Dear Neighbor,

May has been a busy month in Albany. Although April was technically Earth Month, it turned out that we passed several critical environmental bills this month, some of which I have highlighted below. You will also find other legislative updates, information about a number of upcoming in-district events including my Older Adult Roundtable series and a Town Hall on the new Good Cause Eviction protections for market rate tenants, and other useful information.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Senate Passes Climate Change Superfund Act

Early this month the State Senate passed the Climate Change Superfund Act (S.2129/A.3351), first-in-the-nation legislation that will use the polluter-pays model exemplified by existing federal and state superfund laws to collect $75 billion over twenty-five years for climate change adaptation from the parties most responsible for causing the climate crisis - the biggest multinational oil, gas, and coal companies.

Click here to read my recent Letter to the Editor in the Mid-Hudson News explaining the need for the Superfund. And click here to read about how a similar bill just became law this week in Vermont.

The climate crisis is here, now. We can see its effects in every season - flooding, deadly blizzards, drenching rains, scorching heat, rising seas. Not only are these extreme weather events disruptive and sometimes deadly, they are also very expensive for individuals, businesses, and governments to repair from and prepare for. Estimates for statewide climate adaptation costs range into the hundreds of billions of dollars for projects like rebuilding crumbling roads or shoring up waterfront bulkheads. These expenses are non-negotiable; when a bridge washes away, you can’t say “no more bridge” – you must rebuild it, stronger than before.

Last year, Governor Hochul announced $2.7 billion in spending to address climate impacts. Estimates for upgrading New York City’s sewer system stand at $100 billion. A proposal to protect the City from flooding could cost more than $50 billion. The price tag for protecting Long Island is estimated to be at least $75 to $100 billion.

It’s not just state taxes – these costs are already showing up in your local taxes too. A study by the State Comptroller recently found that from 2018 to 2028, 55% of New York State localities' municipal spending outside of New York City was or will be related to managing climate impacts. In the 2023 fiscal year, New York City planned to spend $2.1 billion on projects dedicated exclusively or partially to adaptation and resilience.

There is no question that these costs must be paid. The only question for legislators is who will foot the bill. The Climate Change Superfund Act would require around 40 of the largest multinational oil, gas, and coal companies, like Saudi Aramco, Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and BP – the ones who made the mess that the rest of us are cleaning up – to collectively pay $75 billion over 25 years for damages caused by their past activities. To put this amount in context, just one of those companies, ExxonMobil, made $36 billion in profits last year alone.

Economists agree that because of the way the Superfund is designed, Big Oil companies will not be able to pass on the costs to consumers. The oil companies know this, and that’s why they strongly oppose Superfund while supporting carbon pricing plans, like the Cap & Invest program, that are designed to allow them to pass costs along.

By passing the Climate Change Superfund Act, the Senate has demonstrated yet again that we have taxpayers' backs, making it clear that when it comes to the hundreds of billions of dollars our state will have to spend to repair from and prepare for climate change-driven extreme weather, we don't believe New Yorkers should be left holding the bag and paying those costs alone. The companies that made the mess - Big Oil and Gas - should help clean it up. Now it's up to the Assembly and the Governor to decide if they want to continue to burden New Yorkers with these costs.

Legislature Passes TREES Act

This month, the Tropical Rainforest Economic & Environmental Sustainability (TREES) Act passed both the Senate and Assembly. The bill, a previous version of which also passed both houses last year but was vetoed by Governor Kathy Hochul in December, made several changes to address concerns raised by the governor, while retaining the nation-leading impact of the original bill. The governor was recently named a co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan alliance of 24 state governors, and on the day the TREES Act passed the Senate, she delivered remarks at the Vatican on "Climate Leadership in the Empire State." 

Tropical forests harbor close to 50 percent of all species on Earth. Those species are now going extinct at a rate that is at least 100 to 1,000 times higher than historical levels, due to human activity. Taking into account carbon sequestration potential, stopping the loss of tropical forests, mangroves, and wetlands could provide over 20 percent of necessary climate mitigation by 2030.

Globally, an estimated 18,000,000 acres of forest, an area more than half the size of New York State, are lost every year to deforestation according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with over one-half of Earth’s tropical forests already gone. At the current pace, the entirety of Earth’s tropical rainforests will be degraded or destroyed within the next 100 years.

