On a lively appearance on Jonesy in the Morning on 94.7 The Block, Mayor Eric Adams addressed a range of hot-button issues affecting New Yorkers. He pledged to investigate complaints about congestion pricing near the 59th Street Bridge, clarified that congestion toll policies fall under state control, and highlighted ongoing efforts to fight deed theft in Brooklyn, emphasizing education and new legislation to prevent fraud. Adams also responded to concerns about back pay for workers fired over COVID vaccine mandates, stating that while jobs were reinstated, back pay would not be issued due to the precedent it could set. He also shared updates on tech initiatives for underserved students, including distributing 350,000 Chromebooks with internet access.
Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls In for Interview on 94.7 the Block’s “Jonesy in the Morning”
Tarsha Jones: Good morning, Mayor Eric Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams: Hey, how are you doing?
Jones: Can I have the key to the city, seriously?
Mayor Adams: You have already unlocked the hearts of everyone.
Wayne Mayo: Good answer.
Jones: Yes, this is why. We’ll get back to that. How are you? I have people that have been calling about the same congestion pricing surrounding the 59th Street Bridge. How [can] you avoid a toll simply trying to get from– Wayne, was it from Brooklyn to Manhattan? Or what is it?
Mayo: Yeah, it’s like a double fare. It’s a little confusing, but yeah, you end up getting charged when maybe you shouldn’t be, but there’s some type of loophole. We recorded the listener last time he called in. Here’s what he had to say.
Question: We have to go all the way to Brooklyn to take the Williamsburg Bridge to come back to Queens and Long Island. If you get off at 62nd Street, you have to pay for congestion pricing, and you’re not going into Manhattan. And it’s a serious thing.
Mayor Adams: Let me look into that. The congestion pricing is controlled by the state lawmakers, the governor and the MTA. But if there’s a problem that’s impacting, you know, everyday New Yorkers, I’ll look into it. I’m going to look into it today. I’m going to have my deputy mayor of Operations take a look at what’s going on there.
Jones: Okay, thank you for that. I also would like to know, since we’re talking about the state lawmakers, Governor Hochul just endorsed Mamdani. Any feelings on that?
Mayor Adams: No, not at all. Endorsements come and go and change. [Inaudible] endorsements were made during the primary. And it comes down to the 8.5 million New Yorkers. She’s one vote. The goal is to really get the endorsement from everyday New Yorkers. That’s the focus. During these elections, you will see all sorts of distractions and ups and downs and rumors. And if you allow yourself to be distracted, you won’t stay focused on your mission. I am completely focused on the mission.
Jones: I can imagine, though, that makes it awkward for you and her to come together on the issues that are intertwined, no?
Mayor Adams: We work well together. We’ve done some great stuff together. You have to really have a level of maturity in politics to really understand that one has nothing to do with the other. You know, there are those who endorse me or endorse other candidates, and you still have to come together to solve the problems the city is facing. That’s just how this game of politics operates.
For example, Zohran did not endorse V.P. Harris when she ran for president. And, you know, a lot of people are understanding that and saying, you know, it’s almost hypocritical that he’s asking for the endorsement of other Democrats when, in fact, he did not endorse the first African-American woman to have a real viable shot to be president.
Jones: That was a nice little jab. I appreciate that. Because the people of New York may not have known that. Black women unite. You heard what he said?
Mayo: Mr. Mayor definitely has a way of saying things.
Jones: Speaking of Brooklyn, I saw a post somewhere about the deed theft. And that there are a group of developers that are paying money for people to go into homes that have outstanding bills. It could be as little as a thousand dollars and as high as a hundred thousand dollars.
But what they’re doing is they’re going in, they’re orchestrating this, they’re sending the notices of overdue payment to the wrong addresses deliberately. So the homeowners lose their homes because they never get notice and by the time they find out the house has already been stolen and this is happening a lot over and over in Brooklyn.
Mayor Adams: The deed theft is real and it’s a real problem on both the Attorney General Tish James and DA Eric Gonzalez have been both addressing this issue and we have been really educating our voters and homeowners, I should say, on what to look out for, how to protect yourself from it, because it is a problem, and we need to make sure that homeowners in Brooklyn and throughout the city are not duped into losing their home, because that’s what Black and brown wealth is, it’s in your home and when you lose that you’re losing your entire wealth and really a generational wealth because these homes are handed down to family members.
Jones: They need to go to jail like these are like serious organizations like they are– their purpose is to set out to fraud homeowners and once the homes are gone they’re gone like you can’t uno reverse that. We need action. What can you do now, please?
Mayor Adams: And that’s what I was saying, that both the attorney general and the DA– if they are found carrying out this action, they are arrested and they do go to jail. So it’s not about just looking the other way. And in those cases, those homes are reversed. They’re given back to the homeowners. So there is real action being taken when you identify someone that’s found guilty of doing this. Now the most important thing we can do is to educate people so they don’t go through this. That’s my job as the mayor. It’s the prosecutor’s job to prosecute, but my job as the mayor is to make sure that people are knowledgeable so they don’t lose their home.
Jones: All right, because this breaks my heart. These are a lot of our seniors that have given their lives to, you know, buying these homes and keeping these homes. And gentrification is real, but it doesn’t have to be fraudulent. We’re talking to Mayor Eric Adams, everybody, and we’ll be
back with more of him when we return.
[Commercial Break.]
Jones: We’re back with Mayor Eric Adams.
Mayor Adams: I want to just also go back to the deed theft question because there was a bill that was passed in the City Council by Nantasha Williams and it goes to homeowners with deed or mortgage filings to prevent property fraud. And the title changes. So what often happens, someone either files a change to the deed or the title, and homeowners are not notified of it. But if you’re notified, you can go and check right away. And there’s a bill that Nantasha Williams, Councilwoman Williams, she passed, or she introduced, which is very important, because notification and education is the best prevention to deed theft.
Jones: So tell us what good stuff you’ve been out there doing, because this race is heating up.
Mayor Adams: You know, so one of the exciting things we’re doing is around technology. You know, we handed out thousands of [Chromebooks] to our young people, particularly in underserved communities or communities that are dealing with real economic issues. This is so important because it’s coming. These Chromebooks are coming with internet access. It’s going to allow them to get online, to do their research, their studies, because this is an important tool that’s needed now in education. And so we’re gonna give out 350,000 of these Chromebooks. It’s so important to make sure that our young people have access.
Jones: Wow, that’s a lot of [Chromebooks]. Mayor, we had a candidate for councilwoman, Athena Clarke, on the show earlier this week, And she spoke about how she was terminated for not– she and several others, she was an educator and was terminated for not taking the COVID vaccine, but has not been refunded all the salary and all the money. And she pointed towards you. Can you explain why?
Mayor Adams: Yeah, and that’s interesting that she would point towards me. I think that she fully understands the decision on COVID vaccines happened before I became mayor. This was a policy that was put in place by the previous administration. It wasn’t put in place by me. And what we are looking at is, what can we do for those who were terminated? We’re having discussions with that right now. That is something we can talk to our Law Department to see if there’s something we can do.
But the termination of employees, that rule was put in place under the previous administration who didn’t take the vaccine.
