Midtown Tribune

Category: NEW YORK NEWS

White House: ABC “News” Is Fake News
ABC “News” is not journalism — it’s a Democrat spin operation masquerading as a broadcast network. The network’s longstanding commitment to hoaxes, character assassinations, and outright fiction targeting only one side of the political aisle is a deliberate deception to wage war on President Trump and the millions of Americans who elected him to multiple terms.

ABC “News” has a long, rich tradition of peddling lies, conspiracies, and outright opinion thinly veiled as fact:
- In 2017, ABC suspended investigative reporter Brian Ross after he falsely reported that President Trump had directed Michael Flynn to contact Russian officials before the 2016 election.
- In 2020, ABC suspended veteran correspondent David Wright after he was caught identifying himself as a “socialist” and admitting the network pushes an anti-Trump agenda and airs stories designed for profit, not news.
- In 2020, George Stephanopoulos — longtime Democrat operative turned wannabe “journalist” — failed to ask Joe Biden about his son Hunter’s infamous laptop or the swirling allegations of impropriety.
- In 2024, Stephanopoulos repeatedly lied about President Trump’s legal cases. After being sued for promoting these defamatory lies, the network agreed to settle for $16 million and issue a statement of regret.
- In October 2024, the network erroneously “fact checked” President Trump at least five times during the presidential debate — but failed to call out his opponent a single time.
- Following President Trump’s historic 2024 election victory, 90% of the network’s coverage of his cabinet nominees was negative.
- In January, ABC News gave 27 times more coverage to President Trump’s pardons of January 6 defendants than of Biden’s last-minute pardons to his corrupt family members.
- In January, ABC News editorialized in a partisan way that President Trump’s personnel directives were “retribution.”
- In February, ABC News mischaracterized the Trump Administration’s effort to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the bloated federal bureaucracy as an “attack on veterans.”
- In April, ABC News peddled the debunked lie that the Trump Administration was unilaterally deporting U.S. citizen babies.
- In June, ABC News’s senior national correspondent Terry Moran smeared White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as a “world-class hater” whose “hatreds are his spiritual nourishment” — just one entry in a long series of Moran’s obvious liberal bias during his tenure.
- In June, ABC News aired what it called a “violent Border Patrol detention” — but failed to mention the detained illegal immigrant had been chasing federal agents with a weed whacker.
- In June, ABC News praised violent Los Angeles rioters for “self-policing” — as local businesses and property were being harmed — during coverage critical of President Trump’s National Guard deployment.
- In July, ABC News used its special coverage of the One Big Beautiful Bill signing ceremony to falsely claim the legislation would “mostly” benefit “the wealthiest Americans” and repeat the debunked talking point that millions of Americans would “lose their healthcare.”
- In July, ABC News refused to cover the Office of National Intelligence’s announcement of a landmark investigation into Obama-era politicization and manufacturing of intelligence assessments.
- In July, ABC News dismissed the vicious MS-13 gang — whose motto is literally “kill, rape, control” — as a “clique.”
- In September, Stephanopoulos repeatedly — and falsely — insisted that people had somehow “died” because of the Trump Administration’s decision to shutter a bloated, wasteful bureaucratic agency.
The White House

November 19, 2025

Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York
November 21, 2025
RUBIO ORDERS RESTITUTION FOR HUNDREDS OF STAFFERS DENIED PROMOTIONS UNDER BIDEN DEI RULE – U.S. Department of State

The previous administration’s extreme DEI agenda imposed ideological litmus tests on government workers and robbed nearly 300 Foreign Service Officers of promotion opportunities.

Now the State Department is rewarding merit and providing restitution to those unjustly impacted.

An internal study conducted by the State Department revealed that 295 Foreign Service Officers were denied promotion opportunities in 2024 after the diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda was embedded into the promotion process.

Officers were disadvantaged in promotion considerations if they didn’t fully embrace the discriminatory DEI agenda.

The policy prioritized adherence to an extreme ideology over merit and competency.

Now the State Department is rewarding excellence. Those harmed by these extreme DEI policies will be treated fairly based on past performance.

Source: U.S. Department of State’s Post , Midtown Tribune news

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

November 21, 2025
New York. Governor Hochul Announces MTA Opening First-of-its-kind Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility

Yard Inspects All New Subway Cars Shipped Via Truck, Rail and Barge; Features Direct Link to New York City Transit Tracks, Allowing Modern Trains to Enter System Faster and More Efficiently

Builds on MTA’s Plan To Add More than 1,500 Modern Subway Cars in 2025-29 Capital Plan; Details of the MTA Capital Plan Are Available Here

Three-Year Project Completed on Time and $5.5 Million Under Budget

Link to Photos of Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility Is Available Here; B-Roll Is Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the opening of the first-of-its-kind Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility. Delivered on time and under budget, this state-of-the-art complex serves as the first stop for all new subway cars before they are put into service. This facility will help the MTA process new subway cars, work locomotives and other rolling stock more efficiently, helping complete onsite testing so they can enter service more quickly. This comes as the MTA prepares to receive the biggest infusion of new rail cars since systematic capital planning was first introduced more than a generation ago.