Loss of biodiversity resulting from forest degradation and deforestation, as well as human encroachment on formerly undisturbed ecosystems, also increases the risks of zoonotic disease pandemics such as COVID-19.

The TREES Act would help to ensure that New York State government procurement does not drive tropical deforestation or degradation by tightening an existing state ban on the use of tropical hardwoods for government projects, and creating a new statute requiring state contractors who deal in forest-risk commodities to certify that their products don't drive deforestation. New York would be the first state in the nation to implement such a policy, following in the footsteps of the European Union, which recently enacted economy-wide deforestation regulations.

Many businesses throughout the United States and across the world are already increasingly engaged in efforts to ensure their supply chains are transparent, traceable, ethical, and environmentally sound, whether in reaction to consumer pressure or government regulation, or out of an understanding of corporate social responsibility. Businesses that achieve ethical and sustainable supply chains may also be able to increase their appeal with certain consumers, charge premium prices, or access previously untapped markets as a result of their efforts.

In order to remain competitive, New York businesses, particularly small and medium-sized businesses and minority- and women-owned businesses, must be able to take advantage of and stay ahead of this socially responsible and beneficial trend. The proposed Supply Chain Transparency Assistance Program, included in the TREES Act, to be administered by Empire State Development, would be available to New York-based small and medium-sized businesses, as well as MWBEs, to help them establish more ethical and sustainable supply chains, while ensuring they have the tools they need to compete in the national and global marketplace.

While the governor has taken several steps to maintain New York's climate leadership, vetoing this measure last year was a step in the wrong direction. This is not some esoteric issue for tree-huggers – the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are already affecting New Yorkers right here at home. We have addressed the governor's concerns as they were expressed to us, and we are confident that the TREES Act can not only be successfully implemented, but will enhance New York's global role as an environmental leader, and boost New York businesses in the process. I hope that the governor will see this bill for what it is: an achievable, affordable, and necessary piece of critical climate legislation.

Senate Passes Lithium-Ion Battery Bill Package

This month the Senate passed a legislative package aimed at enhancing safety standards for lithium-ion batteries. This initiative is a proactive response to recent tragedies and severe property damage caused by faulty batteries and improper usage, especially as the popularity of e-bikes and scooters continues to rise. The Senate prioritized public safety and proactive governance by setting higher standards and providing necessary resources and training to mitigate risks and ensure New Yorkers are kept safe.

The bill package included:

• Lithium Ion Battery Mitigation: This bill, S.7746A, sponsored by Senator Iwen Chu, would require businesses to have on hand protection and suppression measures for fires including battery cases and fire extinguishers.
• Plug Warning Tag: This bill, S.7760A, sponsored by Senator Iwen Chu would require any micromobility devices, mopeds, and e-bikes to have a red tag attached to the charging cord that would state to unplug when not in use.
• Manufactured and Sale Standards of Lithium-Ion Batteries: This bill, S.154F, sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger would prohibit the sale of lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist or limited use motorcycles unless such batteries are manufactured in accordance with certain standards and specifications.
• Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Prevention Study: This bill, S.6660, sponsored by Senator Monica Martinez authorizes a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention to review the severity of lithium-ion battery fires.
• E–bike Operations Notice: This bill, S.7744C, sponsored by Senator Iwen Chu would require retailers to put a notice on any e-bikes that states you cannot use it on sidewalks or highways with a speed limit over 30 mph.
• Lithium-ion Battery Safety Program: This bill, S.6809B, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare establishes a safety program to provide new lithium-ion batteries at reduced cost or no cost to eligible individuals.
• E-Bike Operation Manual: This bill, S.7503B, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare requires retailers of e-bikes to provide customers with an operating manual.
• Lithium-ion Battery Emergency Response Training: This bill, S.8742, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare would incorporate training for lithium-ion battery emergency response into the Office of Fire Prevention and Control specialized hazardous materials emergency response training program.
• Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Resources: This bill, S.8743, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare Directs the Department of State, in consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to develop and maintain safety resources, information, and protocols in regard to fire hazard prevention relating to lithium-ion batteries.

