Email from NYS Senate What's Happening in SD28?   Dear Neighbor, I was, yet again, heartbroken to learn about another senseless and horrific mass shooting on Monday, this time right in the heart of Midtown. My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Officer Didarul Islam and the civilians - all our fellow New Yorkers - who were killed. I even feel sadness for the shooter himself, because, if early reports are accurate, the easy access to a weapon of war meant that his struggles with mental illness resulted in a terrible - and preventable - tragedy for him and so many others. It has been said too many times that our country has a gun problem, but it bears repeating again and again until elected officials at the federal level take real action. Our state-level gun laws, though they can always be improved, are some of the strongest in the nation, but New York is still inundated with guns brought here from other, less-responsible states. Weapons like the one used by Monday's shooter have only one purpose - to spread mass death. Their only legitimate use is on the battlefield. It is high time that our federal laws reflected the US Constitution's explicit requirement that gun ownership be "well-regulated." As is always the case after mass shootings in America, there will be calls from some to avoid making this event "political." But ignoring the causes of terrible, preventable events like this is itself a deeply political act. In reality, there is nothing we do while living together in a society that is not political, and while we are supporting those in grief in this moment, we must also be thinking about how we can prevent further tragedy in the future. For now, Everytown for Gun Safety has put together a list of trauma-informed resources available for anyone impacted, directly or indirectly, by this event. Click Here to View a List of Trauma-Informed Resources Below you will find governmental updates, recent actions by the Trump Administration impacting New Yorkers, and upcoming events and other useful information affecting our district. 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 What's In This Newsletter? Governmental Updates: Update on Trump Administration Impacts Mobile Constituent Hours Pro-Choice Caucus Members Urge Governor to Protect Planned Parenthood Testimony on Lenox Hill Hospital Expansion Plans Opposing a New Fracked Gas Pipeline in New York Harbor Addressing the Situation in Gaza Manhattan Casino Community Advisory Committees Update on Congestion Pricing Community Updates: Medigap Plan Premium Rate Increases for 2026 DYCD Community Needs Assessment Survey Free Community College at CUNY and SUNY NYC Ferry Feedback Survey Benefit for SNAP Recipients at AMNH Automated Camera Enforcement on Manhattan Buses Expansion of MTA Customer Service Centers Roosevelt Island Fall for Arts Festival CB8 Fall Art Show Queensboro Bridge Update Teen Reading Ambassador Program Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy Survey Selfhelp's Witness Theater Update on Trump Administration Impacts Although the Trump Administration has been as busy as ever taking a wrecking ball to almost every aspect of Americans' well-being, this month I'm going to focus on the impacts of H.R 1, the ridiculously-named "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," and the rescission package that passed not long after it. The President and his followers had two broad goals in passing these bills: 1. redistribute as much wealth as possible to the richest people in the country, and 2. do as much harm to immigrant Americans, low- and middle-income Americans, Americans pursuing higher education, and any Americans who require a livable climate to survive (in other words, everyone else). Here is just a small sample of what these bills will achieve. Follow the links for more detailed analysis: Costs and Benefits According to an analysis by Penn Wharton, H.R. 1 will increase budget deficits by $4.3 trillion over ten years. In that time period it would increase the national debt by 7.7%, decrease GDP by 0.3%, and cause the average wage to fall by 0.4%. After 30 years, the bill would lead to a 4.6% reduction in GDP and a 3.4% fall in wages. The bulk of the benefits (80%) accrue to the top 10% by income, while Americans making less than $96,000 per year (60% of Americans) will all end up directly financially worse off over the coming decade (and that's not taking into account the dynamic impacts on the economy and quality of life of all the other provisions of the bill). The chart below makes very clear who this bill was intended to help, and who was an afterthought or worse: Source: University of Pennsylvania The chart below shows why this bill is so fiscally irresponsible, with the amount of money saved by incredibly damaging spending cuts falling far short of the cost of tax cuts that predominantly benefit the very richest: Health Care Impacts The Fiscal Policy Institute estimates that H.R.1 will cost the New York State government $13.5 billion every year, and cause 11 million Americans, including 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance over the next decade, doubling our state’s currently low uninsured rate, and effectively undoing the progress made by the Affordable Care Act. The chart below illustrates this on the national level: Source: Kaiser Family Foundation/Paul Krugman It’s important to note that when people lose health insurance, it’s not just a financial crisis for them and their family; it can have significant consequences, including