As Trump and the MAGAgop advance the “guns anywhere, everywhere” policy – even reversing the commonsense gun safety regulations put forward after the Parkland and Sandy Hook massacres, it is notable that Trump made no comment, completely ignored, the latest school shooting. “Donald Trump and MAGA gun extremists are once again making their fear-mongering and guns everywhere agenda a big part of the 2026 elections. This is a dangerous threat we must take seriously,” writes Everytown.
When the Supreme Court overturned New York State’s century-old gun control law, Governor Kathy Hochul immediately passed legislation to protect New Yorkers while falling within SCOTUS’ new limits.
And while her Republican challenger, Nassau County Bruce Blakeman, has opposed her gun safety legislation and hijacked her success in reducing violent crime and runs on a “public safety, anti-crime” platform, it is Governor Hochul who can claim success in record drops in crime statewide, largely due to Biden-era federal and state funding into prevention programs. She has also built a coalition of states to address the illegal guns that come from “guns-everywhere” permissive states like Florida, and now, she is joining a coalition of governors to urge the Supreme Court to uphold commonsense gun safety laws.
Here’s what’s at stake, according to Everytown:
Assault weapons bans work.When the federal assault weapons ban was in place between 1994 and 2004, it was effective in preventing public mass shootings and reducing the number of fatalities and injuries when these tragedies occurred.
Had it remained in effect from 2005 to 2022, research shows that we could have prevented 38 mass shootings.
11 states and Washington, D.C. have already banned these military–style weapons. And six federal appeals courts have upheld bans on assault weapons and large–capacity magazines as constitutional.
But now, the Supreme Court will decide whether states have the right to ban assault weapons.On December 2, 2026, the justices will hear arguments in Viramontes v. Cook County, a Second Amendment challenge to bans on assault weapons in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois.
Note: there is no “gun” or “guns” in the Constitution, not even the hallowed Second Amendment, which refers to “well-regulated” “militia” in order to protect the state and “firearms” when “firearm” referred to any weapon carried on the body and the most advanced musket was a single ball. The Founders could hardly have imagined semi-automatic pistols and machine gun-like rifles that could massacre dozens in seconds. – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
Governor Hochul today joined 10 fellow governors in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, urging the Court to uphold state and local assault weapons restrictions and preserve states’ constitutional authority to protect their residents from gun violence. Filed through GovAct’s Safer Communities Initiative, the brief argues that state-level assault weapons laws are both constitutional and save lives. Furthermore, the brief lays out the costs that states must bear in the wake of mass shootings — ranging from hospital costs to victim services.
“Combating gun violence is personal to me. Four years ago, I stood with neighbors in my hometown of Buffalo after a hate-fueled gunman used an assault weapon to terrorize innocent New Yorkers. It is unconscionable that our highest court would consider striking down a law designed to keep communities safe from this kind of horror,” Governor Hochul said.“Today, I am joining governors from across the country to remind the Supreme Court of the lives at stake if they choose to dismantle our assault weapons ban, and to fight for our right to protect against gun violence.”
The cases before the Court challenge laws in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois that regulate certain semiautomatic assault weapons, including AR-15-style rifles equipped with features that increase lethality. A ruling striking down these protections could invalidate lifesaving laws across the country and block states from enacting commonsense public safety measures moving forward.
Linda Beigel Schulman, who became a gun safety activist after losing her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre: “Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear?”
The amicus brief highlights research demonstrating that assault weapons restrictions can reduce the lives lost to gun violence. One recent study found that counties in states with assault weapons restrictions experienced 41 percent fewer mass-shooting fatalities than counties in states without such protections. Research consistently shows mass shootings involving assault weapons are significantly deadlier than those involving other firearms, leading to more innocent lives lost and families forever changed.
The brief draws on Governors’ firsthand experiences responding to devastating mass shootings. They write: “In the wake of assault-weapon mass shootings, members of the Governors Safer Communities Initiative have stood with grieving families, exhausted first responders, and community members working to rebuild. The safety of our residents is our obligation, and it is at stake.”
The Governors argue that the Constitution has long recognized states’ authority to protect public health and safety, and that elected state leaders must retain the flexibility to enact policies tailored to their communities’ needs.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the consolidated cases on December 2, 2026. The full amicus brief is available here.
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has committed $4 billion to public safety initiatives including more than $1 billion in gun violence prevention. These investments have contributed to a 67 percent reduction in shooting incidents involving injury over the past five years in the 28 communities participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative.
Governor Hochul has also spearheaded significant changes to state firearms laws to help keep New Yorkers safe including: expanding New York’s partnership with 11 other states to intercept weapons along the I-95 corridor, enhancing Red Flag Laws to keep guns away from individuals who are a risk to themselves and others, strengthening New York’s concealed carry laws in response to the Supreme Court’s reckless Bruen decision, and taking action in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks that would make sweeping and dangerous changes to federal firearms regulations.
This year, Governor Hochul sustained record-level investments in prevention, intervention and enforcement, including addressing emerging threats such as 3-D printed guns and DIY machine guns. Last week, Governor Hochul signed two additional commonsense gun safety laws to expand firearm safe storage requirements and prevent individuals from purchasing ammunition when they are legally prohibited from purchasing guns.
S.9508/A.5175A Requires Internet-Connected Baby Monitors to Include Safety Features and Clear Warning Labels
S.9051B/A.10379C Bans Unsafe AI Chatbot Features for Minors, Including Bots that Pretend to Be Human, Encourage Self Harm or Engage in Inappropriate Conversations with Kids
Builds on Governor Hochul’s Nation-Leading Record on Putting Guardrails on AI, Including First in the Nation AI Companion Safeguards, the RAISE Act, the Ban on AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Material, Safe by Design and Safe for Kids Acts
Governor Kathy Hochul signed two bills to protect New York’s kids from the growing risks of artificial intelligence chatbots and internet-connected baby monitors in their homes, nurseries and playrooms. Together these laws build on the Governor’s efforts to make New York a national leader in keeping kids safe online and protecting New Yorkers from the threats of new technology and artificial intelligence.
“As artificial intelligence advances at a rapid pace, there have been too many tragic incidents that should have been prevented, and as New York’s mom Governor, I’m taking action,” Governor Hochul said. “No company should be peddling chatbots to kids encouraging self-harm or pretending to be their friend or more. And no new parent should have to worry that predatory hackers are spying on their new family through their baby monitors. New York is sending a clear message: if you want to do business in our state, you need to put the safety of our kids first.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said,“I was proud to work with Governor Hochul, Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Bores, and Common Sense Media to protect our children from the potential harms of AI chatbots. We have seen too many horror stories of chatbots hurting the health of our children, and this new law sets clear legal parameters to prevent that harm and keep kids safe. My office will continue working with partners at all levels of government to address the threats posed by this technology, while also clearing the way for safe, responsible innovation. New York’s eye is on the ball—and we will not hesitate to defend New Yorkers with the full force of the law.”
S.9508/A.5175A requires internet-connected baby monitors sold in New York to include security features that block strangers from watching or listening in, along with a clear warning label.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Baby monitors are meant to help parents keep an eye on their newborn, not to let prying eyes into our homes. These new technologies can be helpful, but they pose real cybersecurity risks. My bill mandates privacy features that prevent strangers from seeing or hearing what’s happening in a child’s room, and ensures devices have clear warning labels so families know how those features work. That way, parents can sleep soundly knowing they and their kids are safe. Thanks to Governor Hochul for her partnership on this effort.”
Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “A baby monitor should keep watch for parents, not open the door for hackers and strangers. Now, every internet connected baby monitor sold in New York must be built to keep intruders out and clearly labeled so families know how to stay safe. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation into law and Senator Gounardes, my Senate sponsor, for his partnership in protecting New York families.”
Baby monitors can be an open door into the home. When security researchers at Rapid7 tested nine internet-connected baby monitors from eight companies, eight monitors received an “F” for security and one received a “D”. This new law prohibits the sale of new baby monitors that broadcast audio or video over the internet unless they include security features that prevent strangers from seeing or hearing what is happening in the child’s room. Monitors must also carry a clear, easy-to-read warning label explaining that the device connects to the internet and that families should use its security features. The law will take effect 90 days after signing.
S.9051B/A.10379C prohibits companies that utilize AI chatbot features from offering unsafe features to minors, including chatbots that pretend to be human, build emotional dependency, encourage self-harm or engage in sexually explicit conversations.
