Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Attorney General James Launches Website Privacy Guides for New York Consumers and Businesses

 

AG James’ Consumer Guide will Help New Yorkers Better Understand How to Safeguard Against Unwanted Tracking Online

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the launch of two privacy guides on the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) website: a Business Guide to Website Privacy Controls and a Consumer Guide to Tracking on the Web. The Business Guide will help businesses better protect visitors to their websites by identifying common mistakes businesses make when deploying tracking technologies, processes they can use to help identify and prevent issues, and guidance for ensuring they comply with New York law. The Consumer Guide will help New Yorkers by offering tips they can use to protect their privacy when browsing the web. OAG issued these guides following a review that uncovered unwanted tracking on more than a dozen popular websites, collectively serving more than 75 million visitors per month.

“When New Yorkers visit websites, they deserve to have the peace of mind that they won’t be tracked without their knowledge, and won’t have their personal information sold to advertisers,” said Attorney General James. “All too often, visiting a webpage or making a simple search will result in countless ads popping up on unrelated websites and social media. When visitors opt out of tracking, businesses have an obligation to protect their visitors’ personal information, and consumers deserve to know this obligation is being fulfilled. These new guides that my team launched will help protect New Yorkers’ privacy and make websites safer places to visit.”

While many websites provide visitors with information about the tracking that takes place and controls to manage that tracking, not all businesses have taken appropriate steps to ensure their disclosures are accurate and their privacy controls work as described. Most tracking on the internet relies on cookies, which are small text files created by a web browser when visiting a website. Cookies often contain an identifier unique to a user’s device which helps websites and other online services recognize the user as they click from one webpage to the next. Cookies can also be used by advertising companies to track the websites a user visits, the buttons a user clicks, and the searches a user runs, and then be used to serve highly targeted ads to that person.

To help businesses better protect New Yorkers and comply with New York consumer protection laws, Attorney General James launched a Business Guide to Website Privacy Controls. This new guide identifies common mistakes that businesses make and includes steps that can be taken to identify and prevent issues. The Business Guide also provides information to help businesses comply with relevant New York laws, including ensuring that the representations made about tracking, whether express or implied, are truthful and not misleading. The Business Guide provides areas where businesses have run into trouble and tips for avoiding these issues.

In addition to a guide for businesses, Attorney General James launched a guide to help New Yorkers understand how to better protect themselves from unwanted tracking online. The OAG’s Consumer Guide to Tracking explains how website visitors are tracked, what cookie pop-ups do, and to what extent websites’ privacy controls can be relied on to protect users’ privacy. The Consumer Guide explains that on many websites, tracking cookies are created as soon as the first webpage loads, often before consumers have a chance to opt out. Attorney General James wants New Yorkers to appreciate that using a website’s privacy controls to opt out will not delete cookies that already exist on a consumer’s computer, including those created before a webpage visitor had the chance to opt out. This means consumers can be tracked and targeted by personalized ads even if they seemingly opted out.

The online privacy guides released by Attorney General James are part of OAG’s ongoing work to protect New York consumers and help businesses enhance their privacy and data security. Earlier this month, Attorney General James issued a consumer alert to raise awareness about free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services available for millions of consumers impacted by the Change Healthcare data breach. In March 2024, Attorney General James led a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in sending a letter to Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) addressing the recent rise of Facebook and Instagram account takeovers by scammers and frauds. In April 2023, Attorney General James released a comprehensive data security guide to help companies strengthen their data security practices. In January 2022, Attorney General James released a business guide for credential stuffing attacks that detailed how businesses could protect themselves and consumers.

Governor Hochul Announces $54 Million in State Funding to Support the Second Avenue Subway Project

MTA NYC Subway 

State Funding Provided to the MTA Will Support Critical Work on the Project

State Resources Provided Allows Work on the Project to Proceed Immediately

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State will provide $54 million in state resources to support the Second Avenue Subway expansion project that would extend the Second Avenue line to 125th Street in East Harlem. The capital funding provided to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will be earmarked towards the utility relocation contract (“Contract 1”) for Phase 2 of the expansion project, which will deliver subway service to residents of East Harlem, one of the most transit-dependent neighborhoods in New York City. With this funding support identified by Governor Hochul from the State, the MTA can immediately proceed with the work to relocate utility lines along Second Avenue and nearby streets, putting the project in position to advance as scheduled while broader funding issues are resolved. This action will not impact MTA Capital Program State of Good Repair projects that are prioritized or currently underway.