long-term illness, injury, and death. It is not an exaggeration to say that people will die as a result of these cuts. People who buy private health insurance (or who have it through their employer) will see increased costs because more healthy people will opt to take the risk of not paying for insurance. Cuts to federal healthcare spending could also result in the loss of 215,000 jobs across New York State, increasing the state unemployment rate by 50%. Medicaid cuts could put 70 of New York’s 156 hospitals at risk of closure. Many New York hospitals are already implementing cuts and reducing staff in response to President Trump signing the bill. Because New York State is one of 14 states that provides Medicaid or CHIP coverage for children and older adults who are undocumented immigrants, the state will face a $1 billion penalty. As has often been said, the cruelty is the point. The bill creates a new exclusion from Medicaid and Child Health Plus to exclude refugees, asylees, parolees, persons in temporary protected status, and other previously recognized categories; pregnant women and children are exempt. Similarly, Medicare eligibility is terminated for refugees, asylees, and those with temporary protected status. These are people who are in the United States lawfully and have “played by the rules.” Complex new work requirements for Medicaid recipients will cost New York State an estimated $500 million to implement, and lead to loss of coverage for many Medicaid recipients simply due to paperwork issues, even if they meet the new requirements. This is a classic example of a Republican solution in search of a problem, since 2 in 3 Medicaid enrollees already work and the remainder either have a disability, are caregiving, or are attending school. The bill also bans all Medicaid funding for providers that perform family planning or reproductive health care services, offer abortion services, and received $800,000 or more in Medicaid funding during FY2023, a provision specifically targeted to hurt Planned Parenthood providers. Medicaid funding already could not be used for abortion, so these funding cuts only impact non-abortion reproductive health care. This means Planned Parenthood health centers, which serve over 200,000 New Yorkers every year, over 50% of whom rely on Medicaid for coverage, will lose a significant portion of their funding. Cuts to Food Aid The bill reduces federal spending on SNAP (food stamps), leading to $2.1 billion in costs for New York State to try to fill the gap. And changes to SNAP work requirements will lead to 281,000 adult New Yorkers losing this critical lifeline, with another 413,000 at risk of losing it, plus an additional 363,000 children who live with those adults. Those who don’t lose their benefits entirely will see the benefit amount frozen, in spite of record inflation and rising food costs. Surrendering to Climate Catastrophe The bill takes away from regular Americans almost all of the money-saving tax credits for modern energy sources like wind and solar, for electric vehicles, and other sustainable programs that were part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the most far-reaching (and therefore the most realistic) climate legislation in American history. This will result in the US adding an additional 7 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions above what our nation pledged under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Those extra emissions alone will be responsible for more than $1.6 trillion worth of climate damage globally. In addition to the climate damage, these changes are projected to lead to increased energy costs for Americans, starting with a 7% increase in residential electricity prices by next year for the average customer nationwide. A separate analysis anticipates a 4.1% increase in electricity rates for New Yorkers by 2029, with the most impacted states seeing nearly 30% increases. Among other impacts, the Inflation Reduction Act, which H.R.1 essentially destroys, has already led to the creation of 29,000 new jobs in New York State, which are now at risk. By not only stepping back from our national climate goals, but actively attacking progress, the Trump Regime is virtually guaranteeing that we will cede global leadership to China for the remainder of this century. China is producing the electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and raw materials that the world will need for the transition that is occurring in virtually every other country except the US, all while decarbonizing their own economy. For all of Trump’s rhetoric about “winning” against China, his actions on almost every issue have the opposite effect. Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, rightly called the Big Ugly Bill “a self-inflicted tragedy for our country.” Making College More Expensive Again The Big Ugly Bill also makes changes to federal student loans, implementing annual and lifetime caps on the amount of loans available to a given student or to parents paying for their kids. This will lead to increasing reliance on more expensive private student loans, a reduction in college enrollment generally, and potential shortages of doctors and other professions, as well as attacking the upward mobility of low-income Americans – also known as “the American dream.” It is yet another example of the Trump Regime assaulting America’s future. The Rescission Bill At Trump’s command, Republicans in Congress passed a bill to cut $9 billion of spending on foreign aid and public