In The News-New York State
NY Vows to Fight Trump Administration’s Mid-Construction Halt of Major Offshore Wind Project
Calling this week’s halt of the Empire 1 wind project a “federal overreach,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to “fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy, and New York’s economic future.”
“Every single day, I’m working to make energy more affordable, reliable and abundant in New York and the federal government should be supporting those efforts rather than undermining them,” Governor Hochul asserted. “Empire Wind 1 is already employing hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1,000 good-paying union jobs as part of a growing sector that has already spurred significant economic development and private investment throughout the state and beyond.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to order the 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project to cease all construction until further review, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. In a letter to BOEM, Burgum alleged that the project was “rushed through by the prior administration without sufficient analysis or consultation among the relevant agencies as relates to the potential effects from the project.” The letter said that construction will remain halted until “further review is completed to address these serious deficiencies.”
Governor Hochul countered that Equinor’s fully federally permitted project has already put shovels in the ground before the President’s executive orders and “it’s exactly the type of bipartisan energy solution we should be working on.”
Equinor’s Empire Wind project is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island. It will span 80,000 acres, with water depths of between approximately 75 and 135 feet. The lease was acquired in 2017 and the project is to be developed in two phases. Empire Wind 1 will deliver 810 MW of energy into Brooklyn, powering 500,000 New York homes. Equinor is currently under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Equinor is suspending offshore construction work on its Empire Offshore Wind LLC following the stop-work order.
Empire will “halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review,” the company said in a statement issued Thursday. “Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.”
The shutdown “goes against the Trump administration’s own prioritization of independent and locally produced energy and shows a complete disregard for a once-in-a-generation economic powerhouse like offshore wind energy,” said Doreen M. Harris, NYSERDA’s CEO and president.
Governor Hochul, New York City Business Leaders and District Attorneys Push for Stronger Discovery Laws to Combat Organized Retail Theft
Larceny Case Dismissals Doubled in New York City From 2019-24 After the Passage of Discovery Reforms
Governor Says Discovery Reform “Close” But “…Not in the End Zone”
Governor Kathy Hochul yesterday stood with business leaders and District Attorneys to continue the call for changes to New York’s discovery laws to serve as another tool to combat retail theft.
“Retail theft threatens public safety and drives costs up for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “I have been clear since day one: I won’t stop fighting to pass a State Budget that prioritizes affordability and key public safety measures. We cannot allow loopholes in our discovery laws to harm the progress we have made in combatting organized retail theft and I remain committed to advancing key changes to discovery laws to hold perpetrators accountable.”
In New York City, the number of larceny dismissals doubled from 3,385 in 2019 to 7,168 in 2024. In 2024, 25 percent of all larceny arrests in New York City were dismissed, up significantly from 14 percent in 2019.
“… we’re on the verge of a very important deal with our Legislature” Governor Hochul said. “… as a football fan, we’re not in the end zone. Maybe we’re on the five yard line, that close? Okay. But I know one thing from football, you don’t spike it until the game’s over or until you get the touchdown. So that’s why we’re going to wait until this gets absolutely buttoned up but we’re very close.”
Yesterday, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, following negotiations with New York City’s five district attorneys, announced that the legislative leaders and the Governor have reached a deal on discovery changes in the budget, according to published reports.
Both houses of the Legislature were in Albany this week passing funding extenders to keep New York running while the budget specifics are hammered out. They return next Tuesday to pass additional budget extenders including education-related funding for school districts.
Comptroller DiNapoli Delivers Much Needed Budget Update: State Tax Collections Outperform Projections for State Fiscal Year 2024-25
Tax collections for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25 totaled $117.5 billion, $2.1 billion higher than forecast by the Division of the Budget (DOB) in the SFY 2025-26 Executive Budget Financial Plan, according to the March State Cash Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Tax collections for SFY 2024-25 were $11.1 billion (10.4%) higher than the previous year, due, in part, to increased personal income tax (PIT) receipts resulting from financial market growth from calendar year 2024 which “propelled” bonuses paid in the final quarter of the fiscal year.