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “We have a responsibility to keep children safe online. For too long, AI companies have profited from rolling out chatbots to underage consumers. These chatbots have proven to be dangerous for children—from instances of encouraging self-harm to coaching minors on how to harm others. We passed S9051B/A10379C alongside Assemblymember Bores to put real guardrails on how chatbots talk to children. Thank you to Common Sense Media, impacted families, and the coalition that relentlessly advocated for this bill to be passed. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership in signing this bill and her commitment to making New York a leader in responsible AI.”
Assemblymember Alex Bores said, “For everyone wondering whether the public can have any say in determining how AI impacts us, New York again has an answer: Absolutely. New York now has the strongest law in the country protecting children from predatory AI algorithms, raising the floor yet again when it comes to common sense regulation — and doing so despite aggressive industry opposition. Our state’s leadership is a reminder to the rest of the country that AI happening to us — not for us — is not an inevitability. It’s a choice.”
AI Chatbots and connected devices have taken a significant role in our homes and lives faster than safety protections can keep up. According to Common Sense Media, most teens are already using AI companions. Seventy-two percent of teens have used an AI companion once, and 52% are regular users who interact with them at least a few times a month. AI chatbots have been linked to dependency, isolation, and in some cases, engaged in sexually explicit conversations and even have allegedly encouraged teens to take their own lives.
Building on the Governor’s first in the nation AI Companion safeguards, this legislation requires AI chatbots block harmful features if offered to kids. In the coming months, companies may not offer the following features to users that are under 18, or to any user unless the company has first confirmed the user is not a minor:
Pretending to be a real person, to be alive or to have human emotions
Claiming a personal, romantic, professional or authority-figure relationship with a child
Unprompted emotional questions, and using a child’s private health or personal information from earlier conversations
Promoting or helping with suicide, self harm, eating disorders or drug and alcohol use
Encouraging kids to keep secrets, isolate themselves or avoid asking parents, trusted adults or professionals for help
Any sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material
The law also requires companies to conduct age verification and offer more than one way to verify age, including at least one option that does not depend solely on a government ID. It also requires that age information be deleted after it is used. Violations would allow the attorney general to seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation along with damages, restitution, the destruction of unlawfully collected data or any AI models trained on it, and any other appropriate injunctive relief. Additionally the law requires the attorney general to maintain a public website where New Yorkers can file complaints.
Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said,“New York just made history by signing into law the strongest kids’ AI safety bill in the country. AI companies offer chatbots with features that are dangerous, and even deadly, for kids and teens. That is not innovation; it is reckless endangerment of our children. Now, those harmful features will be outlawed in New York. This new law is a model for the country, and we applaud Governor Hochul for her leadership, and we thank Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Bores and Attorney General James, for pushing this measure forward. And we are especially grateful to the many parents, like Maria and Matt Raine and others, for joining us to meet with lawmakers to advocate for this critical bill.”
New York State United Teachers Teachers President Melinda Person said, “Governor Hochul continues to lead the way in protecting our kids from harmful technology. From creating distraction-free schools to taking on addictive social media algorithms, she has listened to parents and educators and taken bold action to put kids first. Now, she’s confronting the risks posed by AI chatbots. Our kids deserve the chance to learn, grow and build real human connections without technology getting in the way. I applaud Governor Hochul for continuing to stand up to Big Tech and put the well-being of our children first.”
Governor Hochul’s Record on Responsible AI
This announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis statewide and help keep kids safe online. This work has established New York as a global leader in securing a safer online world for children, and as of this year New York is ranked number one in the U.S. for laws that keep kids safe online. Initiatives include:
The SAFE for Kids Act, which restricts addictive features of social media for kids, and established an important national precedent about age verification.
The Child Data Protection Act that prevents online operators from collecting and monetizing children’s data without informed consent.
The RAISE Act, a nation-leading standard for AI transparency and safety for powerful frontier AI models.
AI Companion legislation which set first-in-the-nation safeguards, diverting user conversations about self-harm to mental health resources and interrupting unhealthy addictive behaviors.
The Governor also outlawed AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
The Unplug and Play Agenda which helps encourage healthy socialization and child development by funding social infrastructure, physical sites like playgrounds, community centers, and pools, and expanded youth programming.
New York’s Distraction Free Learning Policy, requiring statewide, bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools, which is already resulting in greater academic achievement, improved student wellbeing, and safer school environments for students.
The Social Media Warning Labels bill that will require social media companies to post warnings about the platform’s potential impact on mental health.
The Safe by Design Act, which will protect kids from predatory behavior online and defaults them to the highest privacy settings.
Teen Mental Health First Aid training that equips youth with skills to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges and know how to ask for help.
Youth Safe Spaces, where trusted community organizations provide supportive, non-judgmental environments where young people can access mental wellness resources, foster positive peer relationships, and engage in non-clinical activities.
The Power Down, Speak Up public awareness campaign launched by the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) that helps to empower young people statewide to recognize and respond to online abuse while equipping parents, educators, and law enforcement with tools to help keep youth safe online.
OPDV’s Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) Training, which has already trained more than 4,000 youth, parents, educators, and law enforcement professionals on preventing and responding to online abuse.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed three pieces of legislation to strengthen protections for victims and survivors of violence and exploitation across New York. The new laws will strengthen privacy protections for victims whose intimate images have been nonconsensually shared, create penalties for hotels and motels that do not display required information on services for human trafficking survivors and ensure domestic violence survivors are notified before the confidentiality protections on their voter registration records expires.
“Protecting victims of domestic violence has always been deeply personal to me,” Governor Hochul said. “Every New Yorker deserves to live a life free from fear, and these new laws will help to protect that right. As Governor, I will never stop fighting to support survivors and to ensure they have the tools they need to rebuild their lives.”
Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “New York has long been a leader in protecting the rights of all victims and survivors of crime. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we continue to expand access to services, support and compensation to help ensure that individuals can obtain the help they need to be safe, heal and thrive.”
S.5041/A.6338 protects people whose intimate photos or videos have been illegally, nonconsensually shared by allowing them to participate in New York State’s Address Confidentiality Program. This program helps people who have moved keep their new home address private by allowing them to use a substitute mailing address.
State Senator Luis Sepúlveda said,“This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that victims of revenge porn and the unlawful dissemination of their intimate images have access to the protections and support they deserve. No one should have to choose between seeking justice and protecting their personal safety and privacy. By expanding eligibility for New York’s Address Confidentiality Program, we are helping ensure that survivors can navigate the legal process without fear that their location will be exposed.I want to thank Governor Hochul for passing this bill and committing to protecting survivors, holding individuals accountable, and ensuring that every New Yorker can seek help with greater confidence and security.”
Assemblymember Latrice Walker said,“Thank you to my colleagues and to Gov. Hochul for their support of my bill (A.6338), which allows people who find themselves in Family Court to participate in New York State’s Address Confidentiality Program. This will allow people to keep their new home addresses private and help to prevent further abuse or victimization. The bills signed into law today also provide critical protections to victims of human trafficking, and to domestic violence survivors who want to safely participate in the electoral process.”
S.9341A/A.8939A strengthens enforcement of existing requirements for hotels, motels and other lodging facilities to display information about services available to victims of human trafficking. This legislation establishes civil penalties for locations that fail to comply with these requirements.
State Senator Jessica Scarella-Spanton said, “As legislators, we have a duty to ensure that New York State’s laws prioritize and heighten the safety of victims and survivors of violence. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that profits off the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people, and too often hotels and motels serve as hubs for this activity. Although New York State mandates that hotels post information on services for these victims, not every establishment is in compliance with this mandate. This legislation places penalties on these facilities that are in noncompliance with this law, to ensure that this information is as accessible to people who need it as possible. Help and resources are available, and hotels must make this information known. I am grateful to have worked with Assemblywoman Paulin on this, and I am glad that the Governor is signing it into law.”
Assemblymember Amy Paulin said,”Human trafficking festers in the shadows, and every opportunity we have to connect victims with life-saving resources is vital. These information cards, strategically placed in the rooms of lodging facilities, empower victims by providing them with the essential information they need to seek help and escape exploitation. This legislation ensures that lodging facilities comply with the law’s requirements and actively contribute to the fight against human trafficking. I extend my gratitude to Governor Hochul for her signature on this legislation and her unwavering leadership in safeguarding survivors of exploitation throughout New York.”
S.9671A/A.10960A requires the New York State Board of Elections (BOE) to notify domestic violence survivors that their voter registration information confidentiality is about to expire. Under existing law, eligible survivors can request that their voter registration information be kept private for four years to prevent an abuser from using public records to locate them. Under the new law, BOE must mail survivors a notice at least six months before those protections expire, including instructions for how to renew them. This builds on previous legislation Governor Hochul signed in 2021, allowing domestic violence survivors to request confidentiality for their voter registration records directly from BOE instead of a formerly mandated court order.