media that had been appropriated as part of a previous budget bill. $8 billion was for foreign aid programs, $1.1 billion was taken from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. It’s tempting to think that the targeting of public media outlets, which will hurt rural areas the most (including those in New York’s Capital Region and North Country), is about unflattering news coverage of the regime. But I believe it goes deeper than that – it is an attempt to undermine education, science, and civics literacy in this country. After all, facts have a well-known liberal bias, and an uneducated and uninformed populace is much easier to control. It can be overwhelming and disempowering to think about all of the damage being caused as the Trump Administration works to upend our government and democracy, but there is also cause for hope and inspiration as we see growing resistance throughout the U.S. The following are some recent examples of communities pushing back: Portlanders demand government accountability amid anti-ICE protests (KOIN) Melting ICE: As Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues their raids, local communities are finding some pretty creative ways to fight back (Slate) ‘Science Fair’ of Lost Research Protests Trump Cuts (Scientific American) And don't forget that knowledge is power. A selection of articles are provided below that examine threats to democracy and effective methods of resistance: Understanding Democratic Backsliding: Insights from Leading Researchers (Yale Institute for Social and Policy Studies): The researchers responsible presented data from all democracies around the world since 1900, comparing cases of democratic backsliding in history to what we see today. Democracy in the Shadow of the Global Rise in Authoritarian Populism (Harvard Kennedy School): This article takes a look at the causes and consequences of the rise in authoritarian populism, with insights from thinkers including Luís Roberto Barroso, President of the Brazilian Supreme Court. What is the 3.5% protest rule and what does it mean for the US? (Guardian): This article provides a deep dive into the power of the 3.5% protest rule. Nine lessons for fighting authoritarianism using art in an age of resistance (The Southern Poverty Law Center): This article discusses art as a powerful tool in fighting back against authoritarianism and defending democracy. Mobile Constituent Hours Sen. Krueger with Staff and Summer Interns Please join my staff and me for our Mobile Constituent Hours at Webster Library (1465 York Ave, between 77th and 78th Streets), on Thursday, August 14, from 12-2pm. Feel free to stop by with questions, concerns, or just to chat with me and members of my constituent services team. We will provide plenty of informational literature and helpful resources for all ages. I am very much looking forward to seeing you all face-to-face and hearing what is on the top of your minds. Pro-Choice Caucus Members Urge Governor To Protect Planned Parenthood Last week, members of the state Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus (BPCLC) released a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to commit state funding to fill the funding gap caused by cuts in H.R. 1 that singled out Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. A 14-day judicial restraining order preventing those cuts from going into effect expired on July 21st. You can view the letter by clicking here. The Congressional reconciliation package, H.R. 1, which President Trump signed into law on July 4th, included a provision singling out Planned Parenthood health centers and preventing them from receiving any federal Medicaid dollars. On July 7th, Planned Parenthood Federation of America sued on behalf of all Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country. A temporary restraining order was put in place that delayed cutting off federal Medicaid funding, but that has now expired. Last Monday, Judge Indira Talwani, of the Federal District Court in Massachusetts, issued a preliminary injunction covering 10 Planned Parenthood affiliates, but not including those in New York State. As a result, Planned Parenthood health centers in New York are now no longer receiving federal Medicaid funding. Five Planned Parenthood affiliates provide care to over 200,000 New Yorkers each year at 47 health centers operating across the state. Over 60% of these health centers are located in rural or medically underserved areas – providing a critical source of affordable health care where there are not many other options. These patients rely on Planned Parenthood for a wide variety of primary and preventative care including annual exams, cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, gender-affirming care, abortion care and more. Over 50% of the patients Planned Parenthood sees rely on Medicaid for coverage. Without state support, this “defund” means that New York Planned Parenthoods will be unable to continue to provide care to all who need it – a loss that will have serious consequences in communities across the state. Planned Parenthood has assured legislators that they are committed to providing care to Medicaid enrollees for as long as possible, but they will be unable to do so long term without a state commitment to address this critical loss of funding. In the letter, BPCLC members urge Governor Hochul to help protect access to affordable reproductive and sexual health care in New York by committing the necessary state funding to ensure care remains available