Tag: USA News

  • New York Boosts Police Patrols for Halloween to Curb Drunk and Reckless Driving | State Safety Crackdown

    New York Boosts Police Patrols for Halloween to Curb Drunk and Reckless Driving | State Safety Crackdown

    New York Governor Kathy Hochul has launched a statewide crackdown on impaired and reckless driving, deploying extra State Police and local law enforcement patrols from October 25 through Halloween night on October 31. Funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the initiative includes sobriety checkpoints, heightened DWI enforcement, and targets for speeding and distracted drivers amid heightened risks from trick-or-treaters and partygoers. Last year’s effort yielded over 46,000 tickets and 1,260 impaired-driving arrests; officials urge motorists to plan sober rides via the free “Have a Plan” app, citing federal data showing Halloween pedestrian deaths surge 43% and nearly one-third of fatal crashes involve drunk drivers.

    Governor Hochul Announces Increased State Police and Local Law Enforcement Patrols to Combat Impaired and Reckless Driving Through Halloween

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that State Police and local law enforcement will increase patrols through Halloween, targeting impaired and reckless drivers. The enforcement period, which is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, runs from Saturday, October 25 through Friday, October 31.

    “Halloween should be fun and safe for everyone, regardless of how you choose to celebrate,” Governor Hochul said. “Unfortunately, poor choices behind the wheel can lead to deadly consequences. There is no excuse to drive impaired, drive distracted or speed. The New York State Police and our local law enforcement officers will be out and looking for anyone who makes the decision to jeopardize the safety of others this Halloween.”

    New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “We want everyone to be safe and enjoy Halloween festivities. If your celebration includes consuming alcohol or drugs, plan to have a sober ride. Nothing will haunt you like a DWI. We all play a part in ensuring children and parents get home safely when they are out trick-or-treating. Look for pedestrians, lower your speed, put away the distractions and make sure everyone gets home safely.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Keeping our roadways safe is a shared responsibility, and that begins with making smart choices before you get behind the wheel. Our Troopers will be out in full force this Halloween to protect the public from impaired, distracted, and reckless drivers. We want everyone to enjoy the holiday, but safety must come first. Plan ahead, drive sober, and help us make sure every child and family makes it home safely.”

    New York State Sheriffs’ Association President and Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone said, “Law enforcement will be out to make sure everyone is safe this spooky time of year.  As families are enjoying Halloween, and sometimes the days before and after, drivers need to be on the lookout for pedestrians.  It is hard to see little ghouls and goblins if you are speeding or driving impaired.  The Sheriffs of New York State want you to enjoy your tricks and treats safely, so obey the speed limit and drive sober.”

    During last year’s initiative, law enforcement officers issued 46,212 citations, arrested 1,260 drivers for impaired driving and ticketed 9,029 drivers for speeding.

    Motorists can expect several sobriety checkpoints and additional DWI patrols during the enforcement period. In addition to targeting impaired drivers, law enforcement officers will also be looking for drivers that are distracted or speeding.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to the high number of impaired drivers on the roads and a significant increase in pedestrians. In 2023, 29 percent of fatal car crashes on Halloween involved impaired drivers. Studies also show that pedestrian deaths increase by 43% on Halloween compared to other nights. NHTSA data also shows that the impaired driving crisis killed more than 13,000 people for the second year in a row. Drunk driving deaths have increased 22 percent since 2019 with someone killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 85 seconds.

    For drivers who might find themselves in need of a way home after Halloween parties, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation’s “Have a Plan” mobile app is available for Apple and Android smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to report a suspected impaired driver.

    October 25, 2025

    Albany, NY

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

    NewYork #KathyHochul #HalloweenSafety #DUI #DWI #SobrietyCheckpoint #NYPD #NYSP #TrafficEnforcement #ZeroTolerance #HaveAPlan #RoadSafety #Speeding #PedestrianSafety #TrickOrTreat #PublicSafety #NYC #LongIsland #HudsonValley

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • New York—Are You Ready to Vote? Don’t Miss Tonight’s Registration Deadline

    New York—Are You Ready to Vote? Don’t Miss Tonight’s Registration Deadline

    NY news early voting New York

    New York, it’s go time!
    Confirm your registration by tonight’s deadline, then make a plan to vote.
    Early voting starts today and runs through next weekend, so pick a day, find your polling site, and be heard.
    Learn more and get set: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/

    #NewYorkVotes #VoteNY #EarlyVoting #NYElections #RegisterToVote #MakeAPlanToVote #GoVoteNY #GOTV #NYC #ElectionDay

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • New York to Provide $11 Million for Emergency Food Aid, Renews Feeding NYS Partnership

    New York to Provide $11 Million for Emergency Food Aid, Renews Feeding NYS Partnership

    NYC news snap problems

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will allocate more than $11 million to shore up food-relief operations, including over $5 million in equipment grants for 97 nonprofits and more than $6 million to support Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks. The funds—drawn from the Environmental Protection Fund—aim to expand storage and transportation capacity and sustain staffing as the state implements its food-donation and recycling law. Officials said the program, begun in 2018, has helped scale food recovery efforts, including 63 million pounds of edible food captured since 2022, as groups brace for uncertainty around federal SNAP benefits.

    Governor Kathy Hochul Announces More Than $11 Million to Support Local Emergency Food Relief

    Grant Funding Supports Food Emergency Relief Programs Operated by 97 Not-For-Profit Organizations Across the State. New York State Renews Partnership with Feeding New York State for Nation-Leading Food Donation and Collection Program

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $11 million to support emergency food relief for New Yorkers in need. More than $5 million in Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants were awarded to nearly 100 not-for-profit organizations, including food pantries, soup kitchens, and other programs dedicated to assisting New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity across the state. In addition, more than $6 million will support a renewed partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks by funding critical staffing and essential operations at food banks and their local partners statewide. This action comes at a time when the Trump Administration refuses to ensure the nearly 3 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP will have access to their benefits next month ( Editor: Democratic Party leadership refuses to accept the budget, and Trump has no authority).

