Dear Neighbor,

After last month's newsletter, I received an email from a constituent suggesting that I begin with an update on what is happening in Washington, and how it impacts our lives in the 28th District. Of course, given the sheer volume of previously unimaginably destructive policies being fired off from the Trump/Musk Administration, following their well-known strategy of "flooding the zone," or what Steve Bannon calls "muzzle velocity," I can only cover a small proportion of the information.

The blunders are seemingly innumerable, including firing (then failing in their belated attempts to rehire) critical staff at the National Nuclear Security Agency, workers who maintain the western US electrical power grid, and workers preventing the spread of bird flu, not to mention Ebola.

And, unsurprisingly, Elon Musk's claims that his "Department of Government Efficiency" (which is neither a department nor particularly efficient) has saved billions of dollars in federal spending have turned out to be bunk.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy performed an analysis of President Trump’s economic proposals in October. These proposals included extending his tax cuts for the richest, lowering the corporate tax rate, repealing Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, and imposing tariffs on imported goods. It should come as no surprise that, taken together, these policies transfer wealth from the vast majority of Americans to the richest 5%. In other words, if you make less than $360,000 per year, you will get the short end of the stick, as these graphs show:

Here is a small sample of the damaging policies that Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Republicans in Congress are advancing that directly impact us:

Medicaid Cuts

The budget bill passed this week by Republicans in Congress would decimate Medicaid spending, including for the expansion of coverage under the Affordable Care Act that millions of New Yorkers, and millions more Americans in 40 other states, rely on. The ACA reduced New York's uninsured rate from 11.9% in 2010, to just 4.8% in 2023 (lower than the nationwide rate of 8%). 70 million people rely on Medicaid – that’s 1 in 5 Americans, primarily children, older adults, working people, and families. Of that, 21 million adults are covered because of the ACA expansion. 7 million New Yorkers – more than 1 in 3 – are covered through Medicaid, including nearly half of NYC residents. Medicaid covers almost half of all births in the US, and more than half of all long-term care spending. In New York, these reckless cuts would blow a more-than $50 billion hole in our state budget.

SNAP Cuts

Congress is eyeing cuts to SNAP equal to around 20% of its budget. Almost 43 million Americans are enrolled in SNAP, including nearly 3 million New Yorkers, and 90% of those are older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children.

SNAP is a safety net program - growth in the program reflects the growing affordability crisis, not some imagined “waste, fraud, and abuse.” If Republicans want to save money on the costs of the social safety net that protects all Americans, they should address the things that cause the affordability crisis, rather than giving tax breaks to billionaires. In fact, since most SNAP money is spent locally, it is also an economic development program that generates $1.54 in economic activity for every dollar spent. Cutting SNAP will hurt local businesses and cost jobs.

My office regularly helps constituents – our neighbors – who are barely scraping by with very low incomes, often having to decide between food, rent, or heat. Most of them are older adults who have worked their entire lives. Cuts to SNAP and similar safety net programs promise a return to the 19th century, where Americans who were old, disabled, children, or just down on their luck, were left out in the cold with no place to turn.

IRS Cuts

This month Musk and Trump announced their plan to fire 6,700 IRS employees. Currently the federal government fails to collect around $700 billion in taxes that are owed. In other words, some people, mostly very wealthy people and corporations who owe a lot, are cheating on their taxes and effectively stealing $700 billion from the rest of us.

IRS employees are the cops on the beat, trying to reduce that number and increase collections. Firing thousands of them will undoubtedly make the problem worse, and that will cost you and me and every other American who actually plays by the rules and pays their taxes.

Not only that, but it will make your experience of paying taxes much worse, since many of those employees are the ones who help you when you have a question or a problem. In short, Musk and Trump just made it harder for you to file your taxes, and easier for their billionaire buddies to cheat on theirs.

EPA Cuts

President Trump recently announced that his newly appoint EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, will be looking to cut 65% of the staff at the EPA, and will also withdraw proposed regulations on “forever chemicals” that are widespread throughout our drinking water and are linked to cancer and reproductive damage. The EPA is a critical agency that protects human health and safety, by overseeing drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, air pollution, and radiation, in addition to greenhouse gas emissions. These cuts, like those at other critical agencies like the FAA, will only make Americans less safe and shift costs onto working families and local budgets.