Micromobility devices are here to stay, and their use is continuing to expand, so we must act quickly to ensure they are used in a responsible way that doesn't put other people at risk. Unsafe batteries are contributing to a serious threat to the health and safety of New Yorkers in their homes and in their jobs, whether it's delivery workers trying to make a living, or residential tenants living next to a fly-by-night charging business. When a piece of equipment has the potential to cause so much damage, we simply cannot have a wild west approach without any oversight. I'm glad that the Senate Majority is taking a thoughtful and thorough approach to this important issue.

Senate Passes Bill Updating Harassment Law

This month, the Senate passed my bill (S.2450) to update the definition of aggravated harassment in the second degree to include contacts via text, private message, direct message, email or other electronic communication.

Existing law treats telephone calls made with an intent to harass or threaten an individual as aggravated harassment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, but does not have any provision related to electronic communications such as text or email. As technology has evolved, forms of harassment have also evolved, and updating New York's penal law to reflect these changes will help protect New Yorkers from these new forms of harassment.

An incident that occurred in the district a few years ago where multiple individuals were sent unsolicited and unwanted text messages with sexually graphic images from the same individual highlights the need to update the law. Law enforcement representatives indicated that under existing law such communications could only be treated as harassment in the second degree, a violation. Since violations can only be charged in cases where law enforcement witnesses the offense, no charges could be brought in this case. By updating the law to treat texts, private messages, emails and other electronic communications under the same standard as phone calls, this legislation will provide law enforcement with greater ability to address this new form of harassment.

This month, the Senate passed legislation that I carry, S.5853, that would create an Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program within NYSERDA.

Gas-powered landscaping equipment has a significant negative impact on workers, communities, and the environment. Electric equipment, on the other hand, is lighter, quieter, has lower maintenance costs, a significantly smaller environmental footprint, and is better for workers’ health. S.5853/A.5681 would create an Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). It would offer point-of-sale rebates to commercial landscapers and institutional users, including municipalities, who purchase battery-powered electric landscaping equipment, such as leaf blowers, weed whackers, or lawn mowers.

Gas-powered landscaping equipment emits large amounts of greenhouse gases and harmful, smog-forming pollution, including hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particulate matter (PM). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has reported that operating a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving an average car 300 miles, the distance from New York City to Portland, ME. Operating a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving a car 1,100 miles, or from New York City to Tampa, FL. According to CARB, early in this decade the total smog-forming emissions from small off-road engines, the vast majority of which are residential and commercial lawn and garden equipment, will exceed those from passenger cars in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Noise is also a significant negative impact from gas-powered lawn care equipment. According to a 2018 report in the Journal of Environmental and Toxicological Studies, sound levels at distances of 100 to 400 feet were up to 22 decibels louder for gas-powered leaf blowers than their battery-electric equivalents (the decibel scale is logarithmic, so each increase of 10 represents a noise ten times louder). The report goes on to say, "The routine use of multiple [gas-powered leaf blowers] and other noisy equipment for hours a day exposes not only workers but large numbers of people in the community to harmful levels of noise and threatens not only worker health, but public health, particularly of children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.”

As of 2018, 170 communities in the US had enacted restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. In New York State, more than fifty cities, towns, and villages have bans or other restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers during certain times of year.

Addressing the climate crisis requires action on all fronts. Gas-powered landscaping equipment emits a stunning amount of greenhouse gases and co-pollutants, not to mention the noise that blights communities across the state. This bill will make it easier for New York's landscaping companies to transition to cleaner, quieter equipment. It's a win for small businesses, workers, communities, and our shared environment.

This month, both houses of the Legislature passed a bill that I carry with Assm. Harvey Epstein, to ban the sale of disposable foam coolers in New York State starting in 2026.



While New York State and other jurisdictions have taken steps to ban polystyrene foam food and beverage containers, most such bans have left out one major source of polystyrene pollution: polystyrene foam coolers. These coolers - which are favored by day-trippers for their portability and insulation - pose a particular environmental threat. Many people bring foam coolers with them to beaches or lakes; this proximity to our waterways makes it more likely that the coolers end up as pollution. Many foam coolers are left behind as litter or placed in open waste receptacles and ultimately wash into the water. Every year, as many as seven million foam cooler boxes are sold across the nation. Too many of these will end up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Polystyrene foam presents risks to public health. While the full impact on human health is still being studied, scientists have concluded that microplastics leach toxic chemicals that can accumulate in the body and pose serious health consequences. The National Institute of Health, for example, recently added styrene - a major component of polystyrene foam - to their list of anticipated human carcinogens. Across the country, legislative bodies have been taking action to phase out polystyrene coolers.