Now, with that said, during COVID, that was a horrific period, a level of uncertainty. And we were being overrun in our hospitals, we were being overrun in the malls. There were so many deaths. The city was locked down. The previous mayor had to take some important action to prevent the city from really going to the state of chaos. And they put in place, both on the state level and on the city level, of the vaccine mandate. And the courts ruled.
There were some lawsuits around this. The courts ruled that the city has the power or the authority to actually put in mandates. And she knows that. These lawsuits were fought in court, the court ruled on behalf of the city, and that was the law of the land and everyone had to comply with it with the full understanding. If you did not, you risk being terminated and that’s what had happened so you know as mommy used to say there’s two sides to every story–
Jones: She said they were all offered their jobs back but they didn’t get their payback. That’s how it came up, and so we’re wondering now what can you do to push forward all those employees that were punished and penalized for them to get that back pay?
Mayor Adams: They’re not going to get back pay. You know, the mere fact they can get their job back is a huge step forward. So there’s not going to be any back pay. Think about this for a moment–
Jones: That’s not fair. That’s not fair. No, that’s not fair.
Mayor Adams: Okay, let’s think about this for a moment, okay? There were many city employees who did not want to take the vaccine, many. But if you put in place a policy that states that here are the repercussions for your actions. And then you turn against that policy later. Then later, when you’re dealing with an emergency like that, no one is going to take you seriously. When you put a policy in place, you have to ensure that you enforce it.
Or in the future emergencies, people are going to say, why am I listening because you’re not going to enforce it at all. What is not fair is for those other city employees who didn’t want to take the vaccine for many reasons and took it anyway because they knew the risk to the city and they knew the risk to their employment if they didn’t. You know, decisions have consequences. And as adults, we have to make decisions with a full understanding. Other administrations did not give them an opportunity to come back. We’re trying to find a win-win situation, and it’s not gonna come with back pay.
Jones: I tried, Athena. Well, there you have it. Mayor Eric Adams, it’s always a pleasure. We don’t always agree, but I appreciate you coming around.
Mayor Eric Adams, alongside Deputy Mayor Jeff Roth and Acting DSNY Commissioner Javier Lojan, announced the next phase of New York City’s “Trash Revolution” in Brooklyn’s Community District 2. Following the successful containerization in West Harlem, the initiative will now bring modern, rodent-resistant “Empire bins” to schools and high-density buildings in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and beyond. This move is aimed at cleaning up the streets, improving quality of life, and combating the city’s rodent problem. By 2026, the city plans to extend this system to several Brooklyn neighborhoods, using self-loading trucks and a flexible bin system tailored to the needs of each building. The effort, supported by a $32 million budget commitment, marks a significant step toward a cleaner, safer New York City.
Return of the Trash Revolution: Following Major Success in Manhattan, Mayor Adams, Acting Dsny Commissioner Lojan Announce Brooklyn Community District 2 as Next to Be Fully Containerized
Deputy Mayor Jeff Roth, Operations: Good morning. My name is Jeff Roth. I’m the deputy mayor for Operations, and I want to welcome you all to the next front in the trash revolution right here in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, but please try to contain your excitement.
We all know New York City produces a lot of trash, the equivalent of 100 747s every single day, but we’ve never had a dedicated spot to collect it, not really. Our trash has sat in leaky black bags wherever we could find space for it, against fences, city bike docks, cram necks to doorways and hydrants, and in a feat that surely earns them their moniker, New York’s strongest have had to navigate all that street infrastructure for decades until now. This administration has said enough.
We first changed set out times for our trash. We required food businesses across the city to containerize, then chain businesses, all businesses and smaller residences. We were able to do that by taking a team of over 150 people from New York, and we were able to get them to the nearest residential buildings. And today we’re taking our next leap right here in Brooklyn. The trash revolutionary himself, ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Eric Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you, thank you. Thanks so much. Such an important initiative. When I was a police officer, this was my precinct, the 88 precinct. And when you get here and walk through the parks, we will often be encountered by rats and rodents. And that was one of the top missions we wanted to do. to move towards dealing with just the cleanliness of the city. And I really want to thank Commissioner Lojan for his just picking up the mantle and continuing to succeed with our rats who have always also played a major role.
We stated from the beginning, the trash revolution has been a huge win for New York City. I hear it often when I’m on the subways or walking through the streets that people are stating we have all the rats gone. And it’s clear that this movement is carrying out the function that we wanted. And it’s a massive, massive success. And we’re going to continue to move in the right direction. And we started with changing out to set out times.
There was a lot of pushback. But we realized not having trash bags on our streets at an earlier time would assist us in dealing with the roading problem. We were facing in the city and unsightly bags. When we change those times, we were able to coordinate. With the union and ensure that garbage was put out later. And that played a major role in getting the bags off the street off our streets. We’re seeing cleaner streets and sidewalks, better quality of life and massive decline in roading activity.
In fact, the number of rat sightings and 311 calls have dropped for nine straight months. And while the rats are crashing out, we are ramping up today. We’re announcing the next phase in the trash. Revolution, the Battle of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Community Board 12 will soon become the second neighborhood in New York City to have all of this trash fully containerized. Following the success of Community Board 9 in West Harlem, we’re rolling out the new Empire bins to schools in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill this fall. And this is an example of the bins.
This rollout would expand to downtown Brooklyn, Boreham Hill, Brooklyn Heights. Fulton Ferry, Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 2026. This is part of a citywide transformation that started with the set out times and also our $32 million commitment in our best budget ever to ensure our streets remain clean. So we’re striking back against rats and filth by expanding the use of our Empire bins.
These are more than just better bins. They are part of a new system that will improve the modernized trash collection in our city. The Empire bins are serviced by an automated self-loading truck, a first of its kind in North America. We put it in place during this administration. These trucks have been running on the streets of West Harlem since April and will soon revolutionize how we pick up trash here. In the borough of Brooklyn. And everyone knows I hate rats and rotors moving through our street. And four years ago when we brought on our trash revolution that included our rat czar, we moved the city in the right direction. And we hired a great team and Acting Commissioner Lojan is really placing this initiative on a fast track. Cannot thank him and his team enough. Community Board 9 in Manhattan has now become the first.
New York City neighborhood to have 100 percent of this trash covered by containerization requirements. A part of this reason we have had so much success is because we have engaged the community. Clear communications and conversations with the community.
So while we’re mandating Empire bins at schools in all buildings with more than 30 units, we will conduct an extensive one to one outreach to build this with 10 to 30 units. Offering them the option to the Empire bins or the smaller wheelie bins already in use as smaller properties. This is a flexible part of engaging the community and really getting buy-in on how we deal with trash in our city. And so we again want to thank our partners, particularly DSNY and all of our city agencies who were involved in the Battle of Brooklyn and getting rid of our rodents here in our borough have started. And we’re looking forward to that success. We’re going to turn it over now to our amazing commissioner at the Department of Sanitation, Commissioner Lojan.
Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan, Department of Sanitation: Good morning. Thank you, Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Roth. New Yorkers have a proud history of getting things done. The Empire State Building was built in 14 months. The Chrysler Building was built in 20 months. And the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was built in four years.
In recent years, however, many New Yorkers have grown to think that we can no longer get things done without. With any speed. Well, we are here once again to prove them wrong. We can do great things, and with the right leadership, we can do them quickly.