    “While the Trump administration continues to starve federal food assistance programs of funding, New York State is investing directly in local organizations that feed New Yorkers who are struggling with skyrocketing food prices,” Governor Hochul said. “With more than three million New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity, including more than 750,000 children under the age of 18, we are making investments in community-based food relief organizations to fight hunger and complement our wide-ranging affordability efforts.”

    A total of 97 Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants, ranging from $1,200 to $100,000, will help organizations purchase emergency generators and equipment used for cooling and transporting donated food, and expand the quantity and type of food emergency food relief organizations can provide to New Yorkers in need. The grant program is administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as part of an ongoing commitment to properly manage wasted food, prevent food from needlessly being thrown away, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, feed hungry New Yorkers and engage with communities across the state.

    With funding provided by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), DEC has awarded millions to 145 emergency food relief organizations since the program was first created in 2018 to assist with the purchase of equipment used for the cooling and transportation of donated food to New Yorkers in need.

    DEC is also renewing its nation-leading partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks as part of the ongoing implementation of the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law. DEC is providing more than $6 million to Feeding New York State to support the ongoing deployment of staff to grocery stores, supercenters, restaurants and other food service and food retail businesses to enhance donation activities. Funding will also be used to purchase essential equipment and supplies that support food recovery efforts at food banks and their local partners and hire additional staff at food banks. It will also enhance the Venison Donation program that supports additional processing of high-quality venison. DEC has provided $10.8 million to Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks through the EPF since 2018.

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “New York State continues to make real progress in reducing wasted food and helping feed communities experiencing the ongoing erosion of social safety nets due to federal funding cuts. Governor Hochul’s latest $11 million to support emergency food relief organizations across the state and continuing nation-leading partnerships with Feeding New York State and regional food banks will be instrumental in providing healthy, quality food to hungry New Yorkers.”

    Feeding New York State Interim Executive Director Kathleen Stress said, “Food programs are essential in the fight against hunger. Feeding New York State, in partnership with our food banks and their local programs, is expanding agency-enabled pick-ups from food generators like grocers and producers. Since launching this initiative in 2022, we’ve successfully recovered 63 million pounds of edible food for our charitable network. We’re proud to continue this impactful work with support from Governor Hochul and DEC.”

    Highlights of the nearly 100 Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grant-funded projects include:

    Capital Region

    • Food Pantries for the Capital District, $100,000: support the lease of three box trucks to help increase organizational capacity for food distribution. This equipment will directly impact and improve the organization’s Food Express pick-up and delivery of food orders from the Regional Food Bank, and their food shuttle delivery program.
    • Higher Horizons Development Corporation, $93,754: support the purchase of a van/box truck, blast freezer, and generator that will allow Higher Horizons Food Pantry to increase the amount of food it can offer.
    • Sycamore Collaborative, $98,185: support the purchase of a box truck with a lift gate, refrigerator, and a straddle stacker to help increase the amount of food available for those in need through the organization’s food pantry.

    Central New York

    • Seven Valleys Health Coalition, $56,000: und the purchase of a pickup truck, bed topper for the truck and three insulated food storage containers. This equipment will help to expand two of their program’s Seven Valleys Food Rescue and Produce Prescription.
    • Westcott Community Center $1,200: support the purchase of a freezer that will allow the center to increase storage capacity at their food pantry.

    Finger Lakes

    • House Of Mercy Inc., $50,607: support the purchase of a cargo van and insulated containers that will allow them to increase the amount of food they can distribute to those in need at their emergency shelter.
    • Irondequoit Community Cupboard Inc., $22,960: fund the purchase of a back-up generator which will keep their refrigeration equipment operating and continue to serve their clients during the event of a power loss.

    Long Island

    • Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, $63,755: support the purchase and installation of a walk-in freezer and generator. The equipment will help enhance the ability to collect, store, and distribute perishable foods.
    • People Loving People Inc., $56,800: support the purchase of a truck to transport more food from donors to their food pantry.

    Mid-Hudson

    • Second Chance Foods Inc., $100,000: support the purchase of a cargo van, outdoor walk-in cooler, outdoor walk-in freezer, three reach-in refrigerators, and a reach-in freezer. These purchases will increase storage capacity for donated food set for distribution.
    • The Family Resource Center of Peekskill, $100,000: support the purchase of a hybrid truck, a car refrigerator, two commercial freezers, a refrigerator, and a backup, solar battery generator. The equipment will help expand outreach for their Harvest Time Food Pantry Program to serve more people.
    • Port Chester Carver Center, $100,000: support the purchase of a box truck with a lift gate and emergency generator to help increase their storage capacity and allow them to expand their Retail Recovery partnership.

    Mohawk Valley

    • Feed Our Veterans, $100,000: support the purchase of a heavy-duty vehicle that will allow them to increase the amount of picked up donations. They will also purchase an emergency generator that will allow them to keep their freezers running in the event of a power outage.
    • Rescue Mission of Utica, $32,317: support the purchase of a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer to help increase their capacity to store food.

    New York City

    • Al-Madinah School Inc, $100,000: support the purchase of a refrigerated truck, a commercial walk-in cooler and commercial walk-in freezer. This equipment will enhance their emergency pantry’s ability to receive, store, and distribute fresh, perishable food to those in need.
    • The Connected Chef Foundation Inc., $100,000: support the purchase of two insulated walk-in refrigerated units, four refrigerators, and two freezers. The equipment purchased will help expand the Lifeline Groceries emergency food distribution program.
    • The Flatbush Community Fund, $100,000: support the purchase of a walk-in cooler, a walk-in freezer, an electric forklift, two coolers, a freezer, and an emergency generator. The equipment will help increase the amount of food their pantry can receive and distribute to those in need.

    North Country

    • Essex Food Hub Inc., $81,000: support the purchase of a refrigerated van and cooler trailer to help support their Farm to Food Pantry program. The refrigerated van will allow transporting more food and the cooler trailer increases storage capacity to preserve donated food.
    • Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties Inc., $80,069: support the purchase of a walk-in cooler, two freezers and a box truck to help increase capacity at and transport to their Plattsburgh food pantry.