“Thanks to funding from congestion pricing and the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan, we are making generational upgrades to our subway fleet,” Governor Hochul said. “Thousands of new, modern cars are set to improve the riding experience for millions of New Yorkers. By streamlining the process needed to get these new cars on the rails and into service, this new facility will ensure that riders feel the benefits of a new and improved subway fleet faster than ever.”

Located near the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, the facility can accept rolling stock delivered by truck, rail, or boat. Once accepted, individual cars will be linked together for testing and commissioning on the facility’s in-house tracks. The newly created trains will then be sent via the facility’s direct connection to the subway network to complete further testing and will be entered into revenue service once they pass final inspection. This is the first brand-new, full-scale subway car facility located on a new property that the Authority has added since the Pitkin Yard opened in Brooklyn in 1948.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Our historic $11 billion investment in rolling stock calls for a top-of-the-line new testing facility. Now we’re ready to start processing the 1,500+ rail cars included in the Capital Plan, no matter how they’re delivered — by land or by water.”

MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “This facility consolidates work that was once spread amongst different yards and unites it all under one roof. It’s another example of the MTA delivering a critical project on time and under budget to improve subway reliability for decades to come.”

New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “As we continue to upgrade our rolling stock with modern cars, the Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility provides a state-of-the-art space for NYC Transit employees to ensure new cars are safe, reliable, and ready to enter service. With streamlined inspections and a direct connection to transit tracks, NYC Transit has never been more prepared to keep up with the historic 2025-29 Capital Plan and the unprecedented investment it provides in rolling stock.”

The Railcar Acceptance and Testing Facility was completed within its three-year timeline and $5.5 million under budget by utilizing design-build delivery that streamlines project design and management. The MTA realized significant savings through the use of prefabricated building components and precast concrete for the track pit construction, speeding the project’s completion and minimizing cost.  

The American Council of Engineering Companies of New York recently awarded the facility the silver medal in the Transportation category at the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards Competition. This prestigious award recognized the yard’s state-of-the-art design, innovation, complexity and the benefits it will bring to the subway riding public and community as a whole.

The opening of the facility comes as the MTA is actively buying hundreds of modern R211 and R268 subway cars that will eventually replace all R46 and R68 subway cars, which have been in service for decades. The historic $68 billion 2025-29 Capital Plan includes the purchase of 1,500 new subway cars – the largest new investment in rolling stock since the 1980s. New R211 cars are being delivered at a rapid pace, with 750 already delivered and another 860 still to arrive.  

First placed into service in March 2023, the R211 features pre-installed security cameras in each car, as well as 58-inch-wide door openings that are eight inches wider than standard door openings on the existing car fleet. These are designed to speed up boarding and reduce the amount of time trains sit in stations. In addition to wider doors, these cars provide additional accessible seating, digital displays that will provide more detailed station-specific information, and brighter lighting and signage, among other features that improve the customer experience.

The R211 is currently in service on the Staten Island Railway, as well as the A, B, C and G lines. There are plans to add the R211 on the D and the Rockaway Park S within the next two years. The R211 is just the start of the MTA’s investment in new subway cars. The MTA Board recently approved the purchase of 378 new R268 subway cars, which feature many of the same amenities as the R211. The R268s will service the MTA’s B division lines beginning in 2028. In addition, the 2025-29 Capital Plan will include the purchase of new cars for the A Division, replacing the existing R62 trains serving the 1, 3 and 6 trains.

These modern cars also assist the MTA in its efforts to upgrade subway lines to Communications-based Train Control (CBTC), the international gold standard of signal systems. All R211s and R268s come equipped with technology that seamlessly integrates with CBTC signals, leading to a better overall commute for millions of daily riders — including more reliable service, fewer delays, more frequent trains and less waiting.

Crews are actively working to complete CBTC upgrades on the A, C, E, F and G lines. Planned work on the Fulton St and Liberty Av Lines of the A and C trains in Brooklyn and Queens and the 6th Av Line of the B, D, F and M trains in Manhattan are being paid for by funds generated from congestion relief. Upcoming CBTC modernization efforts on the A, Rockaway Park S, J and Z trains from the Williamsburg Bridge to Broad St, as well as on the N, Q, R and W trains in Manhattan and Astoria will be financed through the 2025-29 Capital Plan.