at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout the state. The Big Ugly Bill that President Trump and his acolytes squeaked through Congress will hurt New Yorkers in so many different ways in the short, medium, long, and very long term. One of the first impacts we're seeing on the ground is taking away vital reproductive health care access by singling out Planned Parenthood providers for Medicaid cuts. These services are critical to communities in every corner of our state. The Governor has the resources to fill in this funding gap and protect New Yorkers from Trump's extreme ideological attacks, and I urge her to do so swiftly. Click Here to Read the BPCLC Letter to Governor Hochul Testimony on Lenox Hill Hospital Expansion Plans Earlier this month, I submitted testimony to the New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises strongly urging the City Council to reject Lenox Hill Hospital's rezoning application unless all of the modifications recommended by Community Board 8 are made. Click Here to View Sen. Krueger's Testimony on Lenox Hill Expansion Opposing a New Fracked Gas Pipeline in New York Harbor Last week I submitted comments to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), urging them to once again deny Water Quality Certification to the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement Project in New York Harbor that President Trump is attempting to fast-track. The pipeline, which New Yorkers fought and stopped 5 years ago, would pollute New York City’s waterways. The seabed that would be dug up has been proven to contain unsafe levels of toxic substances like arsenic, PCB’s, and dioxin, which threaten harm to marine life and pollute local beaches. Williams first proposed this pipeline in 2017 and secured the federal permit needed for an interstate pipeline from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2019. However, it also needed various permits from New Jersey and New York. One key permit is a “Water Quality Certificate (WQC)” Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, states are responsible for the quality of waters within their boundaries. In May, 2020, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation denied the NESE project a WQC because the trench Williams would have dug in which to lay the pipe would have disrupted a host of old industrial toxins buried in the seabed and thus would have contaminated New York’s offshore waters. With that denial, the NESE proposal was dead. However, in January, 2025, President Trump issued two Executive Orders, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” and “Unleashing American Energy,” designed to expand fossil fuel production and use and stifle renewable energy. Citing those two declarations, Williams reapplied to FERC, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and NYSDEC for permits to build the NESE project. In their applications, Williams pushed for rapid decisions with the intention, it said, of starting construction in the 4th quarter of this year. If you would like to submit comments on the proposed new fracked gas pipeline, you can submit them in writing by 5pm on August 16th. Individuals and parties may file written comments to the NYSDEC representative listed below or may submit comments electronically at [email protected]. Primary Contact: Cheryl A Sandrow NYSDEC - Division of Environmental Permits 625 Broadway, 4th Fl Albany, NY 12233-1750 Click Here to View Sen. Krueger's Comments on the NESE Pipeline Addressing the Situation in Gaza Earlier this week I joined many other federal, state, and local elected officials in signing onto a letter organized by Attorney General Letitia James, calling for immediate and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid into Gaza. You can read the letter by clicking here. I also joined a demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate calling for the same. I am a Jew and a Zionist who has had a strong personal relationship with Israel and its people since the early 1970s, when my family began decades of regular visits. I know and love many Israeli people, I believe in the need for a democratic Jewish state, but I firmly believe that the way Benjamin Netanyahu is prosecuting and prolonging this war is abhorrent to Jewish values and basic human compassion. Perpetrating mass starvation on an entire population will not - could never - make Jews safer, in Israel or anywhere else - quite the opposite. And even if it could, the mass death of children and civilians can never be justified. The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th were horrifying, and the atrocities being committed by Netanyahu right now are horrifying. Even in our world that is so inured to violence, the images of October 7th and the images coming out of Gaza right now are shocking examples of inhumanity. I condemn them both, and I demand that the so-called leaders on every side of this conflict stop this insanity immediately. Yes, Hamas has been willing to sacrifice thousands of Palestinians by hoarding humanitarian aid; but those of us who love Israel must say loudly and clearly that anyone depriving Gazans of food and water will not make Israel safer or hasten the return of the hostages, and must immediately stop. Any of us who love Israel must say so — and urge the Israeli government to change their policies. Manhattan Casino Community Advisory Committees Developers for eight separate casino proposals in the New York City region have now submitted their formal applications to