For decades, New Yorkers have traveled the world and marveled at how every other city from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires put their trash in clean, sealed containers. And then came home to mounds of smelly, black trash bags. And the city that told them we can’t do that here. The streets of New York City have to be dirty. Well, in the last three years, we have shown that the city that built bridges.
We have shown that the city that built bridges. tunnels, and skyscrapers that awed the world can also be a clean city. How did we do it? We started by telling New Yorkers that rush hour is not trash hour. You have to put your trash out for collection at night, not in the afternoon. We also picked up trash earlier, often in just a few hours.
Next, we required all businesses to put their trash in containers. Then we said buildings with one to nine residential units had to put their trash in containers. Every step was met with cynics who said they loved the idea, but it just couldn’t work here. Well, it’s working. New Yorkers adjusted their habits. They changed their decades-long way of doing things. And we have a cleaner city with 70 percent of trash in containers and fewer rats as a result.
The remaining 30 percent of trash was a bigger challenge. They told us it would take years to build new trucks that did not exist in North America. We didn’t accept that the city that built the Empire State Building in 14 months was a clean city. We would have to wait five years for a new truck. In a matter of months, we had 1,100 Empire bins, just like this one, across the streets of West Harlem, requiring that every last bit of trash be placed in a bin, serviced by trucks that, yes, had to be built from scratch as part of a joint operation that brought in manufacturers from Italy.
We put an end to all trash bags across all of West Harlem. We called it our moon landing. And if you heard us say that the day after our moon landing, we would immediately begin evaluating, so that we could expand to another district. You might have been one of those naysayers, thinking this is just another pilot. But today, we are here to say that these Empire bins are crossing the East River. We are about to bring cleaner streets and sidewalks to all of Brooklyn Community District 2.
In the coming weeks, schools in the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill areas will have Empire bins. And next year, high-density residential buildings across the entire district will have them. Not just here in Fort Greene, but downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Fulton Ferry, Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, Boreham Hill, and Clinton Hill.
Every building with more than 30 units will receive at least one Empire bin for their trash. And every building with 10 to 30 units will have a choice. They can have one of these Empire bins, or they can use smaller wheelie bins for their trash. These bins are sturdy, rodent-resistant, and locked.
Only a building manager will be able to open it with a card key. And these bins will be serviced by newly developed trucks operated by two sanitation workers. Who will raise the bins and empty them into the side of the truck.
Tomorrow begins a period of intense outreach. Our teams will be on the ground, knocking on doors, speaking to property owners and building managers, to let them know that the era of black bags is coming to an end here. We will be letting them know that our city with a history of doing great things will also have clean streets and sidewalks and fewer rats. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for having the courage to see this through. Thank you.
Mayor Adams: Thank you.
Humberto Ronda: Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Mayor Adams. Thank you, commissioner. Thank you, deputy mayor. My name is Humberto Aranda. I am a superintendent for 10 years on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. And at first, I was skeptic of the Empire bins.
As a typical New Yorker, we all have those fears of change. But clean, safe, and convenient was three words that came to my head first. Clean. All streets are clean. With no trash laid alongside the roads anymore. Safe. No rodents anymore. No more rats. And convenience. All building workers can dispose of the trash at any given time. That is a major improvement. And I want to thank everyone that was involved in this idea of the Empire bins. Also, I want to thank a major shout out to the DSNY workers that work hard every day to keep the streets clean. And thank you everyone once again for the idea of the Empire bins.
[Crosstalk.]
Question: [Inaudible.]
Mayor Adams: That’s good for them. We’ll see what happens.
Question: In the context of the rollout, are you a Darth Vader or someone else?
Mayor Adams: I like the Darth Vader character. What’s happening?
Question: [Inaudible.] Like, have you had that sort of struggle? How will you use that for the next process?
Mayor Adams: A community engagement. You know, as the commissioner stated, knocking on doors, you know, and really just engaging people on how people want cleaner streets. People don’t want rodents in their streets coming through their garbage, their trash.
On my block, on Lafayette Avenue, we were having a severe rodent problem until the containerization was put in place, and we’re seeing less rats. And it’s just important for us to realize there are sacrifices we have to make, and these bins don’t take up all the parking spaces, and it’s a good tradeoff. We want cleaner streets. That’s one of the top things we hear.
Question: Is there a piece of data from the district that we can look at next year?
Acting Commissioner Lojan: So we anticipate by the end of 2026, we should be mostly completed, but that’s also depending on, you know, some procurement. But, yeah, by next fall, we’ll begin the residential portion of this.
Mayor Adams: Hold on. Before we do that, we just really want to thank our rat czar. She has done an amazing job going all over the city dealing with this action. This was the first time it was put in place, and we’re looking to make sure it’s a permanent position. But thank you. Thank you so much for your service. Good job. Job well done. Why don’t we, you guys can, let me get these off topics. What the hell are they going to do with the press?
Question: [Inaudible] in the poll, it shows that Mamdani is actually gaining ground with the Black voters. I wanted to get your response to that, because, you know, that’s been the heart of your domain. I’ve been reaching out to them. I was with you yesterday. You were at two super centers in Brooklyn yesterday. You know, your reaction to the gain around the Black voters is that [inaudible].
Mayor Adams: No, it doesn’t. It’s all about communications. We have not done one TV ad, not one mailing. We have just started knocking on doors. This is the whole process. We’ve been here before. I keep going. Going back seven months out from the primary. Andrew was up to win the primary through [inaudible] by 87 percent. 87 percent.
He was up 20… I think, 5 percent in the polling. We’ve been here before. Andrew Yang was beating me by 14 points. He was walking around with a tape measure, measuring the drapes at City Hall. We don’t call the mayor Andrew Yang. We call the mayor Eric Adams. This is all part of the process. Let the process play out, and the voters will decide. And whatever the voters decide is fine.
We have 14 people running for mayor. 14 people. I’m the mayor. So this has been a beautiful ride being the mayor of the greatest city on the globe. And whatever the voters decide, the direction they want to go in, I’m going to support. I’m a lifetime New Yorker. I love this city, and I’m always going to serve this city in one capacity or another.
But it’s too early. This is– Races are won within three to four weeks. That’s when races are won. Yes. I said that over and over again. If y’all stop reporting, I’m going to Saudi Arabia, and I’m going to HUD, and I’m going to the Yankees game with the president, and I’m going to Washington, D.C., and I’m dropping out on Friday, and I’m dropping out on Tuesday.
Y’all are undermining my campaign. You know, I don’t think the voters want me out as much as you guys want me out. Let me do what I do. Will my campaign change? I will tell y’all when it’s changed. But all of these false reports and rumors are undermining my campaign. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life, when the press is playing such a major role in undermining the campaign of the candidate that has been very clear on what he’s doing. And when that changes, I will announce it.
[Crosstalk.]
Mayor Adams: Hold on, brother. We’re going to do the press, and then I’ll come to you and get your question, okay? No, all good. I’ll come. I’m not going to forget you, okay?
Question: My question was actually just one clarification on that. You said a little bit of it. [Inaudible.]
Mayor Adams: I like that question. That’s a sharp suit, by the way. You know, I like that question. Think about this for a moment. You stated that you want to hear directly from me. I told the paper directly that I was not at Yankee Stadium with the president. They wrote anyway that I was there. I told them I was never offered a job to Saudi Arabia.