Weather Reports

This morning it was reported that Elon Musk has summarily fired around 880 staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. NOAA is a critical, entirely non-partisan and non-political agency that provides vital data to the government and the public. Among other things, NOAA data is the basis for all weather reporting (including on TV and on your phone), as well as hurricane tracking, management of fisheries and coastal resources, and updating maritime maps that global shipping relies on. It also provides vital data on the causes and impacts of climate change, which is presumably one reason it found itself in Musk's crosshairs. Unfortunately, pulling the covers over our heads and not gathering data about it will not make climate change any less real, but it will certainly make it more expensive and more deadly.

Tariffs

After initially announcing 25% across-the-board tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, then putting the tariffs on hold, President Trump now says the tariffs are back on and will start next week. Of course, it's impossible to know whether anything the president says is true, which in itself hurts the economy, is a drag on job growth (uncertainty slows investment), and unsettles the market. But if Trump actually moves forward with this attack on Americans' wallets, it has been reported that it will "translate to a $835 hit per person in the United States, or $3,342 for a family of four." New Yorkers will be hit particularly hard, since Canada is our largest trading partner.

Congestion Pricing

Trump’s attempt to stop congestion pricing is not only illegal, it’s bad public policy. Congestion pricing was approved after a thorough administrative process that lasted four years and produced a 4,000-page environmental review. The arbitrary and capricious action by Trump’s Highway Administration is another illegal attempt to rule by fiat from a president who thinks he's a king. He is not, and congestion pricing should continue without interruption.

Congestion Pricing is succeeding in improving commutes, reducing congestion, and raising funds for the public transit nearly 90% of Manhattan commuters rely on, all while businesses in the zone enjoy an increase in foot traffic, and the program grows in popularity with New Yorkers who are actually impacted by it.

I am very pleased that Governor Hochul is standing up not just for the New Yorkers who benefit from this program, but also for New York’s sovereignty and the basic rule of law that our entire democratic system relies on.

LNG Exports

This may seem like something that only environmentalists care about (of course everyone should care about the continued survival of human civilization), but it will also have a significant impact on Americans' cost of living. In one of his first Executive Orders, President Trump rescinded the ban on new liquified natural gas export permits, meaning the big polluters will be able to export even more methane gas to other countries.

That’s great for companies like Chevron, which made over $200 billion in profits last year. But according to a study by the Department of Energy, it will increase the cost of gas for American families by 30% over the next two decades. And because currently methane gas is also used to generate electricity and for manufacturing, families will face a triple cost increase. And of course, it will make the climate crisis worse for everyone for generations.

So who wins? Well, besides the Big Oil billionaires who invested millions of dollars to put Trump in the White House, the biggest winner is China, which is the largest importer of natural gas.

In fact, President Trump's entire energy agenda is designed not to increase production and bring prices down, but to increase demand and keep prices up. That's why he's attacking cost-effective electric vehicles, money-saving appliance efficiency standards, and affordable technology like heat pumps that provide real energy independence for Americans.



All of these actions should concern Americans, because, to quote Rebecca Solnit, "most of us like safe transportation, mail delivery, public health, a stable world, competent management of our nuclear weapons stockpile, national parks, and an economy that isn't in collapse."

Below you will find updates on legislative activity in Albany, as well as upcoming events and other useful information. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at [email protected] or 212-490-9535.

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Earlier this month I publicly reiterated my position regarding Mayor Eric Adams. I continue to believe, as I have said publicly since September when the first federal corruption charges were announced, that if Mayor Adams does not resign, he should be removed by the governor. The charges against him are extensive, and they must be considered on top of the many other investigations into senior members of his administration that reveal a pattern of corruption and self-dealing that is utterly unacceptable at any level of government.

Now, in addition to all of that, he has made a deeply unethical deal with the Trump Administration to do the president’s bidding and put New Yorkers at risk in exchange for the charges against him being dropped. It is clear he is putting his own interest in avoiding prosecution for corruption above the interests, and the laws, of this city, and with four widely respected deputy mayors making the decision that they can no longer serve under him, his position has become completely untenable.

I have always believed that elected officials must be held to a much higher standard than the bare minimum of saying we have not yet been convicted of the corruption with which we have been charged in a court of law, and that we should avoid even the appearance of corruption, let alone a series of actions that lead to us being indicted, along with several of our senior appointees. Frankly, in my two decades as a State Senator, I have not found it particularly difficult to avoid engaging in fraud, bribery, or any other form of corruption. And, in the course of those two decades, I have had the dubious honor of calling on several elected officials to resign over misconduct - most of whom I did not align with politically, but some of whom I did. The partisan politics is irrelevant, what matters is the public trust and the stability and effectiveness of our system of governance.

