In The News-New York State
New York’s Court of Appeals: State’s New Even-Year Election Law is Constitutional
The New York state Court of Appeals unanimously ruled Thursday that a new state law to move most local elections to even-numbered years is constitutional.
In 2023 New York enacted legislation to move most town and county races outside of New York City to even-numbered years to coincide with races for Congress, Governor or President. The law excludes villages and races for county clerk, sheriff, district attorneys, local judges and other positions protected under the State Constitution.
A lower court judge struck down the law last year, while a mid-level appeals court overturned the decision earlier this year.
In a decision written by Justice Michael Garcia, the court found the voting law is “consistent with the state’s public policy of encouraging participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent.” The court also found that the assertion that the law violated the State’s home rule law was unfounded.
The Court of Appeals also ruled that there is no reason to delay implementation of the law until the next election cycle in 2027.
A proposal on the New York City ballot could change the city’s election schedule from odd-numbered to even-numbered years if approved by voters on November 4th.
The decision ends a longstanding legal challenge by Republican leaders in Onondaga County, who argued the change erodes the power of local governments and it conflicts with individual county charters.
“It’s a baffling decision, but it shows us in New York state that the state Legislature is the primary sovereign government, which can regulate all local governments in New York state,” said Stephen Acquario, executive director of the New York State Association of Counties. “Counties, towns, cities, and villages are all under the power of the state.”
Comptroller DiNapoli: Receipts Remain Above Budget Division Projections Through Mid-Year
State tax receipts totaled $59.9 billion through September, the middle of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26, $702.2 million higher than financial plan estimates from the Division of Budget (DOB), according to the monthly State Cash Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“Higher state tax collections largely stem from robust personal income tax collections, fueled by continued income growth in 2025,” Comptroller DiNapoli explained. “But the federal government shutdown and other policy shifts in Washington could weigh heavily on New York’s economy and revenues over the remainder of the state’s fiscal year.”
State tax collections through September were $5.2 billion higher than those through the same period last year. Personal income tax (PIT) receipts totaled $33.5 billion, nearly $4.6 billion higher than the same period in SFY 2024-25, reflecting, in part, strong collections in 2025. PIT receipts were $756.5 million above DOB’s financial plan projections.
Year-to-date consumption and use tax collections totaled $11.9 billion, 4.9%, or $554.8 million, higher than the same period last year, and $253.4 million higher than DOB anticipated. Sales tax receipts, the largest share of these taxes, increased by $544 million, or 5.3%, through September. Business taxes, which include collections from the Pass-Through Entity Tax, totaled nearly $13 billion, $43.5 million lower than through September in the prior fiscal year and $352.6 million lower than DOB’s projections.
All Funds spending through September totaled $119.9 billion, almost $7.5 billion, or 6.7%, higher than last year for the same period, primarily due to higher Medicaid costs. All Funds spending through September was $1.1 billion lower than DOB projected, primarily due to lower capital projects spending. State Operating Funds spending through September totaled $65.8 billion, $5.3 billion, or 8.7% higher than last year and $1.2 billion lower than DOB projected.
The state’s General Fund ended September with a balance of $57.6 billion, $4.1 billion higher than DOB projected and $5.2 billion higher than last year at the same time, primarily due to higher than anticipated tax collections and lower than anticipated spending.
Chapters of the Laws of 2025
Chapter 435 – Sponsored by AM Alvarez/Senator Kavanagh. Prohibits discriminatory practices by real estate appraisers and furthers fair housing compliance.
Chapter 436 – Sponsored by Senator Kavanagh/AM Lasher. Makes rent stabilized dwelling units eligible for protections established by the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) of 2019.
Chapter 438 – Sponsored by Senator Kavanagh/AM Bichotte Hermelyn. Mandates the New York City Housing Authority to establish clear and fair procedures for succession tenancy.
Chapter 450 -Sponsored by AM Rosenthal/Senator Hinchey. Includes consideration of evidence of recent acts of aggravated cruelty to animals as a factor to be considered when determining whether grounds for a temporary extreme risk protection order exist.
