York that I know are going to be smarter than the kids in the other states because they’re going to be learning. They’re learning, and our teachers won’t be so frustrated that they’re trying to compete all day long.
So I just wanted to come here and tell you — I have one more thing to say because you told this story about sons, and it brought back this feeling that I was having. And I wasn’t going to talk about this, but about four weeks ago, we had a very serious diagnosis for our only son, and it was scary. He has a 3-year-old daughter and everybody was just really worried and we prayed a lot — my husband’s here, we prayed a lot. We prayed so much, and he had some very serious surgery just a week ago, and the doctors told us that he’s completely healed. And they call it a miracle, they call it a miracle.
And I’m here to thank God for looking out for my little boy. So I know the power of prayer, my friends. God will listen to you. He listened to me in my time of great need and pain.
And I want to thank all of you for being my friends, my hometown — I’m so proud of you. I brag about being from Buffalo all the time. And everybody knows my favorite football team — Go Bills.
Let’s bring it home, everybody. Go Bills. Thank you.
On September 6, 2025, in Albany, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a sweeping package of labor protection bills to safeguard workers across New York State. The legislation strengthens collective bargaining rights, expands apprenticeship programs for renewable energy projects, and creates pathways to good-paying union jobs, while also addressing federal gaps left by the weakened National Labor Relations Board. Signed ahead of New York City’s annual Labor Day Parade, the measures reinforce New York’s commitment to workers, unions, and the clean energy transition, ensuring stronger job security, fair treatment, and safer workplaces for thousands of New Yorkers.
Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen and Expand Worker and Labor Protections
Bill Package Includes Measure To Ensure Protections for New York Workers in Midst of Federal Uncertainty
Bills Would Lead to Creation of New Union Jobs
Governor Hochul Signs Bills To Protect Workers Ahead of New York City’s Labor Day Parade
Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to strengthen and expand labor protections statewide. The package of bills will help create good paying union jobs and strengthen protections for workers across the state. In the absence of a functional National Labor Relations Board under the Trump Administration, the package of bills also includes legislation that seeks to preserve worker rights here in New York. The Governor highlighted the bill signings ahead of New York City’s famous Labor Day Parade.
“Our union laborers are the lifeblood of New York, working tirelessly to continue to build and uplift this great state,” Governor Hochul said. “While the Trump Administration has failed to prioritize a strong National Labor Relations Board and is dismantling unions left and right, here in New York we are taking strong action to protect worker rights and sending a clear message that we will always have the backs of New York’s workers.”
The package of bills includes:
Legislation S.8034A/A8590A which authorizes the New York State Public Employment Relations Board to assert jurisdiction over disputes between employers and recognized employee organizations if the National Labor Relations Board is unable to successfully assert jurisdiction.
Legislation S.5254/A.6612 which protects public unions from a wage reduction due to their involvement in the investigation of a violation of a workplace violence protection program.
Legislation S.12/A.779 which amends the Civil Service Law to strengthen protections for public unions during times of suspensions and workforce layoffs.
Legislation S.2457B/A3999B which establishes the Mechanical Insulation Energy Savings Program to provide grants for qualified mechanical insulation expenditures to school districts.
Legislation A.2730A requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for covered renewable energy systems to have apprenticeship agreements. This legislation also requires thermal energy networks to require contractors and subcontractors to have pre-apprenticeship direct entry providers registered with the New York State Department of Labor.
Public Employee Relations Board Chair Timothy Connick said, “As the current administration continues to sideline longstanding labor institutions like the National Labor Relations Board, it is more important than ever that New York State step up to defend the rights of workers and create fair venues to resolve labor disputes. PERB stands ready to fill the void left by Trump’s NLRB and protect the rights of workers and organized labor across the state.”
State Senator Robert Jacksonsaid, “Today marks a victory for the backbone of our public workforce. With the signing of my bill, S12, New York sends a clear message: collective bargaining agreements are not fair-weather promises — they are binding commitments that must endure through every challenge. This law ensures that layoffs or suspensions cannot be used to discard the rights won at the bargaining table. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law and standing with us. I am also proud to co-sponsor the companion measures signed today — together, these laws strengthen the voice of labor and uphold the dignity of every worker across our state.”