    Southern Tier

    • Catholic Charities of Broome County, $46,496: support the purchase of a 2024 food transit cargo van and insulated food delivery cooler bags to expand the ability to deliver food to individuals, families, and unhoused individuals who are unable to visit their food pantry.
    • Corning Council for Assistance, $96,000: support the purchase of a backup generator, exterior walk-in refrigerator, and exterior walk-in freezer. The new equipment will increase the amount of food provided to individuals in need by improving their food pantry’s operations and expanding its storage capabilities.

    Western New York

    • Rehoboth House of Prayer Inc., $99,262: support the purchase of a refrigerated box truck, electric pallet jack and charging station, walk-in freezer, walk-in cooler, and emergency generator. This equipment will increase capacity for food storage and distribution.
    • Cazenovia Recovery Systems Inc., $92,934: support the purchase of two walk-in cooler/freezer units for two of their locations, Sundram Manor and Unity House.

    A full list of awardees is available on DEC’s website.

    New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law

    The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, which helps reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling, also demonstrates the State’s commitment to vulnerable New Yorkers impacted by devastating federal cuts to social programs that feed communities across the nation.

    Governor Hochul recently announced a record 63 million pounds of food collected from the state’s largest food-related businesses to feed hungry New Yorkers. The milestone is a direct result of DEC funding to capture new food donations and help build stronger, healthier communities. Watch a video announcing the latest record food donation milestone held during Climate Week and Hunger Action Month: https://youtu.be/xlt4A8CNOGE

    For information about how all New Yorkers can help compost and take other steps to reduce waste at homes and businesses, visit DEC’s website.

    New York State Leads on Affordability, Hunger, and Food Diversion
    Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to bring more New York food to New York school children, with support from the Nourish New York program, the 30 Percent NYS Initiative for school meals, the Farm-to-School program, the FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative, the Food Access Expansion Grant Program, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grants Programs, and more. These investments build on the Governor’s commitment to boost demand for New York agricultural products, bolster New York’s food supply chain, and ensure all New Yorkers can access fresh, local foods. This includes the Governor’s Executive Order 32 directing State agencies to increase the percentage of food sourced from New York farmers and producers to 30 percent of their total purchases within five years. The Governor has also committed $25 million toward the New York State Grown & Certified Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Development Grant Program to assist food producers, processors, distributors, and others using New York ingredients to bring innovative NYS Grown & Certified products to market and recently announced $10 million available through Round 3 of New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program to bring more New York food to New York schools.

    Governor Hochul also announced in June, $13.7 million in funding for 19 projects statewide through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Program to provide capital and technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating at the middle of the supply chain, helping to enhance coordination throughout the food system and improve access to markets for farmers. This investment will help connect the dots between our state’s food producers and retail operations.

    Additionally, in September, Governor Hochul announced New York State’s first-ever inflation refund checks up to $400 are being sent to 8.2 million households statewide as part of her ongoing commitment to put money back into the pockets of New Yorkers. Earlier this year, the Governor also secured and enacted initiatives to cut taxes for the middle class to their lowest levels in 70 years, expand New York’s Child Tax Credit to up to $1,000 per child for the youngest children, and ensure universal free school meals to save families around $1,600 per child. Governor Hochul also announced that 1.6 million low-income children received summer food assistance totaling $194 million as part of the 2025 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, Summer EBT, program. The program provides $120 per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy food during the summer months when children might not have access to free school meals.

    State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “Access to nutritious food is a basic human right, not a privilege. I commend Governor Hochul for directing these critical funds to support food pantries, soup kitchens, and food banks that are on the frontlines of fighting hunger in our communities. At a time when federal uncertainty threatens SNAP benefits for millions, New York is once again stepping up to ensure that no family goes hungry. These investments strengthen not only our emergency food network but also our shared commitment to compassion and dignity for every New Yorker.”

    State Senator Pete Harckham said, “With food insecurity continuing to plague our communities, New York must do everything it can to fight hunger. These new investments in Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants and Feeding New York will assist food banks statewide in gaining the resources necessary to carry out their vital services to our residents. I appreciate Gov. Hochul and my State Legislature colleagues for staying focused on the need to address undernourishment in this ongoing food crisis.”

    Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi said, “Our federal government, under Republican party control, has decided to cut SNAP benefits for 3 million New Yorkers. At this exact same moment I want to express my gratitude to Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Deborah Glick and all of my colleagues for fighting annually to increase the New York State Environmental Protection Fund. That yearly fight pays off today for New Yorkers in need with this announcement of EPF funded emergency food relief for nearly 100 non-profit food pantries and soup kitchens as well as emergency food relief equipment grants.”

    Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “Access to food should never be a luxury — it is a human right. As elected officials, it’s our responsibility to ensure that no New Yorker is left behind when it comes to access to food. Governor Hochul’s multi-million dollar investment to support emergency food relief reaffirms our state’s commitment to fighting hunger, strengthening local food networks, and uplifting the communities that need it most. Thanks to her leadership, we’re seeing that support right here in Assembly District 30, where funds are being dedicated to the Connected Chef Foundation to expand its emergency food distribution program. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and the Governor to ensure every New Yorker has access to food.”

    Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, “While Trump feeds his greed and ego, New York is stepping up to feed our stateNew York won’t stand by while Trump threatens our healthcare and SNAP benefits with his lengthy government shutdown. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for including Al-Madinah School Inc., and the Flatbush Community Fund in her emergency funding to ensure that Brooklyn can fight back against these starvation tactics.”

    New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif said, “In the face of White House’s attacks on working class New Yorkers, Governor Hochul is stepping up efforts to address food insecurity,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “I applaud the critical investments she is making, including supporting Al-Madinah School in my district with a refrigerated truck that will dramatically improve their emergency pantry’s operations.”