State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “We must use every tool possible to ensure that survivors of domestic violence remain safe and can feel secure in their lives. Requiring the State Board of Elections to notify survivors six months before their confidential voter registration status expires will help prevent a lapse in this critical layer of protection. I’m proud to sponsor legislation to strengthen this important safeguard, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law.”
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said,”Confidentiality is paramount for survivors escaping domestic violence. An abuser’s threatening tactics often do not end when a person leaves, and in too many cases, survivors continue to be subjected to stalking and harassment long after they have fled. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to help survivors keep their address information confidential. By filing a simple request with their local Board of Elections, survivors will now be able to continue to protect their privacy and their safety.”
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has advanced significant measures to protect victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The Governor signed legislation prohibiting discrimination against domestic violence survivors in housing and other areas of daily life, expanded access to orders of protection for family and household members through Melanie’s Law and strengthened efforts to connect human trafficking victims with services.
The Governor’s record investments in this work also includes $100 million in state funding to support victim assistance programs, and a $23 million investment in the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative to strengthen the law enforcement response to domestic violence and expand services for survivors.
New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Connie Neal said, “Survivors of domestic violence deserve policies that promote safety, dignity, and access to support. These bills represent meaningful progress for survivors and reflect an important commitment to strengthening protections for those impacted by domestic violence. We applaud the Governor’s decision to sign this legislation and recognize the difference it will make in the lives of countless New Yorkers.”
New York Cyber Abuse Task Force Co-Chair Lindsey Song, Esq said,“Survivors of image-based abuse often face ongoing threats, harassment, and even physical confrontations and assaults from current or former abusers or those who have seen their nonconsensual content online. We commend the passage of S. 5041/ A. 6338 which will provide much-needed address protection for survivors of image-based abuse so they may retain privacy and safety in their home address information.”
Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Harris Kluger said,“No survivor should be put at risk because their address is exposed, a privacy protection expires without warning, or information about available help is missing when they need it most. Survivors already shoulder the immense burden of escaping abuse and rebuilding their lives. Our institutions have a responsibility to remove barriers to safety and uphold the protections survivors rely on. Sanctuary for Families thanks Governor Hochul and the legislative sponsors for advancing that responsibility through concrete action.”
New Yorkers can visit OVS Connect to locate a victim assistance program or access the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline 24/7 by calling 800-942-6906, texting 844-997-2121, or chatting online at opdv.ny.gov.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came to Nassau County, Long Island, in support of Congressman Tom Suozzi’s reelection – the first of two rallies held on October 24, the first day of early voting – to energize those most responsible for getting out the vote in a district that spans three counties and is one of the most diverse in the country.
Jeffries, who is in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats win the majority, said, Suozzi will “bring accountability in face of widespread corruption – not for partisan reasons but for patriotic reasons… We deserve a Congress that functions as separate, co-equal, check -and-balance of an out-of-control executive branch. Tom Suozzi believes in a Congress that is of, by, for and always fighting for the American people. He stands for exactly what Democrats have always worked for – working class, middle class, older folks, the party of FDR, JFK, Obama, a commonsense-gets-stuff-done Democrat.”
With a reputation as a “problem solver,” a “consensus builder,” and someone who works across the aisle, Suozzi, laid out why America has become so dangerously divided and government so dysfunctional, beginning with “Trump is a master pick pocket – the great distractor and divider” – who distracts with such outrages as tearing down the East Wing and prosecuting a three-time Olympian for the Reflecting Pool, to distract from Americans’ real problems over affordability, anger over unconstitutional mass deportations, an illegal and unending war.
Congress has been AWOL – paralyzed from taking any action – which Suozzi attributes largely to the fact that out of 435 seats in the House, 400 are “safe” – protected by gerrymandering and redistricting – so those members only have to worry about winning their primary and do not have to listen or be responsive to their constituents.
Suozzi, who represents New York’s Third Congressional District, is in one of the 35 seats that are not safe (the district elected George Santos and in 2024, went for Trump by 19,000 votes). “My seat is competitive. I have to work hard.” He needs to win the vast majority of Democrats, a majority of independents and some portion of Republicans. “So have to listen. It makes me a better representative.z’ As a result, he has earned a well-deserved reputation for being responsive to a constituency that is one o f the most diverse in the country.
Second is social media which rewards extremism. “Memes, attacks generate more views than small dollar donations, pitting us against each other.”
Third is 24/7 cable news which dominate: Fox (4.5 million viewers to most watched program) vs. CNN and MSNOW which get 2 million – getting a completely different view – a siloing of information and self-selected “facts” , “telling us why we stink.” in order to sell products like prescription drugs and My Pillow,
Fourth are the foreign adversaries – Russia, China, North Korea, Iran – who believe the way to defeat America is from within – “that our weakness is our diversity, our freedom, our democracy…There are more fake bots on twitter than real people – filling heads with messages to make us fight each other.”
“How will we find common ground to move forward and solve problems? Make Hakeem Jeffries our Speaker and elect to Congress those who believe in public service to serve, not being a lackey, those who want to rebuild the middle class. We have real problems – affordability, immigration, climate change, AI, whether we have munitions left in the stockpile. We need leaders who will work together.
“We always have had problems but there were always leaders who would emerge to solve problems. We have had concentrated wealth, and a guy from Oyster Bay broke up the trusts; in the Depression, we had FDR who created Social Security and the New Deal; when people couldn’t afford health insurance we had LBJ who created Medicare, Medicaid and Obama who created the Affordable Care Act. Because so many were left out, we had leaders –LBJ, Clinton and Obama – advocating for civil rights and fixing America’s original sin. Even Nixon – when rivers were on fire and smokestacks belching pollution, he created the EPA and signed the Clean Air and Water Acts. Let’s work together to solve problems – that’s what we have to get back to.”
Suozzi added, “Some are insulated but others are working hard but can’t make it – the minimum wage is still $7.25 in many places, but even at $10, that’s $20,000 a year, $20 is $40,000 a year. How can you buy a home, educate your children, buy health insurance or retire without being scared on that? No wonder we are pissed off. Let’s work together to solve problems.
“Now, with all the problems, everyone is just fighting, and the people are left out.
“How do we get people to work together to address climate change, immigration, AI, restore the American Dream for everyone, whether left and progressive or right and conservative, that if you work hard, play by the rules, you should be able to buy a house, raise a family, afford health insurance and retire without being scared. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
“I want to win to work on affordability, rebuild middle class, help immigrants, climate change, and determine if we have enough munitions, work together on AI, deal with tariffs, war, national debt ($40 trillion).”
[Trump added $2 trillion to the national debt in just the first year. Acr”oss both of his administrations, Trump is responsible for adding $11.6 trillion in national debt -amounting to 28% of the entire $40+ trillion national debt accumulated throughout U.S. history. But Republicans only seem to care about the national debt when Democrats are in the White House, in order to block spending on any programs to benefit families and workers and in this term, are rubberstamping Trump’s every whim.]
“I want to win to help address these problems and also for selfish reason- so I can tell Trump, Vance, Johnson to shove it….”
It was just the first of two rallies Suozzi held that day – the second at Gold Coast Studios, the same venue where JD Vance came ostensibly to deliver a speech about “affordability,” but instead spent 25 minutes bashing Suozzi as “the worst Congressman in the USA.”
That rally was distinguished by how so many of New York’s 3rd Congressional District’s diverse communities and groups were represented – labor, gun-safety activists, Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Italians, Irish, Jewish.
Linda Beigel Schulman, who became a gun safety activist after losing her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre: “Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear? Tom Suozzi will do that.”
Linda Beigel Schulman, who lost her son, Scott, in the Parkville massacre, said Suozzi reached out immediately to ask what he could do to help, and has supported gun safety (“not gun control”) that could make a difference ever since. “I am assured you will reach across the aisle to make sure gun safety is a priority. Are we entitled to be safe, live without fear? Tom Suozzi will do that.”
Matthew Aracich, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Long Island Building Trades Council) said, “My first contact to go to is Suozzi. He’s there to help us – no hesitation – whether it’s labor, healthcare, vets. If you want someone who will act on your behalf, has bipartisan support, communicates with everyone, Tom is your man.”
MinSun Kim founder and president of the Long Island Conservatory, founder and president of the MOKAH, Museum of Korean American Heritage and former president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) said, “He is one of few politicians can trust. He was the first politician to protect us from Asian hate crimes, and passed a resolution in Congress.”