“I have been committed to the Second Avenue Subway since the day I took office, and we will deliver this project for the people of East Harlem and the millions of riders who will use it every day," Governor Hochul said. “When I announced the pause on implementing congestion pricing, I directed my team to think creatively about how to keep these generational investments moving forward. Now, we are committing the funds needed to continue the utility relocation contract, the first step to building this transformational project to meet the needs of everyday New Yorkers.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “We are grateful the Governor was able to identify new funds to advance the utility relocation project along Second Avenue without impacting funding available for State of Good Repair investments. Advancing that utility work now – while congestion pricing is on pause – puts MTA in a position to keep the overall Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project on schedule while Albany resolves how to fund the $15 billion outstanding for the MTA’s 2020-24 Capital Program.”

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2
The second phase of the project will extend Q train service from 96th Street north on Second Avenue to 125th Street and then west on 125th Street to Park Avenue, approximately 1.5 miles in total. There will be three new stations at 106th Street, 116th Street and 125th Street, and a direct passenger connection with the existing 125th Street subway station on the Lexington Avenue subway line. Phase 2 will also feature an entrance at Park Avenue to allow convenient transfers to the Metro-North Railroad 125th Street Station.

MAYOR ADAMS NOMINATES RANDY MASTRO TO SERVE AS NEW YORK CITY’S CORPORATION COUNSEL

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today nominated Randy Mastro as the city’s next corporation counsel. Mastro, a nationally-recognized litigator with a rich history of public service, is a partner at the law firm King and SpaldingHe previously served as deputy mayor for operations and City Hall chief of staff from 1994 to 1998, as well as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. As corporation counsel, Mastro will lead the New York City Department of Law, which is primarily responsible for providing legal representation to the City of New York — for the Mayor’s Officethe Public Advocate’s Officethe Comptroller’s Officecity agencies, and the City Council  in all affirmative and defensive civil litigation.  

 

“I am excited to announce Randy Mastro as the City of New York’s next corporation council. Randy is a world-renowned attorney who brings decades of experience as a public servant, federal prosecutor, preeminent trial lawyer, and as someone who has built a career around fighting corruption, delivering justice for 9/11 families and non-profit organizations, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, championing racial justice, and standing up to the Trump administrationRecognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, Randy is among the best known and most respected litigators in the nation and has helped shape the legal world through his extensive body of work. He has led the charge against organized crime in this city, litigated many high-profile public issues on a pro bono basis on behalf of democratic causes, served as vice chair of Legal Aid, and chaired Citizens Union, New York City's revered good government group,” said Mayor Adams. “I also want to thank Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix for her decades of service to New Yorkers, especially her last two years as corporation counsel to our city, as well as Muriel Goode-Trufant for serving as acting corporation counsel over the last two months. Sylvia has played a pivotal role in furthering this administration’s vision to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make our city more affordable and livable. We are grateful for her service to the people of New York.”  

 

“I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to return to city government. I am a passionate advocate in the courtroom and a proud New Yorker who loves this city.,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Nominee Randy Mastro. So, when presented with this chance of a lifetime to use my legal skills to harness the power of government to do good and improve New Yorkers' lives, I am answering the call. I stand on the shoulders of giants who held this position before me and led a Law Department that has set the standard for excellence in public representation. And I will work tirelessly to deliver the best legal services possible and achieve affirmative successes for the benefit of all New Yorkers.” 

 

Randy Mastro’s enormous legal talents are perfectly matched by his great love for New York City, as demonstrated by his decades-long record of public service and pro bono work,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa ZornbergHe is an outstanding choice for corporation counsel. 

 

Mastro will replace Acting Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant, who took over for Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix, who stepped down from her post at the end of May. Judge Hinds-Radix led the Department of Law since January 2022.  