    October 24, 2025

    Albany, NY

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

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • New York to Backfill Planned Parenthood Funding After Federal Medicaid Ban

    New York to Backfill Planned Parenthood Funding After Federal Medicaid Ban

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will replace federal Medicaid reimbursements lost under H.R. 1, which bars organizations that provide abortions and received at least $800,000 in 2023 from federal Medicaid funding. Planned Parenthood’s five New York affiliates—operating 47 clinics that serve about 200,000 patients a year, including 100,000 Medicaid recipients—were designated “prohibited entities,” making them ineligible for federal funds across all services. State dollars will cover the gap to maintain access to contraception, abortion services, STI/HIV prevention, prenatal and menopausal care, mental health support, wellness visits and cancer screenings, with an emphasis on rural and medically underserved areas. The move follows broader state investments in reproductive health, including provider protections and $25 million annually through the New York State Abortion Access Program.

    Governor Hochul Steps in to Protect Critical Health Care Provided by Planned Parenthood in Face of Federal Cuts

    Republicans in Washington Stripped Funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics Across Nation

    Governor Secures State Funding To Ensure New Yorkers Have Access to the Care They Need

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State will protect access to reproductive health care services despite Washington Republicans’ targeted attacks against Planned Parenthood health centers and the services they provide. Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans voted to end Medicaid patients’ ability to seek care at Planned Parenthood, threatening Planned Parenthood’s ability to operate in New York and compromising New Yorkers’ access to health care services, including contraception, abortion, STI and HIV prevention, prenatal and menopausal care, mental health services, and preventive care like wellness visits and cancer screenings.

    ”Washington Republicans have shown time and again that they’ll stop at nothing to undermine women’s health care and restrict access to reproductive rights,” Governor Hochul said. “In the face of Congressional Republicans voting to defund Planned Parenthood, I’ve directed the state to fund these vital services, protecting access to health care that thousands of New Yorkers rely on. I will always stand up for reproductive rights and the health care that New Yorkers deserve.”

    Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services in New York State via five affiliate organizations, including Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. This network of affiliates currently operates 47 health centers that serve over 200,000 patients each year. This includes 100,000 Medicaid patients, totaling over $35 million in annual Gross Medicaid revenue.

    Over 60 percent of Planned Parenthood health centers are in rural or medically underserved areas, and these centers are often the only option available to New Yorkers living in these rural areas. They are a critical source of affordable health care to Medicaid and non-Medicaid recipients.

    What Washington Republicans Voted To Do:

    • H.R. 1, enacted into law on July 4, includes a one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid funding for organizations that provide abortions and that received $800,000 or more in federal Medicaid funds in 2023.
    • H.R. 1 classified these organizations as “prohibited entities.” Planned Parenthood’s five affiliates in New York are the only providers in the state that meet the definition of a “prohibited entity.”
    • Prior to the passage of H.R. 1, Medicaid claims submitted by Planned Parenthood were reimbursed with a combination of federal and State dollars, though no federal dollars are used to reimburse abortion services.
    • Now that they are deemed a “prohibited entity” under H.R. 1, Planned Parenthood is no longer eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for any of the services they provide.

    Governor Hochul is protecting access to reproductive health care for all New Yorkers by allocating state funds to cover lost federal funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates in New York.

    Governor Hochul continues to reaffirm her commitment to keeping reproductive resources safe and accessible in New York State. The Governor has made historic investments to expand reproductive freedom for New Yorkers, including increasing funding for abortion care providers, signing legislation to protect New York doctors and securing $25 million annually to fund abortion health care services through the New York State Abortion Access Program.

    Additional guidance for providers can be found on the Department of Health website on the “Medicaid Guidance to New York State Planned Parenthood Providers and Payors” page.

    October 24, 2025

    Albany, NY

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

    #NewYork #PlannedParenthood #Medicaid #HealthcarePolicy #ReproductiveHealth #WomensHealth #HR1 #PublicHealth #RuralHealthcare #NYPolitics

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

  • NYC Plans $10 Million On-Site Child-Care Pilot for DCAS Workers, Opening 2026 (Video)

    NYC Plans $10 Million On-Site Child-Care Pilot for DCAS Workers, Opening 2026 (Video)

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Oct. 23, 2025, announced a $10 million municipal child-care pilot to offer on-site, affordable care for children as young as six weeks old to Department of Citywide Administrative Services employees. The 4,000-square-foot center—on the ground floor of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building in Lower Manhattan—aims to open by September 2026 with capacity for up to 40 children, using underutilized city-owned space to help recruitment and retention. DCAS will manage design and construction and contract an outside provider; eligibility and guidelines are being developed with the Office of Labor Relations and municipal unions. The initiative builds on the administration’s broader early-childhood agenda, including 3-K expansion, special-education Pre-K, and child-care subsidies that have lowered out-of-pocket costs for many families.

    Mayor Adams Continues to Make NYC the Best Place to Raise a Family With Launch of Child Care Pilot for Children of DCAS Employees as Young as Six Weeks Old


    What you should know

    • $10 Million Investment Will Fund First-Ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program for DCAS Employees
    • Municipal Child Care Pilot Leverages Underutilized City-Owned Space to Operate On-Site, Affordable Child Care  
    • Builds on Adams Administration’s Historic, Permanent Funding to 3-K Citywide Expansion and Special Education Pre-K

    NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina today announced $10 million to launch the city’s first-ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program, which will provide on-site and affordable child care to DCAS employees with children as young as six weeks old beginning in September 2026. Today’s investment builds on the Adams administration’s efforts to improve municipal employee retention, ensure the City of New York remains a competitive employer of choice, increase flexibility for working families, and make the city more affordable for public servants.

    “Making New York City the best place to raise a family means that families shouldn’t have to live in fear that paying for child care will break their bank. Families deserve better, and, once again, our administration is delivering for them,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re making our city more family friendly by launching New York City’s first-ever Municipal Child Care Pilot Program, which will provide on-site, affordable child care for free to some of the public servants who are serving their fellow New Yorkers. By turning underutilized, city-owned space into a child care centers, we’re giving back to the workers who give so much to our city. This bold investment delivers both peace of mind and will put money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers.”

