Eric Adams - Thank you, New York.

 

I hope your holidays have been full of relaxation and time with loved ones so far. Though the year and our time in office are coming to an end, we're still delivering a safer and more affordable city for the working-class people of New York City every day. Here’s how we delivered for you this past week:

• Getting even more guns off our streets – The numbers are in and the brave men and women of the NYPD have removed more than 25,000 illegal firearms from New York City streets since the start of our administration. By getting guns off our streets, we’ve driven down shootings and shooting victims to record lows since coming into office — with shootings down a whopping 55% compared to the period before we came into office. In a world where just one gun can tear an entire community apart, removing over 25,000 of them has saved an untold number of lives and kept our city's families whole.
• Creating living, work, and play communities – We just released the blueprint for tackling the housing shortage in Manhattan, our “Manhattan Plan”! This latest plan sets a goal of building 100,000 NEW homes in the borough over the next decade. When we build more housing in every neighborhood, we give New Yorkers more affordable places to live, workers more opportunities to connect with nearby jobs, and small businesses more foot traffic.
• Opening a jobs and education hub – We proudly unveiled a first-of-its-kind site that will create over 15,000 jobs, generate $42 billion in economic impact over 30 years, and deliver state-of-the-art life science facilities for CUNY. SPARC Kips Bay will entirely transform a city block in Manhattan into a destination for education, innovation, and opportunity. We thank Governor Hochul, NYCEDC, and CUNY for their steadfast support and partnership with this project.

↳ A look back:

Check out some of the ways we continued to “Get Stuff Done” for you last week in just four minutes with our final “Week In Review” video.  

↳ FREE events this weekend:

• Bronx: Play retro board games
• Brooklyn: Take a Caribbean cardio dance class
• Manhattan: Gaze at the supermoon through a telescope
• Queens: Make your own natural dyes
• Staten Island: Head to a fireside meditation session

Before you go, did you know…

...this is the last time you’ll “Hear From Eric” in your inbox? Time flies when you’re “Getting Stuff Done”! 

 

We came into office during a once-in-a-generation pandemic, a global recession, and rising crime. I promised you we’d make this city safer and more affordable and we did exactly that by removing tens of thousands of illegal guns and over 100,000 illegal vehicles from our streets, driving down crime for eight quarters in a row, creating historic amounts of housing, increasing jobs and opportunities, implementing safer streets for all on our roads, sending nasty rats packing, helping unhoused New Yorkers on our streets get the care they deserve, reopening our city safely after COVID, developing vibrant public spaces in every borough, putting money back into your pockets, eliminating city personal income taxes for the working-class, AND SO MUCH MORE. 

  

Our administration changed this city for the better, and I am so proud of our work that has made New York City the best place to live and raise a family. We also buried a time capsule outside City Hall to memorialize just some of the ways we delivered for you over these past four years. 

 

Have a happy, healthy, and safe new year! The New Year marks a special time of new beginnings, new adventures, and new goals — let’s make the most of 2026, no matter what it may bring our way. 

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your mayor. Thank you for giving a working-class kid who was dyslexic, arrested, rejected, and, finally, elected the chance to lead the greatest city in the world alongside 300,000+ incredible city employees who worked 24/7 to deliver for 8.5 million of their fellow New Yorkers. 

See you around the boroughs, Robert! 

Your mayor, 

Eric 

DEC ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF SPRUCE GROUSE RELEASES

 

Thirteen-Year Effort Concludes with Successful 2025 Translocation

Long-Term Monitoring and Habitat Management Underway

Interview Available Here

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the culmination of a multiyear, international effort to restore and stabilize the endangered Spruce Grouse population. The milestone is marked following the conclusion of Spruce Grouse translocations into the Adirondacks in 2025. 

“Thanks to the tireless work of DEC’s wildlife biologists, technicians, and volunteers and the cooperation of our Canadian partners and partners at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, our State has taken a major step toward securing a future for the endangered Spruce Grouse in New York,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “This Spruce Grouse translocation program demonstrates how science-driven conservation, strategic planning, and international cooperation can deliver meaningful results for biodiversity for our most vulnerable species.” 