New Yorkers love our beaches and waterways, and this ban will remove a significant source of pollution to help keep our waterfronts clean and reduce the ubiquitous scourge of plastic pollution.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed my bill (S.6460) to ban new for-profit hospices in New York State.

An article published in 2022 by ProPublica and digitally released in The New Yorker, titled "Hospice Became a For-Profit Hustle" shined a light on multiple instances of fraud targeting the Medicare hospice benefit. It illustrated how patient care suffers when bad actors are able to manipulate its original intent and purpose.

An earlier article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that "for-profit compared with nonprofit hospices provide narrower ranges of services to patients, use less skilled clinical staff, care for patients with lower-skilled needs over longer enrollment periods, have higher rates of complaint allegations and deficiencies, and provide fewer community benefits, including training, research, and charity care. For-profit hospices are more likely than nonprofit hospices to discharge patients prior to death, to discharge patients with dementia, and to have higher rates of hospital and emergency department use."

For-profit organizations have a duty to their owners to generate as much profit as possible and distribute net income to the owners. Their obligations to the people they ostensibly serve are secondary. This is especially troubling in the case of hospice. The mission of hospice, providing compassionate end-of-life care, should not be subservient to providing profit to investors.

New York is uniquely situated to prevent the deterioration of end-of-life care described above, as currently only two of 41 hospices in New York are for-profit, compared to a national average of two-thirds as of 2017. Now is the time to place the care and safety of persons who are dying first and foremost over profit.

This month the Senate passed my bill (S.7860) to require dealers of limited use motorcycles, which includes mopeds, to register with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and requires that any vehicles they sell must have VIN numbers. This bill works in tandem with one carried by Senator Hoylman-Sigal (S.7703) to require all limited used motorcycles to be registered before they leave the dealer. Both bills are carried in the Assembly by Assembly Member Bores.

In recent years, many bike shops, motorcycle dealerships, and other unregistered businesses have begun to sell mopeds without registering with the DMV. This has created an environment where individuals can purchase mopeds without the required license and insurance, and an increasing number of mopeds are leaving businesses without valid license plates or registrations. One of the first steps to cutting down on the amount of mopeds not abiding by the State's traffic laws is to make sure that when people are purchasing a moped, they are doing so at an approved location where salespeople will abide by other State laws related to ensuring that the vehicle is appropriately registered and the purchaser has the required license and insurance.

These two bills will protect everyone involved in these transactions. Right now, buyers may not know that they are supposed to register their mopeds, particularly if dealers are incorrectly describing them as e-bikes. That leaves the buyers vulnerable to having their mopeds impounded. At the same time, it may provide some additional level of protection against the spate of crimes committed by people who use unregistered mopeds to quickly escape the scene.

This month I was pleased to honor Nancy Houghton at the Senate's annual Women of Distinction award ceremony.

Nancy is a passionate advocate for older adults who has worked in the field of aging for more than 30 years, and spent countless hours serving the community as a volunteer.

A longtime resident of the Upper East Side, she joined the nonprofit organization Health Advocates for Older People (HAFOP) in 2001, and currently serves as its Executive Director. HAFOP promotes safe and healthy aging through programs designed to facilitate independent living, physical well-being, and greater social interaction. HAFOP provides free classes and presentations to over 1,500 older New Yorkers each year, offering 22 weekly exercise and wellness classes, informational seminars, and social activities in 14 locations, as well as online. In addition, HAFOP provides free home safety assessments and gently used assistive equipment to older adults in the community.

Before joining HAFOP, Nancy was the Housing Coordinator at the James Lenox House, an affordable housing residence for older adults on the Upper East Side. She also served as the Executive Director of the Annie Rensselaer Tinker Association for Women, a foundation that assisted hundreds of retired women struggling financially to continue to live in their homes with independence, safety, and dignity.

Previously, Nancy was the Registrar and Exhibition Coordinator at the Grolier Club, America’s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts of the graphic arts. There, she installed nine rare book exhibitions each year.