    “City employees should not have to choose between their commitment to public service and their commitment to parenthood,” said Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “At a time when city government is facing increased competition from the private sector, efforts like this pilot are crucial to increasing the offerings of family benefits and access to flexible work arrangements.”

    “At DCAS, we recognize that affordable child care is not only a family issue; it’s also a workforce issue, a quality-of-life issue, and an earning potential and professional development issue — and these are all issues we cannot afford to ignore,” said DCAS Commissioner Molina. “With this solution-oriented pilot, we’re leveraging underutilized space to invest in our workforce. More than that, we’re ensuring that the City of New York remains an attractive employer for those willing to dedicate their lives to public service.”

    The site for the child care pilot will be located on the ground floor of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, North Tower in Lower Manhattan ― DCAS’s headquarters and a central hub of city government operations. The estimated $10 million renovation will cover approximately 4,000 square feet and is being designed to accommodate up to 40 children.

    Design and construction will be managed in-house by DCAS, with project completion anticipated by spring 2026. The high-quality, affordable program will be operated by a contracted child care provider to cater to DCAS employees with pre-school aged children as young as six weeks who are currently working at the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building. Accordingly, DCAS will be issuing a Demonstration Project solicitation for proposals from qualified vendors. Eligibility criteria for the pilot, including the participating age range, is being developed in conjunction with the Office of Labor Relations and city unions. The Municipal Child Care Pilot Program will be closely evaluated to determine if expanding the program to additional locations is feasible.

    “We know how vital child care is for our employees,” said New York City Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion. “This pilot will provide needed support to those who participate and help inform additional efforts to support our workforce. We look forward to working with DCAS and our municipal unions to pilot worksite day care for our employees.”

    “Affordable, high-quality child care is essential for working families, including our city’s own workforce,” said New York City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer. “This pilot will help retain and recruit talented municipal employees and strengthen the city’s commitment to equity and family well-being. I look forward to seeing the program grow.”

    “We hear from our members time and again that paying for quality child care is one of the top barriers to living and working in New York City, which is why we established a Child Care Trust in the last collective bargaining agreement,” said Henry Garrido, executive director, District Council 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO. “This pilot program is a great additional solution for making child care more affordable and accessible for city workers, as well as for workforce recruitment and retention.”

    Over the last three years, the Adams administration has been focused on making New York City more affordable for families through popular and essential programs like early childhood education. Recently, Mayor Adams announced a new pilot program, “Creating Real Impact at Birth” (CRIB), to connect and prioritize pregnant New Yorkers applying for shelter with housing vouchers to put them on a path toward permanent housing and stability, so that no child is born into the shelter system, as well as a $7 million expansion of the “Fatherhood Initiative,” which helps fathers reconnect with their children, provide financial support, and develop parenting skills. Additionally, the Adams administration launched a child care initiative for 0-2 year olds that puts New York City on the path to universal child care for low-income families if the initiative is successful, and enrolled a record 150,000 children across the early childhood education system. These initiatives all build on Mayor Adams reducing out-of-pocket costs of child care from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week with subsidies today for a family of four, and the administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K on time last school year — the first time this has ever been done in the city’s history.

    Additionally, over the Fiscal Year 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, as well as a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. Finally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, as well as $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs.

    October 23, 2025

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

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  • NYC, Chicago, and Seven Other Local Governments Sue DHS/FEMA to Protect $100M+ in Emergency & Disaster Grants

    NYC, Chicago, and Seven Other Local Governments Sue DHS/FEMA to Protect $100M+ in Emergency & Disaster Grants

    New York City has joined a nine-jurisdiction coalition led by Chicago to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, aiming to block new FY2025 “Standard Terms and Conditions” the cities call unlawful and dangerous to public safety. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, argues that federal officials exceeded their authority by conditioning counterterrorism and disaster-preparedness funds—over $100 million nationally—on certifications that recipients do not run “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)” programs and that they comply with all of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders. NYC warns the cuts could hinder the NYPD’s radiological/nuclear detection efforts and transit system security, including active-shooter training and daily specialized deployments. The suit contends only Congress can change grant conditions and challenges a clause that could claw back triple the grant amounts, risking critical services. Joining NYC and Chicago are Denver, New Haven, Baltimore, Boston, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Ramsey County, MN.

    City of New York Files Lawsuit to Protect Over 100 Million in Federal Emergency and Disaster Grants

    City of New York Files Lawsuit to Protect Over $100 Million in Federal Emergency and Disaster Grants
    to Local Governments Nationwide

     The City of New York — as part of a national coalition of nine local governments from across the country — has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), challenging the federal government’s effort to force cities and counties to agree to unlawful conditions to continue to receive over $100 million in federal funding for countering terrorism, disaster preparedness, and other public safety programs. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that without this funding, the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) ability to detect and defend against a radiological or nuclear attack could be compromised. Additionally, funding that supports the New York City transit system’s operational security capability and capacity, including active shooter training and deploying specialized teams within the transit system every day, could be affected.

    “Public safety has always been our administration’s North Star, which is why we have always fought for every penny from our state and federal counterparts to keep us safe,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’ve hit historic lows in crime because we’ve always been willing to make the necessary investments, so now is not the time to go backwards. We are proud to join partners from across the nation, once again, in filing this lawsuit to keep New Yorkers, and Americans from across the nation, safe.”

    “Losing funding that helps the NYPD prevent terror attacks on our subways, bridges, and tunnels would be contrary to law, the intent of Congress, and put millions of New Yorkers at risk,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant.

    In each of the last three fiscal years, New York City has been awarded approximately $150 million in grant funding for critical emergency management programs at the NYPD, the New York City Department of Transportation, and other city agencies. However, in Fiscal Year 2025, as part of the “Standard Terms and Conditions,” DHS adopted unlawful new conditions requiring recipients to certify that they do not “operate any programs that advance or promote ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’,” and requiring compliance with all of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to be eligible to receive the funds. The DHS grants help local governments prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters such as acts of terrorism, mass shootings, cyber incidents, and other complex emergencies, putting critical services for numerous communities, including New York, at risk.