State Senator Jessica Ramossaid, “I’m so grateful to Governor Hochul for signing my bills to protect federal workers when federal safeguards fall short and to expand union apprenticeships that build the greener future we urgently need. That’s how we honor workers in New York.”
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill that requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for renewable energy systems to use apprenticeship agreements. Apprenticeship requirements will ensure workers are adequately trained in a skilled, safe, timely and efficient way. These programs provide New Yorkers with opportunities to gain access to career-track jobs, supporting families and local economies.”
State Senator Chris Ryansaid, “Today’s actions by Governor Hochul represent another strong step forward in protecting working people across New York State. From ensuring fair treatment of public sector workers during investigations or layoffs, to strengthening apprenticeship and training opportunities, this package of legislation makes clear that New York will always stand with workers. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for including my legislation, S5254, as part of this package. As a lifelong labor leader and advocate, I’m proud to advance measures that safeguard collective bargaining rights, strengthen workplace protections, and create pathways to good-paying careers for our families and communities.”
Assemblymember Harry Bronsonsaid, “As Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, I am committed to always fighting for the protections which New York workers have earned and deserve — good wages, the right to safe workplaces, the right to organize and select who will represent them, and the right to take action when their worker rights are threatened. With the signing of these bills, the leadership and partnership of Governor Hochul, and the support of organized labor, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the hardworking families of New York and achieving meaningful protections against the Trump administration’s attack on workers. In addition, by enacting the Mechanical Insulation Energy Savings Program bill, we will increase the energy efficiency of public buildings and create workforce development opportunities through apprenticeships.”
Assemblymember Didi Barrettsaid, “By establishing apprenticeship programs across all renewable energy projects, we are ensuring New York State has the skilled workforce for our clean energy transition, while laying the groundwork for good-paying, union careers in this growing energy sector for working women and men. This is a win for our state, our planet, our working families, and our economy! I thank Governor Hochul for signing this important bill into law.”
Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato said, “New York has always stood up for our workforce. Through this legislation, and the tremendous work of Governor Hochul, New York continues to strengthen protections for unions and their employees during layoffs. We will always be a proud pro-union and pro-worker State.”
New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “By signing these bills into law, Governor Hochul has once again demonstrated her commitment to addressing the real needs and concerns of working people. Partnering with the Governor, I know we will continue to lead when it comes to achieving meaningful progress toward improving the lives of hardworking New Yorkers. I also want to thank Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie for their vital roles in passing these critical pieces of legislation.”
New York State Building Trades President Gary LaBarbera said, “We thank Governor Hochul for standing with the Labor movement today and signing this very important legislation. The Building Trades are proud to advocate for policies that will benefit the entire construction workforce and ensure more projects are creating pathways for individuals to earn a middle-class family sustaining job and career in a union trade. Both the Renewable Energy Apprenticeship and Mechanical Insulation Incentives legislation have been priorities for our members this year as they will produce more job opportunities throughout the industry, while providing a positive impact to New York’s economy that will help the State in lowering its carbon footprint. We applaud the Governor, Legislative leadership and the bill sponsors for their commitment and support for our unions and these respective policies.”
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) President Mary E. Sullivan said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing her commitment to working people by signing these bills into law. Public employees deserve to know their negotiated rights will be respected and that they can speak up to make their workplaces safer without fear of losing pay. These new protections mean stronger job security, safer workplaces and a stronger future for the people who keep New York and our communities running every day.”
New York State Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said, “The 54,000 members of the New York State Public Employees Federation appreciate Governor Hochul’s continued leadership and support to adjust and correct issues with the state’s Workplace Violence Law. This law ensures that both workers and employers are able to engage in the process of making all public workplaces safer. We look forward to continuing this work in the coming year as we work collectively to enhance the safety and security of all public employees.”
LiUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager Donato A. Bianco, Jr. said, “The bright future of New York State will be powered by renewable energy, and the men and women of LIUNA stand ready to continue building this critical infrastructure that will benefit generations of New Yorkers. We applaud Governor Kathy Hochul for recognizing the resounding impact the unionized workforce has on building clean energy projects from the ground up, and the importance of the career opportunities apprenticeship provides. This legislation ensures the highest quality workforce will get the job done safely, efficiently and expeditiously, and paves pathways for New Yorkers to make their mark on the energy landscape while earning a solid, family-sustaining wage. At a time when Washington’s targeted assault on working families and the construction industry shows no sign of letting up, we express deep gratitude to bill sponsors Assembly Member Didi Barrett and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton for showing New York will fight for both.”
NY/NE Conference of Mechanical Insulators President Thomas LeCount and Financial Secretary John Jovic said, “We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in signing legislation to implement the Mechanical Insulation Energy Savings Program. This new program will make public buildings more energy efficient across the State, while creating access to top tier apprenticeship programs and good paying jobs. We truly appreciate the commitment to Labor and hardworking New Yorkers that the Governor, Legislative Leadership and our sponsors have demonstrated in creating this program.”
On September 5, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a landmark settlement with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, concluding more than four decades of litigation that began in 1982. The agreement restores over 14,000 acres of land in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties to tribal control, secures $70 million in payments and long-term power access from the New York Power Authority, and provides tuition assistance for Akwesasne Mohawk students at SUNY colleges. It also grants the tribe renewed access to the islands of Croil, Long Sault, and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River. The deal underscores New York’s commitment to justice, reconciliation, and stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities statewide.
Governor Hochul Announces Agreement Reached with Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Ending Decades-Long Dispute
Returns Land Back to Tribal Control With Payments From the New York Power Authority For Use of the Land and Access to Power
Ends Litigation That First Commenced in 1982; Includes Restoration of Islands Access Along St. Lawrence River to Akwesasne Mohawks as Well as Tuition Assistance to SUNY Facilities and Community Colleges
Continues Governor’s Commitment To Strengthen and Restore Relationships With Indigenous Peoples Across New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State has reached a settlement agreement with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, bringing an end to a decades-long dispute that first commenced in 1982 over litigation regarding land purchases. The agreement includes land restitution to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe — approximately 9,500 acres in Franklin County and 4,800 acres in St. Lawrence County — in addition to payments from the New York Power Authority for use of the land and the provision of power. The settlement also included tuition assistance for tribal members to SUNY facilities and community colleges, and restored access to the islands of Croil, Long Sault and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River.
“In order to pave a way forward, we must acknowledge the mistakes of the past — and I am grateful that the agreement between New York State and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has allowed us to do just that,” Governor Hochul said. “While New York’s history was stained with a tragic history, its future will be of justice, reconciliation, accountability and healing — as Governor, I am committed to supporting all Indigenous Peoples in our State and taking the necessary steps to strengthen and restore relations with the State.”
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council said, “Our land claim has spanned approximately 43 years. Getting our land back has been a goal of ours and our ancestors — we would not be here without the perseverance and courage from everyone who worked on the claim and negotiations since 1982. The Settlement is not perfect, as it does not restore all Mohawk lands that we historically lost. However, the settlement provides us the opportunity to add, restore, and acquire lands, as well as to remove property taxes, provide funding for Akwesasne Mohawk students at SUNY, in addition to acquiring power at a preferred rate.”
Settlement Agreement With the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
The agreement settled disputes over land in addition to power usage, education benefits, and access to the islands of Croil, Long Sault and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River.