A lifelong volunteer, the New York Junior League named Nancy as their Outstanding Sustainer in 2018 for her many years as a devoted volunteer to the organization. She was particularly honored for the 17 years she spent focusing on early childhood development issues, teaching free classes to new parents and their children during the first three years of life. She also has been an active member of the Church of the Heavenly Rest for many years, volunteering in various programs, including Altar Guild. The Volunteer Referral Center honored Nancy at their 30th Anniversary Gala.

Earlier this month, the Albany Times Union ran an op-ed by advocates from the organization We Are Egg Donors, which advocates for rights and protections for egg donors. They write about the impact that lack of regulation in this multi-billion dollar industry has on the people who donate eggs, and the incentives for bad behavior. My bill, S.7749, will close these regulatory gaps.

I was happy to welcome the Knickerbocker Greys to Albany this month and to introduce them to my colleagues in the Senate. The Greys had an eventful visit to the State Capitol. In addition to touring, they met other representatives to discuss the bill I sponsor in the Senate (S.7212) granting them permanent headquarters at the 67th Street Armory. Assemblymember Bores carries the bill in the Assembly. 

To learn more about the Greys, go to www.knickerbockergreys.org.

NYS Master Plan on Aging (MPA)

Session I: NYS’s Master Plan for Aging: What’s In the Plan, What’s Still Needed, and What’s Next

June 18th, 10am - 11:30am

2024 Virtual Older Adult Roundtable Series: New York State’s Master Plan on Aging (MPA) 

New York State’s older adult population is growing. By 2030, 1 out of 4 New York residents will be 60 years old or older.  

In 2022, the Governor established New York’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA), and charged the New York State Department of Health and the NYS Office for the Aging to develop a comprehensive roadmap to meet the needs of all New Yorkers as they age.

On Tuesday, June 18th from 10am – 11:30am, we will hold the first 2024 Roundtable session, which will provide an overview of the MPA, and the MPA planning process, as well as offer the perspectives of leading MPA stakeholders on some of the challenges and opportunities. Finally, experts from California will share what they’ve learned from other states and their own planning effort.

Speakers will include:

Andrew Lebwohl 

Director, Center for the Master Plan for Aging

Office of Aging and Long Term Care

New York State Department of Health

Megan Burke, LCSW

Program Officer, Policy and Advocacy

SCAN Foundation

Erin Westphal 

Program Officer

SCAN Foundation

Laura Trejo, DSW, MSG, MPA

Director

LA County Aging and Disabilities Department

Beth Finkel

Executive Director 

AARP of NY

Alison Nickerson

Executive Director 

LiveOn New York

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom.

You will also have the option to view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook.

Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Andrew Lebwohl, Megan Burke, Erin Westfall, Laura Trejo, Beth Finkel, and Alison Nickerson,. If you have questions about the Master Plan for Aging, the MPA planning process, who is involved, or the timeline, you should attend the Virtual Roundtable on June 18th. Attendees will be able to submit questions through Zoom and Facebook during the event but are *strongly* encouraged to submit them in advance.

Right now you can *only* RSVP for the first session on Tuesday, June 18th. A confirmation email will be sent you approximately two weeks before the event.

Below you will find the dates for the four (4) remaining MPA sessions. Mark your calendar for future Roundtable Sessions. We will send out separate RSVP forms for each subsequent session a few weeks before they are scheduled. 

Session II

Tuesday, July 9th from 10 am – 11:30 am

Make the Transition Safely: Planning To Leave the Hospital and Go Home

Session III

Tuesday, August 6th 10 am – 11:30 am

Promoting Your Financial Security: The Power of Investing, Stocks, Bonds and Managing Risk

Session IV

Thursday, September 12th from 10 m – 11:30 am

New Technology Designed for Older People 

Session V

Thursday, September 26th from 10 am – 11:30 am

Advocacy

Good Cause Eviction: New Protections for Market Rate Renters

Thursday, June 20th, 6:30pm - 8pm

On Thursday, June 20th from 6:30pm – 8pm, join Senator Krueger for a virtual town hall on the new Good Cause Eviction law, which was passed in this year's State Budget and signed into law by the Governor.

This provision finally adds some new protections for many renters living in market rate units - in other words, those that are not rent regulated.

Hear from a leading Tenant Attorney on what is in the law and what it means for you.

Opening remarks by Senator Krueger, followed by Senator Brian Kavanagh, Chair, Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Chair, Assembly Standing Committee on Housing.

Speaker: 

Ellen Davidson

Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society

You will have the option of joining the event online through Zoom. You can also view the event online through Facebook. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account or profile to view the event through Facebook. Finally, you will have the option of calling in to access the audio-only portion of the event.

The event will feature a question and answer session with Ellen Davidson. If you have questions about the new Good Cause Eviction law, if there are limits on how much your landlord can raise your rent, and what kinds of rental units are covered by this law, you should attend the Town Hall on June 20th. Attendees will be able to submit questions through Zoom and Facebook during the event but are *strongly* encouraged to submit them in advance.

This event will be recorded, and the link to the event video and all the resources listed in the chat will be sent to everyone who RSVPed approximately a week after the event. 

A *confirmation* email will be sent you approximately two weeks before the event.

Please let us know if you plan to attend on June 20th by registering at https://tinyurl.com/Good-Cause-6-20-24.

This event is cosponsored by State Senators Kristin Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Brian Kavanagh, and Jose Serrano, Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal, Alex Bores, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright, and Tony Simone, and NYC Council Members Julie Menin, Keith Powers, and Carlina Rivera.

The Rent Guidelines Board will be holding a public hearing on June 11th from 5pm to 8pm at Adler Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th St.

The public can view the meeting via RGB’s YouTube channel but must participate in-person to testify. If you wish to speak at one of the hearings, you must register to speak and can do so by completing the hearing registration form. You can also register to speak on-site at a hearing from 5-8pm.

The proposed guidelines for rent stabilized apartments, lofts, and hotel units effective between 10/1/2024 and 9/30/2025 can also be found in the 2024 Notice of Public Hearings and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules. The Public Notice includes proposed guidelines approved at the preliminary vote; details of the public hearings; and information on how to comment on the proposed guidelines.

In addition to RGB public hearings, comments may also be submitted as audio, video and written testimony. Testimony must be received by Tuesday, June 11, 2024 to be considered before the 2024 Final Vote.  Please note that any submitted testimony (video, audio or written) may be accessible to the public.

Prerecorded audio and video testimony may be submitted to the Rent Guidelines Board via Dropbox. When you begin, please state your name clearly. Files are limited to audio and video, and testimony may not exceed 2 minutes: Submit Prerecorded Audio/Video Testimony

Testimony may also be submitted via telephone, by dialing (929) 256-5472 and leaving a recording. When you begin, please state your name clearly. Your testimony is limited to no more than 2 minutes.

Written testimony may be submitted via online form. Alternatively, you may email testimony, including any attachments, to ask@rgb.nyc.gov.

On Tuesday, the MTA announced that they will host six public webinars during the first three weeks of June where people can learn about Congestion Relief Zone tolling.

The 60-minute webinars will explain why New York needs congestion pricing, how the Congestion Relief Zone works, what the toll rates are, who is entitled to discounts and exemptions, and other things people need to know before tolling begins on Sunday, June 30. The sessions will feature a brief presentation, followed by Q&A.

Public Webinars: People can register for the public webinars through the links below:

• Wednesday, June 5: 11 a.m. -12 p.m.
• Thursday, June 6: 12-1 p.m.
• Monday, June 10: 6-7 p.m.
• Friday, June 14: 10-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, June 18: 12-1 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 18: 7-8 p.m. 

More information about all webinars can be found here.

FY2025 Grant Guidelines are now available for New York State nonprofit arts and culture organizations and artists at arts.ny.gov. $82 million in critical grant funding is now available to support the statewide creative sector.

The application portal will open on June 5, 2024, and the application deadline is July 17, 2024, at 4 PM.

NYSCA staff is available to help with any questions through webinars, virtual office hours and over email. These resources are all available on our NYSCA website.

In 2023, the New York City Council passed Local Law 171 requiring NYC DOT to redesign the city truck route network to enhance safety, increase visibility, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the overall freight roadway network.

The month NYC DOT launched its Truck Route Network Redesign Public Feedback Portal. The Portal will allow the public and freight industry to learn about the city’s truck route network and provide feedback. The public is able to comment and provide feedback through identifying issues and concerns of the current network via an interactive map. Feedback will help inform NYC DOT on how and where we can look to improve movement of trucks on city streets.

The deadline to provide public feedback is June 30, 2024.