    The lawsuit — led by the City of Chicago in Illinois and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division — states that new funding conditions added by the heads of federal agencies are unconstitutional and an overreach by the executive branch, which does not have the authority to change conditions related to federal grants without the approval of Congress.

    The lawsuit resists efforts by the federal administration to coerce local governments into accepting these unlawful grant conditions, including a condition that puts at risk three times the amount of the grants based on vague and undefined requirements — further endangering critical services for New Yorkers.

    Joining New York City and Chicago in filing the lawsuit are the cities of Denver, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Saint Paul Minnesota; as well as the county of Ramsey, Minnesota.

    Office of the Mayor

    October 21, 2025 NEW YORK

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

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  •  U.S. Department of Justice: Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense Information

     U.S. Department of Justice: Government Employee Arrested for Unlawful Retention of National Defense Information

    U.S. Department of Justice Government Employee Arrested USA News

    Ashley Tellis, 64, a U.S. citizen residing in Vienna, Virginia, was arrested on Oct. 11 in connection with his alleged unlawful retention of classified national defense information. Tellis appeared today in the Eastern District of Virginia for a detention hearing.

    “Safeguarding our country’s national defense information is a top priority,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sue J. Bai of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “For those entrusted with our country’s most sensitive information, protecting it is a privilege and solemn responsibility. With the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and agents, we will hold this defendant accountable for breaching that trust and exploiting his security clearance to unlawfully retain classified information detailing our military capabilities.”

    “The FBI arrested Ashley Tellis, a senior advisor at the Department of State and a contractor within the Department of Defense, for allegedly removing over a thousand pages of classified national defense information from government facilities and storing them in his home,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This arrest should serve as a stark warning to anyone thinking about undermining national security. The FBI and our partners will do everything within our power to find you and hold you accountable.”

    “We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”

    “U.S. government security clearance holders are entrusted to keep our nation’s most sensitive secrets safe,” said Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office. “By allegedly removing classified documents from government facilities and storing them in his basement, Mr. Tellis betrayed that trust. The FBI and our federal partners acted quickly to execute a court-authorized search warrant and arrest Tellis to protect our national security and prevent highly classified defense information from falling into the wrong hands.”

    According to court documents, Tellis held a Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access. He has worked for the U.S. Department of State since 2001 and currently serves in addition as a contractor for the Department of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

    As alleged, Tellis accessed classified documents on multiple occasions from secured facilities, including a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the Department of Defense and a secure computer system at the Department of State. In one instance, Tellis altered the filename of a classified document, printed portions of it under the altered title, and then deleted the re-named file. In another incident, he was observed placing classified materials into a notepad and concealing them within his personal briefcase before leaving a secured government facility.

    During a court-authorized search of Tellis’s residence, investigators recovered over 1,000 pages of documents with classification markings, including materials labeled SECRET and/or TOP SECRET. These documents were found in locked filing cabinets, in a basement home office, and in trash bags stored in a basement utility area.

    The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Schlessinger for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Updated October 21, 2025

    Sources:  U.S. Department of Justice . Midtown Tribune News

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  • New York. AG Letitia James Sues to Turn the Lights Back On

    New York. AG Letitia James Sues to Turn the Lights Back On

    New York News laticha James Solar Panel

    In a plot twist no solar installer asked for, New York Attorney General Letitia James and a multi-state crew filed twin lawsuits on October 16, 2025 to revive EPA’s now-canceled $7B “Solar for All” program—money meant to bring rooftop savings to nearly a million low-income households, including ~$250M for NYSERDA. They argue the EPA’s August shutdown (after funds were already obligated) flunks the Administrative Procedure Act, tramples Congress’s power of the purse, and breaches grant agreements—so they’re asking one court to restart the program and another to pay damages. Governors, AGs, and agencies from around the map joined in, essentially telling EPA: you can’t just unplug the sun and walk away.

    Attorney General James Takes Action
    to Protect Clean Energy for Vulnerable Communities

    AG James Joins Coalition Suing to Protect Billions of Dollars Intended to Provide Affordable Home Solar Power to Communities Nationwide
    EPA Illegally Revoked Nearly $250 Million for New York 

    – New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a coalition of plaintiffs in filing two lawsuits to protect billions of dollars in grant funding that would connect nearly one million households nationwide in low-income and vulnerable communities with affordable solar power. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) illegally ended the Solar for All (SFA) program and rescinded billions of dollars already issued to states to fund programs that would bring low-cost home solar power to communities nationwide. Attorney General James and the coalition have filed lawsuits in the Court of Federal Claims and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington seeking court orders ruling the administration’s termination of SFA unlawful and damages for the termination of individual grants worth billions of dollars.

    “Providing more communities with affordable clean energy will help lower energy bills and tackle the climate crisis,” said Attorney General James. “The Solar for All program delivers critical resources to help install solar power on homes across the country. The EPA’s cancellation of Solar for All is illegal and unconstitutional, and I will keep fighting to ensure our communities have access to these funds.”

    “The Trump administration’s continued assault on clean energy programs, including the attempt to cancel the Solar for All Program, is in direct contrast to the President’s claims of wanting U.S. energy independence,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Statewide Solar for All program is part of a true all-of-the-above energy strategy in New York that is designed to generate significant benefits for our health, environment, economy, and for the thousands of New Yorkers who would benefit from lower electric bills.”

    “At a time when affordability is top of mind for every New Yorker, especially for those with low to moderate incomes, the federal government should be partnering with states to advance an abundance of locally produced, clean energy that can help provide cost savings on monthly electric bills,” said Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. “The Environmental Protection Agency’s unlawful termination of the federal Solar for All program is creating a crippling ripple effect on the clean energy industry while forcing hard-working Americans to choose between household essentials as they try to budget for the increasing costs of electricity, heat and groceries.”