Girish Patel, a prominent Indian-American community leader, declared, “Suozzi is the real deal. I’ve known him for 20 years. He works with all communities. He is the only leader who has always stood by our community.”
Mineola Mayor Paul Perola, noting that Nassau County has 64 villages, “As former mayor, Suozzi gets it – water, infrastructure, education, public safety. He is endorsed across political spectrum.” But Perola also pointed to his own experience as an immigrant. “Suozzi is the son of immigrants. He understands that the American Dream has to be held well and alive for everyone. Send someone who understands us back to Congress.“
Jon Kaiman, North Hempstead’s former supervisor and former Suozzi rival, who recently became Suozzi’s chief of staff, said “2 plus 2 plus 50 makes a million. You are here for all the people you represent – family, community, country. We show up here because we believe in something beyond ourself. To make world a better place, we need people who can persevere, stand up to powerful forces, be here because something deeper within them to move forwards. The country is falling apart, but we’re here because we have hope [ it can be put back on track].”
Suozzi has backed up his campaign rhetoric with actual plan. This is from his website:
Tom Suozzi’s Five-Point “American Affordability Plan”
Five practical ways to cut everyday costs, reduce waste, grow our economy, and help Americans keep more of what they earn.
Cut Irresponsible Tariffs, Bring Jobs Home
Get rid of irresponsible tariffs that are driving up prices on groceries, cars, building materials, and everyday goods — while fighting for trade deals that bring manufacturing jobs back to America.
Support the Stop Global Tariffs Act as a co-sponsor, which would roll back Trump’s tariff authority, refund businesses that paid them, and prevent them from coming back.
As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, work to ensure that any renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement protects American interests while maintaining strong relationships with our allies.
Phase out of the Iran War, Keep America Safe
Stop pouring taxpayer money into a reckless war. Focus on smart diplomacy, modern defense spending that addresses today’s threats, and stronger alliances that share the cost of keeping us safe.
Exercise congressional oversight and reinforce the Constitution’s limits on a president’s ability to use our military to enter into conflict without congressional authorization.
Pay Down the Debt, Lower Your Interest Rates
Rein in federal spending so the government pays less in interest, reducing pressure on interest rates that affect mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt.
Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Fiscal Stability Framework:
Fiscal Commission Act, which creates a bipartisan commission focused on reducing the debt.
House Resolution, which would reduce the federal deficit to 3% from the current 6%, so we can fully fund safety-net programs while reducing wasteful spending.
Sustainable Budget Act, which would establish a bipartisan process aimed at putting the federal budget on a sustainable long-term path.
As a co-author, will fight to enact the bipartisan First-Time Homebuyers Affordability Act, which gives more first-time, low-income, and middle-income buyers access to low-interest mortgages.
Unlock More Energy, Lower Your Bills
Cut red tape so we can build energy projects faster — clean energy, natural gas, nuclear, transmission, and storage — to produce more energy, lower costs, and build a cleaner future.
Enact the Problem Solvers Caucus’ Permitting Framework to make it easier to build energy projects and boost production
Cutting red tape for linear infrastructure projects
Meeting growing energy demand across sectors
Reforming outdated and duplicative NEPA requirements
Co-sponsor the Energy Bills Relief Act, which restores clean energy tax credits, provides incentives for wind and solar, promotes efficiency, and cracks down on price gouging.
Make Healthcare Affordable — and Humane
Protect and strengthen the tax credits that lower your health insurance premiums, invest in prevention and primary care, and pass the WISH Act to make long-term care more affordable so seniors can stay in their homes.
Pass the Bipartisan HOPE Act, authored by Suozzi, which would extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years while adding income limits and safeguards against fraud.
Enact the bipartisan WISH Act, authored by Suozzi, which would help seniors afford the care they need as they age.
Co-authored the bipartisan Supporting Newborn Parents Act, which would give new parents up to a $2,000 baby bonus.
“I will fight for you against the extremists. From groceries to gas to healthcare, everything is too expensive. We must end irresponsible tariffs and resist reckless wars that drive up costs, strengthen Medicare, and address rising utility bills. For me, it’s never been about party. It’s about working for Long Island and Queens to make life more affordable,” Congressman Tom Suozzi stated.
We tend to take for granted when elected leaders are effective in doing the business for the people, when they bring the values and mission of “public service,” and tend to gripe over things like the price of eggs, or the frustration of not solving every pet problem, or the anger at a compromise or a less-than-perfect candidate.
Do not make that mistake in the New York State governor’s race. New Yorkers may well take for granted all that Kathy Hochul has done, what she stands for, and what she is trying to accomplish as Governor – on women’s reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, health care, child care and pre-K, climate change and clean, renewable energy, affordable housing, worker training and jobs creation, promoting economic development through such programs as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Forward NY, building infrastructure and mass transit and alternative transportation (biking and hiking trails, safe sidewalks), promoting health and wellness, our parks and recreation, standing up for due process and the rule of law and criminal justice (yes, cashless bail). Much of it comes under her “Affordability Agenda” – actual initiatives to bring the cost of living more in line with quality of life.
And do not over-estimate Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenger, who has little good to show for his five years as Nassau County Executive – standing up a secretive private militia (when he boasts about Nassau being the safest county of its size he is citing the achievement of his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran), banning wearing masks in public (but not ICE), banning transgender individuals from playing girls’ sports. He has demonstrated his opposition to everything, including New York State’s Climate Agenda, promising to allow fracking. He opposed Hochul’s gun reforms (after the Supreme Court overturned the state’s century-old gun control law) and said he wanted to ease access to gun permits, even allowing guns in synagogues. And he challenged her congestion pricing and affordable housing plans without offering any compromise.
There is nothing that Blakeman does that isn’t infused with partisanship and politics – he is the very opposite of a “public servant” – and like Trump, that goes to who he appoints to actually do the work of governing.
You might say that the reason Blakeman has little to show as Nassau County Executive is because he has been running for Governor since the day after last year’s reelection – not to mention never publishing his schedule that shows when he is out of town campaigning, or mining for dollars. But I have followed his activities since he first came to office in 2021 – in the midst of a new outbreak of coronavirus, he declared COVID-19 ended and the county back in business. Except for photo ops, his press conferences have mostly been about his opposition to whatever Governor Hochul and the Democratic-led State Legislature has done, while actively blocking County Democrats from having any input whatsoever.
Instead, you have this from Newsday on October 23, the day before Early Voting starts: “Nassau ‘ignored’ a dangerous intersection. Now it could be on the hook for tens of millions. Experts say the crash that seriously injured two teens highlights how a failure to improve roadways can leave taxpayers liable for damages and legal bills.”
It is so Orwellian that Blakeman’s campaign is based solely on accusing Hochul of only attacking him for being a Trump puppet rather than run on her record. But he is the one without a record to run on – only tired slogans (“public safety”; “reduce taxes”). Well, he is specific on one point: he promises to cut Medicaid in half. But he has never stood up for New York over Trump’s tariffs, his anti-Canadian policies, his recission of millions of dollars of appropriated funds for everything from counter-terrorism programs to the Hudson Gateway Tunnel to off-shore wind projects already underway.
Kathy Hochul can point to scores of achievements that tick down her “Affordability” agenda. Importantly, she has shown she appreciates the difference between economic development that is sustainable and economic development that exploits – demonstrated in her nation-leading moratorium on data centers and call for a task force to determine how AI should be regulated.
Another consideration is who the Governor will appoint to head agencies and lead initiatives – because when you look at the list of what Governor Hochul has initiated, it is clear that she has a team that knows what they are doing.
We have seen the impact of that with Trump who only appoints loyalists but dismisses actual public-spirited experts.
But I am betting that New Yorkers have no clue what Hochul has accomplished so it is too easy for Blakeman to assert this lie that New Yorkers are “miserable and suffering” – which feeds into voters’ (especially young voters’) cynicism.