Personal income tax (PIT) collections totaled $61.2 billion, $7.4 billion (13.7%) higher than prior year collections. The increase was primarily attributable to stronger withholding and quarterly estimated tax payments associated with the 2024 tax year. PIT collections exceeded Executive Budget Financial Plan projections by $238.8 million.
Consumption and use taxes, which include sales tax, totaled $22.4 billion, exceeding the prior year total by $484.4 million, or 2.2%. These collections were $139 million lower than DOB’s latest projections.
Business tax collections totaled $31.4 billion which was $3.7 billion (13.3%) higher than the previous year. Total business tax collections exceeded DOB’s latest projections by $2 billion.
All Funds spending totaled $241.5 billion, which was $6.6 billion or 2.8%, higher than last year. The General Fund ended the fiscal year with a balance of $56.9 billion, an increase of $10.6 billion from the opening balance.
In The News-New York City
Adams Administration Reaches “Tentative Labor Contract” with Sergeants Benevolent Association
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion this week announced a tentative five-year unit agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), covering approximately 4,400 New York City Police Department (NYPD) sergeants.
The SBA was part of the Uniformed Officers Coalition — a coalition of uniformed unions representing more than 32,000 employees — which reached a contract agreement with the city in June 2023. Pursuant to that agreement, each union would bargain separately on issues unique to their union, and this week’s announcement fulfills that commitment.
The agreement is retroactive — beginning on December 10, 2021 — and expires on December 9, 2026. It includes wage increases of 3.25 percent for both of the first two years of the contract, 3.5 percent for the third and fourth years, and a 4 percent increase on December 10, 2025. Sergeants who earned below top pay as of December 10, 2024, will be brought to the top pay of $134,819, effective that date — ensuring that all sergeants will be earning more than the police officers they supervise.
“Our police sergeants keep our city safe each and every day. They must be able to work with dignity and care for their families, and today’s tentative agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association will do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “This agreement will secure well-earned and long overdue wage increases for our police sergeants, while helping us retain the talented men and women who serve New York City so bravely…”
The tentative agreement must be ratified by SBA’s membership.
“NYPD sergeants have played a critical role in maintaining public safety in the largest city in America during some of the most tumultuous chapters in our city’s history, including a worldwide pandemic,” said SBA President Vincent Vallelong. “Through it all, NYPD sergeants continue to risk their lives to keep all New Yorkers safe and secure, and they deserve to be compensated for their tremendous sacrifices and numerous responsibilities. I’m very pleased to announce that the SBA has reached a tentative agreement that ensures our frontline supervisors earn more than the police officers they supervise, which is consistent with most police agencies in the nation. From day one, the SBA advocated to ensure all NYPD sergeants were brought up to top pay, which is essential in retaining our veteran sergeants to stay in this job and in bolstering the future leadership of our department.”
The total cost of the tentative agreement, through Fiscal Year 2029, will be $1.02 billion, which is fully funded in the city’s financial plan.
NYC Council Files Lawsuit to Stop Adams Administration Executive Order, Seeking Court’s Immediate Halt of Activity
The New York City Council this week filed a lawsuit, requesting a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, against the Adams Administration’s Executive Order 50 allowing US Immigration & Customs Enforcement to operate an office in Rikers. The order was issued by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro on April 8th.
The lawsuit contends that the executive order is unlawful, due to the conflict of interest created by the Mayor’s federal case.
According to the Council, the law is clear that the mayor is unable to cure that conflict of interest simply by delegating his authority to open an ICE office to Deputy Mayor Mastro. In seeking an immediate halt of any associated activity, the lawsuit outlines how the unlawful action would undermine public safety in New York City by eroding public trust. It also argues that the mayor never delegated the specified duty to First Deputy Mayor Mastro, as required by the City Charter.
