Kathy Hochul

One of New York City's fastest-growing immigrant enclaves was officially recognized by the state over the weekend. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday signed legislation that establishes Little Yemen in the East Bronx as a cultural district, honoring the heritage and contributions of Yemeni Americans. The official designation also allows local organizations to become eligible for state grants and other assistance. Located within the Van Nest neighborhood, the new district is bordered by White Plains Road, Bronxdale Avenue, and Van Nest Avenue, where there are more than 500 businesses owned by people of Middle Eastern descent within a one-mile area.
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6 NYC subway stations begin ADA upgrades funded by congestion pricing

Photo by Angeline Wagner on Unsplash

October 15, 2026

6 NYC subway stations begin ADA upgrades funded by congestion pricing

The first subway station elevator built with funds from congestion pricing began construction this week. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the groundbreaking for the accessibility upgrade project at the 42nd Street-Bryant Park/5th Avenue complex, which includes four new elevators, a stair-free corridor in the station, accessible bathrooms, and new fare gates. Bryant Park is one of six station accessibility projects that kicked off this week, paid for using revenue from the city's congestion pricing program.
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MTA to bring new fare gates to 20 more subway stations after 35% drop in evasion

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul on Flickr

October 7, 2026

MTA to bring new fare gates to 20 more subway stations after 35% drop in evasion

After a pilot program of new fare gates at select New York City subway stations led to a 35 percent drop in fare evasion, the MTA plans to install them at 20 additional stations this year. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced the pilot results, as well as the next 20 stations to receive the modernized gates, which feature elements that make it much harder for commuters to hop over. The MTA has invited design firms Cubic, STraffic, and Conduent to submit bids for the next batch of gates, which are slated to be installed by the end of 2026.
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Three Queens medians to become green ‘sponges’ to help curb flooding

Credit: NYC Mayor’s Office

August 28, 2026

Three Queens medians to become green ‘sponges’ to help curb flooding

Several concrete roadway medians throughout Queens are being transformed into green infrastructure “sponges” designed to reduce flooding. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced an $8.4 million investment that will turn medians in Whitestone, Forest Hills, and Queens Village into landscaped green spaces. Together, the green medians will capture an estimated five million gallons of stormwater each year, reducing strain on sewer systems and improving water quality in the East River, Flushing Bay, and Jamaica Bay.
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Policy

LIRR will run year-round direct trips from Penn Station to Montauk

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 26, 2026

LIRR will run year-round direct trips from Penn Station to Montauk

Direct journeys to Montauk on the Long Island Rail Road will no longer be seasonal, with transit officials making the service permanently year-round. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced service changes and infrastructure upgrades to the LIRR's Montauk Branch, including the addition of a year-round weekday 5:13 p.m. train from Penn Station to the coastal hamlet, providing a one-seat journey to the eastern end of Long Island. Set to begin next month, the added service comes as the Montauk Branch has experienced continued growth, with ridership increasing 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
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New York provides $7.25M for legal services for immigrant children facing removal proceedings

Photo credit: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

August 13, 2026

New York provides $7.25M for legal services for immigrant children facing removal proceedings

New York will fund legal services for approximately 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant children who are facing active removal proceedings, including the more than 250 young people who are currently detained, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday. The $7.25 million in funding will help vulnerable children access legal representation after the Trump administration allowed a nationwide federal contract providing legal services for over 24,000 unaccompanied migrant children to expire on July 31. The new state funding will ensure all children in active removal proceedings have access to representation.
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Policy

New York will test new thermal tech that cools down NYC subway platforms

All photos courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 11, 2026

New York will test new thermal tech that cools down NYC subway platforms

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and state officials this week announced plans to cool New York City subway platforms that turn into saunas during the summer. The mayor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are teaming up to study thermal energy networks (TENs) at the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Chamber Street complex, among the city's hottest subway platforms. The technology, the first in the nation installed in a transit system, involves capturing, storing, and recycling the excess heat to surrounding buildings in the winter. The TENs study will be part of a thorough renovation of the Chambers Street station, one of the city's oldest.
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Transit