So here’s a sampling of press reports just over the last several weeks – a shorthand for what Governor Hochul has accomplished and focused on – jobs creation, economic development, downtown revitalization, environmental protection, climate action and clean renewable energy, universal child care, affordable housing and an affordability agenda, infrastructure, mass transit:
CUTTING RED TAPE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL UNVEILS SECOND WAVE OF REGULATORY REFORMS UNDER ‘EXPRESS NY’ INITIATIVE –
75 Actions Across 17 Agencies Will Increase Access to Child Care and other Vital Services, Support Small Businesses, Cut Excessive Red Tape and Modernize State Operations; More Than 120 Regulatory Reforms Now Advanced Through EXPRESS NY; That Will Save New Yorkers 5 Million Hours of Time and Tens of Millions of Dollars; Reforms Reflect Most Ambitious Effort in New York History to Make State Operations More Effective
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION TO MAKE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP A REALITY – Awards for Governor’s Groundbreaking MOVE-IN NY Program Will Bring Modern, Affordable Factory-Built Homes to Long Island, North Country and Finger Lakes; Prefabricated Starter Homes Constructed in a Fraction of the Time at Nearly Half the Cost
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $500 MILLION IN GRANTS TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS STATEWIDE – Delivers First Installment of the Governor’s $3.75 Billion Clean Water Investment Plan; Projected To Save Local Ratepayers an Estimated $1 Billion and Create 22,400 Jobs Across the State
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND MAYOR MAMDANI UNVEIL PHASE TWO OF 2-K EXPANSION, BRINGING TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATS TO 12,000 CITYWIDE – Beginning in Fall 2027, Program Will Serve All of Staten Island and Every School District in the Bronx; Expansion Made Possible by $1.2 Billion Investment from Governor Hochul, Putting New York on a Path to Universal Child Care
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF $32.5 MILLION TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING ACROSS NEW YORK STATE REGIONS – 34 Healthcare Facilities Selected for Competitive Grants to Address Community-Specific Workforce Shortages in Diverse Healthcare Disciplines; Five-Year Awards Will Help Facilities Train and Retain Qualified Healthcare Professionals in High-Need Communities
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $50 MILLION TO PRESERVE NEW YORK FARMLAND – More than $48 Million Awarded to 43 Farms to Protect More than 16,000 Acres of Agricultural Land, $1 Million to Support Building Staff Capacity within New York’s Land Trusts; Record Level of Funding Dedicated to the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants (FPIG) Program in Round 20 with a Boost Through the Environmental Bond Act, Applications Still Being Accepted; State’s Farmland Protection Program Celebrating its 30th Year in Supporting New York’s Farmers; Full List of Projects Awarded in the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson, and Western New York RegionsHere
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES PHOENIX TAILINGS TO ESTABLISH $375 MILLION COMMERCIAL SCALE RARE EARTH SEPARATION FACILITY IN MONROE COUNTY – Cutting-Edge Company Will Occupy 500,000-Square-Foot Location in Eastman Business Park; Commits to Creating At Least 90 New Jobs; New York State’s $3 Million Investment Helps Rebuild America’s Rare Earth Industrial Base, Promotes Cleaner Production Methods and Boosts National Security
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LARGEST LONG ISLAND DEC LAND ACQUISITION IN HISTORY – Nearly 750 Acres Surrounding Former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant Property In Suffolk County; Property Protects Globally Rare Pine Barrens Ecosystems, Safeguards Long Island’s Sole Source Aquifer, and Expands Public Recreational Access
KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE: GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS COMMONSENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION TO REDUCE FIREARM INJURIES AND DEATHS – S.7236/A.7983 Prevents the Purchase of Ammunition from Individuals Prohibited from Owning Firearms; A.1962-B/S.9629, Known as ‘Francesco’s Law,’ Expands Safe Storage Requirements To Prevent Minors From Accessing Unsecured Firearms; Legislation Signed into Law at the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Annual Benefit Dinner on the on Fifth Anniversary of 17-Year-Old Francesco’s Death; Governor Hochul Honored with the Allard K. Lowenstein Award for Public Service
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING OF NIAGARA POWER TRANSFORMER’S MORE THAN $71 MILLION EXPANSION TO SUPPORT GRID MODERNIZATION – Century-Old Erie County Manufacturer Expands To Increase Capacity by 50 Percent, Directly Supporting Nearly 220 Jobs; Project Supported by $4.5 Million in NYPA Funding and Up to Nearly $5 Million in Performance Based Tax Credits through ESD and DEC Programs
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $200 MILLION TO HELP COMMUNITIES MODERNIZE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT OVERBURDENING RATEPAYERS – Low-Cost Financing and Grants Will Support Critical Drinking Water, Stormwater and Wastewater Projects Across New York; Funding Will Advance Projects That Protect Public Health, Strengthen Communities and Reduce Future Risks
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF AI JOBS INSTITUTE TO PREPARE NEW YORKERS FOR JOBS OF THE FUTURE – New AI Workforce Hub, Led by Pursuit, in Long Island City Will Train 40,000 New Yorkers by 2032 and Build Pathways Into AI-Enabled Careers; $3.06 Million Empire State Development Investment Supports $10 Million New Queens Training Hub; Complements Governor’s FutureWorks Commission, Developing Recommendations To Address AI’s Impact on the Workforce
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 1.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS CAN RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP COVER HOME HEATING COSTS – New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Opens on November 2; Many Eligible New Yorkers Will Receive HEAP Financial Assistance Automatically; All Other Eligible New Yorkers Can Apply atny.gov/HEAPStarting November 2; Trump’s War in Iran Keeps Driving Up Fuel and Heating Costs, With Heating Oil Prices Up 67% and Kerosene Up 50% Compared to Last Year; In Response to Rising Fuel Costs, Governor Hochul Increased Heat Assistance For New Yorkers Who Rely on Oil, Kerosene and Other Fuel Types Delivered to Their Home
SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEARLY $36 MILLION TO KEEP REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS 19 PERCENT DECLINE IN SHOOTINGS –Fewest Shooting Victims Since State Began Tracking Data Two Decades Ago; Shootings Down 67 Percent Since Governor Took Office in 2021; Thirteen Police Departments Participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative Reported No Firearm-Related Deaths Through August; Governor Has Invested Nearly $4 Billion in Public Safety Including More Than $1 Billion in Gun Violence Prevention Since Taking Office
SAFER STREETS: GOVERNOR HOCHUL CONVENES FIRST MEETING OF EXPANDED INTERSTATE TASK FORCE ON ILLEGAL GUNS IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL FIREARM REGULATION ROLLBACKS – Nearly 100 Representatives from 11 States Meet To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ENROLLMENT PUSH FOR STATE ENERGY AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM YIELDS MORE THAN 21,000 HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS IN JUST TWO WEEKS – Multi-Agency Effort To Enroll Households Proves to be a Major Success
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEW YORK HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN THE NATION DURING SECOND QUARTER 2026 – New U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Data Shows New York’s GDP Grew 4%, Highest of Any State and Nearly Double the National Rate of 2.2%; Record Growth Reflects Governor’s Economic Agenda of Investing in Jobs, Industry and Workforce
GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS NEXT STEPS IN NATION-LEADING COMMISSION TO ADDRESS IMPACTS OF AI ON NEW YORK’S WORKFORCE – Governor Convenes Meeting of Her FutureWorks Commission Following Statewide Listening Sessions and Engagement with Impacted Workers; Commission Will Deliver Recommendations By End of December for New Policies to Protect New Yorkers and Help Workers Share in the Benefits of AI; Part of Comprehensive Approach Including Nation-Leading AI Safety Laws and Moratorium on Data Center Construction
GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENT – A.2657A Offers Incentives to Commercial Lawn Care Companies To Purchase Electric Mowers; A.9590A Authorizes The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York To Finance the New York Climate Exchange’s Construction of A Sustainably-Built Campus on Governors Island That Will Promote Climate Education And Research; S.1986 Extends Time Period for School Districts To Pay Off Clean Energy Upgrades Using Money Saved on Their Utility Bills
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF $500 MILLION GREEN CHIPS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND NOW OPEN –Established in Partnership with Micron Technology, Fund Assists with Locally Driven Projects in Central New York; First Round Awarded More Than $43 Million for Regional Priorities
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND REPRESENTATIVES OCASIO-CORTEZ AND RYAN HIGHLIGHT NEW YORK’S NATION-LEADING MORATORIUM ON HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION –Governor and Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan Hold Roundtable in Dutchess County With Farmers and Community Stakeholders To Discuss Impacts of Potential Data Center Development. Governor Highlighted Key Policies from Data Center Moratorium and AI Safety Regulations
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $97 MILLION TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES – Funding Supports Construction of New Sidewalks, Crosswalks, Shared Use Paths, Other Enhancements To Facilitate Non-Motorized Modes of Travel; 35 Projects Across New York State Will Support Local Infrastructure and Strengthen Community Connections
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES START OF LARGEST SUBWAY SIGNAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN MTA HISTORY – $1.9 Billion Investment Funded By Congestion Pricing Will Modernize A and C Service in Brooklyn and Queens; Modern Signals Will Replace 1930s-Era Equipment, Providing Faster, More Frequent and More Reliable Service
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES JOINT EFFORT TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD WITHIN SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM – State Partners with Federal Law Enforcement to Crack Down on Fraudulent Payments
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES UP TO $9.5 MILLION IN STATE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ROCKVILLE CENTRE PROJECTS – Funding Will Support Improvements to Hickey-Joyce Field Complex and Drinking Water Infrastructure
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES 16 ARRESTS IN STATE CRACKDOWN ON AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD – New York State Police and Department of Financial Services Uncover Staged Crashes and Fraudulent Insurance Claims Throughout New York State; Builds on Governor Hochul’s Efforts to Lower Auto Insurance Costs by Tackling Fraud, Waste and Abuse That Drive Up Costs for New York Drivers
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES ROUND NINE WINNERS OF LUMINATE NY STARTUP ACCELERATOR AND COMPETITION – Gekko Photonics Awarded $1 Million “Company of the Year” Investment; More Than $2 Million Awarded to Propel Next-Generation Optics, Photonics, and Laser Breakthroughs; Applications Now Open for Round 10 of World’s Premier Deep-Tech Accelerator through January 11, 2027
In contrast, here are the press announcements for Blakeman as Nassau County Executive going back to July:
Blakeman to Join Survivors and Nurses for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (10/2/26)
Blakeman To Provide Additional Update On Nor’Easter (9/27/2026)
Blakeman And Romaine To Provide Information On Nor’Easter Impacting Long Island This Weekend (9/25/2026)
Nassau County to Rededicate Fire Service September 11th Memorial (9/20/2026)
Blakeman To Host County 9/11 Ceremony and Musical Tribute (9/10/2026)
Nassau County To Honor 105-Year-Old World War II Veteran And American Hero Ahead Of 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 (9/8/2026)
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Unveils Plaque Memorializing “The Catch” Made By Babe Ruth On 100th Anniversary (7/22/26)
Blakeman to Make Major Announcement Regarding the Future of Nassau County’s 287(g) Agreement with ICE (8/26/2026)
Statement From Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman On President Trump’s Planned Visit To Nassau County (8/10/26) “I am grateful that President Trump is coming to Nassau County to tour our outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities and pay tribute to the men and women of our Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, and our firefighters for their outstanding efforts to protect our county, state, and country.” (Notably, roadways were blocked off for miles of the venue and prevented access to a protest.)