Restoring Land Rights:
Disputed land in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties will become Indian Land upon the effective date of the Settlement Agreement. Approximately 9,200 acres in Franklin County and 3,200 acres in St. Lawrence County will be returned to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT), with an immediate restoration of 3,400 acres in Franklin County and 1,300 acres in St. Lawrence County
The State will make recurring payments: a $2 million annual payment to Franklin County — with an additional $1 million annual payment to Franklin County out of money received from the exclusivity payment — and a $4 million annual payment to St. Lawrence County out of money received from the exclusivity payment
The agreement will establish a process for Akwesasne Mohawks to convert certain parcels to Indian Land should the right conditions be met
Power Usage and Payments:
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will pay SRMT $2 million every year for 35 years, totaling $70 million
NYPA will provide SRMT with up to 9 mWh of lowest cost power that can be used to grow the SRMT’s economy or by members for personal use. The power provided cannot be resold on the open market and can only be transmitted into Canada if the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne obtains all the necessary permits and approvals
Access to Education:
The State will waive tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight full-time semesters for any enrolled Akwesasne Mohawk at any SUNY facility or community college
Members of the SRMT applying to Cornell or Alfred will receive a reduction equivalent to the SUNY undergraduate resident tuition rate
An income requirement is not attached to these benefits
Access to Land:
The SRMT can access the islands of Croil, Long Sault and Barnhart on the St. Lawrence River for hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering with certain limited restrictions. Hunting standards for the SRMT will be equal to, or more stringent than, regulations for licensed hunters in New York State
No fees will be issued for the SRMT to use the boat launch at Robert Moses State Park – Thousand Islands
The SRMT can conduct environmental monitoring on the islands with the provision of at least 10 days advanced notice to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and no damage during the monitoring period
The SRMT has a right of first refusal if the State ever wishes to alienate any of the islands
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the people of Akwesasne have long sought justice and the return of their rightful land,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m so grateful that, after decades of unceasing advocacy from tribal leaders, Governor Hochul has signed the agreement to return thousands of acres to the Tribe. I will continue working to ensure this agreement is ratified by Congress and remain a committed partner to Native communities across our state.”
Assemblymember Billy Jones said, “Although I’ve been involved with the land claim settlement discussions for over 15 years, most of the credit goes to the Franklin County legislators past and present, the County Managers, the town officials, and the members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe who worked tirelessly to come to this agreement. I have been involved in these talks since my time as chair of the Franklin County Legislature, so I know firsthand how challenging it was to get to this point. After years of tedious negotiations, this agreement ensures a fair settlement for all parties. I want to thank the Governor and everyone involved for finalizing this important and historic agreement.”
Franklin County Board of Legislators Chair Ed Lockwood said, “After decades of negotiations among Franklin County, the Mohawk Tribe, and the State of New York, the three parties have reached a consensus to advance the final Land Claim Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the Federal Government for review and approval. Franklin County, along with representatives from the Towns of Bombay and Fort Covington, has worked diligently and collaboratively to help bring this agreement to fruition. On behalf of the Franklin County Legislature, we look forward to the finalization of the Land Claim Agreement and the opportunities it represents for all parties involved.”
St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators Chair David Forsythe said, “This Settlement will provide the opportunity to return land to the Tribe while improving opportunities for the surrounding counties of Franklin and St. Lawrence. This litigation has been active for over 43 years and concludes with an agreement that recognizes the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of all the parties. The interested parties at the local and state level have all signed off in agreement, with the approval of Congress and the President it will finally be settled. Since 2014, the County has been urging conciliation that would result in settlement. This historic settlement is a testament for the shared interest of all involved to live in peace with one another for generations to come. Thank you to the Governor and all signatories for resolving this long standing challenge. The County looks forward to the implementation of the tenets of the Settlement.”