New Yorkers deserve a mayor worthy of this great city, one whose integrity is not in question, regardless of whether they agree with him or her on policy grounds. Eric Adams is clearly not that person.

Rally for Abortion Clinical Training Program

This week I was joined by abortion advocates from across New York State and Assembly Member Harvey Epstein to support the New York State Abortion Clinical Training Program (S.1438A/A.2439A). This critical initiative seeks to solidify New York's position as a national leader in abortion access and training during a period of unprecedented nationwide attacks on reproductive rights.

The legislation would establish a state-funded program designed to address the growing shortage of abortion providers in New York and across the country. By investing in clinical training, the program aims to ensure that future generations of healthcare professionals are equipped to provide safe and accessible abortion care.

We are in the midst of a nationwide crisis of reproductive health care access. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, egregious state bans have increasingly restricted access to abortion care for women, and access to required clinical reproductive health care training for OB/GYN residents across the country. The Trump-Musk administration is poised to attack access to abortion care even further by targeting FDA regulation of mifepristone, telehealth medication abortion, and EMTALA provisions that ensure people experiencing pregnancy complications can receive emergency treatment. New York State is in a strong position to improve access for New Yorkers and other Americans by establishing and funding the New York State Abortion Clinical Training Program. New York must show leadership and act now to help address this reproductive health care and training access crisis.

The rally featured providers Dr. Heather Paladine (Immediate Past President of NYSAFP), Dr. Taylor Walker (Abortion Provider, President of Committee of Interns and Residents-SEIU, Abortion Positivity Project Board member), and Rose Mitchell (Licensed Midwife, Northeast Region Representative of New York State Midwives); and representatives from the Abortion Positivity Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, Committee of Interns and Residents-SEIU, Medical Students for Choice NYC, NYS Academy of Family Physicians, New York Midwives, and Downtown Women for Change.

Speakers highlighted the urgent need for the program, citing the increasing challenges faced by individuals seeking abortion care in other states, and underscored the importance of proactive measures to ensure that New York remains a safe haven for reproductive rights. The nationwide reproductive health training crisis that has emerged following the Dobbs decision continues to be exacerbated by escalating state-level abortion bans and increasing lack of training resources. Even within New York, with its relatively protective stance, abortion provider deserts and shortages of healthcare practitioners providing comprehensive reproductive services persist, and many authorized practitioners lack access to necessary training. In the face of federal efforts to restrict access to care, New York State must assume a leadership role by establishing the State Abortion Clinical Training Program to address critical training needs and provider shortages.

This week I joined my fellow elected officials representing the areas affected by the impending closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel in issuing a statement on the dismissal of a lawsuit attempting to prevent the closure:

"For the past 2 years, we have fought alongside community advocates to maintain access to healthcare in Lower Manhattan. Yesterday, a New York Supreme Court judge dismissed the latest lawsuit against the State Department of Health and Mount Sinai Health System and vacated the temporary restraining order (TRO) that had prevented Mount Sinai from proceeding to close the Beth Israel Hospital.

"Throughout this entire process, our offices have advocated to maintain health services and have secured a robust plan that ensures continued access to care for MSBI patients, transfer and referral coordination for psychiatric patients, millions of dollars in financial support for Bellevue Hospital, and a clear and comprehensive engagement process with the community. While there is no substitute that will entirely make up for the closure of a full-service general hospital, Mount Sinai has committed, at our insistence, to open a new 24/7 Urgent Care+ facility, and we believe that this will provide much needed continuity of care for MSBI patients.

"Our offices will continue to work together to ensure that Mount Sinai opens the urgent care center within 24 hours of the announced March 26th closing of Beth Israel and fulfills its additional commitments to mitigate the impacts the closure will have on patients. We remain committed to exercising all oversight authority to hold Mount Sinai accountable, and to securing access to health care services for Lower Manhattan.

"We thank the Coalition to Save Mount Sinai Beth Israel for their tireless advocacy on behalf of everyone this hospital serves. Through their hard work, they were able to shed light on the inequity of care and widening gaps of healthcare access across our city and our state. Hospital closures can be very detrimental to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities, and we need comprehensive policies in place to ensure healthcare access for all."