Blakeman has quite literally never proposed anything to address a problem or improve quality of life for the county he oversees. Like Trump, he has no ideas, only knows how to attack, lie and deflect blame.
Early voting: Saturday, October 24-Sunday, November 1.
Awards for Governor’s Groundbreaking MOVE-IN NY Program Will Bring Modern, Affordable Factory-Built Homes to Long Island, North Country and Finger Lakes
Prefabricated Starter Homes Constructed in a Fraction of the Time at Nearly Half the Cost
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the final round of 2026 awards for her innovative MOVE-IN NY affordable homeownership program. Nearly $20 million was awarded to create 61 new homes across the state.
Affordability – especially in housing – has been a key focus for Governor Hochul for years.
“My administration is using every tool in the toolbox to bring homeownership within reach for individuals and families across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “By harnessing the benefits of factory-built technology, the MOVE-IN NY program is bringing modern, affordable single-family homes to the market more quickly and in more regions than ever before.”
Administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), MOVE-IN NY harnesses the benefits of prefabricated homes to quickly build more affordable starter homes in communities throughout New York. The factory-built homes used in the MOVE-IN NY program can be built quickly and economically, at a large scale. Referred to as “CrossMods,” these homes resemble traditionally constructed single-family homes and can be integrated in all types of housing markets including urban, suburban and rural communities.
MOVE-IN NY funds are awarded to municipalities, land banks, or non-profits through a competitive process and will be used to purchase and site prefabricated CrossMod homes. Once sited, the homes will be sold for less than the cost of construction to low- and moderate-income homebuyers.
CrossMods are built to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Code and meet design guidelines approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which enables homebuyers to access conventional mortgages.
In this round of awards, the Essex County Land Bank was awarded $7,260,000 for four homes; the Wayne County Regional Land Bank was awarded $3,327,500 for 11 homes; the Rochester Land Bank was awarded $4,537,500 for 15 homes; and the Suffolk County Landbank was awarded $4,840,000 for 11 homes. To date, over $80 million dollars in MOVE-IN NY funding has been awarded to create new, affordable homeownership opportunities for 250 households.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said,“The innovative MOVE-IN NY program is helping individuals and families build housing security across the state. This $20 million investment for more than 60 affordable homes exemplifies Governor Hochul’s bold vision and leadership on expanding homeownership. We are grateful for our partners at the Essex County Land Bank, Wayne County Land Bank, Suffolk County Land Bank and Rochester Land Bank for their commitment to New York’s housing agenda.”
Throughout New York, smaller, more affordable homes — often referred to as “starter homes” — have become increasingly scarce, preventing young individuals and families from becoming first-time homeowners and older New Yorkers from downsizing. In recent years, construction costs, materials and interest rates have skyrocketed, making the typical cost to construct a small, single-family home in New York upwards of $450,000 or more.
MOVE-IN NY is supported by $50 million that Governor Hochul secured in the FY26 Enacted State Budget. The Governor secured an additional $100 million in the FY27 Enacted Budget to support further expansion of the MOVE-IN NY program as well as the continued exploration of emerging factory-built and modular construction technologies. This investment will help New York remain a leader in using innovative approaches to homebuilding.
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “Tackling our affordable housing crisis will require creative solutions and many different types of housing, including the expansion of modular and manufactured homes across the state. With funding allocated through our state budget, the MOVE-IN NY program will put homeownership within reach for many families while helping to turn vacant and dilapidated blocks into thriving neighborhoods. The expansion of factory-built starter homes will help many young people and families buy their first homes. I look forward to working with Governor Hochul and HCR to further expand this program.”
Essex County Land Bank, President & CEO Nicole Justice Green said,“This is a monumental moment for Essex County and the North Country. Communities throughout the Adirondack Park are working incredibly hard to address a housing shortage. These new homes will make a tangible difference by creating attainable homeownership opportunities and helping more people build their lives here. MOVE-IN NY is a model that truly works for rural New York, and we are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and the HCR team.”
Wayne County Regional Land Bank, Executive Director Kaleigh Flynn said, “We are thrilled to be awarded through MOVE-IN NY to build 11 new critically-needed homes in the Town of Lyons. This funding will transform vacant lots into quality, affordable homeownership opportunities for families including seniors looking to downsize and age in their community, young families looking to set down roots and our workforce. New housing development is a significant challenge in rural communities. We are grateful for this impactful investment in Wayne County and for the commitment of state leadership to addressing these challenges.”
Rochester Land Bank Corporation Executive Director Paul J. Scuderi said,“Homeownership remains one of the most important pathways for families to build financial security and generational wealth, but that opportunity has remained out of reach for too many Rochester residents. This funding allows the Rochester Land Bank Corporation to help bridge that gap, invest in their future and become more firmly rooted in the neighborhoods they call home. We thank our partners at New York State Homes and Community Renewal for making this investment in the city’s Northeast Quadrant.”
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary state funding. There are currently more than 460 certified Pro-Housing communities throughout the state.
As part of FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her “Let Them Build” agenda. “Let Them Build” also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.
The FY27 Enacted Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The FY27 Enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the $225 million Clean Water for Housing program to help municipalities build the water infrastructure needed to support housing development. By lifting critical financial barriers, Governor Hochul is helping communities advance shovel-ready water quality projects that will lay the foundation for sustainable growth. The program builds on the Governor’s comprehensive housing and clean water agendas that are investing billions in local projects to tackle the housing crisis and improve water quality while minimizing costs for families and businesses.
“No family should be unable to buy a home because their community’s water and sewer systems can’t support housing growth,” Governor Hochul said. “With $225 million in new funding, we’re helping communities make critical improvements that unlock housing growth, strengthen local economies and give more New Yorkers the opportunity to find a home they can afford.”
Governor Hochul has made $175 million available for projects statewide, with an additional $50 million specifically for rural municipalities, where aging or inadequate water systems can pose significant obstacles to development. These grants will help communities address their water infrastructure needs, expand access to essential services and establish the systems needed to support future housing growth.
The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is accepting applications for proposed drinking water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects necessary to promote housing development, improvements or rehabilitation. Grants are available to municipalities certified through the State’s Pro-Housing Communities Program and eligible counties.