    As part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Congress created and funded an EPA program that would provide states with funding to help low-income and vulnerable communities access clean energy technologies, including rooftop solar power. The EPA program, later named SFA, selected 60 grant recipients, including states, tribal governments, local governments, and nonprofit groups, to receive this funding. In August 2024, EPA announced that it had obligated $7 billion through SFA to deliver residential solar power to more than 900,000 low-income households nationwide. In New York, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was awarded $249,800,000 in SFA funding. Leaders in states across the country began developing SFA programs, meeting with community members and utility companies, and negotiating agreements with contractors to help install new solar infrastructure.

    In July 2025, the administration enacted legislation that rescinded any remaining funds that had not been obligated as part of SFA. However, in August 2025, EPA began illegally targeting SFA and its funding that had already been obligated to states – funding that should not have been impacted by the new legislation. On August 7, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced, “the Trump EPA is…ending Solar for All for good.” Shortly after, EPA shut down the SFA program and removed up to 90 percent of states’ SFA funds with no explanation.

    In the District Court, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that EPA’s termination of the SFA program is illegal and unconstitutional. Stripping this program away entirely from states violates the Administrative Procedure Act and overrides Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Attorney General James and the coalition also argue in the Court of Federal Claims that revoking the already obligated SFA grants is an illegal breach of contract and taking of property.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order from the District Court ruling EPA’s elimination of SFA unlawful and ordering the resumption of the program. In addition, they are seeking damages from the Court of Federal Claims for the unlawful termination of individual grants, including the nearly $250 million grant to NYSERDA.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing the lawsuit in the District Court are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Also joining the lawsuit are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing the lawsuit in the Court of Federal Claims are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Also joining the lawsuit are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

    Letitia James

    New York State Attorney General

    October 16, 2025

    NEW YORK

    #CleanEnergy #SolarForAll #LetitiaJames #EPA #NYSERDA #LowIncomeCommunities #Climate #Renewables #NewYork #Lawsuit

    Sources: AG.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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  • U.S. Department of Justice. Man Arrested for Alleged Involvement in October 7, 2023 Terrorist Attacks

    U.S. Department of Justice. Man Arrested for Alleged Involvement in October 7, 2023 Terrorist Attacks

    Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, a Gazan native currently residing in Lafayette, Louisiana, was arrested yesterday for his alleged involvement in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

    “After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7 — the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “While nothing can fully heal the scars left by Hamas’s brutal attack, this Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those responsible for that horrific day, including the murder of dozens of American citizens. We will continue to stand by Jewish Americans and Jewish people around the world against anti-Semitism and terrorism in all its forms.”

    “As set forth in documents filed yesterday, on October 7, when Al-Muhtadi learned of the unfolding barbaric attack on Israel and civilians from multiple nations, including the United States, he sprang into action. He armed himself, recruited additional marauders, and then entered Israel, where there is evidence placing him near one of the worst-hit Israeli communities,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Subsequently, Al-Muhtadi fraudulently obtained a visa to enter the United States where he hoped to remain undetected. This arrest is the first public step in bringing to justice those responsible for harming Americans on that day.” 

    “October 7 is a day that lives in infamy for so many, Gentile and Jew alike, because of the terrorist attack on Israel that began a wave of antisemitic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Let this arrest serve as a reminder both that those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities and that state, local, and federal law enforcement — here, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office — are working tirelessly to bring these people to justice.”

    According to court documents, Al-Muhtadi is an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (DFLP) military wing, the National Resistance Brigades (NRB, also known as the Martyr Umar al-Qasim Forces), a Gaza-based paramilitary group that participated in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

    As alleged, on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting in Hamas’s terrorist attack. According to the complaint, Al-Muhtadi’s phone utilized a cell tower located near Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Israel – the location of a horrifying massacre by Hamas and its supporters resulting in the deaths of many civilians, including at least four American citizens.

    In addition, Al-Muhtadi allegedly provided false information in his U.S. visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to Hamas, participation in a terrorist attack, and military training. Al-Muhtadi swore to the accuracy of numerous materially false statements in his visa application with respect to at least his affiliation with DFLP, the NRB, and Hamas, his training, and his involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection records, Al-Muhtadi entered the United States on Sept. 12, 2024.

    Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) and the FBI New Orleans Field Office are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from Israeli authorities, including the State Attorney’s Office of Israel, the Israeli Security Agency, Lahav 433 and the Intelligence and Investigation Department of the Israel National Police, the Israel Defense Forces, and the Israeli National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing, as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Attache Office in Israel. The Louisiana State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided significant assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney John Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana; Trial Attorneys A.J. Dixon, Andrew Sigler and JTF 10-7 Lead Attorney Alicia Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was also provided by Trial Attorney Mark Aziz with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    Al-Muhtadi’s presence in the U.S. was discovered by JTF 10-7. Established in February 2025 by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, JTF 10-7 was created to spearhead the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations into the perpetrators of the heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered by Hamas, including 49 U.S. citizens, and approximately 250 additional people were abducted by Hamas, including 8 U.S. citizens. The task force reinforces the Department’s commitment to degrading and dismantling Hamas, holding Hamas supporters accountable, achieving justice for victims, and fighting terrorist-led antisemitism.

    Updated October 17, 2025

    Source: https://www.justice.gov

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  • New York  Governor Kathy Hochul Awards Nearly $80M to Speed Up Zero-Emission Transit

    New York Governor Kathy Hochul Awards Nearly $80M to Speed Up Zero-Emission Transit

    NY News Funding Fuels Transition to Zero-Emission Fleets for Non-MTA Transit Providers and Supports Reduction of Greenhouse Gases

    New York State is investing nearly $80 million to help seven non-MTA transit systems switch to cleaner buses and build the charging and hydrogen infrastructure they need. Through the Zero-Emission Transit Transition (ZETT) Program—first launched with $100 million in December 2024 and boosted by $20 million in the FY26 budget—funding goes to CDTA, Centro, NFTA, RTS, Suffolk County Transit, Broome County Transit, and Ulster County Area Transit. Projects include new maintenance and training facilities, utility and safety upgrades, two hydrogen-electric buses for CDTA, up to 18 battery-electric buses for NFTA, 10 hydrogen-electric buses for RTS, 12 battery-electric buses for Suffolk County, three for Broome County, and planning for UCAT’s new EV-ready depot. The goal is simple: cut greenhouse gases, improve air quality, and modernize transit across New York.