It should come as no surprise that my office is getting an increasing number of calls from constituents about the issue of ever-rising utility rates, and the need to take action to address it. 1 in 7 New York households are two months or more behind on their energy bills, and 1 in 3 households pay more than 6% of their income on energy costs, meeting the generally accepted definition of bearing an excessive energy burden.

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about why this is happening. The primary drivers of rate increases are inflation, property taxes, and repairing aging, century-old infrastructure and (in the case of gas utilities) expanding the system. That’s why gas utilities, for example, are projected to charge New Yorkers 18% more for heat this winter, even though the price of gas itself has gone down.

The oil and gas industry are working very hard to convince people that New York's Climate Law, the CLCPA, is driving these increases, but this is not the case. All clean energy programs put together represent only a few dollars on the average person’s utility bill.

There are many policies that are needed to address the issue of utility affordability. One that I carry is called the NY HEAT Act. NY HEAT will reduce the upward pressure on gas rates by removing a mandatory ratepayer-funded subsidy for gas system expansion, and the statewide gas mandate that requires utilities to simply replace failing gas pipes instead of making smarter, more cost-effective investments. It will also facilitate the attainment of the Public Service Commission's goal of protecting residential customers from paying more than 6% of their household income for energy bills, which could save households that struggle the most to afford their energy bills an average of $136 each month, cutting their bills nearly in half. Helping struggling customers stay under the 6% goal will also save all ratepayers money, because if customers facing thousands of dollars in arrears effectively default on those payments, other ratepayers pick up those costs.

The gas system status quo is both unaffordable and bad for the climate. Currently, ratepayers are forced to subsidize expansion of the gas system, spending over $200 million each year because of something in law called the "100-foot rule." Every new mile of gas pipeline costs an average of $3-$6 million – $60,000 per customer on that line – all subsidized by existing ratepayers. NY HEAT will end those subsidies.

NY HEAT will also free New Yorkers from the gas mandate (also known as "the utility obligation to serve gas"), an antiquated state law that locks utilities, and consequently the vast majority of New Yorkers, into the dirty, expensive, aging gas system for heat. Because of the gas mandate, a single customer who wants to stay on the gas system can prevent an entire neighborhood from having the opportunity to receive cheaper, cleaner heating alternatives from their utility. The NY HEAT Act would require utilities to provide easy access to the most affordable and healthier heating options for their families.

Ratepayers are also on the hook for $150 billion in coming years to replace leak-prone gas pipes, an average of $35,000 for every gas customer in the state, installing infrastructure that must be phased out in less than 30 years. Under a recent three-year rate agreement announced by National Grid, customers in New York City and Long Island would see their gas bills increase by an average of nearly $30 per month in the first year, $14 per month in the second year, and about $20 per month in the third year. A quarter of that increase in NYC and more than half of that increase on Long Island is driven by nearly $5 billion in spending on new gas infrastructure. Similarly, the most recent rate hike proposal from Con Ed includes almost $1 billion in spending every year to repair and expand the gas system. NY HEAT will end this wasteful spending.

I am working to pass NY HEAT this session and provide New Yorkers some relief from these extreme rate hikes, and continuing to push other utility affordability measures, including this package of bills that recently passed the Senate.

If you read my email updates, you know that what happens in Albany has a big impact on the real lives of New Yorkers, whether it's housing, transportation, healthcare, education, tax policy, etc. Often these state-level policy debates are more directly relevant to our daily lives than what goes on in Washington.

I try to keep my constituents informed about critical issues happening in the Capitol, but as thorough as we try to be, my office is no substitute for a professional newsroom. At this critical time in our state and our nation, it's more important than ever to stay informed.

Major national outlets have little to no coverage of important state-level issues, and you may not know where to turn to get that information. So below is a list of outlets that provide timely updates on what's happening in Albany and NYC. Some are paywalled, but most have some free content, as well as daily or weekly email newsletters:

• The Albany Times Union
• Capital Tonight
• Capitol Confidential
• The City
• City & State
• City Limits
• Gothamist
• Hell Gate
• New York Focus
• Politico New York
• Politico New York Playbook
• State of Politics

A Message from Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos

The following message is from NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos:



Dear Families,

I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for our students who identify as LGBTQ+. At New York City Public Schools, we are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students—one that is free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. As I recently shared with over 1,000 students and staff attending our seventh annual Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit, at New York City Public Schools, we see you, we support you, and we value you.