Governor Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023 creating the Pro-Housing Community Program, which recognizes and rewards municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential and encourages others to follow suit. Under the Pro-Housing Community Program, which is administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), local governments that are taking action to support housing growth to address the housing shortage can apply to become certified. After becoming certified, localities have exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary State funding. Since the launch of the Pro-Housing Communities Program, these State funds have supported the creation of up to 20,000 more homes statewide. To date, more than 460 communities across New York have been certified. Communities can learn more about the Pro-Housing Communities Program, including how to become certified, by visiting the Pro-Housing Communities Program website.
Applications and complete eligibility information are available on EFC’s website. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all the available grant funds are awarded.
EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “By investing in the essential systems that make housing possible, Governor Hochul is helping communities turn housing plans into new homes and thriving communities. Clean Water for Housing reflects Governor Hochul’s commitment to tackling the housing shortage with practical investments that help communities grow, protect public health and create more vibrant and resilient neighborhoods.”
“Access to reliable water, sewer and stormwater systems are central to supporting our housing growth agenda in New York State,” New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said. “Governor Hochul created the Pro-Housing Communities Program to incentivize cities, towns and villages to support communities that improve their infrastructure so that more housing can be created and preserved. Thank you to the Environmental Facilities Corporation for administering $225 million through the Clean Water for Housing program so that more than 460 Pro-Housing Communities can invest in their futures.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “New Yorkers need safe housing with reliable access to water in the neighborhoods they call home. The $225 million Clean Water for Housing program is the latest example of how state agencies are helping advance Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to increase support for sustainable growth and housing statewide, while protecting public health and the environment.”
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. Governor Hochul announced $500 million in grants this week to deliver the first installment of her $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to local projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. In addition to the Clean Water for Housing funding, EFC is currently accepting applications for $45 million in funding for Green Resiliency Grants. EFC’s Community Assistance Teams are available for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications.
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to nearly $1 billion in discretionary State funding. More than 460 communities throughout the state have been certified Pro-Housing.
As part of the FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a number of landmark reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs as part of her “Let Them Build” agenda. “Let Them Build” also includes executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.
The FY27 Enacted Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 87,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Enacted Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced $200 million is available to help communities undertake critical drinking water, stormwater and sewer projects while keeping costs affordable for local ratepayers. The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Board of Directors approved funding that empowers local governments to improve water systems without passing high costs on to families and businesses. These investments protect public health and the environment, reduce future risks and support good-paying jobs.
“Every New Yorker deserves access to clean, safe water and communities shouldn’t have to choose between upgrading critical water infrastructure and keeping costs affordable for residents,” Governor Hochul said. “Since I took office, New York has invested $10.6 billion for water and sewer improvement projects, and this latest announcement is part of my ongoing commitment to get the funding out the door, and help local governments get projects underway.”
EFC’s Board approved low-cost financing, federal grants, and previously announced State grants through New York’s premier water infrastructure investment programs that help communities avoid overly burdensome rate increases. Board approval is a milestone in the funding process and allows communities to enter into funding agreements with EFC and access funds for their projects.
Funding is provided through:
The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds: A mix of State and federal dollars that deliver more than $1 billion in low-cost financing and grants annually to New York communities. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has significantly bolstered the State Revolving Funds since 2022, driving critical investments to help modernize New York’s water and sewer infrastructure. This additional funding ceases this year.
The State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants: Proven vehicles for affordability that have saved ratepayers more than $8.3 billion statewide since 2015. Today, the Board approved grants awarded between 2022 and 2025. Governor Hochul delivered the first installment of her $3.75 billion clean water investment plan and announced nearly $500 million to 106 projects through these programs this week.
The Governor’s Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation Grants: Loan forgiveness grants to help communities pay for lead service line projects by covering costs not fully paid for by federal grants.
Combining State and federal funding ensures every dollar goes further in modernizing aging infrastructure across the State, protecting public health and the environment. Fully funded State Revolving Funds are necessary for New York to meet the ongoing need for communities to repair, rehabilitate and modernize aging infrastructure.
Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Today’s approvals demonstrate the tangible impact of Governor Hochul’s commitment to making water infrastructure more affordable for communities. These projects are often among the largest and most capital-intensive investments a municipality will undertake. By combining the Governor’s grant funding with low-cost financing, EFC helps communities close funding gaps, move critical projects forward and make essential improvements to protect public health and water quality without placing an undue burden on ratepayers.”
Funding was approved for projects in the following regions:
Capital Region
Washington County, $6.2 million federal grant to upgrade the Sewer District No. 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Central New York
Town of Forestport, $1.3 million in low-cost financing for wastewater treatment plant disinfection upgrades.
Onondaga County, $1.2 million State grant for the construction of gravity sludge thickener improvements at the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant.
City of Syracuse, $16.1 million federal grant and interest-free financing for sanitary and storm sewer separation in the Sedgwick and Eastwood neighborhoods.
Finger Lakes
Village of Geneseo, $1.9 million State grant and low-cost financing for the replacement of 3,300 linear feet of water mains, hydrants, valves and water meters, including the elimination of 20 lead services lines located on Oak and Second Streets.
City of Rochester, $5 million State grant for the replacement of the filter underdrain system, modification of backwash supply header piping and improvements to the filter gates.
Town of Romulus, $830,328 federal grant for the replacement of 8,600 linear feet of aging water main along Main Street, County Routes 132 and 132A, Prospect Street, and State Route 96A, and the installation of flushing hydrants on dead ended mains in the Willard Water District.
Long Island
Hampton Bays Water District, $4.7 million State grant for a new granular activated carbon treatment system at Plant No. 3.
Suffolk County, $1.5 million federal grant for engineering site investigations and preparation of a feasibility study to address groundwater contamination caused by emerging contaminants, including PFOA and PFOS, at the Suffolk County Firematics facility.
Suffolk County Water Authority, two State grants totaling $2.6 million for the construction of a new advanced oxidation process treatment system to remove 1,4-dioxane from Well No. 2A at the Oxhead Road Well Field.
Mid-Hudson
Village of Harrison, $40.3 million in low-cost financing for the construction of the Westchester Joint Water Work’s Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant.
Town of Mamaroneck, $12.1 million in low-cost financing for the construction of the Westchester Joint Water Work’s Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant.
Village of Mamaroneck, $20 million in low-cost financing for the construction of the Westchester Joint Water Work’s Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant.
City of Poughkeepsie, $2.5 million in low-cost financing for the replacement of biologically active filter media and underdrains of the six dual media filters in the water treatment plant.
Town of Rosendale, $3 million in interest-free financing for the second phase of constructing a 500,000-gallon water storage tank to replace the Sand Hill water storage tank.
Mohawk Valley
City of Gloversville, State and federal grants and interest-free financing for a $12.2 million project to replace 1,791 lead service lines. The State LIFT grant approved today will pay off the financing upon project completion, resulting in a fully grant funded project.
Town of Herkimer, $680,000 in low-cost financing for a new water storage tank to provide adequate distribution pressure and fire flow, a new pump station to replace an existing one to serve the McKennan Road/Steuben Hill Road areas, and replacement of aged undersized water mains and appurtenances.
Village of Herkimer, grants and interest-free financing for a $13.2 million project to replace 1,687 lead service lines. Governor Hochul’s LIFT grant will pay off the financing upon project completion, resulting in a fully grant funded project.
North Country
Village of Chateaugay, $18 million in State and federal grants and low-cost financing for wastewater treatment plant upgrades to implement disinfection and replace aging equipment.
Town of Morristown, $9.9 million in federal grant and interest-free financing for the replacement of 5,300 linear feet of water main and associated appurtenances, extension of 2,800 linear feet of water main, water storage tank rehabilitation, water meter replacement and installation and replacement of the existing diatomaceous earth water treatment plant with a new ultrafiltration water treatment plant.
Southern Tier
Village of New Berlin, $14.9 million in federal grant and low-cost financing for the replacement of approximately 32,500 linear feet of aged water main and associated appurtenances, installation of a manganese greensand filtration system for Well Nos. 1 and 2, abandonment of Well No. 3, a new residential water metering system, and upgrades to the existing 400,000-gallon storage tank.
Western New York
Village of Delevan, $14.9 million in State grant and interest-free financing for a new wastewater collection system.
“New York continues to deliver real results on improving water quality for local communities while protecting our natural environment,” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “The approval of $200 million in low-cost financing and grants today emphasizes Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to strengthen water and sewer infrastructure for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
New York State Health Commissioner and EFC Board Member Dr. James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul stands committed to helping communities affordably update their drinking water systems by maximizing funding opportunities, so ratepayers don’t burden the cost. The Department of Health’s Bureau of Water Supply Protection will continue to work with municipalities every step of the way on these critical public health projects, from submitting applications for funding to the twist of the tap.”