    Governor Kathy Hochul announced that nearly $80 million in state funding has been awarded to help seven transit providers expand their use of zero-emission vehicles under the state’s Zero-Emission Transit Transition Program (ZETT). The program supports the Governor’s nation-leading agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve New York’s energy goals.

    “New York’s push to transition public transit agencies to zero-emission fleets is a crucial step in achieving our clean energy goals,” Governor Hochul said. “Increasing the number of zero-emission transit vehicles in every corner of our state will deliver cleaner air and healthier communities across New York.”

    New York State State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York continues to make targeted, smart investments in zero emission transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and NYSDOT’s ZETT program is focused on providing clean transportation alternatives for areas across the Empire State. The Zero-Emission Transit Transition (ZETT) program offers local New York transit agencies a unique opportunity to invest in climate-friendly vehicles for their respective fleets, which will help improve the health of local communities while reducing the state’s carbon footprint.”

    Non-MTA transit authorities were encouraged to apply for funding to support the acquisition of zero-emission transit vehicles, construction of facilities and utility infrastructure for charging and fueling, and necessary planning and design phases for zero-emission capital projects.

    Award recipients and their projects:

    • Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) – $17.5 million: This project will involve the planning, design, and construction of a new training and maintenance facility to support a zero-emission fleet that will cover service in Schenectady and Montgomery Counties, and parts of Saratoga County. The project also includes the purchase of two hydrogen-electric/fuel-cell buses.
    • Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) – $17.5 million: This project will consolidate facilities and operations in Oneida County to support the transition to a zero-emission fleet, allowing for potential expansion to Madison and Herkimer Counties. The project also includes the purchase of battery-electric and/or hydrogen-electric/fuel-cell vehicles.
    • Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) – $17.5 million: This project will install two lanes of charging infrastructure at the Cold Spring Bus Garage and fund the purchase of 18 battery-electric buses. Additionally, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine the infrastructure requirements and costs of expanding the zero-emission fleet to the Frontier and Babcock Bus Garages.
    • Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RTS) – $17.5 million: This facility infrastructure project will update the operations building with utility and safety improvements to accommodate hydrogen-electric/fuel-cell buses. It will also fund the purchase of 10 hydrogen-electric/fuel-cell buses.
    • Suffolk County Transit – $5 million: This project provides funding for the purchase of 12 battery-electric buses.
    • Broome County Transit – $3.34 million: This project provides funding for the purchase of three battery-electric buses.
    • Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) – $1.35 million: This project will fund a site selection and design of a new bus facility equipped with electric vehicle charging capabilities.

    First announced in December 2024, the ZETT Program provides $100 million in funding to transit providers across New York State to support the transition of transit fleets to zero-emission propulsion (battery-electric and hydrogen-electric). The FY26 Enacted Budget added $20 million to the fund. Eligible applicants included transit authorities, counties, municipalities, and other entities receiving or eligible to receive New York Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance (STOA). The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and intercity bus operators were not eligible.

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “I’ve always believed that our state’s ambitious climate goals go hand-in-hand with our transportation and infrastructure goals. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is establishing itself at the forefront of clean transportation options that will create a greener future for our state while meeting the transit needs of New Yorkers.”

    Assembly Transportation Committee Chair William Magnarelli said, “It is encouraging to see funding going out to transit authorities to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles. The proper infrastructure is needed for this transition and these awards will help in this effort, especially Central New York.”

    About the State Department of Transportation
    It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State.

    Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers! For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit the DOT website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

    October 14, 2025

    Albany, NY


    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.
    YearUS Climate Spending ($B)China Coal (Mt)China Oil (kb/d)India Coal (Mt)India Oil (kb/d)Russia Coal (Mt)Russia Oil (kb/d)
    20002.01,3003,4003107002706,200
    20032.31,8003,5003407302859,000
    20062.62,3003,8004607303259,800
    200928.93,1004,0005107603209,900
    20123.73,6004,10055077034010,300
    20154.03,8004,10070075039011,000
    201813.33,7004,00074072044011,200
    202120.04,0004,00075069043010,000
    202450.04,8004,3001,0505904309,200

    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).
    • Production Growth:
      • China: Coal +269% (industrial boom); oil +26% (peaking mid-2010s).
      • India: Coal +238% (energy security); oil -16% (declining domestic fields).
      • Russia: Coal +59%; oil +48% (export focus, with post-2022 sanctions dip).

    YearNew York State Spending on Climate ($ billion)New York City Spending on Climate ($ billion)Total Spending ($ billion)Total Coal Production (Mt) China+India+RussiaTotal Oil Production (kb/d) China+multiple+RussiaState Governor (Party)NYC Mayor (Party)
    20000.050.100.15188010300George Pataki (R)Rudy Giuliani (R)
    20020.060.120.18215311765George Pataki (R)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20040.070.150.22275513780George Pataki (R)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20260.080.200.28308514330George Pataki (R)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20080.090.250.34350814995David Paterson (D)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20100.100.300.40421015415David Paterson (D)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20120.150.400.55449015170Andrew Cuomo (D)Michael Bloomberg (R)
    20140.180.500.68469015510Andrew Cuomo (D)Bill de Blasio (D)
    20160.200.600.80488515985Andrew Cuomo (D)Bill de Blasio (D)
    20180.300.801.10488016120Andrew Cuomo (D)Bill de Blasio (D)
    20200.401.001.40503015405Andrew Cuomo (D)Bill de Blasio (D)
    20220.501.502.00554714490Kathy Hochul (D)Eric Adams (D)
    20241.501.803.30628014090Kathy Hochul (D)Eric Adams (D)

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