The State’s Spruce Grouse Recovery Program was launched in response to dramatic population declines linked to habitat loss and fragmentation, low grouse numbers, and limited genetic diversity affecting this important State-listed endangered species. Guided by DEC’s Spruce Grouse Recovery Plan, the program aims to maintain viable populations in lowland boreal forests of the Adirondacks. Spruce Grouse are a boreal forest species at the southern edge of their range in New York State. Without intervention, New York’s isolated population is at risk of disappearing entirely.  

DEC Wildlife experts from Region 6 and Central Office, in collaboration with researchers at the State University of New York at Potsdam, led this successful initiative. Since 2013, DEC staff permitted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in Canada and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine introduced 363 adults (308 females, 55 males) and 711 chicks of this rare and elusive species from Canada and Maine into existing subpopulations in suitable boreal forests in the Adirondacks. With the final 50 adults released this summer, the translocation phase of the recovery program is now concluded, which represents a significant achievement in preventing the Spruce Grouse’s local extinction. 

State University of Potsdam Department of Biology Chair Glenn Johnson said, “I am very proud of the fact that the heavy lifting of this Spruce Grouse augmentation program is finally completed, and I look forward to tracking its success here in the Adirondack Mountains.  In addition, it has been a fantastic opportunity for students and me to collaborate with regional DEC biologists on a real-world problem.” 

Over the course of the program, teams made annual expeditions to eastern Ontario and northern Maine to capture and transport adult birds and chicks, which were then released into Adirondack locations where Spruce Grouse were present in small numbers. The birds were carefully released in forests with optimal forest structure—consisting of spruce fir stands ranging from 35 to 45 years old—with ample blueberry shrub cover. These areas were chosen to support nesting, foraging, long-term survival, and genetic exchange with the resident Spruce Grouse population. 

With translocation efforts complete, the focus now shifts to long-term monitoring and habitat management. DEC staff will conduct occupancy surveys and habitat assessments to track the persistence of the Spruce Grouse population. Data collected through these efforts will inform adaptive management strategies to ensure the continued viability of the Spruce Grouse population in New York State. 

DEC remains committed to protecting and enhancing New York’s biodiversity and will continue to monitor the Spruce Grouse population and collaborate with partners to manage the unique habitats that support the species. 

“The Spruce Grouse translocation program is an example of great results accomplished through cooperation,” said DEC Region 6 Director Randall Young. “The recovery of Spruce Grouse in New York is now more possible, thanks to the vision and work of experts from DEC and SUNY Potsdam, and through valuable partnerships with our wildlife division counterparts in Ontario and Maine.”  

State University of Potsdam Department of Biology Chair Glenn Johnson said, “I am very proud of the fact that the heavy lifting of this Spruce Grouse augmentation program is finally completed, and I look forward to tracking its success here in the Adirondack Mountains.  In addition, it has been a fantastic opportunity for students and me to collaborate with regional DEC biologists on a real-world problem.” 

Over the course of the program, teams made annual expeditions to eastern Ontario and northern Maine to capture and transport adult birds and chicks, which were then released into Adirondack locations where Spruce Grouse were present in small numbers. The birds were carefully released in forests with optimal forest structure—consisting of spruce fir stands ranging from 35 to 45 years old—with ample blueberry shrub cover. These areas were chosen to support nesting, foraging, long-term survival, and genetic exchange with the resident Spruce Grouse population. 

With translocation efforts complete, the focus now shifts to long-term monitoring and habitat management. DEC staff will conduct occupancy surveys and habitat assessments to track the persistence of the Spruce Grouse population. Data collected through these efforts will inform adaptive management strategies to ensure the continued viability of the Spruce Grouse population in New York State. 

DEC remains committed to protecting and enhancing New York’s biodiversity and will continue to monitor the Spruce Grouse population and collaborate with partners to manage the unique habitats that support the species.  

Office of the New York State Comptroller - Best Wishes for a Happy New Year

 

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year 

As we welcome 2026, I wish you and your family all the best for the year ahead. New Year’s is a special time to look back with gratitude and look forward with hope. May your coming days be filled with happiness and fulfillment. Have a safe, wonderful and happy New Year!