Chapter 459 – Sponsored by AM Conrad/Senator Hinchey. Provides the Department of Agriculture and Markets (Department) with additional licensing and enforcement in relation to retail food store, food service establishments, and food warehouse licensing.
Chapter 466 – Sponsored by Senator Harckham/AM Paulin. Requires police officers to take temporary custody of firearms when responding to reports of family violence.
Bills Vetoed by the Governor
Veto 29 – Sponsored by Senator Skoufis/AM Raga. Relates to the maximum allowable time frames to respond to requests for records under the freedom of information act.
Veto 30 – Sponsored by Senator Skoufis/AM Braunstein. Increases the period of supervision to five years for real estate brokers applying for a license.
Veto 31 – Sponsored by Senator Skoufis/AM Paulin. Requires the department of health to enter into a contract with an entity experienced in maintaining genealogical research databases for the digitalization and indexing of certain vital records.
Veto 34 – Sponsored by AM Hunter/Senator Bailey. Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for the pet insurance industry.
Veto 44 – Sponsored by AM Weprin/Senator Bailey. Requires health insurers to provide coverage for speech therapy for stuttering.
Veto 49 – Sponsored by AM Kavanagh/AM Fall. Expands the Battery Park City Authority’s Board of Directors by two members and require the appointment of Battery Park City residents until a majority of members of the Board are Battery Park City residents.
Veto 50 – Sponsored by Senator Skoufis/AM McDonald. Requires certain health insurance policies include coverage for services provided by pharmacists related to contraceptives.
Veto 53 – Sponsored by Senator Skoufis/AM Romero. Enacts the Civil Litigation Efficacy Omnibus bill to codify the Attorney General’s power including providing the Attorney General with a cause of action permitting a lawsuit against a law enforcement agency if there is reasonable cause to believe that agency or its employees have engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that has deprived persons of their rights, privileges, or immunities under New York or federal law, and clarifying the OAG ‘s authority to address repeated or persistent discrimination in public elementary and secondary schools, school districts, and educational entities.
In The News-New York City
NYPD Launches Domestic Violence Unit
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch this week announced the launch of the NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit (DVU). The Mayor and Commissioner promoted the DVU as the largest unit of its kind in the nation that will allow the NYPD to enhance how it investigates domestic violence incidents and train officers while strengthening support for survivors.
The new unit will have approximately 450 domestic violence investigators who will be fully dedicated to prevention and investigating domestic violence cases. The full roll-out will begin next week, and the new unit will operate across all five boroughs.
According to the Mayor, approximately 450 domestic violence police officers and detectives will be reassigned from the Patrol Services Bureau and Housing Bureau to the Detective Bureau, where they will lead domestic violence investigations. Previously, precinct and housing officers — as well as detectives from local precinct squads — were designated to work on domestic violence cases. Through this new approach, domestic violence casework will be streamlined — with DVU investigators taking on added responsibility for each case, and with survivors benefiting from consistent support, efficient investigations, and successful case outcomes.
In coordination with survivors and domestic violence organizations, the NYPD conducted enhanced training for all officers in the new investigative unit, Commissioner Tisch explained. Previously, officers received training in survivor interaction, child abuse, human trafficking, and elder abuse investigations, often condensed into a single-day session. Now, the training has been expanded to a mandatory two-day, in-person training, as well as additional virtual sessions, so they can formally learn to advance investigative skills, peer support, and interrogation techniques.
The NYPD is also introducing two new roles to support best practices and support training: domestic violence counsel and domestic violence director of prevention & intervention. The domestic violence counsels will work with the city’s five district attorneys to prioritize the needs of survivors and build successful cases and prosecutions. The domestic violence directors of prevention & intervention will then formalize and expand training programs for police officers who interact with domestic violence survivors and offenders.
MTA to Begin Environmental Assessment of Interborough Express Project
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) this week announced it is beginning the environmental review process for the Interborough Express (IBX) under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.