Our policies remain in effect, and in fact, we have strengthened them in recent years, including updating our guidelines on gender inclusion. You can review these guidelines, along with other LGBTQ+ supports, at schools.nyc.gov/LGBTQ and schools.nyc.gov/GenderGuidelines.

I’m proud that at New York City Public Schools, we have robust curricula, resources,

and programs to support students who identify as LGBTQ+ and to increase representation and inclusivity within our schools. These include our GSA student clubs and our Hidden Voices curricular series, which highlights LGBTQ+ individuals who have made an impact on our city, country, and world. Additionally, between our school-based mental health clinics, our partnerships with community-based organizations, and our school counselors and social workers, every student has access to mental health support. I encourage you to visit our New York City Public Schools website (schools.nyc.gov) to learn more, and please reach out to [email protected] with questions.

One of my commitments as Chancellor is to ensure the safety and wellness of our

students and school communities—specifically, the physical and emotional safety of

every child. We thank you for helping us maintain safe and inclusive environments in our schools.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor

File Your Tax Returns for Free with Direct File

It’s Tax Time! And New York State is making it easy to e-file for free with Direct File.

If your 2024 wages were less than $200,000 – or $250,000 if you’re filing a joint return – you may qualify for Direct File.

Using your computer, tablet, or mobile device, you can file e-file your return whenever and wherever you want – in English or Spanish!

To see if you’re eligible and get started, go to the New York State Tax Department’s website at tax.ny.gov.

Eviction-Free NYC

JustFix, a non-profit, has re-launched Eviction Free NYC – a resource for navigating eviction cases and protecting your rights – created in partnership with the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition. 

Navigating housing court can be overwhelming and tenants should not have to face eviction alone. With landlords filing over 120,000 evictions a year, tools like Eviction Free NYC are critical for tenants to know what their rights are, to obtain assistance, and to stay housed.

How does Eviction Free NYC help?

• Eligibility Screener: Eviction Free NYC helps you learn if you’re eligible for a free lawyer under NYC’s Right to Counsel law.
• Step-By-Step Guide: We’ll walk you through where to go in housing court, what to expect, and what next steps to take.
• Connect to Community Support: Based on your zip code we’ll direct you to local tenant organizations.

With easy-to-use tools and resources, JustFix works to help tenants fight for their rights and increase access to justice across NYC. 

Know Your Rights When Interacting With ICE

New York Legal Assistance Group has created videos to provide important information about your rights when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and how to be prepared in case of an immigration-related emergency. The goal of the videos is to empower people to know their rights and take preventive measures that can protect themselves and their families during a crisis.

Guidance For Nonprofits Dealing

With Federal Immigration Authorities

The offices of the Governor and the Attorney General have prepared a guidance document to provide information to private and nonprofit entities like social services agencies and providers (including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and other residential facilities as well as non-residential and drop-in sites for social services); houses of worship such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples;

medical and healthcare facilities; and other entities that provide community services and spaces, in evaluating how to respond to requests from federal immigration authorities while protecting the rights of their residents, clients, patients,

members, and staff.

This brief guidance has been prepared following a sharp increase in the number of questions and requests the Governor and Attorney General's offices have received following the Department of Homeland Security directive rescinding prior guidance protecting “sensitive places” from federal civil immigration enforcement activity. The purpose of this guidance is to prepare and educate organizations and institutions so they can focus on the people and communities they serve, their mission, and their essential work.

Recycling In NYC: A Guide For The Confused

If you have questions about what you are able to recycle in NYC, how to do it, and what happens to it after it gets picked up, read this informative Q&A from The City.

State Senate Earth Day Celebration

The Senate's Earth Day Celebration is for school children in grades K-12 from every corner of New York State. The Senate’s goal is to encourage children to develop an awareness of the environment and its resources. Teaching children about the importance of recycling and waste reduction is critical as we face the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.

Theme: Our Power, Our Planet! The Senate’s focus is to emphasize the importance of recycling and waste reduction, to encourage the exchange of ideas about recycling and waste reduction among schools, children and adults and to stimulate creative thinking about solutions to problems concerning recycling and waste reduction. We are asking students to create a poster that could be used as part of this campaign.

Deadline: All submissions must be uploaded to the website by April 11, 2025.