Commitment To Strengthen Relationships
Governor Hochul is committed to supporting and strengthening relationships with Indigenous peoples and tribes across New York State. The Governor’s previous steps to build on her actions are highlighted below:
Visited the Cattaraugus Territory of the Seneca Nation of Indians on May 20 and issued a formal apology regarding New York State’s role in the operation of the Thomas Indian School
Visited the Onondaga Nation Longhouse. Governor Kathy Hochul made a historic visit to the Onondaga Longhouse — the first visit by a sitting Governor in more than half a century – for a conversation with Onondaga Nation leaders, including Tadodaho Sid Hill, representatives of the Council of Chiefs, and Clan Mothers
Proposed to strengthen the stability of Indigenous Families by directing Deputy Secretary Rule to advance, in consultation with Nation leadership and stakeholders, strategies to strengthen the objectives of the Indian Child Welfare Act, underscoring New York’s commitment to redressing injustices inflicted upon Indigenous communities
Ensured dental care access for Indigenous Nations including $2.5 million in funding for Indigenous Nations dental health care, with the aim of addressing gaps in access
Responded to offensive representations by commencing a comprehensive review of artistic representation of Indigenous peoples in the Capitol, with invited participation from representatives from each of the nine Indigenous Nations to ensure that all New Yorkers are welcomed in the State Capitol
Governor Kathy Hochul announced $7.5 million in funding to open four new Youth Safe Spaces across New York State, including in Albany, Queens, Wayne County, and Cicero. The programs will serve young people ages 12 to 24, offering free, peer-led support in safe, community-based settings. Designed to tackle rising mental health challenges, these spaces will provide resources, reduce isolation, and build positive connections while complementing traditional clinical services. Funded through the FY 2026 State Budget, the initiative continues Hochul’s push to expand mental health access and support youth well-being statewide.
Governor Hochul Announces $7.5 Million Awarded to Establish Youth Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces Provide Free, Voluntary, Peer-Led Programing for Youth and Young Adults Between the Ages of 12 and 24. Funding to Establish Four Locations Statewide to Address Rising Behavioral Health Challenges Among Teen and Young Adult Populations.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $7.5 million in awards to four nonprofit community-based organizations to launch Youth Safe Spaces and address the evolving behavioral health needs of teens and young adults. Administered by the state Office of Mental Health, these peer-led, non-clinical programs will serve youth ages 12 to 24 in welcoming, community-based settings, offering safe spaces, resources, and connections to help them navigate mental health challenges.
“Young New Yorkers today are facing significant mental health pressures that can push them to the edge of crisis,” Governor Hochul said. “By establishing Youth Safe Spaces throughout our state, we can help our children connect with one another and be supported in an environment that promotes positive mental well-being.”
Safe Spaces provide inclusive, peer-led environments designed to reduce isolation, promote positive relationships, and connect young people to both traditional and non-traditional supports. These non-clinical programs complement clinical services and expand access to care by addressing cultural, financial, and systemic barriers.
The awards include:
LaSalle School Inc.; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a program in the Conroy Building in Albany
AIDS Center of Queens County; $500,000 annually over five years to establish a program at 62-07 Woodside Ave. in Queens
Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council of Wayne County; $250,000 annually over five yearsto operate the Alex Eligh Community Center in Newark
Friends of the CanTeen; $250,000 annually over five years to operate the CanTeen of Central New York in Cicero
Youth Safe Spaces are located in accessible, community-based settings, including schools, youth centers, and other trusted spaces, where young people can access mental wellness resources, foster positive relationships with their peers, and receive support in a safe, comfortable environment. These programs foster leadership, peer connection, and cultural responsiveness while reducing stigma, building resilience, and advancing mental health equity in communities most impacted by systemic barriers.
OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Our youth can benefit greatly from having a place where they can build positive relationships with their peers and learn how to be resilient when they encounter mental health challenges. Youth Safe Spaces offer this supportive environment, which can help young New Yorkers find their voice and become leaders in their community. By seeding this program throughout our state, Governor Hochul is again demonstrating her full commitment to helping young people address the many complex and evolving challenges to their mental health that they face today.”
Funded through the FY 2026 State Budget, the initiative to develop Youth Safe Spaces was originally driven by feedback Governor Hochul received during her Youth Mental Health Listening Tour, which culminated in the state’s inaugural Youth Mental Health Summit in June 2023. These findings were further shaped through engagement with the 30-member Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, OMH-led community feedback sessions, and Youth Recovery Clubhouses supported by the state Office of Addiction Supports and Services.
OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Adolescence is a time of significant change, which can put young people at an increased risk of mental health and substance use disorders. Governor Hochul has taken significant steps to address these issues and increase services across the state, and this initiative will provide further support for young people in need.”
Governor Hochul’s nation-leading commitment to protect youth mental health and promote student success in the digital age has resulted in major investments into youth services and supports. Her $1 billion mental health initiative and the FY 2025 Budget significantly expanded access to mental health care and is providing resources for young people and their families.