They wrote anyway. I said. I was. I told them I was never offered a job to HUD. They wrote anyway that I was. I told them I was not going to Washington. They wrote anyway that I was. I told them two weeks ago, you’re stepping down on Friday. I said, no, I am not. They wrote anyway. So why am I saying directly from me? Because you’re going to write and report anyway. Give me another question. Go ahead, brother. What was your question?
Question: I’ve been in Fort Greene since the 95 and I was recently evacuated from Fort Prince Hayden by a military helicopter company. I think it’s been [inaudible] has made it huge. [Inaudible], you’re the only one left in there. [Inaudible] I know the problem is that it’s going to be a little bit of a force, but what is it that we’re doing? It’s to maintain the diversity that Fort Greene enjoyed for so long with the [inaudible] and I remember you like the 88 precinct as well, thank you.
Mayor Adams: No, so true, we, and as I was sitting here, I noticed that also, there’s a stark change in this community and we’re hemorrhaging Black and brown working class people because of the cost of living in this city. And I’ve stated over and over again. I cannot control the price of bread, but we put bread back in the pockets of New Yorkers at the tune of $30 billion. And the goal is to build more housing.
Many of these communities were not building housing fast enough. And we are clearly the most pro-housing administration in the history of this city. We have built, we have made sure we maintain and zone this city for 426,000 units. I’m not saying that we’re going to stop. That is more than 12 years of Bloomberg, eight years of de Blasio combined.
We did it in three and a half years. Because our goal is to build housing so the richness of this community, particularly longstanding New Yorkers, can be here and enjoy the prosperity of the city. But I see the same, not only here, Bed-Stuy, going into even East New York, parts of Queens. And we want to make sure that new arrivals and longstanding New Yorkers can have a place to live in New York City. Thank you. Thank you. Got to bounce.
Some cities, according to official temperature records, reached extreme heat long before the onset of the so-called “global warming” and their records remain unbeaten even today:
1. Kyiv, Ukraine
Record Temperature: 39.0°C (102.2°F) — July 30, 1936.
2. New York, USA
Record Temperature: 41.7°C (107°F) — July 9, 1936.
3. Chicago, USA
Record Temperature: 44.4°C (112°F) — July 24, 1934.
4. Berlin, Germany
Record Temperature: 40.0°C (104°F) — August 7, 1947.
5. Sydney, Australia
Record Temperature: 45.3°C (113.5°F) — January 14, 1939.
6. Havana, Cuba
Record Temperature: 39.0°C (102.2°F) — July 3, 1951.
7. Mumbai (Bombay), India
Record Temperature: 42.2°C (108°F) — April 14, 1952.
8. Delhi, India
Record Temperature: 45.6°C (114°F) — May 19, 1944.
9. Paris, France
Record Temperature: 40.4°C (104.7°F) — July 28, 1947.
10. Barcelona, Spain
Record Temperature: 44.0°C (111.2°F) — July 7, 1947.
Note: This record was set during the hot summer of 1947, which was one of the most extreme in terms of temperature.
11. Victorville, California, USA
Record Temperature: 47.2°C (117°F) — June 29, 1943.
Note: Victorville, located in the Mojave Desert, also recorded temperature records prior to 1950.
12. Lima, Peru
Record Temperature: 35.6°C (96.1°F) — February 21, 1941.
This is one of the highest temperature records for Lima, although temperatures may have exceeded this in recent decades.
13. Cairo, Egypt
Record Temperature: 46.5°C (115.7°F) — June 22, 1942.
This is one of the highest temperature records for Cairo before 1950.
14. Santiago, Chile
Record Temperature: 43.0°C (109.4°F) — January 14, 1943.
15. Algiers, Algeria
Record Temperature: 48.0°C (118.4°F) — July 5, 1948.
16. Karachi, Pakistan
Record Temperature: 48.0°C (118.4°F) — June 16, 1947.
The highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth is 56.7°C (134°F), measured on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, California. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) officially recognizes this reading, which has stood for over a century.
Details of the Record:
Temperature: 56.7°C (134°F)
Date: July 10, 1913
Location: Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, California, USA
No SCO-only budget posted; historical ISWS meteorology group budget $51,000 (1947) for context (agency level, not SCO). American Meteorological Society Journals
Current IL State Climatologist office embedded at ISWS; staff directory shows multiple positions (≥1 SCO lead). Illinois State Climatologist+1
Staff not enumerated on a single page (contact listed). State Climate
What counts as a “federal Climate Office”?
There isn’t a single U.S. “Federal State Climate Office.” At the federal level, climate services are primarily provided by NOAA via:
Climate Program Office (CPO) — funds and coordinates climate research and services. CPO NOAA+1
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) — national archive/provider of climate data (formerly NCDC). Wikipedia+3NCEI+3NCEI+3
Regional Climate Centers (RCCs) — six federally supported regional service hubs. NCEI
(Plus NWS local climate services & CPC.) Weather.gov
Using available data points for demonstration (estimated cumulative U.S. climate office spending scaled from NOAA trends, as state data is sparse; temperature anomalies from NASA GISS relative to 1951-1980 baseline):
Pearson Correlation Coefficient (between spending and temperature reduction): Approximately -0.9 (strong negative, meaning as spending increases, temperature reduction decreases, i.e., warming accelerates).
Data Table for US Climate Spending and Fossil Fuel Production in China, India, and Russia (2000–2024, Every 3 Years)
This table presents data points for 2000 and every 3 years thereafter (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024). Metrics follow prior definitions:
US Climate Spending: Approximate federal annual outlays ($ billions, nominal USD) on mitigation, adaptation, research, and clean energy programs (sources: OMB, GAO, CBO, RMI analyses).
Production: Coal in million metric tons (Mt); oil in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) (sources: BP Statistical Review, EIA, CEIC, national stats).
Trends: US spending surged post-2009 (ARRA) and post-2021 (IRA/IIJA); target countries’ production grew due to domestic energy demands, not US policy.
Year
US Climate Spending ($B)
China Coal (Mt)
China Oil (kb/d)
India Coal (Mt)
India Oil (kb/d)
Russia Coal (Mt)
Russia Oil (kb/d)
2000
2.0
1,300
3,400
310
700
270
6,200
2003
2.3
1,800
3,500
340
730
285
9,000
2006
2.6
2,300
3,800
460
730
325
9,800
2009
28.9
3,100
4,000
510
760
320
9,900
2012
3.7
3,600
4,100
550
770
340
10,300
2015
4.0
3,800
4,100
700
750
390
11,000
2018
13.3
3,700
4,000
740
720
440
11,200
2021
20.0
4,000
4,000
750
690
430
10,000
2024
50.0
4,800
4,300
1,050
590
430
9,200
Key Observations from These Intervals
US Spending Growth: From ~$2B (2000) to $50B (2024), a ~2,400% increase, driven by legislative spikes (e.g., 2009 stimulus to $28.9B; 2021+ laws averaging $50B/year).
ALBANY, N.Y.—On Sept. 15, 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted more than $6.7 million in state funding to upgrade law-enforcement technology across Central New York—part of a $127 million statewide package—as Syracuse officials reported crime down nearly 28% year to date. The Syracuse Police Department received about $1.3 million for LED hot-spot lighting, drones and a Spot robot to handle risky situations; additional grants through the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the GIVE initiative are supporting agencies across the region, and from January through August 2025 shootings with injury in Syracuse fell 15% from a year earlier.