EZ-Pass Scam Alert

There is a widespread text scam claiming to collect unpaid E-ZPass tolls. If you have received this text, it is likely a scam! Don't click on the link.

Use http://EZPassNY.com, http://TollsByMailNY.com, or the TollsNY (http://tollsny.com) app to check your status, make payments and only call us if you have received unexpected toll charges. A REAL TEXT will come from the number 39769 and NOT an international one or an email address like the examples in the picture.

If you receive this fraudulent SMS and would like to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center please visit, www.ic3.gov.

Job Fair

Council Member Keith Powers is hosting a resource fair next month! He is partnering with Kommissary to bring a number of organizations and city agencies together to share information and resources with the community. The event will also celebrate Kommissary's new space on West 36th Street and welcome this wonderful organization to the neighborhood.

Below is a list of some of the groups you can meet at the fair:

• New York City Department of Sanitation
• New York City Department of the Aging
• New York City Department of Consumer & Worker Protection
• New York City Department of Parks
• New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission
• Association of Community Employment Programs (ACE)
• Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
• Grand Central Partnership

Fair Fare OMNY Transition

The Fair Fares discount, available to New Yorkers between the ages of 18 and 64 whose income falls at or below 145% of the Federal Poverty Level, has begun the first phase of its transition to OMNY, the MTA’s contactless payment system. The switch to OMNY will make it easier for New Yorkers to manage their transit funds and help participants save even more with automatic fare capping, which ensures that no Fair Fares client will pay more than $17 per week to ride the subway and eligible buses when using their Fair Fares-issued OMNY card.

During the first phase of the transition to OMNY, all new Fair Fares program enrollees will receive an OMNY card instead of a MetroCard. Existing Fair Fares MetroCard holders may request an OMNY card at their convenience via ACCESS HRA or automatically receive one when renewing your program enrollment or requesting a replacement card.

And remember that new Fair Fares eligibility standards were issued at the start of this year. Visit the Fair Fares website to check for eligibility, apply online and begin saving 50% on subway and eligible bus fares or MTA Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.

Smoking Cessation Resources

Are you looking to make a change in your tobacco or e-cigarette smoking habits? Working with your healthcare provider can double your odds of successfully quitting or making a change in your smoking habits. Click here to find a healthcare provider near you who can help talk you through the process.

Additionally, the NY State Quitline offers free phone counseling and free medication to help people quit smoking. Call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) to find out more.

There are also organizations that provide support and resources to youth and adults who are trying to change their smoking habits or who want to help advocate for smoke-free communities. NYC Treats Tobacco works with medical and behavioral healthcare organizations to help screen and treat their patients for tobacco use. To learn more about their services, please click here.

NYC Smoke-Free at Public Health Solutions works with housing partners to create and implement voluntary smoke-free housing policies, with businesses to pass tobacco-free outdoor policies, and with youth to educate and empower young people to take a stand against the tobacco industry's marketing strategies. If you are interested in learning more about their smoke-free housing or tobacco-free outdoors work, please contact Stefanie Mercado Altman, Manhattan Community Engagement Manager, at [email protected]. 

Find Out Why Your Health Insurer

Denied Your Claim

ProPublica has created a Claim File Helper that lets you customize a letter requesting the notes and documents your insurer used when deciding to deny you coverage. Get your claim file before submitting an appeal.

Manhattan DA High School Internship Program

Recycle Used Paint For Free

You can now easily recycle leftover paint – at no charge -- through a program managed by PaintCare, an industry-led, nonprofit stewardship organization that operates the New York State Post Consumer Paint Collection Program.

Recycling leftover paint helps New Yorkers organize their homes, reduce waste, and advance a sustainable economy.

Residents are encouraged to call ahead to be sure the drop-off site can accept the amount and type of paint people would like to recycle. New York City drop-off sites accept up to 5 gallons per person per day. Consult the PaintCare Product Page for a complete list of accepted products.

There is no charge to drop off leftover paint. PaintCare is entirely funded by a small fee that is added to the purchase price of new paint.

PaintCare also offers a free Large Volume Pickup service to painting contractors, co-ops, schools, property managers and others with 100 or more gallons of leftover architectural paint.

More than two million gallons of architectural paint products have been collected from New York households, schools, and businesses since the PaintCare program launched in May of 2022. Working together, we can divert leftover paint from landfills by recycling it back into paint or other beneficial applications.