 

About Randy Mastro 

 

Randy Mastro has a long record of both city and federal public service. From 1994 to 1998, he served as deputy mayor for operations and chief of staff to the mayor of New York City. During that time, he helped tackle organized crime and shepherded through sweeping protections for same-sex partnerships, efforts referred to as “historic.” 

 

From 1985 to 1989, Mastro served as assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he specialized in organized crime cases. During that time, he led the landmark racketeering suit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and received the highest recognitions by the U.S. Department of Justice for that work, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement, and the Director’s Award for Superior Performance. 

 

Mastro also has an extensive record of litigating cases on a pro bono basis, including representing peaceful racial justice demonstrators in Washington, D.C. against the Trump administration after they were brutally and abruptly cleared from Lafayette Park with tear gas to make way for a photo op for former President Donald Trumpdefending a public-school teacher fired for giving her class an assignment on racism, and successfully advocating for the families of fallen 9/11 firefighter heroes that were entitled to millions in donations. 

 

Since 2016, Mastro has served as chair of the Citizens Union, a group focused on holding local government accountable and empowering all New Yorkers. He previously served as former vice chair of The Legal Aid Society and as a former board member of The City University of New York, the YMCA, Sanctuary for Families, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Hale House, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. 

 

Mastro has also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and at Fordham Law School. He has authored and co-authored articles in the Fordham Law Review, Federal Communications Law Journal, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, and Seton Hall Law Review, among others. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Yale University and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.  

 

Under the City Charter, the nominee for corporation counsel must be confirmed by the City Council. 


Department of City Planning Launches New Online Platform to Help Community Boards Share Their Funding Priorities

 

New Community District Needs Submission Site Allows Community Boards to Customize Budget Requests and Track Their Progress

Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today announced the launch of a new online platform to support NYC’s 59 Community Boards to share their funding priorities with the City through the Community District Needs (CD Needs) process. A vital step in the creation of New York City’s annual budget, the CD Needs process helps ensure responsive neighborhood and infrastructure planning and equitable and efficient delivery of services to communities.

The new online platform was developed by DCP in response to Community Board feedback and makes it easier than ever for them to participate in this process. Providing an individual submission form for each District, it allows Community Boards to submit customized budget requests that more fully reflect their needs, simplifies the process of submitting requests, includes a new submission tracker feature, and provides an overall enhanced user experience. The web platform is being launched after extensive preparatory work with Community Boards, including two months of feedback sessions and weekly training workshops.

“Community Boards play an essential role in our city’s budget, and we should do all we can to make it as easy as possible for them to share their funding priorities. That’s exactly what this new budget request platform will do. Thanks to its straightforward, intuitive design, Community Boards will now be able to more efficiently advocate for the resources their neighborhoods need. That’s a big win for good governance and for all New Yorkers,” said Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick.

“We thank DCP for the thoughtful, user-centered approach they took in developing this new platform. In addition to being more functionally responsive to the needs of Community District staff, the design is a beautiful and pleasant digital workspace. I'm especially excited by the new ability to upload our own additional content to supplement the standard questions, which will allow us to provide visual context and substantiating data to strengthen our narratives,” said Taya Mueller, District Manager of Brooklyn Community District 2.

“The new platform is quite user-friendly, for novices and experts alike,” said Felicia Johnson, District Manager of Queens Community Board #14. “The training that DCP provided to Community Board members was extremely helpful to me as a first-time user and submitter, and I appreciate their patience and support.”

The Community District Needs process plays a part in setting the next overall budget, and is separate and apart from Participatory Budgeting, which sets aside funds from the existing budget. Since 2015, DCP has worked with the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to streamline and simplify the submission work for all 59 community boards.

In addition to managing the submission platform, DCP supports Community Boards in the preparation and submission of needs statements and budget requests by holding one-on-one training sessions to guide them through the budgetary process, highlighting recommended next steps, identifying opportunities to amend requests, and offering agency feedback where needed.

As part of the CD Needs process, Community Boards list their “top 3 pressing issues” with the City. In Fiscal Year 2025, affordable housing was once again the top-ranked concern, as it has been every year since 2015. This underlines the importance of the steps this administration is taking to combat the city’s housing and affordability crisis, including “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City's history. To view the Fiscal Year 2025 Board’s Statement of Community District Needs, go to DCP’s Community District Profiles, select a District and click on the “Community Board” tab.