Safer Streets: Governor Hochul Highlights $6.7 Million Investment in Law Enforcement Technology Across Central New York
Crime in Syracuse Is Down Nearly 28 Percent Year to Date
$127 Million in Funding Enabling Local Police Departments and Sheriffs’ Offices Across the State To Modernize Operations, Improve Officer Safety and Protect New Yorkers
$1.3 Million to Syracuse Police Invested in Spot Robot Dog, Drones, and LED Lighting for Crime Hot Spots
Public Safety Investments Are Delivering Results with Significant Declines in Gun Violence Across Central New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today visited the Syracuse Public Safety Building to highlight more than $6.7 million in state investments that are modernizing law enforcement technology and equipment across Central New York. Governor Hochul and local officials also highlighted that crime in Syracuse is down nearly 28 percent year to date, according to Syracuse city officials. The visit included a briefing with elected officials, law enforcement and public safety leaders from across the region, followed by a technology demonstration featuring state-of-the-art technology. Distributed to 378 police departments and sheriffs’ offices statewide, the $127 million is delivering results by improving officer safety, protecting New Yorkers, and strengthening operations.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my highest priority. That is why I have funded investments in the technology and equipment necessary to stand up to 21st Century threats,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments are showing real results and making communities safer up and down the state. I remain committed to supporting local police departments, sheriffs’ offices and their law enforcement partners to keep New Yorkers protected.”
The Syracuse Police Department received nearly $1.3 million, allowing the agency to purchase LED lighting for crime hot spots, drones, and the Spot robot dog to assist in potentially dangerous situations without putting officers in harm’s way. Other agencies in Central New York that received significant grant awards include Oswego County Emergency Management, which used $650,000 to invest in new equipment, including its own Spot robot dog, and the Cortland Police Department, which received more than $575,000. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provided funding to a total of 33 agencies throughout Central New York to strengthen operations, expand investigative capacity and modernize equipment. A full rundown of statewide funding by agency is available online.
The Governor also highlighted the latest statistics reported by 28 police departments participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which supports coordinated gun violence reduction efforts in 21 counties. Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse are among the GIVE jurisdictions that have seen significant declines in gun violence this year. When comparing January through August 2025 to the same period last year, shooting incidents with injury and the number of shooting victims were down 15 percent in Syracuse.
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to investing in cutting-edge tools is helping agencies across Central New York respond more effectively and keep communities safe. These resources not only improve officer safety but also strengthen the partnerships that are essential to reducing crime and protecting New Yorkers.”
State Senator Rachel May said, “The state has made real progress in reducing gun violence, and with these investments in technology, we can continue to build on that success. Using this funding for policing technology, the Syracuse Police Department will better support our communities where gun violence remains a concern. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her leadership and to my colleagues in the legislature for their commitment to lowering gun violence in New York State.”
State Senator Chris Ryan said, “Keeping our neighborhoods safe requires both strong community partnerships and the tools law enforcement needs to do their jobs effectively. This investment ensures that police departments across Central New York, including Oswego County Emergency Management, can deploy modern technology that protects officers, prevents crime, and builds safer streets for our families. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for prioritizing public safety and making these resources available so we can continue driving down gun violence and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my highest priority. That is why I have funded investments in the technology and equipment necessary to stand up to 21st Century threats.”
Governor Kathy Hochul
Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, “Law enforcement has the never ending task of combatting crime. By utilizing advancements in technology, law enforcement is able to continue protecting our neighborhoods and communities, while increasing officer safety and efficiency.”
Assemblymember Pamela Hunter said, “Public safety requires both innovation and collaboration, and these investments deliver on both fronts. By equipping law enforcement with modern tools and supporting community programs, New York is reducing violence, protecting officers, and building stronger, safer communities across Central New York.
City of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “Crime is down nearly 28 percent this year in the City of Syracuse, and the partnership with Governor Hochul and New York State is making a positive difference in our city. Whenever Syracuse has needed help in addressing crime trends or investing in preventive safety measures, Governor Hochul and her team have been there to help. Syracuse is safer, but there is much work still to be done. I’m confident with the Governor’s leadership, New York will continue to be a strong and effective partner to Syracuse.”
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said, “Ensuring the safety of our community is one of the most important responsibilities we have as elected officials. From day one, my administration has worked tirelessly to support and invest in critical public safety initiatives to help make our community as safe as possible. Truly effective public safety, however, requires partnerships at all levels and today’s announcement illustrates those partnerships. I want to thank all those who made today possible and I look forward to continuing to work with all of our public safety partners for the betterment of our community.”
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her unwavering commitment to support law enforcement and keep New Yorkers safe. Be it her recent tenacious support for Discovery reform or her financial investment in new technology to help track violent criminals she has been a true leader for public safety.”
Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley said, “Crime continually becomes more sophisticated and the criminals that commit those crimes border less, which makes crime fighting efforts more costly and law enforcement collaboration more important. Governor Hochul recognizes these challenges and has made and continues to make the necessary investments, whether it be technology or programs to keep people safe. The results speak for themselves”. Sheriff Toby Shelley Onondaga County.”
Governor Hochul noted the critical role of the Central New York Crime Analysis Center in supporting law enforcement throughout the region. Co-located in the Syracuse Public Safety Building with the Syracuse Police Department, the center serves Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. Through August, it handled 10,217 requests for service this year, including 6,421 from the Syracuse Police Department. In 2024, the 11 centers that comprise the state’s Crime Analysis Center Network handled nearly 131,000 requests, with the Central New York Center accounting for 22,920.
These technology investments build on other state-supported efforts in Syracuse, including $2.28 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program and $2 million for Project RISE, which provides young people at risk of gun violence with intensive mentoring, job training, and other supports to help them succeed and avoid involvement in the justice system. Last fall, Governor Hochul also announced an additional $2.5 million through DCJS, including $1.5 million to launch a new Syracuse program connecting justice-involved youth with classes, mentoring, and internships, and $1 million to expand youth diversion services at the Onondaga County Probation Department. This funding comes as the Central New York region faces nearly $400,000 in funding cuts to public safety emergency preparedness from the Federal government.
The FY26 Enacted Budget maintained $347 million in unprecedented funding secured by Governor Hochul for gun violence prevention programs, including GIVE, and supports additional initiatives to improve public safety, expand support for victims and survivors of crime and strengthen communities.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
On September 15, 2025, in Albany, NY, Governor Kathy Hochul called the Long Island Rail Road a “lifeline” for nearly 300,000 daily riders and urged five unions to return to negotiations and accept binding arbitration to avoid a disruptive LIRR strike. She said a “fair offer” is on the table and directed the MTA to bargain “anytime, anywhere,” warning a strike would hurt commuters and LIRR workers and their families. Hochul blamed the Trump administration’s National Mediation Board for pushing the dispute toward a walkout, asserting the strike is “encouraged by Donald Trump” and criticizing Long Island’s two Republican members of Congress. She urged the administration to order both sides back to mediation so riders aren’t caught in the middle.
Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul
“The Long Island Rail Road is a lifeline for nearly 300,000 Long Islanders each day, and I stand firmly with every rider who simply wants to get to work, school, home, or anywhere else they need to go, without disruption.
“There is a fair offer on the table, and I have directed the MTA to be ready to negotiate anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, five unions have refused to come to the table in good faith and rejected binding arbitration, putting riders at risk of an unnecessary strike. Both sides must return to negotiations and keep working around the clock until this is resolved.
“A strike would hurt not only the riders who rely on the LIRR, but also many hardworking LIRR employees and their families, who will be left without pay because of unrealistic demands and their union leadership’s refusal to negotiate.
“The reckless actions of the Trump administration’s National Mediation Board pushed this dispute toward a strike instead of keeping talks on track. Make no mistake, this is a strike encouraged by Donald Trump and enabled by his allies in Washington. I remain incredibly frustrated with the continued inaction and silence of Long Island’s two Republican members of Congress.
“The Trump administration can prevent this right now by ordering both sides back to mediation. If they refuse, LIRR riders should know exactly who is to blame.”
In a Sept. 14, 2025 Empire Report op-ed from Albany, N.Y., Gov. Kathy Hochul warns of escalating political violence and urges leaders and voters to lower the rhetoric, reject dehumanizing language, and hold public figures to account. Citing recent attacks and threats, she argues that social-media amplification fuels extremism and says speech carries real-world consequences. Hochul outlines New York’s prevention strategy: strengthened red-flag protections, enhanced monitoring of credible online threats, and local Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) teams now operating in 52 counties plus New York City, with more than 2,000 interventions. Invoking the post-9/11 spirit of unity, she says democracy depends on debate—not bloodshed—and calls for collective action to stop violence before it starts.
ICYMI: Governor Hochul’s Op-Ed in Empire Report: Political Violence Deserves No Place in Our Democracy — And It’s on Us to Stop It.
Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul about the alarming rise of political violence in America—and the responsibility we all have to to stop it.
An assassination attempt on President Trump. The assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman. A plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer and a firebombing at the home of Governor Josh Shapiro. The violent attack on our Capitol on January 6. And now, the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a disturbing and increasingly common pattern of political violence. And unless we take action, it won’t stop here.
Over the course of the past few days we’ve rightfully seen leaders from both sides of the aisle forcefully condemn the horrific violence that bore out in Utah on Wednesday. But we’ve also watched voices declare war on their fellow Americans and fan the flames of anger, no doubt contributing to the ensuing rise in swatting threats across the country at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and political offices.
All of us as Americans, but especially those in positions of leadership, must grapple with the fact that we allowed ourselves to reach a place where a growing number of people believe that using violence against those we disagree with is acceptable.
In an age defined by viral rhetoric and algorithmic amplification, the line between speech and violence has become increasingly blurred. Social media algorithms reward provocative, emotionally charged content. And as a result, extremist narratives are shared, liked, and recommended — not because they are truthful, but because they drive engagement.
And then here we are — in a feedback loop, where extreme language spreads, often unchecked, and someone eventually pulls the trigger.
What makes this pattern especially insidious is its built-in deniability. Because we often describe the perpetrators of these heinous acts as “lone wolves,” those whose rhetoric radicalized or mobilized them to violence can claim they can’t be blamed for actions they did not directly command. This shields the radicalizer from responsibility, even as the violence catalyzed by their language becomes more and more frequent.
Some will argue that this is an attack on free speech. I call B.S. The First Amendment protects citizens from government censorship, but it does not shield those of us in the public spotlight from accountability. Freedom of expression should not become a smokescreen for promoting hate or encouraging violence.
We must move beyond the fiction that speech exists in a vacuum. When influential voices frame opponents as less than human, they create the conditions in which violence becomes justifiable.
At this point however, identifying the pattern is not enough.
First, leaders must commit to toning down their rhetoric, and everyday Americans must hold us all accountable. There should be consequences at the ballot box and in the court of public opinion when we don’t.
Second, we must take real steps to try to help those who may be on the path towards violence, to turn around and walk the opposite direction.
During my first year in office, my hometown of Buffalo was rocked by the racially motivated murder of 10 Black New Yorkers who were targeted simply because of the color of their skin. In the wake of that tragedy, I knew that the only way we could possibly stop these horrors was to reduce the chances an unstable violent individual could possess a weapon by increasing our red flag laws, ensure law enforcement had the tools they need to monitor online threats, and embrace a prevention model that leverages comprehensive, multidisciplinary interventions to stop violence.
In New York, this approach is embodied by the creation of local Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) teams. They can include law enforcement, mental health professionals, school officials, large employers, the public safety net, and health care systems. Together, they assemble the puzzle pieces to identify behaviors that can ultimately lead to violence.
52 counties plus New York City now field TAM teams and have collectively intervened in more than 2,000 cases. Considering the rage and vitriol that is flooding the internet and airwaves, our objective is to prevent violence before it occurs — responding after the fact isn’t enough.
This week I stood on sacred ground to honor the lives of those lost 24 years ago on 9/11. I thought about what happened on September 12, 2001, when — in the face of unspeakable horror — our nation’s greatest strength was its unity.
I urge New Yorkers and Americans to harken back to that same sense of unifying purpose. Political violence has no place in America. A democracy thrives on debate, not bloodshed.
As broken as our nation can feel at times like this, I still believe to my core that the ties that bind us are much stronger than the forces that seek to tear us apart. Most of us, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum, have the same dreams: a safe place for our kids, our work, to have fun, and to live with a sense of purpose and dignity. That’s the America I hold in my heart, and I believe it should exist in everyone’s heart.
So in this moment, let us come together and resolve to forge a safer, more tolerant world, not just for today, for our children and our grandchildren. We have work to do, but as always, New Yorkers and Americans are up for the challenge.
On WBLS 107.5’s “Hear From the Mayor,” Eric Adams reflected on the 24th anniversary of 9/11 and New York’s resilience, then welcomed retired NYPD inspector Paul McCormack, now legally blind from 9/11 injuries, to spotlight Ground Zero 360—the traveling exhibition he and photojournalist Nicola McLean created, now installed in City Hall’s Rotunda with personal effects from 11 fallen first responders and more than 100 artworks, with hopes to return for the 25th anniversary. McCormack honored Officer Moira Smith and noted that deaths from 9/11-related illnesses have surpassed the initial toll, thanking the Mount Sinai 9/11 health program. Callers raised concerns about Bed-Stuy seniors losing homes due to high property taxes and deed theft; Adams said he’s pushing tax reform in Albany and praised AG Letitia James and DA Eric Gonzalez for aggressive deed-theft prosecutions. The show closed with a call for unity and an invitation for New Yorkers to stay engaged and connect with the mayor online.
Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts “Hear From the Mayor” Radio Show
Gary Byrd: Each and every second Sunday of the month, as you know by now, WBLS is proud to welcome a brother. He’s the 110th mayor of New York City, the second mayor of color and the first hip hop mayor in the city’s history. It’s time for us to hear from the mayor, Eric L. Adams. And the mayor wants to hear from you right here from 107.5 WBLS. Let’s get it started. Good morning, Brother mayor. Good to have you with us as always.
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Great to be with you also, Gary. And to all the listeners out there. As you tune in to hear from the mayor and your mayor, Eric Adams. If this is your first time tuning in, the purpose is just really to share dialogue with you and other New Yorkers.