As part of the FY 2026 State Budget, she secured a landmark agreement to create a statewide standard for distraction-free schools and eliminate smartphone use in the classroom. Starting this fall, all K-12 schools must have a ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone policy prohibiting the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds.
Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health also led to the creation of 10 new Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams to support young people with serious emotional disturbances who are either at risk of entering, or are returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services. The new Youth ACT teams will join 20 others, which are now operating in 27 counties, providing youth and family therapy, medication management, family and peer support, and skill-building.
In addition, Governor Hochul signed into law the Safe for Kids Act last year, requiring social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. She also signed the New York Child Data Protection Act, prohibiting online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.
Governor Hochul also expanded school-based mental health clinics, which help students get a licensed mental health care provider in a familiar stigma-free setting on their school campus. Since funding this expansion last year, the state has added 71 new clinic satellites — including 40 in high-needs districts —to the more than 1,100 that now exist statewide.
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “Children and young adults should be able to receive care and have safe community spaces, and I am proud to have helped secure funding for such a location in Western Queens. These resources will transform the care provided within our community, and ensure our neighbors receive quality care close to home.”
State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Now more than ever, our youth need access to safe environments where they can receive much-needed mental health resources. I want to thank Governor Hochul for tackling our mental health epidemic head on and delivering for youth across our state.”
State Senator Christopher Ryansaid, “Supporting the mental health of our young people must be a top priority, and I am proud that Friends of the CanTeen is receiving this critical investment. For years, the CanTeen has been a trusted space where teens can gather, find support, and know they are not alone. With this funding, they will be able to expand that mission through the Youth Safe Spaces program, giving our kids the resources, connections, and encouragement they need to thrive. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and the Office of Mental Health for recognizing the importance of this work and for investing in the future of our community.”
Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, “The Youth Safe Spaces program is not only a necessity to protect young people’s mental health, but a perfect fit to the CanTeen’s core mission. Since its inception, the CanTeen has always provided young adults in our community with a safe space, helping them feel seen, supported, and accepted among their peers. These resources will allow the facility to expand the services they currently offer by increasing programming during school breaks, growing their staff, and expanding the program to past participants. Over the next five years, I am excited to see the CanTeen grow alongside the young adult community that it serves.”
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simonsaid, “Creating safe spaces for young adults is vital to reducing isolation and stigma, and ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive. By fostering peer connection in community-based settings, Youth Safe Spaces will help children navigate challenges and strengthen their mental health. I commend Governor Hochul for her commitment to protecting the mental health of young people and investing in their futures.”
Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “Meeting our kids’ needs doesn’t just mean making sure they have food and a roof over their heads; it also means making sure they’re getting mental health support. Stigma around mental health persists in so many cultures, so it’s important we meet our youth where they’re at. That’s why I am elated to see statewide initiatives such as the Youth safe spaces so we can better support our children. I am grateful for Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for their leadership in securing initiatives that protect and put our children first. I’m excited for my constituents to be able to access mental health resources, support and programming so they can live happier and healthier lives.”
Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul’s investment in the holistic wellbeing of young people in our community. With LaSalle School here in Albany receiving funding to launch a new Youth Safe Space, our youth will have access to safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where they can connect with peers and get the resources they need. Addressing youth mental health requires a commitment to breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and meeting young people where they are, and this initiative does exactly that. I look forward to seeing how this program strengthens our community and supports the next generation.”
With the first day of school here, Governor Kathy Hochul is reminding parents to check the new Distraction-Free Schools policy at ny.gov/phonefree. Starting with the 2025-26 school year, all public schools, charter schools, and BOCES across New York must enforce smartphone restrictions from bell to bell. The law prohibits unsanctioned device use during the school day, with $13.5 million set aside to help schools with storage solutions. The Governor says the move will cut distractions, protect mental health, and boost learning, while still allowing parents to reach their kids when needed.