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE, THRIVING DEMOCRACY

 

New Commission Will Examine Whether to Bring Open Primaries and Non-Partisan Elections to New York City Local Elections

Commissioners Include Widely Respected New York Leaders, Including Former State Senate Minority Leader, Former Public Advocate, Former New York City Councilmember, Former Commissioner, Public Servants, Faith Leaders, Community Organizers, and More

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of a Charter Revision Commission (CRC) that will be tasked with reviewing the New York City Charter and determining how to make New York City’s municipal government more responsive and transparent to the city’s residents. More specifically, the CRC — led by Chair Martin Connor, former New York state senator — will examine whether open primaries and non-partisan elections will make New York City’s municipal government more inclusive, accessible, and democratic. The CRC announced today follows two previous CRCs convened by Mayor Adams which proposed successful ballot initiatives to protect public safety, create cleaner streets, transform the city’s approach to housing, and more.

“New Yorkers deserve a city government that listens to every voice, hears every concern, and embraces every community. This historic commission will bring together trailblazing leaders from across the five boroughs to examine our city’s charter and explore ways to create a more inclusive, democratic city government,” said Mayor Adams. “I want to personally thank the men and women who are stepping up to serve on this commission, including Chair Martin Connor and I look forward to hearing their ideas for creating a city government that works better for all New Yorkers.”

“Making sure every voter has an equal say in our city's governance is a goal that is always worth pursuing. I am looking forward to hearing from every corner of New York about the best way to achieve this,” said prominent election lawyer Martin Connor, former State Senate Minority Leader, who will co-chair this commission.

Martin Connor (Chair)

Martin Connor is a former minority leader of the New York State Senate, representing Brooklyn, New York. He was first elected to the State Senate in a special election in 1978 and served in the body until 2008. While serving in office, Connor advocated for progressive causes to create a more transparent, accessible state government. Connor also serves as an election lawyer and has represented candidates at every level of government, including local, state, congressional, and presidential campaigns. He received a B.A. in politics from the Catholic University of America and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America School of Law.

Pastor Tashyra Ayers

Pastor Tashyra Ayers serves as a corporate liaison, business owner, and communications strategist, working with executives, entrepreneurs, and employees on professional communications. In 2023, Ayers production company, The House of Genesis, was recognized by JP Morgan Chase’s Entrepreneurship program. At The House of Genesis, Ayers’ team has worked with Campbell’s Soup, Nike, Suzuki, iHeart Media, KIPP Charter Schools, the New York Academy of Medicine, and more. Ayers studied communications at Delaware State University and Rowan College. She holds an A.A. in Communications and a B.A. in Biblical Studies and in Community Transformation & Social Engagement.

Ramone S. Buford, a/k/a Shams DaBaron

Shams DaBaron is a visionary leader, writer, and changemaker dedicated to redefining homelessness and housing solutions in New York City. Having experienced homelessness as a child after being discharged from the foster care system at age 12, DaBaron has emerged as a powerful voice for his community and beyond. He gained widespread recognition during the public debate over the Lucerne Hotel, a temporary shelter where he lived during the pandemic, and has since led efforts to tackle housing and homelessness across the city. Drawing from his lived experience, DaBaron collaborates with impacted individuals, elected officials, faith leaders, and other stakeholders to champion policies and services that uplift vulnerable New Yorkers. His vision is to create a more inclusive, equitable, and vibrant New York City for all. DaBaron previously served as a commissioner on the 2025 Charter Revision Commission.

Bishop Ismael Claudio

Bishop Dr. Ismael Claudio is a distinguished faith leader, community advocate, and bridge builder whose career spans more than three decades of service across ministry, civic engagement, and international leadership. He currently serves as the senior faith liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, where he strengthens partnerships between Houses of Worship and the City of New York, and has also supported the mayor as a Spanish-language translator.

Since 2022, Bishop Claudio has served as clergy liaison to the NYPD. His commitment to unity also guided his work as founder and CEO of the Uniting Clergy Community and Police Coalition, where he advanced citywide collaboration between faith institutions, community centers, and the NYPD. A lifelong minister, Bishop Claudio has served as senior pastor of his congregation since 1996 and holds extensive leadership roles within the International Pentecostal Churches of Jesus. He holds advanced theological and humanitarian degrees, including a Doctorate of Humanity.

Alfred Curtis

Alfred B. Curtis Jr. previously served as president and CEO of the United Nations Development Corporation, a multi-million public benefit corporation established by the New York State Legislature to develop and operate facilities for the United Nations community in New York City. Curtis also served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development/New York City Department of Youth Services — the first African American from Staten Island appointed commissioner of a New York City agency — and served as executive director of the city’s Inter-Agency Coordinating Council on Youth. Before entering public service, Curtis worked as an executive at Chemical Bank/JP Morgan Chase. He graduated from the College of Staten Island with degrees in Economics and Business Administration.

Betsy Gotbaum

Betsy Gotbaum has led a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors, serving two terms as New York City public advocate. In that role, Gotbaum led on major policy areas, including hunger, housing, child welfare, education, and women’s issues. Gotbaum also served as an advisor to three mayors, a financial executive developing capital for start-up entrepreneurial firms, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and president of the prestigious New-York Historical Society. A native New Yorker, Gotbaum attended Barnard College and received her B.A. from George Washington University in 1961.

Denis M. Hughes

Denis Hughes is chairman and class c director of the New York Federal Reserve Board, as well as former president of the 2.5-million-member New York State AFL-CIO. In 2003, Hughes was elected to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and currently serves as chair of the Management and Budget Committee. He is also a member of the Audit Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He joined the New York State AFL-CIO staff in 1985 as a political director, and in February 1990 was appointed to the position of executive assistant to the president. He received his B.S. from the State University of New York, Empire State College.

Peter Koo

Peter Koo currently serves as a deputy commissioner in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit. Previously, he served as a senior advisor to the deputy mayor for public safety and as a member of the New York City Council, representing Queen’s 20^th District for over 10 years. A former pharmacist, Koo received a B.S. from the University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Hawaii.

Fernando Mateo

Fernando Mateo is a businessman and community activist. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Mateo founded the Mateo Institute to teach trades to non-violent offenders at Rikers Island. For his work, Mateo was awarded the Points of Light Award in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush. In 1993, Mateo founded the “Toys for Guns” program to remove guns from the streets and served as president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. Mateo also helped found the United Bodegas of America.

Kayla Mamelak Altus

Kayla Mamelak Altus most recently served as press secretary to Mayor Adams. Before that, she served as a deputy press secretary to Mayor Adams. Before her stint in public service, Mamelak Altus was an on-air TV reporter at Fox5 New York, as well as other local outlets. Mamelak Altus received her B.A. from Boston University.

Pastor Gilford Monrose

Pastor Gilford Monrose currently serves as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships. He is also the lead pastor of Mt. Zion Church of God 7^th Day and founder of two Brooklyn-based nonprofit organizations, The 67^th Precinct Clergy Council Inc. — also known as “The GodSquad” — fighting to end gun violence as well as the Brooklyn Center for Quality Life. Pastor Monrose received his B.A. from Alliance University.

Sheikh Musa Drammeh

Sheikh Musa Drammeh is the founder of Muslim Media Corporation that publishes Muslim Parrot, New York Parrot, Africa Parrot, Senegambia Times, the Bronx Post, and Parkchester Times Newspapers. He is also the founder of Lifestyle Lifespan that coordinates New York Healthy Lifestyle campaign, which was adopted by New York City Public Schools in the Bronx in 2020, and the designation of October as Healthy Lifestyle Month in the state of New York by legislators in 2022. He and his wife founded and managed the first and only full-time parochial Islamic K-12 school in the Bronx since 2001. He led the founding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Diversity, Unity and Peace Institute, Inc. He founded the investment banking firm Sahara Associates, executive produces the Muslim Community Report and Public Emergency Management Adherence television shows on Bronxnet Television, and created Adopt-A-Friend, Inc.   

Menashe Shapiro

Menashe Shapiro has over a decade of campaign and government experience focused mainly on New York City and surrounding areas. Most recently, Shapiro served as deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to Mayor Adams, where he focused on intergovernmental and external affairs, housing and economic development, and New York City’s response to the asylum seeker crisis. Prior to that, Shapiro served as a campaign consultant to many state and municipal candidates, including Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral elections, as well as issue based 501©4 campaigns. Shapiro earned a B.A. cum laude in economics from Yeshiva University, and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. 

Robert S. Tucker

With over 30 years of experience in public service and security consulting, Robert Tucker previously served as commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York and as CEO of T&M USA, LLC, a New York City-based global provider of premium protection and investigative services. Tucker is also an engaged and active philanthropist, serving on the boards of several organizations that support public safety, education, and health care. He is passionate about making a positive impact on his community and society through his work and leadership. Tucker has been honored by the New York Board of Rabbis and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. He is a graduate of The George Washington University and Pace University School of Law.

Jackie Rowe Adams

Jackie Rowe Adams is a life-long resident of Harlem, New York. Rowe Adams has worked with the Police Athletic League and the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department. She has served on numerous community boards, including Community Board 10, Community Board 12, and the Civic Association Serving Harlem. She has been president of the District 5 School Board, president of Local 299, vice president of District Council 37, and former Board chairperson of New York Health + Hospital/Gotham Health – Sydenham Community Advisory Board, where currently she is the chair of Sydenham’s Patient Liaison Committee and co-chair of the Legislative Committee. She is also on the boards of the Addicts Rehabilitation Center, Harlem Week, Inc., and Project Harmony, and is a member of the Mid-Manhattan NAACP. Rowe-Adams has also been appointed to several political boards, including the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Task Force, New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s Public Safety and Justice Transition Committee, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Public Safety and Justice Transition Committee. She previously served on the 2024 Charter Revision Commission.

NYC Council Releases Report Highlighting Legacy of Historic City Council in Confronting Persistent Inequities, Creating Innovative Model Solutions, and Leading for All New Yorkers

 

First women-majority and most diverse Council in city history, led by first Black Speaker, delivered on goals to advance equity, justice, and solutions  

Today, the New York City Council released a report on the legacy and accomplishments of the first women-majority and most diverse City Council in city history, led by the first Black Speaker, Adrienne E. Adams. Speaker Adams and the Council prioritized confronting persistent inequities in access to childcare, education, health, housing, opportunity, and safety that affect New Yorkers who did not always see themselves represented in the actions of government. A major legacy of this Council is the number of innovative programs it incubated through Council funding and collaboration with experts and nongovernmental partners that provide solutions to significant inequities and issues within the city. Speaker Adams and the Council also filled a major leadership and trust gap in City Hall, caused by the distractions and impairments from unfolding events related to the mayor and several of his associates over the past four years.

“I am proud of what this Council has accomplished over the last four years,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “As public servants, it is our responsibility to improve the conditions of our communities and confront the inequities that have endured for too long. When people who have experienced housing insecurity, poverty, the impacts of gender and racial disparities, and broader working-class struggles represent New Yorkers in government, the perspectives and priorities of all New Yorkers are better addressed. We have led city government to invest in our diverse communities, bringing attention and delivering solutions to issues that have long impacted people across our city who were historically overlooked. I thank my colleagues, partners in government, and all New Yorkers. Together, we have provided our city with steady, unwavering, and principled leadership—prioritizing the needs of New Yorkers above all else.” 

The full report can be found here.

The Council created several new innovative programs to combat economic, educational, health, safety, and opportunity disparities, incubating models that future administrations can expand to help more New Yorkers, narrow inequities, and strengthen the city. These model solutions, first proposed by Speaker Adams in her State of the City addresses, include:

CUNY Reconnect: Launched a new university-wide program to re-enroll working-age New Yorkers who left college without a degree and expanded its reach with increased funding in the city budget. It has brought over 62,000 students, the majority of whom are women and people of color, back to CUNY towards completing degrees that can increase their earning potential.

Trauma Recovery Centers: Established and funded New York State’s first trauma recovery centers (TRCs) in the Bronx, Coney Island, East Flatbush, and Downtown Brooklyn to provide underserved survivors of violence with crime victim services and stop cycles of crime in neighborhoods experiencing high rates of violence. These address a major gap faced by marginalized communities, especially Black and Latino communities, that are disproportionately affected by violence but lack access to crime victim services. Speaker Adams also secured multi-year city funding for the creation and operation of a new TRC in Jamaica, Queens as part of the 2025-approved Jamaica Neighborhood Plan.

CUNY Social Work Fellows: Established a new CUNY Social Work Fellows Program as a model to address the severe mental health workforce shortage that impedes access to care. By reducing financial barriers to professional graduate programs for public service-focused social workers, the program can help strengthen the pipeline of diverse social workers entering and remaining in frontline public-interest mental health jobs. The Council doubled funding in the program’s second year to expand its reach, and it can be further increased to meet the scale of need, similar to how NYC Teaching Fellows grew the number of public school teachers.  

Minority Business Accelerator: Established the first NYC-funded Minority Business Accelerator to support minority-owned businesses obtaining increased access to private sector contracts from regional corporations, modeled after a similar effort in Cincinnati highlighted by the Center for an Urban Future.

Deed Theft Prevention Estate Planning: Created a citywide program with local law schools and pro bono attorneys to support homeowners with free estate planning resources that protect their homes and generational wealth from deed theft and other predatory financial schemes.

Guaranteed Income Programs: Established the first city-funded guaranteed income program, supporting expecting, housing-insecure mothers to improve maternal health and reduce child poverty. Then, expanded funding to support a guaranteed income program for youth experiencing homelessness.

The Council’s broader efforts reflected its members embodying the full breadth of New Yorkers’ experiences, demonstrated by the focus of its budget, legislative, and policy accomplishments.

Confronting the Housing Crisis: As the most pro-housing Council in generations, it approved more new housing through city-initiated land use proposals than had been approved in the previous 20 years combined, while securing more than $8 billion to increase affordable housing, homeownership opportunities, tenant protections, and neighborhood investments. It also advanced major reforms to end forced broker fees and reduce barriers to housing vouchers, supportive housing, and affordable homeownership that can help deliver stability for communities and keep families in the city.

Strengthening Opportunity: This Council helped expand opportunities for New Yorkers through CUNY, industrial development efforts, protections for construction, delivery, hotel and security guard workers, the biggest reforms to street vending laws in decades, and repeated expansions to funding and eligibility for the Fair Fares transit discount program. It also protected and strengthened the early childhood education system, preparing it for greater expansion while safeguarding key K-12 funding and programs.

Protecting Services & New Yorkers: The leadership of Speaker Adams and the Council led to the reversal of harmful cuts to cultural institutions and libraries that reduced services for New Yorkers. The Council secured greater and more stable funding, eventually increasing investments to expand 7-day library service for more neighborhood branches. The Council also persistently defended older adult services and parks from many of the mayor’s proposed budget cuts. For the city’s diverse immigrant communities that came under attack from the federal government, it was the Council under Speaker Adams that consistently defended and prioritized them in the face of complicity or silence by the mayor through litigation, historic investments, and legislation.

Advancing Safety: The Council’s leadership, under Speaker Adams, advanced innovative solution to better prevent crime and violence, confronting inequities in who has access to crime victim services, police accountability, fire, street, and water safety. Speaker Adams, Council Criminal Justice Committee Chairs Nurse and Rivera, and other Council members also provided critical leadership to confront the humanitarian crisis in city jails and advanced solutions necessary to close Rikers.

Improving Health Equity: The Council confronted gender and racial disparities in health access and outcomes for New Yorkers by advancing unprecedented efforts that produced solutions to address maternal mortality, the elimination of federal reproductive healthcare rights, and the severe mental health crisis.

Strengthening Accountability: The Council’s leadership produced critical reforms to improve accountability, good governance, and trust in government. Whether increasing transparency about 9/11 toxins, fixing problems in the city contracting process that delay payments to nonprofits delivering critical services for New Yorkers, or strengthening agency oversight, the Council sought to enhance trust in government by advancing greater accountability and more effective service delivery.

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Manhattan

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Shelton Ennis, who died on June 26, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. The OSI was previously conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter, but has opened an investigation following the receipt of new information.

At approximately 9:52 p.m., NYPD officers engaged with Mr. Ennis in the vicinity of 137th Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. Mr. Ennis ran from the officers and the officers pursued Mr. Ennis on foot. An officer apprehended Mr. Ennis, and both Mr. Ennis and the officer fell to the ground. Mr. Ennis was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change. 

New Year, New Laws: Governor Hochul Announces Affordable Health Care Laws Going into Effect on January 1

Reducing Costs for Consumers by Requiring Health Insurers To Cover Medically Necessary EpiPens and Capping Out-of-Pocket Costs at $100 Per Year

Expanding Insurance Coverage of Breast Cancer Procedures To Include Screening and Imaging

Requiring Health Insurers To Cover Cost of Scalp Cooling Systems To Reduce Hair Loss During Chemotherapy

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the new year will bring new affordable health care laws. Effective on January 1, 2026, Health insurers will be required to cover medically necessary EpiPens and cap out-of-pocket costs at $100 per year, breast cancer screening and imaging, and the cost of scalp cooling systems to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table or being able to afford life-saving medical devices and procedures,” Governor Hochul said. “With these new laws going into effect, individuals will be able to focus on their health and wellbeing without having to worry about the financial burdens tied to treatments.”

Insurance Coverage for EpiPens

EpiPen devices are used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions in individuals who are at risk or have a history of anaphylaxis, which can be caused by insect bites or stings, foods, medications, environmental exposures, exercise and other unknown causes.

The cost of EpiPen devices has far outpaced the rate of inflation, with some reports citing a 600 percent increase in price since the medication was first acquired by Mylan in 2007. While EpiPens once cost $60 per device, they can now sell for upwards of $600 for a pack of two pens. EpiPens have a relatively short shelf-life, expiring after 12 months on average, requiring those in need to purchase the medication repeatedly. Adding to their expense, users of EpiPens are also advised to carry two devices at all times, as a single dose of epinephrine may not be enough to treat a serious allergic reaction.

This new law will dramatically reduce the cost of these devices for consumers by requiring health insurers in the individual and group markets, including non-profit insurers and HMOs, to cover medically necessary EpiPens for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions and cap out-of-pocket costs for such coverage at $100 per year.

Expanding Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Screening and Imaging

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females in New York State. Each year in New York, at least 17,000 females are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 2,400 die from the disease. It is estimated that one in eight females will develop breast cancer during their life. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females in New York State. It is most often found in females ages 50 and older.

The new law changes parts of the Insurance Law to require individual, group and non-profit (including HMO) health insurance plans to cover breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging. This coverage applies if a doctor recommends it based on nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The screenings include diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and MRIs. The new law also clarifies that cost-sharing will not apply to these procedures except to the extent it would result in health savings account ineligibility under IRS guidelines.

Covering Cost of Scalp Cooling Systems

Scalp cooling is covered by Medicaid and Medicare, and three different cooling systems have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Without insurance coverage, patients must pay out of pocket, which ranges from $1,500 to $3,000 per round of chemotherapy.

The new law requires health insurers in the large group market to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems that are used during chemotherapy treatment. As part of the treatment, patients wear a cooling cap before, during and after each chemotherapy session to reduce the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach the hair follicles, which helps to preserve a person’s hair.

MAYOR ADAMS RELEASES FIRST-ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPACTS OF NEWLY CREATED MAYOR’S OFFICE TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM

 

Office Was Created in May 2025 to Address Unprecedented Rise in Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Ensure Jewish New Yorkers Feel Safe 

  

Builds on Adams Administration’s Work to Support Jewish New Yorkers, Combat Hate and Discrimination in All Its Forms 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Executive Director Moshe Davis today released the first annual report from the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. The report documents the policy framework, operational structures, and legislative strategy taken up by the nation’s first municipal Office to Combat Antisemitism since its founding in May 2025. Chapters include the historical context of antisemitism in New York City, adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition to identify modern antisemitism, operations of the interagency task force spanning over 35 agencies, and detailed legal and policy analysis of the executive orders and legislative proposals. The report also offers a roadmap for the future through legislative priorities, strong public messaging, citywide training initiatives, and enhanced enforcement mechanisms.    

  

“After the attacks of October 7, 2023, I wasn’t afraid to say what so many New Yorkers were feeling: We were not alright. That was the truth and a call to action,” said Mayor Adams. “Confronting antisemitism has been a priority for our administration. New York City is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel — a point of pride and responsibility. But, when an age-old hatred rises, we must name it, confront it, and protect our neighbors, because public safety and civil rights go hand-in-hand. That is why we established the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism — the first of its kind in a major American city. In a few short months, we delivered four executive orders, built an interagency task force dedicated to coordinating responses, and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, among other initiatives, but we know there is still more work to be done. I am proud of this report, which lays a framework for addressing this pervasive problem, and I thank Executive Director Moshe Davis and First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro for their steadfast commitment to ensuring all New Yorkers feel safe and respected in New York City.” 

  

“We find ourselves at a crossroad in this city with antisemitism raging,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “Such hate cannot go unchecked here, home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the world. That is why this administration has met the moment and is addressing antisemitism in a comprehensive way, as this timely report details. And our city government must continue to speak out and stand up against antisemitism.” 

  

“We cannot control world events or eradicate centuries-old hatred, but we can do what government does best: create policy, enforce the law, educate, and speak with moral clarity,” said Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Executive Director Davis. “In less than eight months, we established the first office of its kind in a major American city and built lasting tools to combat antisemitism. This report is both a record of what we accomplished and a blueprint for what municipal government ought to do.” 

  

The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Report demonstrates that cities can institutionalize the fight against hate using existing resources through strategic coordination, clear definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and moral clarity in public messaging. What New York City accomplished provides other municipalities with detailed implementation guidance, legal frameworks, and operational examples designed for immediate adaptation and replication. The report also includes the full text of all executive orders, mayoral speeches, and draft legislation related to Mayor Adams’ efforts to combat antisemitism in appendices. 

  

Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ commitment to rooting out antisemitism across the city, the nation, and the globe. In May 2025, Mayor Adams established the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, a first-of-its-kind office across the nation dedicated to fighting antisemitism in all forms and keeping New Yorkers safe. Flanked by dozens of leading Jewish advocates, Mayor Adams announced this new effort to establish an inter-agency taskforce dedicated to fighting antisemitism in all its forms, liaise with the New York City Law Department on appropriate cases to bring or join, advise on executive orders to issue and legislation to propose to address antisemitism, and work across agencies to ensure New Yorkers feel protected against antisemitism and to address incidents of antisemitism, among taking other actions. The office has, and continues to, also work to combat antisemitism at city-funded entities and city agencies.     

 

Later that month, Mayor Adams launched the New York City–Israel Economic Council, a first-of-its-kind initiative, bringing together city leaders, business executives, and innovators to deepen economic cooperation between New York City and Israel. The council advances shared priorities in technology, public safety, climate resilience, infrastructure, and life sciences — ensuring that New York continues to benefit from Israel’s world-leading innovation ecosystem.   

 

In June 2025, Mayor Adams signed a historic executive order to recognize the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which identifies demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism; these are exactly the core tactics of the boycott, divestment, and sanction (BDS) movement. 

  

Recently, Mayor Adams signed two executive orders that will ensure city agencies continue to make sound financial decisions that protect taxpayer dollars and that protect New Yorkers’ right to practice their religion at houses of worship without harassment, while still protecting freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Executive Order No. 60 prohibits mayoral agency heads, agency chief contracting officers, and any other mayoral appointees with discretion over contracting from engaging in procurement practices that discriminate against the State of Israel, Israeli citizens, or those associated with Israel. Executive Order No. 61 directs the commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to evaluate potential changes to the NYPD patrol guide to evaluate proposals for regulating protest activity occurring close to houses of worship.  

  

“A famous quotation in the movie The King’s Speech is when King George VI says, ‘I have a voice.’ Thankfully, Mayor Eric Adams has been a courageous voice in combatting the scourge of antisemitism in our city,” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. “While some were silent, he was not afraid to shout and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. He would remind us that antisemitism is anti-Christianity, anti-Islam, and anti–all faiths. We will always be grateful.”