The Interborough Express will connect nearly 900,000 New Yorkers in underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens to the subway, bus and Long Island Rail Road. The project will also reduce travel times between the two boroughs, with an end-to-end run time of 32 minutes along an existing 14-mile freight line owned by the MTA and CSX Corp.
The environmental review process will run concurrent to the ongoing preliminary design and engineering phase of the project kicked off in August. Following public outreach, the SEQRA process will produce a Draft Scoping Document, and ultimately, a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the project.
There will be a series of three public meetings that will explain the scope of the project and the review process. The first will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Brooklyn College. A second meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 6 at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens. A virtual meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The current project design phase is funded mainly through $45 million secured in New York State’s 2025 budget and the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan. The total estimated cost of the IBX project is $5.5 billion, with 50 percent of the total funding for the project secured in the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan.
Briefs
AG James and Governor Hochul Win Case Protecting More Than $33 Million in MTA Anti-Terrorism Funds
Court Blocks DHS From Withholding Transit Security Grant Funding from New York
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul won their suit against the Trump Administration this week as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to award $33,898,500 in anti-terrorism funding owed to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Attorney General James sued the administration on September 30th after DHS cut New York’s Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) allocation from over $33 million to zero. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a final decision in the case restoring the funds for New York.
“This ruling protecting critical counterterrorism funding is a victory for every New Yorker who rides our subways, buses, and commuter rails,” Governor Hochul and AG James said. “A court has once again affirmed that this administration cannot punish New York by arbitrarily wiping out critical security resources and defunding law enforcement that keeps riders safe. We will always fight to ensure that New York gets the resources we need to support our law enforcement and keep people safe.”
Governor Hochul, NYRA CelebrateConstruction Milestone at Belmont Park
Governor Kathy Hochul this week joined The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), AECOM Tishman, Populous, and unionized construction workers for a ceremony marking the placement of the final beam at the new Belmont Park.
Belmont Park will re-open for live racing in September 2026 with the Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets, set to return to its Long Island home in 2027. The event was temporarily shifted to Saratoga Race Course. In May, Governor Hochul proudly announced the new Belmont Park as the site of the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The project to build a new Belmont Park will generate $1 billion in construction-related economic impact and create 3,700 construction-related jobs. Following the return of thoroughbred racing to Belmont in 2026, additional racing and non-racing activities at the new facility are estimate to generate $155 million in annual economic output and produce $10 million in new state and local tax revenue per year.
DEC Announces Funding Now Available for Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations for Municipalities
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) this week announced that the next round of the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Grant program and the Municipal ZEV Rebate program are now open for applications. A total of $5 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and $585,000 for municipalities to purchase electric vehicles for fleet use are available.
The $5 million ZEV grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant program to support the installation of Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle chargers, in addition to hydrogen filling station components. DEC is accepting applications through 4 p.m. on February 27, 2026, available through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) under the name “2025 Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grants.”
The Municipal ZEV Rebate program provides rebates to municipalities that purchase electric vehicles for fleet use. A total of $585,000 is available this round on a first-come, first-served basis and available to municipalities that purchase – or lease for a minimum of 36 months – an eligible electric vehicle placed into service between September 28, 2024, and February 27, 2026. All-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are eligible for rebates.
Electric vehicle rebates are available on a tiered basis, ranging from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on the electric range of the vehicle. Medium-duty vehicles are eligible for a rebate of $7,500 regardless of electric range.
DEC is accepting applications on a rolling basis through 3 p.m. on February 27, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first. For more information, see the RFA posted on DEC’s website. Applications are available through the NYS Statewide Financial System Grants Management System.
State DOT to Hold Public Open House for Future of Capital Region’s I-787 Corridor
New York State Department of Transportation will host a public open house to educate the public on next steps in reimagining the I-787 corridor in the Capital Region, now that the Planning and Environmental Linkages Study has concluded. The public is invited to attend the open house on Tuesday, October 21st, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center.
The State invested up to $40 million in the FY26 Enacted Budget for the State Department of Transportation to begin an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the project, which will lay the groundwork for a future project along the corridor. The environmental review will examine ways to enhance waterfront access along the Hudson River for all users of the road, connect neighborhoods and key destinations in communities along the corridor, and address the infrastructure of I-787, the South Mall Expressway, the Dunn Memorial Bridge, and additional infrastructure along the study area.