Before the First Day of School, Governor Hochul Reminds Parents to Review the Distraction-Free Policy for Their Child’s School District
With the first day of school coming up this week, Governor Hochul is once again reminding New York parents to visit ny.gov/phonefree to review the distraction-free learning policy for their child’s school district or charter school. As part of New York State law, K-12 public schools, charter schools and BOCES are now implementing bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices. The ny.gov/phonefree webpage enables parents and students to look up the distraction-free policies published by approximately 1,080 public school districts, charter schools and BOCES.
“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York schools are ready for bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage parents to review the distraction-free policy for their child’s school district to help prepare for this important transition, which I know will deliver incredible results for students, teachers and families.”
The Distraction-Free Schools law signed by Governor Hochul requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 school districts statewide, starting with the 2025-26 school year.
Governor Hochul’s policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York including:
Prohibiting unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods
Allowing schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students
Securing $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free
Requiring schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary
Requiring teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy
Preventing inequitable discipline
Governor Hochul’s policy allows authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.
Additionally, the Governor’s policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.
Governor Hochul pursued this initiative after engaging in a statewide listening tour with teachers, parents and students. Her report, “More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools” underscores the following:
Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity
Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety
Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers
Open communication and direct guidance for all stakeholders is key for successful implementation
Schools must address any parent concerns about staying in contact with their children during the day
An effective distraction-free policy must focus on the entire school day, rather than solely on time in the classroom
Schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming
Why critics say Albany’s green agenda weakens the state’s economy, raises costs for families, and plays into the hands of America’s rivals.
New York’s leaders are pushing ahead with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and a Draft State Energy Plan that promises a “green future.” The plan says the state will run on 70% renewables by 2030 and reach a 100% zero-emission grid by 2040.
Sounds great on paper. But here’s the problem: while New York sacrifices its own economy, the rest of the world isn’t following.
The Big Contradiction
Asia and Africa are building more coal plants and burning more oil and gas than ever.
China and India keep increasing fossil fuel use to power their industries.
Russia and Iran depend on selling oil and gas — and they make more money when U.S. states restrict their own energy.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration in Washington (2025) is going the opposite way: drill more, export more, and make energy cheap and abundant again.
So while the world’s biggest polluters keep burning, New York is waging a “climate war” against itself.
Who Wins from New York’s Plan?
Russia, Iran, and OPEC: higher global prices = more profit for them.
China and India: cheaper energy at home means stronger manufacturing.
Climate NGOs and bureaucrats: more money and power through subsidies and carbon credits.
Big corporations and investors: subsidies, government contracts, and green energy mandates fill their pockets.
Who Loses?
New York families: higher bills for heating, cooling, and electricity.
Local businesses: higher energy costs make them less competitive.
Workers in oil, gas, and heating industries: jobs vanish.
Taxpayers: footing the bill for subsidies and infrastructure.
The electric grid: risk of blackouts if reliable fuels disappear too fast.
The Bottom Line
New York’s Draft Energy Plan is sold as a fight against climate change. But critics say it looks more like a self-inflicted wound:
It won’t change global emissions.
It makes life more expensive for ordinary New Yorkers.
It helps America’s rivals — Russia, Iran, and China — by weakening U.S. energy.
Instead of being a “green victory,” it may end up as a war on New York’s own economy and standard of living.
Winners vs. Losers of New York’s Draft Energy Plan
Winners
Why They Win
Russia, Iran, OPEC
Less U.S. competition means higher global oil & gas prices = more profit.
China & India
Keep using cheap coal, oil, and gas → cheaper factories and stronger economies.
Climate NGOs & Bureaucrats
More subsidies, more carbon credit markets, more control.
Big Corporations & Wall Street
Win government contracts, profit from “green” mandates and subsidies.
Losers
Why They Lose
New York Families
Higher heating, cooling, and electricity bills.
Local Businesses
Pay more for energy → less competitive with other states.
Workers in Oil & Gas
Jobs in natural gas, heating oil, and related industries disappear.
Taxpayers
Billions in subsidies come out of their pockets.
The Electric Grid
More blackouts and instability as reliable fuels get phased out too quickly.