the state, including three in Manhattan. You can read more about all of the proposals in the news outlet The City by clicking here. The proposals in Manhattan are: The Avenir, on 11th Ave and West 41st St Caesars Palace Times Square, at 1515 Broadway between West 44th and 45th Streets Freedom Plaza, 686 First Ave. between East 38th and 41st Streets The next step in the process is consideration of each application by a six-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of appointees from the Governor, the Mayor, and the proposed casino location’s applicable State Senator, State Assemblymember, Borough President and City Councilmember. The CACs must vote on the applications by September 30th. I have appointed former Assemblymember Dick Gottfried to be my representative on the CAC for the Times Square application. The Avenir is represented by Senator Hoylman-Sigal, and Freedom Plaza by Senator Gonzalez. You can view a video of the first CAC meeting on the Times Square casino application by clicking here. Each CAC must hold a minimum of 2 public hearings, but the dates have not yet been announced. You do not need to wait for the public hearings to share your thoughts with the relevant CAC in writing, and you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Information on how to submit written comments regarding the Times Square casino application is below. You can find details on the other CACs and how to submit comments here. Written comments on the Times Square casino application can be submitted by email or standard mail via: Email: [email protected] Standard mail: Attn: Caesars Palace Times Square Community Advisory Committee NYSTEC​ 540 Broadway​ 3rd Floor​ Albany, New York 12207 All comments received regarding Caesars Palace Times Square will be reviewed by the Community Advisory Committee. While there is no deadline for submitting comments, please note that Community Advisory Committees must complete their work by September 30, 2025. Those wishing to submit comments are advised to do so with adequate time for Committee review and consideration. Previously submitted comments regarding Caesars Palace Times Square that were sent to the Gaming Commission and/or Gaming Facility Location Board will be provided to the Committee for consideration. I have long been clear that I do not support casinos in general, and in Manhattan in particular. Casino gambling can be very addictive, exploit those least able to afford to lose their money, and redirect people's disposable income away from other activities and toward casino owners. As they say: "the house always wins." Last year, I held a Virtual Town Hall on The Impact of Casinos on Urban Communities, during which we heard from experts why a casino in Manhattan would be a losing proposition for everyone except the developers. Click Here to View Sen. Krueger's Virtual Town Hall on Casinos Congestion Pricing Update: Improvements Across the Board Congestion pricing is reducing traffic and improving quality of life In just six months, congestion pricing has succeeded in reducing traffic, speeding up the flow of traffic, and reducing delays - not just in the Congestion Relief Zone but throughout the region. The number of vehicles entering the zone is down by 11% since congestion pricing started. Every day, 67,000 fewer vehicles enter the zone, and since the program started, more than 10 million fewer vehicles have entered the zone compared to last year. According to a report from the Regional Plan Association and Waze, traffic delays are down in the Congestion Relief Zone by 25% and across the metropolitan region by 9%. Delays are also down by 10% in the Bronx and 14% in parts of Bergen County, NJ. Time lost to traffic jams is down 12%, giving seven minutes for every hour spent in traffic in 2024 back to commuters’ lives. Travel times on river crossings have decreased from 6% to as much as 42% in 2025 compared to 2024. In the Holland Tunnel, rush hour delays are down by 65% since congestion pricing began. In the Lincoln Tunnel, MTA express buses are traveling almost 24% faster than in 2024. Roads and highways approaching the Congestion Relief Zone, including Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn and the Long Island Expressway, are also moving faster than last year. Reduced gridlock has improved quality of life in New York City. Crashes in the Congestion Relief Zone are down 14%. Traffic injuries are down by 15% in the zone, and the safety benefits are being felt citywide. Recently, the New York City Department of Transportation released data showing that pedestrian fatalities on New York City streets are at historic lows, matching levels last seen in 2018. Additionally, air quality has improved and noise pollution has reduced since the program was launched. Honking and vehicle noise complaints to 311 are down by 45% in 2025. A new report from the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released on July 2nd showed steady or decreasing levels of fine particle air pollution (or PM2.5) at most sites, both inside and outside the Congestion Relief Zone. Economic activity in New York City is up Gridlock is bad for the economy. According to a report from the Partnership for New York City before congestion pricing was launched, businesses and individuals were wasting hundreds of hours sitting in traffic, costing the economy $20 billion per year. Already, the benefits of congestion pricing are improving New York City’s economy. Commuters are saving as much as 21 minutes each way. Time savings help