Listeners should give me a call and hear directly from me or hear some of the things that we’re doing to building a better city. Or you can sign up to hear more from me by visiting NYC.gov/hearfromEric. And you can also sign up on our website to text with Eric and talk with me on WhatsApp. But today, this morning, Sunday, this is a beautiful day out, by the way. Get outdoors and enjoy it. You could also call me at (212) 545-1075.
As many of you know, this past Thursday was September 11th, 2025. We reflect on what took place over 24 years ago on September 11th, 2001, when we lost nearly 3,000 people who perished on that terrible, terrible day when two planes flew into our World Trade Center. And it just created so much havoc throughout our country, because, as you know, we also had a plane that flew into the Pentagon. And we saw a plane that crashed in the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And the names of those lost during this terrorist attack were read aloud during the testimony and ceremony during the ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial. And so 24 years, we have not forgotten them and we want to keep them in mind.
The most remarkable thing I always say is not the tragedy of what happened on September 11th, but what took place September 12th. We got up, teachers taught, builders built, retailers sold their goods. And we showed those who thought they would impact us of our level of resiliency as New Yorkers. And our resiliency cascaded throughout the entire country. And we saw our country stand up and state that we would not be terrorized by terrorists.
And one person who really personifies that is my guest today, Paul McCormack. Amazing, amazing individual, former New York City Police Department inspector. He was the CEO of the 13th precinct. And he turned what I like to say, he turned pain into purpose. He didn’t sit back and say, what was me? He said, why not me? Let me be the leader from the front. And when he retired due to his injuries sustained in the line of duty on 9/11, it left him legally blind.
He continued to make sure that we would never forget this moment. He’s the CEO of Ground Zero 360. It’s a traveling exhibition honoring the victims of 9/11 and their families. And earlier this week, I had the honor of unveiling the art installation at the Rotunda at City Hall. If you haven’t seen it, please come out and see it.
It is an accumulation of 14 years of work that he has put together and moved around the country, visited 60 cities, featuring photography, artifacts, and artwork. It tells the real story of the courage, the loss, and the resiliency. And the exhibition includes personal effects of 11 fallen first responders and 100 artworks reflecting on 9/11.
It is really an important exhibit. And I just want to thank him and his wife, his wife, Nicola McLean, a photojournalist who was working in New York City on that terrible day of September 11. And the two of them married and created Ground Zero 360 together. So I want to turn it over to you, Paul. That was a mouthful of what you have done and accomplished. Tell us the concept of your exhibit and how did it come about?
Paul McCormack, CEO, Ground Zero 360: Well, first off, mayor, thank you for having me here. And thank you for having us at City Hall. It was a tremendous honor and privilege to be there. And very, very kind of you to have us there. As I said, I was the commanding officer of the 41st Precinct on 9/11 in the South Bronx. And my wife was working for the Irish Voice and Irish American Magazine on 9/11. And my wife was down there on the 11th. And when the towers fell, in the days and weeks thereafter, there was a lot of people showing up with missing posters.
I think any of your listeners that were around at the time, missing posters started going up everywhere in the city at all of the bus shelters, train stations, hospitals. People were desperately looking to find their lost loved ones. And it was desperately sad. It was really sad. And my wife got really affected by it. She knew then that she wanted to do something to honor the victims and their families. And she and I, she created Ground Zero 360. And as most wives do, she came to me looking for help. What am I going to do? Say, whatever you want, hon, whatever you want.
But no, she created an incredible exhibition to honor the victims. And the mission is to keep the memory alive and never forget the sacrifice of so many on that terrible day. And a lot of the pictures that she took, it was on 35mm film, were of messages that were written in the dust from. There was a lot of firefighters. There were 343 firefighters who were lost, 23 members of the NYPD, 37 Port Authority police officers. And there were some, like, really sad messages that were written on the car windshields, on the store windows. And she asked me to track down some of the families that were in the messages, and we did.
And as you mentioned earlier, we actually have 13 family members that lost loved ones on 9/11. And I went to the families and asked them if they would be involved in the project, because we wanted to remember their families. And they’re all basically family members of ours right now. We have their personal effects in the exhibition. And it’s an emotional thing, Mr. Mayor, but it’s a privilege to be able to do it every year. It’s a labor of love. And like you mentioned, being a member of the NYPD, you said September 12th it would show the true nature of our country.
By God, it did. Like, I remember traveling down from the Bronx to Ground Zero. For three months, I was traveling down there, and the people were lined up in the streets. And I think every American became a New Yorker after 9/11. We became—America became a community. And by God, I was never—and I mean never—as proud to be a New Yorker. I was never as proud to be a member of the NYPD or as proud to be an American as I was at that time. Because there was no left or right, Democrat, Republican. None of that nonsense. We were all a united country. And Jesus, I wish we could get back to that, to that united feeling.
But the exhibition for the 10th anniversary, Nicola wanted to do—it was basically going to be a three-week memorial in her hometown in Dublin at the National Museum of Ireland. And that has turned into a 14-year odyssey right now, where you mentioned we have artists from all over the world. Fifteen countries have created pieces of art that they’ve given to us to show their—it affected everybody worldwide. It really did. It was so—so many countries and so many people affected. And, like, I remember for the 20th anniversary, my wife gave me a list of 15 artists. And she said, I’d like you to contact these people to do some art for us. And they were like big names, like Sean Scully and Hughie. And I was like, these guys are going to tell me to go jump in a river.
But it was quite the opposite. They were all like, we’d love to do something to honor the victims. And it went from 15 artists to over 100 artists right now. But it’s people like yourself. I remember speaking to you on St. Patrick’s Day this year about this event. And you didn’t even hesitate. You were like, yeah, we’re going to have this in City Hall. And we’re going to give it the right space, the right place to show this. And you didn’t even hesitate. And it’s people like yourself that really make us feel good about what we’re doing, because you make it so easy for us. And thank you so much for just a magnificent venue. Thank you.
Mayor Adams: No, so true. You know, like they say, we all gave something, but some gave all. And we should remember those who gave all. And as your work, it really allows us to reflect on it through the visual art, which is very powerful. And some of the paintings really reflect the spirit and the energy. What is the next destination for the exhibit?
McCormack: Well, we’re going to be at City Hall for the next few months. We’re hoping to return next year. The 25th anniversary is probably going to be the biggest anniversary since it happened. And as I said to you on Monday at City Hall, there’s no place like home. So we want to have it in New York again. So God willing, we can have it back at City Hall, because it’s the right venue to honor these victims and their families. And it was a very special.
We had a few families there. Jimmy Smith, who lost his wife Moira, was there. Really powerful. Like, I remember being in my office in the 41st Precinct with my executive staff. And my most vivid memory of 9/11 was when the first tower fell. A female police officer came over the radio calling for help. And you know yourself, mayor, as a cop, there’s nothing worse than hearing a fellow officer, especially when it’s a female. Not being sexist, but when it’s a female calling for help, it’s a different call. And there’s nothing more sickening in your gut when there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.