The city’s Law Department will not represent Mayor Adams or his administration in the City Council’s lawsuit against him over an executive order that would allow federal immigration authorities on Rikers Island, according to court papers filed Wednesday.
“The New York City Law Department has advised that they will not be representing any party in this litigation,” Allison Stoddart, the Mayor’s chief counsel, wrote in the letter to the Manhattan Supreme Court clerk last night, according to published reports. The Mayor, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, and the city’s Department of Corrections will instead seek outside counsel.
Briefs
Unions Sue to Reverse Trump’s Dismantling of Labor Mediation Agency The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services targeted by DOGE
Unions representing teachers, federal workers, and healthcare workers are seeking to reverse the Trump administration’s cuts at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS), an independent federal agency offering mediation, training, and facilitation services to employers and unions nationwide.
The AFL-CIO, the United Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Government Employees and nearly a dozen other unions filed the lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan on Monday. The suit asserts the cuts to the agency endanger both workers and the economy.
The cuts stem from a March 14 executive order that calls for a near-elimination of the agency and six others in the interest of the president’s government-slashing agenda led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The unions argue that the Trump administration has no legal authority under federal law and the U.S. Constitution to execute its mass layoffs at the agency because they amount to an effective dismantling of FMCS, which has prevented it from performing its statutory responsibilities.
NYS Private Sector Employment Up 5,600 Jobs in March 2025
According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 5,600, 0.1%, to 8,464,400 in March 2025. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.2% in March 2025.
New York State’s private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 89,400, or 1.1%, over the year in March 2025, lower than the 1.2% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S. New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% in February to 4.2% in March 2025. At the same time, New York State’s labor force (seasonally adjusted) increased by 7,200. The statewide labor force participation rate held steady at 60.9% in March 2025.
State Releases Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Application
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has announced a new grant program to fund the development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites.
Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) grant funding is available for the construction of recreational facilities and other improvements to municipally owned recreational sites and parks. Counties, cities, towns, and villages within the boundaries of New York State that own the property where the proposed project is sited are eligible to apply. The MPR grant opportunity can fund up to 90% of the total eligible project costs, with a matching share requirement of 10%. The maximum grant award is $1,000,000. Grants are administered on a reimbursement basis.
Examples include playgrounds, courts, playing fields, and facilities for swimming, biking, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping or other recreational activities. Grants will primarily fund construction costs. Preconstruction activities, such as developing plans and design specifications may be included in the project budget.
For the 2025 grant cycle, successful MPR project applications will be funded with up to $10 millio.n An additional grant cycle will occur in the future, bringing the program total to $20 million through two rounds of applications.
Applications are now available through the on-line Consolidated Funding Application, with an application deadline of May 2, 2025, at 4 p.m.
Coming Up
New York State
Tuesday, April 22nd
New York State Senate Session, Senate Chamber, Albany, 11 a.m.
New York State Assembly Session, Assembly Chamber, Albany, 9 a.m.
Wednesday, April 23rd
Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government, Commission Meeting, 10 a.m.
Thursday, April 24th
Joint Public Hearing: New York City Housing Court
Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary; Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction & Community Development, 250 Broadway – Senate Hearing Room, 19th Floor, New York, 10 a.m.
New York City
Monday, April 21st
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction, Council Chambers – City Hall, 1 p.m.
Committee on Hospitals, Council Chambers – City Hall, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22nd
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, Committee Room – City Hall, 11 a.m.
Committee on Land Use, Committee Room – City Hall, 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 23rd
Sub Committee on Zoning and Franchises,
250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Floor, 10 a.m.
Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, Committee Room – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Parks and Recreation, Committee Room – City Hall, 1 p.m.
Thursday, April 24th
Committee on Finance, Committee Room – City Hall, 10 a.m.
City Council Stated Meeting, Council Chambers – City Hall, 1:30 p.m.