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. Governor Hochul announced $500 million in grants this week to deliver the first installment of her $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to local projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. EFC is currently accepting applications for $45 million in funding for Green Resiliency Grants. EFC’s Community Assistance Teams are available for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications.
Delivers First Installment of the Governor’s $3.75 Billion Clean Water Investment Plan
Projected To Save Local Ratepayers an Estimated $1 Billion and Create 22,400 Jobs Across the State
Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly $500 million in grants for critical drinking water and sewer projects statewide, delivering on her landmark $3.75 billion commitment in the 2027 Enacted State Budget. By providing half a billion in grants to 106 projects totaling $1.4 billion in costs, Governor Hochul is helping communities upgrade the drinking water and sewer systems that New Yorkers depend on every day while minimizing costs for families and businesses. This investment will help local governments modernize aging infrastructure, tackle legacy threats such as lead service lines and emerging contaminants, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth and economic development while creating good-paying jobs.
“Investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the future of every New Yorker,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration will continue ensuring communities have the financial support and tools they need to protect public health and safeguard our natural resources while keeping these critical investments affordable.”
The grants are estimated to save communities $1 billion in debt service they would have faced if they had to finance the costs on their own, based on current market conditions. The projects are estimated to create 22,400 jobs in construction and related industries, including engineering, manufacturing, and local services.
Capital Region: $40 million to 14 projects, including two grants totaling $6.5 million to the Village of Menands for lead service line replacement and drinking water treatment improvements.
Central New York: $64 million to 10 projects, including $25 million to Oswego County for a regional wastewater infrastructure initiative.
Finger Lakes: $52 million to 14 projects, including nearly $10 million to the Village of Avon’s wastewater treatment project that will improve water quality in the Genesee River.
Long Island: $57 million to 12 projects, including $7.8 million to Suffolk County for the Fairfield at St. James Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion that will ultimately connect more users to municipal sewer.
Mid-Hudson: $66 million to 7 projects, including $10 million to the Town of Poughkeepsie for lead service line replacement.
Mohawk Valley: $37 million to 6 projects, including $8.9 million to the Village of Camden for wastewater infrastructure improvements that will protect Fish Creek and Oneida Lake.
New York City: $25 million for a tank project at the North River Water Pollution Control Plant that will protect water quality in the Hudson River. The plant treats up to 170 million gallons of wastewater every day, and the improvements are critical to preventing untreated sewage from bypassing the system.
North Country: $65 million to 10 projects, including $14 million to Elizabethtown to establish a municipal sewer and wastewater treatment system.
Southern Tier: $26 million to 7 projects, including $6.9 million to the Town of Chenango for improvements that will protect drinking water from emerging contaminants.
Western New York: $67 million to 15 projects, including $4.6 million to the Town of Friendship for sewer improvements that will protect and improve water quality in the Genesee River basin.
The Governor’s continued commitment to ensuring funding is awarded to the communities that need it most is reflected in these awards:
$119 million in enhanced grants for drinking water projects that bring systems in compliance with the State’s strict standards for emerging contaminants, and wastewater and sewer projects in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. These enhanced grants include the previously mentioned projects in Avon, Camden, Chenango, Elizabethtown, and Friendship.
$64 million to projects that identify and replace lead service lines, building on more than $600 million in grant commitments since 2021 to help get the lead out.
$120 million awarded to municipalities that worked with EFC’s Community Assistance Teams. Governor Hochul expanded this technical assistance program in 2023 to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities complete applications, access funding, and address their water infrastructure needs.
EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Governor Hochul’s historic $500 million investment will have a lasting impact on New Yorkers’ quality of life. With these grants, the State is protecting the environment and what comes out of the tap while protecting the pockets of New Yorkers. EFC’s WIIA grants are proven vehicles for affordability and will help ensure these critical projects won’t be held up because of costs.”
“Once again, Governor Hochul is delivering on her commitment to ensuring municipalities across New York can affordably provide safe drinking water to our communities,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “These grants will help remove lead service lines and combat harmful emerging contaminants from drinking water while protecting public health for years to come.”
Under Governor Hochul, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The SFY27 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard. EFC is currently accepting applications for $45 million in available funding for Green Resiliency Grants. EFC’s Community Assistance Teams are available for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications.
Century-Old Erie County Manufacturer Expands To Increase Capacity by 50 Percent, Directly Supporting Nearly 220 Jobs
Project Supported by $4.5 Million in NYPA Funding and Up to Nearly $5 Million in Performance Based Tax Credits through ESD and DEC Programs
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Niagara Power Transformer, a Buffalo manufacturer of transformers essential to the operation and modernization of the electric grid, has broken ground on a more than $71 million expansion that will increase its production capacity by 50 percent, support nearly 220 jobs, and strengthen the domestic supply of critical grid equipment.
With an ever-aging grid, having these transformers produced in Western New York will support a resilient and energy-independent State. The project reinforces New York’s energy supply chain at a moment of growing demand and continued economic momentum across the State.
“As New York advances its clean energy economy, strengthening our grid and expanding domestic transformer production are essential to meeting the state’s growing energy needs,” Governor Hochul said. “Niagara Power Transformer’s expansion helps ease a critical supply‑chain bottleneck, delivers good-paying jobs to Western New York and supports the industry that keeps the lights on for New Yorkers while ensuring we have enough power to help keep energy costs down.”
Niagara Power Transformer President Chris Kraft said, “Niagara Power Transformer has been manufacturing transformers in Western New York for more than a century, and we are proud to continue being a pillar of this community with the support of Governor Hochul, New York Power Authority and our state and local partners. The Niagara Power 50 Initiative represents the largest investment in our company’s history and will allow us to increase transformer production by 50 percent. As electricity demand continues to grow, driven by the resurgence of American manufacturing and electrification, the need for reliable power infrastructure has never been greater. This investment will help our customers modernize and expand the grid to meet that demand.”
The firm manufactures large liquid-filled power and specialty transformers, which are devices used to change the voltage level of electricity as it moves through the grid. Demand for transformers has increased significantly as utilities modernize and harden the electric grid, connect new generation and expand infrastructure to serve growing electricity demand from economic anchors and job creators. At the same time, limited domestic manufacturing capacity and extended lead times have made transformers a critical supply chain constraint for grid investment.
Amid these trends, the firm’s project — as part of its Niagara Power 50 Initiative — will expand its existing campus by 96,000 square feet, increasing its production capacity. The expansion will introduce specialized manufacturing equipment; expand material handling and storage capacities; and upgrade site utilities and incorporate new engineering and administrative spaces. The project will support the retention of 146 jobs and create 73 new full-time positions at the firm, including 57 IBEW union jobs.
Niagara Power Transformer received significant strategic support from New York State to advance the project, including $4.5 million from the New York Power Authority’s Western New York Power Proceeds program. Empire State Development awarded the firm up to $3.4 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits. The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and is eligible for $1.5 million in tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Separately, the Erie County Industrial Development Agency also approved nearly $2.2 million in sales and property tax abatements.
Niagara Power Transformer, with roots dating to 1924, has grown into a century-old Western New York manufacturer known for continually advancing its technology and expanding its testing capabilities. Its recent acquisition by Quanta Services — a Fortune 200 infrastructure leader — underscores the company’s long-term stability and ongoing investment in the region. The firm’s expanded operations will support additional job growth throughout Western New York’s manufacturing supply chain, where Niagara Power Transformer already relies on more than 160 New York suppliers across steel fabrication, machining, coatings, electrical equipment, transportation and industrial services. By expanding domestic production of critical grid equipment, the project will strengthen Western New York’s manufacturing economy while supporting grid resiliency, clean energy deployment and continued economic growth across the state.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said,“Niagara Power Transformer’s expansion project, supported by $4.5 million in NYPA funding, represents a significant investment in Western New York that will strengthen the domestic supply chain of critical grid infrastructure, support high-quality jobs, and help deliver the reliable, affordable and clean energy that New Yorkers depend on.”
“Niagara Power Transformer’s century-long legacy in Western New York is entering an exciting new chapter,” Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said. “With Governor Hochul’s support, this landmark expansion reinforces the region’s vital role in accelerating New York’s clean energy transition—all while keeping high-quality manufacturing jobs in Western New York and creating new, good-paying opportunities for local workers.”
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Major upgrades and modernization of the Niagara Power Transformer facility site illustrates how New York is meeting the demands of an expanding energy supply chain head on. Under Governor Hochul, DEC’s successful Brownfield Cleanup Program continues to address environmental pollution, help protect public health and support economic development, especially in underserved communities most impacted by legacy industrial pollution.”