Adams Administration Updates New Yorkers on Programs to Make Life More Affordable for New Mothers and Families
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park this week detailed a new initiative that aims to break the cycle of infant homelessness in New York City. Officially launched on September 15, 2025, the pilot program, “Creating Real Impact at Birth” (CRIB), connects and prioritizes pregnant New Yorkers applying for shelter with housing vouchers.
Through the pilot program, DSS will identify more than 300 pregnant New Yorkers who are applying for shelter and assign them to a housing subsidy that will allow them to more quickly move into stable homes before their children are born. The program is funded through an $8.5 million investment in DSS’ Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The pilot is projected to last at least 15 months, with the first three months focused on enrollment.
In addition, under a new program launching later this month, “NYC Baby Boxes”, supplies will be distributed to families of every baby born at four public hospitals: NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, Bronx, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Bronx, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Brooklyn and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Queens.
The boxes contain a collection of postpartum and newborn supplies, including diapers and wipes, a “NYC Loves Me” onesie and cap, footie pajamas, a baby carrier, a baby thermometer, baby nail clippers, a nasal aspirator, burp cloths, baby shampoo, diaper rash cream, a Goodnight Moon board book, postpartum pads, nipple cream, and a New York City baby-themed diaper bag.
Across these four hospitals, more than 7,000 babies are delivered each year. The NYC Baby Box is a collaboration between Mayor Adams’ office, NYC Health + Hospitals, Welcome Baby USA, and the United Way of New York City.
Finger Lakes Wine Region, Named “2025 American Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast
Finger Lakes region was named the 2025 American Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast as part of the magazine’s prestigious Wine Star Awards. The honor recognizes the region’s world-class winemaking, sustainable practices and collaborative community that have helped define New York State as a leader in American viticulture.
“The Finger Lakes have been a beacon of innovation, resilience, and quality within American wine,” Wine Enthusiast Media President Jacqueline Strum said. “The region’s winemakers combine deep respect for tradition with a forward-looking commitment to sustainability and community, producing wines that consistently stand among the world’s best. We recognize the Finger Lakes with a Wine Star Award as the 2025 American Wine Region of the Year for its exceptional wines, people and sense of place that make the region truly special.”
The Finger Lakes, home to 11 glacial lakes and more than 140 wineries, is the largest and most established wine-producing region in New York State. Anchored by Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, the area is internationally recognized for its cool-climate native and hybrid varieties, as well Riesling and Cabernet Franc. The Finger Lakes also produces world-class rosés and sparkling wines.
New York State was named “Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine in 2014. The award highlighted the state’s diverse regions, including Long Island, the Hudson River Region, the Finger Lakes, Niagara Escarpment, and Lake Erie.
Coming Up
New York State
Tuesday, October 21st
New York State Workers Compensation Board Meeting,328 State Street, Room 324, Schenectady, 10 a.m.
Public Hearing – Virtual learning in Higher Education, Roosevelt Hearing Room C, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, 10 a.m.
Public Hearing – Protecting Residential Ratepayers from Certain Increased Energy Costs, Roosevelt Hearing Room C, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 23rd
Public Hearing – Emerging Farmers, Roosevelt Hearing Room C, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, 10 a.m.
New York City
Wednesday, October 22nd
Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Public Safety, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Civil Service and Labor, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Environmental Protection, resiliency and Waterfronts, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 1, 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 23rd
Committee on Housing and Buildings, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Finance, Council Chambers – City Hall, 10 a.m.
Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction, 250 Broadway, 8th Floor, Hearing Room 1, 10 a.m.
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 11 a.m.
Committee on Women and Gender Equity, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 1, 1 p.m.
Committee on Hospitals, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 1, 1 p.m.
Committee on Veterans, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 1 p.m.
Committee on Aging, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 3, 1 p.m.
Committee on Contracts, 250 Broadway – 8th Floor – Hearing Room 2, 1:30 p.m.