businesses make deliveries and save costs. The annual value of these time savings could be as high as $1.3 billion. In May, business district pedestrian activity within the Congestion Relief Zone increased by 8.4% compared to May 2024. This growth is much faster than for business districts outside of the zone, which saw an increase of 2.7%. Also within the Zone, Broadway just posted its biggest season ever with $1.9 billion in ticket sales; retail sales are on track to be up $900 million in 2025 compared to 2024; Hotel occupancy was 87% in April 2025 compared to 85% in April 2024; Commercial office leasing in 2025 Q1 is up 11% compared to 2024 Q4 and up 80% since 2024 Q1. At the same time, New York City now has the most jobs in its history – nearing 4.86 million in April 2025. That represents 1.6% growth over April 2024, outpacing the national average of 1.1%. The MTA is investing in transit improvements funded by congestion pricing By enabling the MTA to issue $15 billion in bonds to fund projects in its 2020-2024 Capital Plan, congestion pricing is powering improvements across the MTA network. Improvement projects funded by congestion pricing include: 435 additional R211 subway cars - including 80 additional open-gangway cars 44 new, more reliable dual-mode locomotives for the Long Island Rail Road 300 new M9A cars for Metro-North and the Long Island Rail-Road Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signal upgrades on the A and C lines between Downtown Brooklyn and Ozone Park, allowing for more frequent and reliable service Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades at 23 subway stations, including new elevators, reconstructed platforms, and other improvements Additionally, funding from congestion pricing allows the MTA to move forward with the tunneling contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will be awarded in the second half of 2025. Medigap Plan Premium Rate Increases for 2026 If you have original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) and a Medigap plan (also known as a supplemental plan), you have likely received notification from your Medigap plan provider of the premium rate increase that is being requested for 2026. United Healthcare, the Medigap plan provider for 364,965 New Yorkers, is requesting one of the higher premium rate increases, ranging from 17.7% - 18%. My office has been receiving calls and emails from constituents who are very concerned about their ability to afford this excessively high proposed premium rate increase, and who are fed up with sizable rate increases each year. You can view the 2026 proposed premium rate increases that all Medigap plan providers have submitted to the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS) here: [link removed]. DFS is responsible for assessing proposed premium rate increases submitted by Medigap plan providers, which includes reviewing financial, claims, and other data, as well as public comments submitted by policyholders. This provides an important opportunity for Medigap policyholders to comment on affordability issues and to advocate for lower premium rate increases. If you are concerned about the proposed premium rate increase that your Medigap plan provider is requesting for 2026, I strongly encourage you to submit a public comment to DFS right away. There are two ways that you can submit a public comment to DFS: The quickest way to submit your public comment is online. Please click here to complete the DFS web form. If you do not have access to the internet, please call my office and we will provide assistance with completing the web form. You can also submit a public comment by regular mail. Mail your public comment to following address: New York State Department of Financial Services One Commerce Plaza Albany, NY 12257 Click Here to Submit a Public Comment Online Share Your Opinion on the Community Needs Assessment The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) wants to hear from you! What programs and services does your neighborhood need most? Through their Community Needs Assessment, the DYCD is collecting feedback from all New Yorkers to set program priorities and direct resources where they are needed most. Your voice helps ensure that local services reflect real community needs. This survey is your chance to shape the future of your neighborhood. Share it with every New Yorker you know—family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Every voice matters. Take the survey today: [link removed] Click Here to Take the Community Needs Assessment Survey Free Community College at SUNY and CUNY Starting this fall, community college will be completely free for adult learners looking to enter high-demand fields. Because no one should have to choose between financial security and a college education. SUNY and CUNY Reconnect will give students the opportunity to pursue their career goals and prepare for meaningful, high-demand careers right here in New York State. And the Reconnect programs don’t just cover tuition – they cover the cost of books, fees, and supplies for students, too. You can attend community college for FREE starting this fall if you: Are a resident of New York State or eligible for in-state tuition Are between the ages of 25-55 Don’t currently have a degree Are planning to study full-or part-time in one of 175 eligible SUNY associate degree programs or one of 120+ eligible CUNY associate degree programs. Apply to SUNY Schools Apply to CUNY Schools NYC Ferry Feedback Survey NYC Ferry is planning major