NYC homeowners sue the city for ‘mass confusion’ over pied-à-terre tax

Billionaires’ Row from Harlem. Photo by joiseyshowaa on Wikimedia

August 10, 2026

NYC homeowners sue the city for ‘mass confusion’ over pied-à-terre tax

A handful of property owners have begun a legal challenge against New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rollout of the new pied-à-terre tax, claiming the "chaotic" rollout of the measure caused mass confusion, as Gothamist reported. The surcharge, aimed at people who own second homes valued at over $5 million for one-to-three family homes and over $1 million for condos or co-ops, began with the publication of a Department of Finance (DOF) database of 900,000 properties, many of which were not actually subject to the tax. The complaint alleges that the city violated state law by subsequently sending 17,000 letters to homeowners alerting them that they may be subject to the high-value property tax. On Monday, a State Supreme Court judge on Staten Island granted a temporary restraining order on behalf of the homeowners, briefly putting a pause on the tax rollout, but city officials quickly filed an appeal, which served to block the judge's order pending review by a higher court.
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Policy

MTA completes Park Avenue Viaduct replacement 60 months early

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 28, 2026

MTA completes Park Avenue Viaduct replacement 60 months early

Work on the Park Avenue Viaduct, a critical Metro-North corridor in Upper Manhattan, has been completed 60 months ahead of schedule and $195 million under budget. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the completion of the project, which replaced 196 bridge structures and more than 12,600 feet of railroad infrastructure over 28 weekends. The $765 million project aims to strengthen the reliability of the corridor, which carries 98 percent of Metro-North service and all trains traveling to and from Grand Central Terminal.
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See plan to add 1,100 apartments and new park across from the Intrepid Museum in Hell’s Kitchen

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

July 15, 2026

See plan to add 1,100 apartments and new park across from the Intrepid Museum in Hell’s Kitchen

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced the development team selected to transform a Hell's Kitchen parking lot used by the Intrepid Museum into a mixed-use development with more than 1,100 apartments. Gotham Organization, Fisher Brothers, and Mural Real Estate Group will turn the state-owned site at 621 West 45th Street into two connected skyscrapers with 1,127 homes, including about 338 affordable units, new facilities for the museum, and a public park that connects to the existing pedestrian bridge. The project stems from a request for proposals issued in February 2025 for one of the largest remaining undeveloped parcels on Manhattan’s Far West Side.
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New York imposes nation’s first one-year ban on new large data centers

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul on Flickr

July 14, 2026

New York imposes nation’s first one-year ban on new large data centers

New York became the first state in the nation on Tuesday to impose a temporary moratorium on the construction of large new data centers, which require immense power to fuel artificial intelligence tools. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a one-year pause on new data centers that consume 50 megawatts or more of power to give officials time to develop measures to protect New Yorkers and the environment following concerns raised by communities about the environmental impacts and rising energy costs stemming from the facilities.
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New York to consider dual bid by NYC and Lake Placid to host the Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy; photo credit: profernity on Flickr.

June 22, 2026

New York to consider dual bid by NYC and Lake Placid to host the Winter Olympics

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday the formation of a state committee to explore the possibility of a bid by Lake Placid and New York City to co-host a future Winter Olympics. The Lake Placid-New York City Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee would evaluate the feasibility of a 2042 Winter Games concept–similar to this year's Olympics in Milan and Cortina–that made use of Lake Placid's Olympic legacy and New York City's global platform, according to the governor.
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Events & Things To Do

Knicks-themed Penn Station subway entrance will stay orange and blue through next season

Images courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 18, 2026

Knicks-themed Penn Station subway entrance will stay orange and blue through next season

A subway entrance at 34th Street and 8th Avenue that was transformed during the New York Knicks' playoff run will stay painted orange and blue through at least next season. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA this week announced the spirited entrance will be preserved through the 2026-2027 season in celebration of the team's first NBA championship in five decades. Transformed by the MTA earlier this month, the Knicks-themed station, which included turning the lamp globes into basketballs, became a viral sensation and a destination for fans and those attending games at Madison Square Garden.
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New York announces free World Cup Final watch party in Central Park for 50,000 fans

Global Citizen Festival in 2014. Photo by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia Commons

June 8, 2026

New York announces free World Cup Final watch party in Central Park for 50,000 fans

One of the largest FIFA World Cup 2026 Final watch parties in the world will take place in Central Park. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced that a watch party for 50,000 people will be held on the famous Great Lawn on July 19. The event, which will include giant LED screens, food vendors, and live performances, will be free to attend, but tickets are required.
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Events & Things To Do