Representative Daniel Goldman said, “The new railcar acceptance facility in my district in Sunset Park is exactly the kind of smart transit investment that delivers real results for New Yorkers. By streamlining delivery and testing for new subway cars, this site will help modernize our fleet, improve reliability across the system, and get riders the safe and efficient service they deserve. I am grateful for the leadership and vision that made this possible, and I look forward to seeing the benefits for Brooklyn and our entire city.”

State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Investing in modern, reliable rail service is essential to keeping New York moving. This new testing facility will help the MTA bring upgraded subway cars online faster and more efficiently, improving safety, reliability and the rider experience system-wide. I commend Governor Hochul and the MTA for delivering this project on time and under budget and I look forward to continued progress that improves our ability to keep the system in a state of good repair, improving the ability of our transit network for all New Yorkers.”

Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes said, “Today’s opening builds on Sunset Park’s legacy of industrial innovation and maritime commerce. As we strive to uphold our commitment to improving public infrastructure and transportation, I am proud to welcome this first-of-its-kind facility to our community. Thank you to everyone involved in ensuring the project was delivered on time and under budget.”

New York City Council Member Alexa Avilés said, “I am proud to welcome this new railcar acceptance facility into our district. Our public transportation system is the beating heart of our city. Investments that improve the efficiency of our trains will serve me and my neighbors, who rely on NYCT for their daily commutes across the city. I want to thank NYCT for the hard work they have put into opening this facility and look forward to supporting the dedicated NYCT workers who keep our city running.”

November 21, 2025

Albany, NY

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

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

November 21, 2025
Hochul Vows New York Will Lead on ‘Responsible AI’ Despite Broadband Funding Clash

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is blasting the Trump administration, saying the White House is threatening to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in rural broadband funding from upstate communities because the state passed tough new rules on artificial intelligence.
Hochul says the AI safeguards are designed to protect kids, workers and consumers, and accuses Washington of siding with big corporations that don’t want to take basic steps to prevent AI-related harm. Calling the move “unacceptable,” she vows to keep fighting for working families and to keep New York at the forefront of “responsible AI” policy.

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul

“We passed some of the nation’s strongest AI safeguards to protect kids, workers and consumers. Now, the White House is threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in broadband funding meant for rural upstate communities, all to shield big corporations from taking basic steps to prevent potential harm from AI.

“This is unacceptable. In New York, we protect working families and set the standard for the nation. I will continue to fight to ensure our state remains a global leader in responsible AI.”

Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

November 20, 2025
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is choosing to go to trial on a federal misdemeanor instead of taking a deal that would have quietly ended his case.
What is he charged with?
- Lander is facing a federal misdemeanor obstruction charge.
- The charge comes from a Sept. 18 sit-in/protest on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, where ICE uses holding rooms for immigrants.
- Prosecutors say he was blocking entrances/foyers/corridors while he and other elected officials tried to inspect the detention area to see if ICE was complying with a judge’s order on overcrowding and conditions. AP News
What deal did he refuse?
- Federal prosecutors offered an “adjournment in contemplation of dismissal” (ACD) style deal:
  - No guilty plea.
  - Case would be dropped in about six months if he stayed out of trouble on federal property.
- All or most of the other 10 elected officials arrested with him accepted that offer.
- Lander was the lone holdout and told reporters, “I want a trial.” ABC7 New York+1
Why does he say he wants a trial?

According to his public statement and reporting:
- He argues the “real crime” happened inside the detention area, not in the hallway where he was arrested.
- He says a trial will “bring to light” how ICE is treating people in those holding rooms and whether they’re complying with court-ordered limits on crowding, cleanliness, sleeping mats, etc. AP News+1
- It also fits his long pattern of civil-disobedience-style protests around immigration enforcement. The Forward+1
What’s the potential penalty?
- The charge carries a maximum of 30 days in federal jail if he’s convicted. AP News
- Realistically, for a first-time nonviolent misdemeanor of this type, outcomes often range from a fine or conditional discharge up to short jail, but that’s ultimately up to the judge if he’s found guilty.
How does this tie to his earlier ICE arrest?
- Back in June 2025, Lander was arrested by masked ICE agents at the same federal complex while linking arms with an immigrant who was being taken into custody; those earlier charges were dropped after big political backlash. The Guardian+2AP News+2
- The current case is separate: it’s about the September sit-in on the 10th floor detention area, not the June hallway arrest.
Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York
November 19, 2025
N.Y. governor, education chief blast Trump plan to kill Education Department: ‘Won’t go down without a fight’

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa fired back Wednesday at President-elect Donald Trump’s push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, calling the move “catastrophic” and a “direct attack” on the state’s schools. In a sharply worded joint statement, the Democratic leaders warned that breaking up the federal agency and shifting its duties elsewhere would put millions of New York students at risk and disrupt everything from special education services to civil rights enforcement in classrooms. “We won’t go down without a fight – not when our kids are on the line,” they declared, vowing to defend public education against what they described as an attempt to dismantle the nation’s school system.

Joint Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul and State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa

“The Trump administration’s decision to tear apart the Department of Education carries catastrophic consequences for education nationwide. By outsourcing the Department’s responsibilities to other federal agencies, the administration is moving closer to its misguided goal of dismantling our education system, and in doing so, threatens to upend New York’s school system, putting millions of students’ educations at risk. Make no mistake, this maneuver is a direct attack on New York teachers, students, and families and its effects will be felt in schools statewide.

“New York is committed to standing up for our students and ensuring their futures remain front and center. We won’t go down without a fight – not when our kids are on the line.”

November 18, 2025

Albany, NY

Sources: Governor.ny.gov/ , Big New York News BigNY.com

November 18, 2025
Trump Refuses to Hand Out $400 Million in Free Heating Cash – Hochul & Tonko Throw Tantrum as 1.5 Million New Yorkers Expected to Pay Their Own Bills

In a shocking turn of events that absolutely nobody on planet Earth could’ve predicted, Governor Kathy Hochul and Congressman Paul Tonko are dramatically clutching their pearls because the big bad Trump administration hasn’t yet wired $400 million of other people’s money so that 1.5 million New Yorkers can keep their thermostats cranked to “tropical paradise” without, you know, actually paying the bill themselves like the rest of the functioning adult world does every winter.
While normal humans simply budget for heat, turn the dial down two degrees, or (gasp) put on a sweater, New York’s political class is treating basic seasonal utility bills as if they’re some exotic human-rights crisis that only endless federal handouts can solve — because apparently the primary job of government isn’t roads, cops, or courts anymore, it’s playing Santa Claus with heating subsidies while simultaneously lecturing everyone about personal responsibility and climate change. Shocking, truly shocking, that in the year 2025 some Americans still expect to pay for the energy they consume instead of outsourcing their thermostat to Washington.

Governor Hochul and Representative Tonko Call on Trump Administration to Release Federal Heating Assistance for 1.5 Million New Yorkers

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “Households that rely on HEAP, most of whom include someone who is an older adult, young child or an individual with a disability, have already had to wait too long for this vital assistance as colder days and nights become more common. The delay by the federal government in releasing federal funding for HEAP has created an unacceptable amount of uncertainty for these households who must wait for financial assistance to help heat their homes during a time of rising energy prices. We thank Governor Hochul for her efforts to secure HEAP funding and help households reduce their energy costs.”

Demanding Release of Federal HEAP Funds

Due to the federal government shutdown, which has now ended after a record 43 days, New York’s ability to open its federally-funded HEAP program has been delayed by weeks. This federally funded program cannot begin receiving and processing applications or making payments until the federal government provides New York with the necessary funding. At Governor Hochul’s direction, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is taking all steps needed to prepare for the opening of the HEAP program for applications on November 24, pending receipt of federal funds, including programming HEAP payments.

If the Trump Administration does not release Federal grant funds for HEAP by November 24, the program opening will continue to be delayed. Governor Hochul’s actions ensure OTDA will be ready to open the program for applications within 48 hours of receiving the grant funds, so that New Yorkers can access their heating benefits as soon as possible.

“It’s shameful that the Trump Administration is threatening to make New Yorkers pay more for their heating bills this winter — and I’m demanding the immediate release of federal funds to help 1.5 million New Yorkers heat their homes.”

Governor Kathy Hochul

Urging More New Yorkers To Enroll in State’s EAP

The State’s EAP is separate from federal HEAP. The State’s EAP provides monthly discounts on energy bills throughout the year to households across New York. This program provides up to $500 in annual savings per household.

Eligibility for EAP is based on household income. For example, a family of four is eligible to enroll in EAP if they make up to $80,160 per year in household income. A family of five is eligible if they make up to $92,988 per year in household income.

The State’s EAP already serves approximately one million households statewide, but state officials estimate that approximately 1.5 million more households are eligible to enroll and receive discounts. New Yorkers can enroll in EAP directly through their local energy provider.

New Yorkers can visit ny.gov/EAP to learn more about eligibility and steps on how to enroll in the program.

Additionally, Governor Hochul is expanding income eligibility for the State’s EAP in 2026 to ensure that more households across New York can start receiving energy discounts in the coming year. The Governor will continue to update New Yorkers on this in the coming weeks.

Protecting EAP Discounts for New Yorkers

The delay in federal HEAP funds also threatened to disenroll many New Yorkers from their State EAP benefits. The Department of Public Service estimated this cruel action would lead to tens of thousands of customers being automatically disenrolled from receiving EAP benefits every month without State action. This is because most residential customers in EAPs are automatically enrolled in the program after their heating utility receives a HEAP grant on the customer’s behalf, which the utility credits to those customers’ utility bills. Generally, most utilities provide that those customers will remain enrolled in the utilities’ EAPs as long as they received a HEAP grant within the preceding 12 months.

The delay in federal funds for HEAP and concurrent loss of EAP bill discounts would make utility services far more expensive for those customers during the coming winter heating season. Temperatures across the state continue to grow colder, some days hitting levels below freezing, increasing the need for heating assistance to protect the health and safety of families and households statewide.

That’s why Governor Hochul took action earlier this month to ensure that New Yorkers struggling to pay their bills this winter will continue receiving EAP discounts regardless of Washington Republicans’ cruelty. Without the Governor’s action, thousands of those households would have automatically lost their November EAP discount, since enrollment in EAP is tied to enrollment in HEAP for many households across the state.

Representative Paul Tonko said, “HEAP provides a vital lifeline for countless families here in New York and across the nation who are still struggling to deal with rising costs for home heating and other basic necessities. The Trump administration’s failure to release funding for HEAP is yet another example of how Republicans have weaponized their government shutdown to hurt the working Americans suffering most from the affordability crisis Republicans created. While New York State is doing everything in its power to mitigate the damage from the GOP’s neglect, federal action remains essential to support families here in our Capital Region and beyond. Today, I’m proud to join Governor Hochul in demanding the Trump administration release these desperately needed funds immediately so New Yorkers can heat their homes this winter.”

State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “First we saw the federal government weaponize hunger, and now we’re seeing them weaponize the cold against working people and their families. New Yorkers that rely on HEAP will feel the effects of this just like those who rely on SNAP, and the federal government has a firm responsibility to release the funds needed for energy assistance. Temperatures continue to plummet, and New Yorkers are anxious. Thank you to Governor Hochul for addressing this problem with urgency and calling on the federal government to release federal heating assistance that New Yorkers desperately need.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, “HEAP is a critical program that helps families afford their energy bills. Unfortunately, this assistance is needed now more than ever as utility costs continue to rise for a variety of reasons. Now is not the time to delay support, it’s the time to expedite it. I fully support Governor Hochul’s call to accelerate this aid, especially as we’ve already experienced many cold nights, with temperatures only getting colder.”

Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, “HEAP helps more than 1.5 million New Yorkers keep their heat and lights on during the winter months. Due to the federal government shutdown, New York State is still waiting for the critical federal funding needed to begin processing HEAP applications. I stand with Governor Hochul in urging the Trump administration to immediately release our $400 million in HEAP funding to ensure heating fuel is delivered, avoid utility shut-offs, and protect the health and safety of our neighbors and families.”

Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “As temperatures drop, New Yorkers should not be left in the cold because the federal government refuses to release urgently needed heating assistance. The Trump Administration’s delay jeopardizes the safety of families across our state, especially low-income households and seniors who rely on HEAP to stay warm. I stand with Governor Hochul in demanding the immediate release of these federal dollars and in expanding access to state programs that help working families afford their energy bills.”

November 17, 2025

Albany, NY

Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Midtown Tribune news

November 17, 2025
Harlem’s Iconic Studio Museum Reopens in $160M Masterpiece: Gov. Hochul Unveils Stunning New Home with $11M State Boost

New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul joined Harlem leaders to cut the ribbon on the Studio Museum in Harlem’s long-awaited $160 million new home, a seven-story landmark that replaces a temporary space the institution occupied since construction began in 2018. Backed by nearly $11 million in state funding—including $7 million from the New York State Council on the Arts and $3.5 million from Empire State Development—the 82,000-square-foot building designed by Adjaye Associates features galleries inspired by neighborhood brownstones, a top-lit interior echoing local churches, artist studios, education spaces and a roof terrace with sweeping city views. “This is a lasting community cornerstone that will champion artists of African descent for generations,” Hochul said, as officials hailed the museum’s role in boosting tourism, creating jobs and marking the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance.

Governor Hochul Celebrates the Opening
of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s New Home]

Governor Kathy Hochul … celebrated the grand opening of Studio Museum in Harlem’s new home. Created expressly for the needs of the museum and its communities, the $160 million, seven-floor, 82,000 square-foot building takes its inspiration from the brownstone, churches and bustling sidewalks of Harlem. The project is supported by a combined $10.9 million state investment, including over $7 million from the New York State Council on the Arts and $3.5 million from Empire State Development, recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council.

“The Studio Museum has been one of the centerpieces of Harlem arts and culture since 1968,” Governor Hochul said. “New York’s support of this incredible achievement has helped create a lasting and living community cornerstone that will continue to celebrate and champion artists of African descent for generations to come.”

Closed for construction since 2018, the new Studio Museum building, designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson serving as executive architect, expresses the Museum’s core values of openness and engagement, while also providing exceptional new spaces to elevate the Museum’s service to artists, audiences, the uniquely vibrant Harlem community, and the world of art. The design includes a facade with windows of varying sizes and proportions, echoing the windows of Harlem apartment buildings.

The neighborhood’s churches find a counterpart in a top-lit interior gallery while an interior “stoop” can be used as benches for watching lectures, performances, and films presented on the building’s lower level. Galleries are configured in assorted proportions to accommodate the wide variety of works in the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Studios for the artists in residence and education spaces will be located adjacent to exhibition galleries to facilitate exchanges with the community. Finally, a roof terrace will offer striking views of Harlem and the rest of the city.

Founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists, the Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally known for its catalytic role in promoting the work of artists of African descent.

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “For over 50 years, NYSCA has proudly supported the Studio Museum in Harlem, a beacon for emerging artists and a premier global museum. We are proud to have provided over $7 million for their new home, empowering the Studio Museum to continue their distinguished legacy to serve and inspire the next generation of artists, engaging residents and visitors alike.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The Studio Museum’s new home is a testament to Harlem’s cultural strength and to New York State’s commitment to investing in places where creativity and community meet. The Studio Museum’s new facility will generate millions in economic activity, create jobs across multiple sectors, and reinforce our state’s tourism economy. By supporting world-class cultural institutions like this, we’re supporting economic growth that benefits all New Yorkers while showcasing the creativity that makes our state a magnet for talent and investment worldwide.”

NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, City University of New York Chancellor and William D. Rahm, CEO of Everview Partners, said, “For over five decades, the Studio Museum has been a classroom, a launching pad, and a gathering place for Harlem. This new building expands those possibilities exponentially—providing students with cutting-edge educational technology, offering emerging artists professional development opportunities, and creating free public spaces where communities can connect with transformative art that reflects their experiences and aspirations. This project embodies the kind of inclusive growth and community-centered development the Regional Economic Development Council is proud to support.”

The Studio Museum in Harlem Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator Thelma Golden said, “The Studio Museum in Harlem is deeply grateful for the vital leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. I also want to extend our profound appreciation to the Executive Director of The New York State Council on the Arts Erika Mallin; and the Commissioner and CEO of Empire State Development Hope Knight for all that they have made possible through their commitment to this institution over the years. Thanks to each of these organizations and all those within them, the Studio Museum now inhabits an incredible new building which makes it all the more possible for us to continue the work our founders set out to do in 1968 while ensuring we remain an essential gathering space for everyone in our Harlem community and beyond.”

State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “As we embrace the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, there is no better way to celebrate than with the opening of the new home of the Studio Museum In Harlem. The Studio Museum is an iconic institution representing over 200 years of Black History, Creativity and Lived Experience. Thank you to the project partners who made this day possible and to the Harlem Community who deserves this project and investment.”

Assemblymember Jordan J. G. Wright said, “Today we join to celebrate a truly momentous occasion- the grand reopening of one of Harlem’s most beloved and iconic institutions: the Studio Museum. With a global reputation for excellence, the Studio Museum has elevated Black art and artists since opening its doors in 1968. Today, we usher in a new era of excellence where that commitment will continue in a space that matches its unparalleled exhibits and programming. In so many ways, I was raised by the Studio Museum, as my mother was employed there while I was growing up. I am beyond lucky to have grown up surrounded by not just the incredible works showcased by the museum over the years, but by all of the creative, dynamic, passionate people who make it happen as well as the vibrant Village of Harlem that allows it to thrive. Thank you to Thelma Golden for being a driving force behind the museum’s success and an absolute pillar in the Harlem community. I am proud to be a part of this historic reopening and look forward to seeing the dream achieved by the Studio Museum continue, in its new home, long into the future!”

Retired Deputy Majority Whip of the New York State Assembly, Honorable Inez E. Dickens said, “I am deeply grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for this historic $10 million investment to complete the new home of the Studio Museum in Harlem, Our global nexus for artists of African descent and for work shaped and inspired by Black culture. During my tenure in the New York State Assembly, I was proud to secure nearly $1 million dollars for this institution, but without Governor Hochul’s leadership and commitment, that investment could not have reached its fullest impact. Long before my service in Albany, as Majority Whip of the New York City Council, I funded the initial steps to launch this renovation and helped negotiate the unification of the one City lot and one State lot that the Studio Museum now calls home. To stand here today and witness Harlem on the cusp of a fully realized, newly renovated Studio Museum is a profound honor, and I am immensely proud of what this partnership between State, City, and community will mean for generations of artists, families, and visitors from around the world. Thank you, Governor Kathy Hochul.”

New York City Councilmember Yuseef Salaam said, “Today, we celebrate the historic reopening of the Studio Museum in Harlem, a cultural cornerstone that has shaped the global understanding of Black creativity, history, and identity. For generations, the works of visionary artists have told the powerful, complex, and beautiful stories of the Black diaspora. Their voices, expressed through paint, sculpture, photography, and countless other forms, have helped us see ourselves with greater clarity.”

This September, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $80 million in NYSCA funding is now available competitively to support capital projects for non-profit arts and cultural organizations. NYSCA’s Capital Projects Fund supports arts and cultural nonprofits seeking State funding for investments in capital improvements that allow organizations to sustain and expand cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs, and ultimately contribute to the growth of New York’s dynamic arts and tourism sectors.

About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2026, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

November 14, 2025

Albany, NY

Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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November 15, 2025
Mayor Eric Adams Announces New Model to Have New York City’s 911 Mental Health Crisis Response Initiative, B-Heard, Be Fully Operated by NYC Health + Hospitals
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a major evolution of Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) — the city’s health-led response to 911 mental health calls — that will shift the focus even further towards a health-first response by streamlining management to be fully operated and managed by NYC Health + Hospitals in the coming months. As part of the transition, Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) emergency medical technicians (EMTs) previously assigned to B-HEARD will be reassigned to other emergency response units as part of the city’s efforts to improve ambulance response times in cases of emergencies. This change will preserve EMTs for the most critical medical emergency responses while enabling B-HEARD to continue featuring medical and mental health professionals for nonviolent mental health 911 calls. After the transition, B-HEARD will continue to send out response teams to nonviolent 911 mental health calls with medical and mental health professionals. The new model is expected to take effect in the spring of 2026. Today’s announcement further builds on Mayor Adams’ commitment to supporting New Yorkers with serious mental illness and treating the city’s mental health crisis as a public health issue.

“Today, we are proud to announce a new model for our city’s response to 911 mental health calls that will be fully operated by NYC Health + Hospitals ,” said Mayor Adams. “This new model for B-HEARD will allow our FDNY EMTs the opportunity to focus further on other emergency response units as part of our city’s efforts to improve ambulance response times and use our resources more efficiently, while still addressing mental health emergencies we continue to see playing out in our city. From day one, our administration’s goal has been to keep New Yorkers safe and to help those struggling with severe mental illness; doing this means we must provide treatment and support to those in crises in the most efficient and compassionate way possible. We are building a culture of compassion in the name of public safety, public health, and the public interest, and we are proud to be delivering just that.”

“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to be the largest provider of behavioral health services in New York City, and our commitment to the city’s innovative B-HEARD program is unwavering,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We are grateful to our outstanding partners in the program’s first iteration, and we look forward to continuing its evolution as we serve New Yorkers in mental health crisis.”

Launched in 2021, B-HEARD was created as an interagency collaboration between the FDNY and NYC Health + Hospitals with oversight from the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH). During its initial years of operation, B-HEARD partnered EMTs and mental health clinicians to respond as a team to 911 mental health calls without violence or weapons as the primary concern.

Over the life of the program — between its launch in 2021 through June 2025 — B-HEARD teams have responded to nearly 35,000 mental health 911 calls. Of the patients who received a mental health assessment by a NYC Health + Hospitals clinician, 43 percent were served in the community instead of being transported to a hospital emergency department. B-HEARD teams work to understand each individual’s needs, de-escalate situations, and, whenever possible, connect with family members and the individual’s existing clinicians to determine the best path forward. The program achieved an overwhelming patient-satisfaction rate with 96 percent of survey respondents reporting B-HEARD helped them and 94 percent agreeing that the B-HEARD response was more appropriate for their needs than the traditional emergency response they had previously received. Each B-HEARD response reflects New York City’s commitment to responding to the mental health crisis with the most appropriate care and reducing unnecessary use of a hospital’s emergency department and of police resources.

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest provider of behavioral health in New York City. The system provides over 60 percent of behavioral health services citywide, serving over 78,000 patients annually across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care.

Commitment to Mental Health

In 2023, Mayor Adams announced a sweeping mental health agenda, “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City,” with $20 million in new commitments that invested in, among other initiatives, an online hub to connect New Yorkers with serious mental illness to care, as well as a substantial expansion of the clubhouse program.

Alongside the Adams administration’s focus on mental health, Mayor Adams also launched “HealthyNYC” in November 2023, an ambitious plan to extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers by, among other things, reducing the impact of deaths related to mental health, like overdoses, suicide, and homicides, by 2030. Additionally, HealthyNYC expands access to culturally responsive mental health care and social support services, including early intervention for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, and helps address the impact of social media on youth mental health and suicidal ideation to reduce suicide deaths.

Later that month, Mayor Adams announced “Teenspace” — the city’s tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 at no cost. In the first six months of the program, the service — created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace — allowed more than 6,800 New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video, and text for free.

The announcement builds on the work of the Adams administration in addressing the crises of severe mental illness on New York City streets. In August 2025, Mayor Adams launched the “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign to highlight the work the administration has done to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed while making the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing to make lasting impacts in lives and communities. As part of this campaign, Mayor Adams made a series of announcements promoting the administration’s efforts to help New Yorkers struggling with severe mental illness and substance addiction while simultaneously addressing quality of life and public safety on New York City streets, including:
- Announcing a major milestone to connect over 3,500 homeless New Yorkers from streets and subways to permanent housing, including over 1,000 New Yorkers from the subways as a result of Mayor Adams’ Subway Safety Plan, first launched in 2022.
- An expansion of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD’s) Quality of Life Division, or “Q-Teams,” announced earlier this year, to every precinct and all housing commands citywide. Q-Teams focus on tackling daily issues that impact New Yorkers’ sense of safety and well-being, including cracking down on illegal mopeds, towing abandoned vehicles, cleaning up encampments, addressing outdoor drug use, responding to noise complaints, and more.
- Opening of 13 newly contracted clubhouses — the city’s first procurement of clubhouses in nearly 30 years — to support people with severe mental illness thanks to a $30 million investment by the Adams administration.
- Launching the city’s first-ever Involuntary Transports Dashboard, which allows New Yorkers to track trends in involuntary transports and better understand how the city connects individuals with emergency psychiatric care, while simultaneously upholding the administration’s commitment to transparency.
- Announcing a new proposal to further support New Yorkers’ struggling with substance use disorder and to address public drug use, as well as a $27-million investment focused on improving access to substance use disorder treatment through outreach and enhanced treatment strategies.
- Opening the Bridge to Home facility, a new, innovative support model designed to help patients living with severe mental illness who are ready to be discharged from the hospital but do not have a place to go.
- Opening two additional Extended Care Units in the city’s public hospitals, where patients can stay for up to 120 days after being discharged from an inpatient psychiatric unit, receive psychopharmacological treatment, and pursue rehabilitative activities.
Strong Fiscal Management

In the lead up to the upcoming November 2025 Financial Plan Update, Mayor Adams recently announced a new investment that will increase the uniformed headcount of the NYPD by 5,000 officers, increasing the total number of officers to 40,000 — the highest level in 20 years — by Fiscal Year (FY) 2029. Mayor Adams is making an investment of $17.8 million in the upcoming fiscal year that will increase to $315.8 million by FY 2029 to support the phased-in hiring of the additional 5,000 officers by July 2028.

Today’s announcement follows Mayor Adams’ long history of strong fiscal management, including delivering an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $115.9 billion Adopted Budget earlier this year, which built on the FY 2026 Executive Budget, often called the “Best Budget Ever.” The Executive Budget doubled down on Mayor Adams’ commitment to make New York City the best place to raise a family by, among other things, investing in “After-School for All,” a $755-million plan to deliver universal after-school programming to families of children in kindergarten through eighth grade; baselining funding for 3-K citywide expansion and special education pre-K to build on the administration’s work to dramatically expand access to early childhood education; investing over $400 million to fully fund the transformation of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard; and revitalizing “The Arches,” the public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The FY 2026 Adopted Budget was also the first to implement Mayor Adams’ landmark “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” plan, which abolishes and cuts New York City’s personal income tax for filers with dependents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line. Because of this plan — which the Adams administration successfully fought to pass in Albany this budget cycle — $63 million will go back into the pockets of over 582,000 low-income New York filers, including their dependents, helping make New York City more affordable for working-class families.

November 14, 2025

New York, NY

Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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November 15, 2025
New York. Governor Hochul & Mayor Adams Extend Roosevelt Island Master Lease and Launch Community Planning for New Housing & Infrastructure

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced a 10-year extension of the Roosevelt Island Master Lease to 2078, securing housing stability and financial certainty for over 5,500 residential units and 12,000 residents. Alongside the extension, a joint planning and community engagement process with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) will explore new affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, and public amenities, including potential redevelopment of the former Steam Plant site and the NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler campus. The initiative aims to preserve the island’s unique character while preparing for sustainable growth, with long-term lease updates to reflect community priorities and streamline operations between the State, City, and RIOC.

November 14, 2025

Albany, NY

Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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November 14, 2025

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