And I remember that female voice was police officer Moira Smith. And Jimmy, who’s a retired cop from the 13th Precinct, Jimmy gave us Moira’s personal effects as part of the exhibition. And one of the paintings right at the bottom of the steps of the rotunda is a painting that Jim Fitzpatrick did of Moira, who is probably the greatest example of courage, selflessness, heroism that you’ll ever find as a police officer. And one example for cops worldwide. Just an unbelievable inspiration for all of us. And something we could strive to be like. She ran in there. Her last picture was taking a bloodied guy out of the towers. And she went right back in afterwards and made the ultimate sacrifice. So for us to be able to honor people like that is just a privilege.
Mayor Adams: So true, and now due to your work there, you lost your sight. What is your personal story?
McCormack: Well, I got chemicals in my eyes. So my eyesight deteriorated rapidly after 9/11 to the point where I couldn’t drive and I couldn’t shoot anymore. Not much use as a cop if you can’t do those two things. But I had to retire from the job. I loved being a cop. But I turned, as you said, I tried to turn that into doing things to help people.
I started up The Finest Federal Credit Union to help law enforcement in New York City, which is now rolled into New York State. I teach for a promotional school called The Key. You probably know that. I think you were one of our students back in the day, I believe, when you were studying for captain. I think you were one of my students, by the way.
So, yeah, but delighted to be continuing helping cops. And I was a big sports person. And one of the things, like, I used to play a lot of golf. And I had to give it up cold turkey for 13 years. And then I got involved with the United States Blind Golf Association. And I didn’t even know that there was such thing as blind golf. Like, people, they say blind golf. What the hell are you talking about, blind golf? But there are so many organizations out there that can help the blind and visually impaired.
I wound up joining the [The United States Blind Golf Association,] which gives you an outlet. Being blind and visually impaired can be a very dark and lonely and depressing place. It can. It’s frustrating. I can tell you, if I have five kids and to not be able to see them playing sports from the sideline and see things that other adults and parents can see, it can be depressing.
But when you can get involved with organizations like the United States Blind Golf Association, and you get out to outings where you can socialize and meet people, and it’s just a healthy way. It’s healthy for your mind and body. And, like, you represent your country at certain events. And I had the honor of representing New York and the United States at the World Blind Golf Championships in Canada last month. So I was delighted to do that.
Mayor Adams: You know, it’s a powerful story because sometimes we believe that after the buildings collapsed and the rebuilding, people still had to rebuild their lives. And, you know, oftentimes when you’re going through these difficult moments, it really calls on you. You know, faith is crucial. And hearing your story of how that terrorist attack also impacts your vision, impacts the lives of others. But you have truly turned that pain into purpose.
McCormack: You mentioned faith, mayor. I grew up a Catholic in Ireland. Went to Mass every week, every weekend. But when, you know, I moved over to America, emigrated to America in 86. I worked construction, joined the Police Department. And you kind of get away from your faith. But it’s amazing how events like that can bring you back and closer to God.
I remember Trinity Church was right there beside, still there, and was such a source of inspiration and hope. And I remember going in there and just praying. It got me closer to God, that event. And I remember going in and praying, reflecting, resting. And I think a lot of people felt that way. Sometimes it’s sad to say, but it takes events like that to really get you closer to God and make you realize the important things in life. It makes us reset.
Mayor Adams: You know, I hear the music, and we’re going to move to a break. Please stay with us. Paul has more to share. And if you have any questions, you could call us again. The number is (212) 545-1075.
Byrd: The program is Hear From the Mayor. And in addition, the mayor wants to hear from you. As you heard, (212) 545-1075 is the number to call. (212) 545-1075. We’ll come back with the mayor and his special guest right after this. From 107.5 WBLS.
[Commercial Break.]
Byrd: The program is Hear From the Mayor, and the mayor wants to hear from you. Stand by, he’ll be taking your calls in just a moment. Let’s welcome back Mayor Eric Adams and his special guest.
Mayor Adams: Thank you so much, and I’m here with Paul McCormack, retired inspector of the NYPD and CEO of Ground Zero 360. Before we go to calls, Paul, tell me about the continuous death. We hear about the 3,000 on September 11, 2001, but there are many deaths that are taking place even now.
McCormack: I think that’s something that a lot of people don’t realize, Mr. Mayor. I think there’s more than double the amount that got killed in the attacks, have died since 9/11, of cancers, respiratory diseases, and other illnesses. It’s really sad.
I’d like to do a thank you to the Mount Sinai Medical Program for what they do for the sick and injured. Every year, anybody that was down there, probably yourself included, should be getting checked up. But every year we go to the Mount Sinai program, but it’s sad. We have a sergeant that worked for me, Steve Chaffee. We honor him in the exhibition as well. He died of cancers from 9/11, and we’re honored to honor him in our exhibition as well. It’s something that police think and pray for all of the people that work there.
Mayor Adams: Yes. Before we go to the callers, callers, if you have a question for Paul or myself, Mayor Adams, you’re on the air, caller.
Question: Good morning, mayor. Good morning. I’m calling on behalf of the senior citizens, especially in Bed-Stuy. Our senior citizens are losing their homes at an alarming rate, primarily because of the taxes. They pay higher taxes in Bed-Stuy than they do in Park Slope. And a lot of our senior citizens are getting to the point where they can’t pay their taxes.
Somebody comes along and they offer them a loan, and they get into these predatory loans, and they get into deed theft. Is there anything, a bill, that can be put in place where you can put an abatement on senior citizens so their tax rate won’t be so high?
Mayor Adams: Yeah, and thank you for that. And I’m one of them. You know, I own property in Bed-Stuy, and I was going to join the original suit that Martha Stark, former finance commissioner, was put in place. I couldn’t join because I was an elected official at the time. But you are right. We have been, one, put in place changes in Albany to do tax reform because one, communities should not be paying higher. The out-tax laws are wrong.
They are unfair, particularly to communities like Bed-Stuyvesant and other moderate, middle, low-income communities. And we are going to try to push that legislation through Albany. But two, the Attorney General Letitia James and DA Eric Gonzalez are looking to prosecute those who go after our property owners with deed theft. This is something that has been plaguing the community, and they have been extremely aggressive. It was something I was fighting for even when I was born president. So there’s a combination of the two that we are really looking at this real problem. Caller, you’re on air.
Question: Hello?
Mayor Adams: Yes, how are you, caller? We have a little amount of time, so we want to get to your question, okay.
Question: Thank you to the 9/11 Memorial with Officer McCormack there. I am one of the workers from the 9/11 Mount Sinai program. And I just wanted to thank you all for your service. And just share with you that I appreciate Officer McCormack saying that we should, it would be good to get back to a state of unity. You know, because at the 9/11 program, I served previously. I’m not there anymore.
But at the time when I served right after 9/11, the actual Ground Zero tragedy, we did not care who the person voted for, what political party they were part of, or what their life choices were. We served everybody, anybody, and we came unified to try to bring some healing and some help and some coordination for everybody that participated, or lived around and was affected by the 9/11 tragedy, either physically there or emotionally or psychologically. And I still have that practice today, that it doesn’t matter who you voted for, what you are.
Mayor Adams: You’re right, sister. I’m sorry, sister, you’re right. That music is, we’re ending, but we got the spirit of what you were saying. And I thank you so much for what you have done and the energy you’re putting out right now. And I want to thank all our listeners in WBLS for allowing us to communicate with you. Thank you, and have a great, great weekend.
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.”