New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

Billionaires’ Row from Harlem. Photo by joiseyshowaa on Wikimedia

May 28, 2026

New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

New York City is getting its pied-à-terre tax. State lawmakers on Wednesday approved the $268.5 billion 2027 state budget, which included a new annual surcharge on second homes in the city valued at $5 million or more. First announced last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the new tax will take effect July 1 and could potentially generate $500 million in revenue for the city each year. According to the governor, the tax ensures those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still "fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services," like police and fire departments, sanitations, parks, and more.
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Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

“Let Them Build” rally in February. Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

May 27, 2026

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation to reform the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), cutting red tape that critics say has long delayed housing development. The "common-sense" reforms, the most significant changes to SEQRA since its passage in 1975, are expected to accelerate the construction of new housing by up to two years. Hochul first unveiled the changes in February alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani and included it in her fiscal year 2027 budget.
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Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

ASTM North America’s Penn Station overhaul proposal from 2023. Rendering courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

May 20, 2026

Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

Penn Station's overhaul took a big step forward on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a joint venture made up of Halmar International and Skanska, as the master developer of the project following a bidding process. The developer will build a "brand-new world-class station," according to an announcement on Wednesday, with open concourses and expanded track capacity, while keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location. The news comes a day after Transportation Secretary Duffy announced the federal government would spend $8 billion to rebuild Penn Station.
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What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

Photo credit: via Pixabay

May 18, 2026

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

With a proud history of immigration through Ellis Island, New York City is home to more than three million foreign-born residents, 38 percent of the population, and over 500,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Migration Studies. With a long-held reputation as a safe haven, the city prides itself on being a “sanctuary city,” with policies firmly in place that aim to protect anyone targeted by immigration authorities, regardless of their status, except those with serious criminal convictions. New York City offers some of the nation’s most robust protection, but state legislation has lagged behind. What do sanctuary laws actually accomplish—and what's being done to improve their reach?
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Policy

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Credit: 6sqft

May 18, 2026

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Commutes for more than 250,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders were upended Monday as workers at the nation’s busiest commuter rail service remained on strike amid a wage dispute. More than 3,500 workers represented by five unions walked off the job Saturday, shutting down rail service as they pushed for a 14.5 percent raise over four years, which union leaders say is necessary to keep pace with inflation, according to ABC News. A full day of negotiations that began Sunday and ran into Monday morning failed to produce an agreement, forcing commuters to rely on alternate transportation or work from home while talks continue.
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NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 13, 2026

NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Riding a shuttle bus to the FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium this summer just got much cheaper. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that, with financial support from the state and other sponsors, round-trip shuttle tickets will cost $20, down from the previously announced $80 fare, as first reported by The Athletic. Of the roughly 18,000 shuttle tickets available per match, 20 percent will be reserved for New York residents. NJ Transit has also lowered round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium to $98, after initially setting prices at $150 before reducing them to $105 last week.
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Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia

April 15, 2026

Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday proposed a yearly tax on non-primary residences in New York City. After resisting calls to tax high-income earners led by progressive leaders like Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the governor is now embracing a surcharge on secondary homes in the five boroughs valued at $5 million and above. Known as pieds-à-terre, these properties are occupied by part-time residents who usually stay there while working or visiting the city. While it's not the first time such a tax has been proposed in recent years, the new push for the surcharge comes as the city deals with a multibillion-dollar budget gap.
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Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

Credit: Ray Raimundi/MTA on Flickr

April 2, 2026

Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

Diesel-powered refrigeration units that have long emitted air pollution in the Bronx will be replaced by cleaner models, funded by revenue from New York City’s congestion pricing program. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced 20 diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) at the Hunts Point Produce Market will be replaced with cleaner diesel and hybrid units, which are projected to cut annual particulate matter emissions by 99.7 percent and nitrogen oxide by 66 percent. Replacing just one diesel-powered TRU with a newer model eliminates the equivalent particulate matter emissions of 330 truck trips per day on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
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MTA to replace more than 2,000 NYC subway cars, largest order in agency history

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 20, 2026

MTA to replace more than 2,000 NYC subway cars, largest order in agency history

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking a manufacturer to deliver 2,390 new subway cars, the largest order in the transit system’s history. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the request for proposals (RFP) on Friday, which calls for a base order of 1,140 R262 cars to replace the R62 and R62A fleets on the 1, 3, and 6 lines. An additional 1,250 cars could be ordered to replace the R142 and R142A fleets on the 2, 4, and 5 lines.
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Waymo in 2021. Photo courtesy of Waymo.

February 20, 2026

Hochul nixes robotaxis outside NYC