route changes to the network to make rides faster, more efficient, and better connected. They have put together preliminary route ideas, and want your input to shape it into a network that truly meets your needs. For more information, including detailed changes by landing, please click here. Your responses will remain anonymous, and any identifying information provided will be kept confidential. Click Here to Fill Out the NYC Ferry Survey Benefit for SNAP Recipients at the American Museum of Natural History Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New York State are now eligible to receive a complimentary Discoverer Membership to the American Museum of Natural History! Discoverer Membership benefits include free general Museum admission plus one free ticketed exhibition on every visit for each New York SNAP EBT cardholder and up to four of their guests. Learn more here about the Discoverer Membership here. And remember, the American Museum of Natural History offers pay-what-you-wish General Admission to all New York State residents (with ID). Plan your visit today! There are also a number of long-standing initiatives that provide free entry to a broad range of museums and cultural institutions for SNAP recipients, including: [link removed] and [link removed]. Automated Camera Enforcement on Manhattan Buses Starting this past Saturday, July 26th, the MTA, NYC DOT, and NYC Department of Finance began issuing Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) tickets on three new bus routes, including two in our district, the M100 and the M42 routes. Now vehicles illegally blocking bus lanes will face fines starting at $50, and up to $250 for repeat offenders. I applaud the MTA for debuting ACE enforcement on these lines. On other routes where this policy is in effect, we have seen an average 5% increase, and up to a 30% increase, in bus speeds. In our district, where so many of us rely on the bus to get where we need to go, this will have a positive effect on our commutes and make it easier to get to work, a show, dinner, or to spend time with our families. If you would like to learn more about ACE, information can be found at mta.info/ace. MTA Announces Expansion of Customer Service Centers I am pleased to announce that the MTA will be opening another Customer Service Center (CSC) in our district, at Grand Central Station. The new CSC is anticipated to open in 2026. If you need help buying an OMNY card or moving funds from a reduced-fare MetroCard to an OMNY card, the MTA workers at this CSC will be available at any hour of the day to help you. The soon to arrive Grand Central CSC will join two other CSCs in our district, at the 34th Street-Penn Station, and Times Square subway stops. If you need help with a reduced-fare OMNY issue, you can also go to one of the MTA's Mobile Sales Vehicles for assistance at various locations within or near our district. Roosevelt Island Fall for Arts Festival CB8 Fall Art Show Queensboro Bridge Update Apply Now to be a Teen Reading Ambassador The New York Public Library’s Teen Reading Ambassadors program offers internships for teens to help develop job readiness and leadership skills. Participating teens will act as leaders and role models to younger kids, ambassadors for the Library's mission to inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning, and writers and editors of a special magazine for kids created by teens. Discover the work of NYPL’s Teen Reading Ambassadors and find out how you can get involved! Teen Reading Ambassadors: Work two days a week during the school year at NYPL branches tutoring younger children and helping them with reading Attend training and other special opportunities Write, edit, and design Portal, the Library’s magazine for kids Get paid! To apply, you must: Be enrolled in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade at a New York City high school for the 2025–26 school year Have the proper employment certificate for minors under 18 as required by New York State law Have an updated resume. Need help creating one? Use this guide. Be able to arrive at a library branch by 3 PM on weekdays (see list of available branches in job posting) Apply now! Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy Survey Selfhelp's Witness Theater Selfhelp’s Witness Theater program offers students the extraordinary opportunity to connect with the last generation of Holocaust survivors and help preserve their stories for future generations. In a small group setting (10-15 people), students and survivors build meaningful relationships as survivors share their wartime experiences. Guided by a drama therapist and social workers, participants collaborate to transform these powerful stories into a stage performance, which will be presented to the public in the spring through 2-3 performances. These performances allow students to help audiences bear witness to the survivors' experiences, ensuring their stories live on. Students participating in Witness Theater may also be eligible to earn community service hours. Don’t miss this chance to be part of history and make a lasting impact! District Office: 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 2000 | New York, NY 10017 | (212) 490-9535 | Fax: (212) 499-2558 Albany Office: Capitol Building, Room 416 | Albany, NY 12247 | (518) 455-2297 | Fax: (518) 426-6874 Email: [email protected] | On the Web: krueger.nysenate.gov   Senator Liz Krueger | 211 E 43rd St #2000 | New York, NY 10017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice