Andrew Cuomo

March 14, 2023

Plans for AirTrain to LaGuardia have been scrapped

Plans to build an AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport are officially dead after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Monday released the results of a 17-month-long analysis of mass transit options to the Queens airport. A panel of experts recommended the Port Authority abandon the proposed 1.5-mile elevated rail line and instead move forward with improving existing bus service and adding a new non-stop airport shuttle. Estimated costs for the bus options are just under $500 million, according to the report, compared to estimates of between $2.4 billion and $6.2 billion for light rail options.
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March 3, 2022

Port Authority releases mass transit options as possible alternatives to LaGuardia AirTrain project

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday released a set of alternative options to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain project, a 1.5-mile elevated rail that would connect the airport with the subway system at Willets Point and link to the Long Island Rail Road. After Gov. Kathy Hochul halted the project last October and urged developers to look for alternate options, Port Authority has come up with 14 alternatives including two subway extensions, five light rail routes, five bus options, a ferry service, and options utilizing "emerging technologies."
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October 13, 2021

Cuomo’s $2.1B LaGuardia AirTrain project is halted

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday that it would be putting the brakes on any further development of the AirTrain, the proposed 1.5-mile elevated rail that would run between the airport and the eastern Queens neighborhood of Willets Point, with a connection to the subway and Long Island Rail Road. The project was a top priority for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. His successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has called for a review of alternatives to the project in response to opposition by community groups and local officials who have criticized its environmental review process, its impact on the surrounding community, and a dearth of alternatives being discussed.
Is it the end of the line for AirTran?
August 2, 2021

New York mandates vaccines or weekly testing for MTA and Port Authority employees

In a press conference this morning, Governor Cuomo announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will mandate COVID-19 vaccines or weekly testing for employees on the New York side. The protocol will go into effect starting Labor Day. "We beat the damn thing by being smart the first time. Be smart again," said the governor. This mandate joins a growing number that includes all state workers and all NYC municipal workers, including teachers and NYPD/FDNY members.
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July 28, 2021

New York orders all state workers to be vaccinated or tested regularly

All workers employed by New York State will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or get tested for the virus on a regular basis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The governor put in place an even more stringent mandate for state hospitals: all patient-facing healthcare workers must now be vaccinated, with no test option offered. The announcement comes days after Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out a similar requirement for all city workers and as President Joe Biden plans to announce all federal employees and contractors must be vaccinated or submit to testing.
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July 26, 2021

Cuomo announces $15M community-focused vaccine initiative amidst rising Covid cases

A state-run mass vaccination site at the Bay Eden Senior Center in the Bronx. March 2021. Photo by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Yesterday, New York State had 1,982 new Covid cases, up from 346 just one month ago. Of recent positive cases, 72.2 percent are linked to the Delta variant. Though 75 percent of the state's population is vaccinated, the numbers continue to rise among the 25 percent, or roughly 3.5 million people, who remain unvaccinated. To curb the spread, Governor Cuomo today announced a $15 million initiative to work with community-based organizations that can help advocate for the vaccine in communities with both high Covid spread and low vaccination rates.
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July 21, 2021

Cuomo’s $2.1B AirTrain to LaGuardia gets federal approval

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey can move forward with its proposal to build a $2.1 billion AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday. The 1.5-mile elevated rail would run between the airport and the eastern Queens neighborhood of Willets Point, with a connection to the subway and Long Island Rail Road. The agency's final decision was delayed last month after community groups and elected officials raised concerns about the review process and the logistics of building the AirTrain.
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July 12, 2021

See the 900-unit affordable complex designed by Adjaye Associates coming to East Flatbush

A 900 unit affordable housing complex with public green space and community amenities is coming to Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced the state selected the proposal to redevelop 7.2 acres of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center Campus following a request for proposals last summer. Designed by Sir David Adjaye's Adjaye Associates and Studio Zewde, the $400 million project includes affordable and supportive housing, senior housing, opportunities for homeownership, and two new homeless shelters that will replace existing, outdated ones.
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July 6, 2021

Cuomo’s ‘Circle of Heroes’ monument proposed for Battery Park City will be relocated after protests

A new monument honoring essential workers will no longer be built in Battery Park City's Rockefeller Park after the community protested its location. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last month plans to construct at the Lower Manhattan park a "Circle of Heroes" memorial, which would include a circle of maple trees and an eternal flame. Opponents argue the monument would reduce green space and called out the governor's office for not working with the community. As seen in a video posted on Instagram last week and as first reported by Gothamist, George Tsunis, the chair of the Battery Park City Authority, told local residents: "This site is going to change. It's going to be a new site."
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June 23, 2021

New York to install ‘Circle of Heroes’ monument in Battery Park City to honor essential workers

A monument honoring the essential workers who served New Yorkers throughout the coronavirus pandemic will open in Battery Park City by Labor Day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The "Circle of Heroes" memorial will include a circle of 19 maple trees, representing the individual groups of essential workers and their contributions. In the center, an eternal flame will honor those lost to COVID, according to the governor.
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June 15, 2021

New York hits 70% vaccination rate, Cuomo lifts all Covid restrictions

Last week, Governor Cuomo announced that when New York hit a 70-percent vaccination rate among those 18+, he would lift reopening guidance across commercial and social settings. And as of today, the state has hit that milestone. In a celebratory press conference from the World Trade Center, the governor said, "We can now return to life as we know it." To mark the occasion, there will be 10 fireworks displays across the state tonight, including one in New York Harbor.
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June 10, 2021

From tow pound to public park, Pier 76 officially opens on Manhattan’s West Side

A former police tow pound on the Hudson River is now a public park. Pier 76 officially opened on Wednesday following a three-month, $31 million construction project that involved stripping the tow pound to its frame and removing the sides and roof. The structure's steel skeleton remains at the 5.6-acre site, with new areas to walk around, benches to sit and enjoy the waterfront views, and panels highlighting the area's history as a major shipping port.
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June 7, 2021

New York will lift all remaining Covid restrictions when vaccination rate hits 70%

New Yorkers can expect almost all Covid restrictions to be lifted very soon. The state's vaccination rate as of today is 68.6 percent; when it hits 70 percent, reopening guidance will be lifted across commercial and social settings. This includes capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screenings, and contact tracing information. Consistent with the CDC, current mask requirements will remain in place.
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May 17, 2021

The NYC Marathon returns this November at 60% capacity

Runners, take your mark. The annual New York City Marathon will be held this fall after last year's event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced the world's largest marathon will take place on November 7, the 50th running of the race. Participation will be limited to 60 percent capacity, or 33,000 runners, according to the governor.
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May 17, 2021

New York will lift mask mandate in line with CDC guidelines

After nearly a week of speculation, Governor Cuomo announced that the state of New York will adopt the CDC's new mask and social distancing guidance for fully vaccinated people. Effective May 19, those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine will not have to wear masks or maintain a six-foot distance indoors. However, consistent with the CDC, everyone will still be required to wear a mask on public transportation, in nursing homes, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, schools, and health care facilities.
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May 17, 2021

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

New York City's subway system resumed 24-hour service on Monday for the first time in over a year. Last May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed the subway overnight as part of a disinfection plan created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time the trains closed overnight since the subway first opened 116 years ago. The return of 24/7 service this week comes just two days before most capacity restrictions in New York are lifted and as rates of COVID have fallen across the state.
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May 13, 2021

Four new Metro-North stations in the Bronx will open by 2025, cost $1.58B

In a press conference today, Governor Cuomo announced that the plan to build four new Metro-North stations in underserved areas of the Bronx is officially moving forward after the state, federal government, and MTA all agreed to a $1.58 billion budget. Today, the state is reissuing the RFP for track upgrades and construction of stations at Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, and Co-op City. These trains will terminate at a reimagined Penn Station, reducing commute times for Bronx Residents by two-thirds.
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May 13, 2021

Here are the New York City sites vaccinating kids 12+

With approval from an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, the Pfizer vaccine is now available for children ages 12 to 15. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has authorized all New York providers to open eligibility for the vaccine to this age group. In New York City, there are over 200 sites offering Pfizer, the only vaccine approved for those aged 12 to 17, including at dozens of pharmacies across the five boroughs and some state-run sites.
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May 11, 2021

New design for Marsha P. Johnson State Park adds more greenery, scraps rainbow-striped mural

A new design was unveiled last week for Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg following backlash regarding the state's original proposal. During the local community board's Parks and Waterfront Committee meeting last Thursday, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners presented a revised plan that incorporates more greenery and plantings to the Brooklyn waterfront site and ditches the rainbow-striped plastic mural that opponents criticized, as first reported by Brooklyn Paper.
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May 10, 2021

Vaccines coming to Grand Central, Penn Station, and more subway and train stations

With vaccination rates declining, the state is continuing to come up with incentives for New Yorkers to get the shot, from free Yankees and Mets tickets to free admission to museums. The latest is a partnership with the MTA to bring vaccines to busy subway, LIRR, and Metro-North stations, including Grand Central and Penn Station. Those who receive the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at these locations will receive a free seven-day MetroCard or two free one-way trips on the LIRR or Metro-North.
See all the locations
May 5, 2021

Yankees and Mets opening at full capacity for vaccinated fans, will offer vaccines at games

Are you a baseball fan who's still not vaccinated? Starting May 19, you can attend a game, get a free ticket, AND receive the Covid vaccine. In a press conference today, Governor Cuomo was joined by Yankees President Randy Levine and Mets President Sandy Alderson to announce the new initiative. He also announced that starting May 19, both New York City baseball stadiums will be able to increase capacity to 100 percent for vaccinated people and 33 percent with six-foot distancing for unvaccinated people. There will be two separate seating sections, both of which will require fans to wear masks.
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May 5, 2021

Broadway is coming back on September 14

In a press conference today, Governor Cuomo announced that tickets for future Broadway shows will go on sale on May 6, as performances are expected to resume at 100 percent capacity on September 14. All of New York City's 41 Broadway theaters closed on March 12, 2020, due to the Covid pandemic. "Broadway is at the core of our New York identity, and a big part of our economy which employs countless performers and show creators, and beginning this September, the show will go on," the governor said.
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May 3, 2021

Most capacity restrictions to be lifted in New York on May 19

Most state-mandated capacity restrictions in New York will be lifted on May 19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday. According to the governor, this means restaurants, stores, gyms, salons, amusement parks, and offices can reopen at 100 percent capacity for the first time in 14 months. The six-foot social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will remain in effect at these places, which could still limit capacity depending on the space available. In anticipation of the reopening, on May 17, 24/7 subway service will resume.
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April 28, 2021

New York’s dining curfew ends, bar seating returns next month

Starting next month, the 12 a.m. curfew at New York restaurants and bars will end and bar seating will be allowed again, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. Indoor bar seating, off-limits to customers in New York City since last March, will reopen on May 3. The midnight curfew will be lifted for outdoor dining on May 17 and for indoor dining on May 31.
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April 27, 2021

Walk-up COVID vaccinations open for all New Yorkers at city- and state-run sites

In a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that starting April 29, all state-operated mass vaccination sites will accept walk-in appointments for anyone age 16 and up. This includes the Javits Center, Medgar Evans College, and the Aqueduct Racetrack. Last Friday, the same rule went into effect for city-run sites. Previously, walk-up shots were restricted by age.
Details here