New Yorkers seeking to get involved in CD Needs conversations can contact their local Community Board by visiting the Community Affairs Unit’s website.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

CONSUMER ALERT: NYDOS Division of Consumer Protection Warns Military Community to be Aware of Scams Targeting Service Members

 

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July is Military Consumer Protection Month

Follow the New York Department of State on FacebookX and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a Variety of Topics 

Secretary Mosley: “With the number of scams targeting service members on the rise, it’s important for members of the military community to take the proper precautions to protect their personal information and finances before, during and after deployment.”

In recognition of Military Consumer Protection Month, the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is warning members of the military community to be aware of scams targeting service members. Scams are surging nationwide, and members of the military community are frequent targets of scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraud cost veterans, service members and their families $477 million in 2023, and there were a total of 93,735 fraud reports within the community during that time. Imposter scams, online shopping scams and investment-related scams were the top three types of scams targeted at military members, veterans and their families. 

“Many service members are young, live away from home and are managing their own finances for the first time, making them attractive targets for opportunistic scammers,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “With the number of scams targeting service members on the rise, it’s important for members of the military community to take the proper precautions to protect their personal information and finances before, during and after deployment.”

The Division of Consumer Protection recommends the following scam precautions for active-duty service members to help identify when something isn’t right and help ensure they are prepared to protect their personal information, accounts, identity and money from fraudulent practices.

TIP #1: PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT BY USING AN “ACTIVE-DUTY ALERT”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that active-duty service members file reports of identity theft at much higher rates than non-military consumers. If you are called to active duty, put an “Active-Duty Alert” on your credit report to minimize your risk for identity theft. Benefits include:

  • Businesses must verify identity before issuing new credit.
  • Lasts one year but is renewable.
  • Removes names from marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years.

To add an Active-Duty Alert on your credit report, contact any one of the three main credit reporting agencies here: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/CreditBureauContacts. Once you have placed an Active-Duty Alert on your credit report with one of the bureaus, that bureau will send a request to the other two bureaus to do the same, so you do not have to contact all three.

Don’t fall for credit monitoring scams: These scams target active-duty members who are being deployed. They offer to monitor credit and defend against identity theft, but instead they use the victim’s credit information to go on a spending spree, leaving the victim to foot the bill. An Active-Duty Alert on your credit report is the safer way to protect your credit.

TIP #2: PROTECT YOUR PURCHASES AND INVESTMENTS

No matter where you shop, do your research first. It’s important to search online for credible opinions from trusted sources and compare reviews from a variety of websites.

TIP #2: PROTECT YOUR PURCHASES AND INVESTMENTS

No matter where you shop, do your research first. It’s important to search online for credible opinions from trusted sources and compare reviews from a variety of websites.

Know what to look for when buying or selling a vehicle:
A vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases you will make. If you are buying or selling a vehicle, below are a few red flags to look for:

  • Be skeptical of so-called “military friendly” sellers: Scammers often do this to get you to let down your guard. Be wary of anyone that is offering an “incredible deal,” sometimes claiming to be the family of a service member who was recently deployed or died in combat. In both situations, the scammer is using service member affinity to discourage you from looking too closely at the deal or negotiating in good faith.
  • Be cautious of fake websites or fake listings: These fake websites often post ads that offer discounts for military personnel but charge upfront fees that require a wire transfer. Scammers often list vehicles for sale on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook and Craigslist. The scammers collect a deposit but never deliver the vehicle.
  • If you’re buying: Research the vehicle and its cost. Some dealers try to overcharge service members, offer unfavorable terms or add on expensive optional products, like paint protection, service contracts or Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance. Don’t act on impulse or pressure. Salespeople will often want you to buy the car immediately, but you should take the time to research the price and check out the car carefully, including getting a used vehicle history report.
  • If you are selling or trading in a vehicle, use a resource like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds or the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Guides to determine how much your current car is worth.
  • If financing, do extensive research to understand your options. Be wary of “instant approval” military loans (“no credit check,” “all ranks approved”) that can have high interest rates and hidden fees.

Learn to identify fake rental properties:
Scammers will often steal a photo from the internet to create a fake rental listing in an effort to steal your deposits or the private information on your rental application. Often, these scams target military personnel looking for housing near a base or will offer military discounts. Be cautious of listings that are advertising an unusually low rent or are much nicer than other properties at that price point. Make sure to pay any application fees or deposits by check or credit card. If you are required to pay a fee via wire transfer or money transfer app to see the property, this is a red flag that the listing may be fake.

TIP #3: KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH

  • Imposter scam artists will often portray themselves as someone they are not to trick you into giving them your personal information or money. They may pose as a friend on social media, a romantic interest on a dating app or a fellow service member to gain your trust. If anyone reaches out to you over social media, email, phone, text or dating apps and asks for money or financial information, ignore them and report the fraud. Never provide personal or financial information to someone if you did not initiate contact with them. These are often attempts to steal your identity and gain access to your money.
  • If a debt collector contacts you and you don’t recognize the company or the debt, first request information including the collector’s or company’s name, the company’s street address, telephone number, license number (if you’re in a municipality that requires one, such as New York City or Buffalo) and validation of the debt to ensure the debt collector and the debt are both legitimate. Unscrupulous debt collectors will often insist you owe a debt even if you don’t.
  • Be wary if you are asked to pay in an unusual manner, such as a money transfer app or by using a reloadable gift card. These methods are untraceable and it’s nearly impossible to get your money back.
  • Be suspicious of anyone who communicates exclusively through social media, messaging apps or email. Be especially wary of those who refuse to give you alternate methods to contact them.
  • Watch out for impersonators that pretend to be from Defense Finance and Accounting Services or another military group. They will contact members or their spouses by phone, email or text. They may claim that due to computer problems, your information was lost and needs to be reentered to process payments. In other cases, their emails contain links or attachments that can put malware on computers to steal passwords and account information. DFAS and other military organizations generally do not ask for personal financial information, account numbers or passwords.
  • As a general rule, service members and their families should never give personal information by phone or by clicking on links in emails to an unknown company or person. When in doubt, disengage from communication until you have had time to research the company or person to make sure they are legitimate.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Follow the New York Department of State on FacebookX and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.


The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.


DEC Announces Nearly $2 Million Partnership With Suny ESF To Study Impacts of Urban Heat Island Effect on Disadvantaged Communities

 

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Study Will Assist in Developing Tools to Plan and Evaluate Measures to Mitigate Disproportionate Heat Conditions Across the State

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced nearly $2 million awarded to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) to help identify, model, and map urban heat islands; assess extreme heat impacts and responses; and support climate actions to address urban heat island effects and extreme heat in disadvantaged communities across the state.

“Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent in New York State and across the country, significantly impacting our environment and contributing to risks to public health, particularly in disadvantaged communities,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC is pleased to join with SUNY ESF under Governor Hochul’s direction to advance this critical study with our partners to help address extreme heat, identify mitigation strategies, and protect the health and safety of New Yorkers, especially those most vulnerable.”

“The use of urban forests and their green cooling services is needed now more than ever to protect vulnerable communities from deadly heatwaves,” ESF President Joanie Mahoney said. “By combining the efforts of ESF researchers using the i-Tree Cool Air model developed under the leadership of Dr. Ted Endreny, and leveraging the DEC’s expertise, we are committed to creating practical solutions that protect the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. We are very grateful to Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and his team for continuing to foster the very strong relationship between the DEC and ESF. This is yet another example of the deep connection between our two institutions. We look forward to partnering with the DEC on this important study.”

ESF entered a Memorandum of Understanding with DEC funded by the State Environmental Protection Fund to support climate change mitigation and adaptation. The project helps fulfill legislation signed by Governor Hochul in 2022 directing DEC to study the impacts of disproportionate heat conditions in disadvantaged communities and implements recommendations in the recently released Extreme Heat Action Plan.

The project will be led by Dr. Endreny, a professor in ESF’s Department of Environmental Resources. ESF will provide expertise, personnel, and administrative support to assist DEC with modeling and mapping extreme heat exposures; identify urban heat islands, including in urban disadvantaged communities; and develop tools to model and identify heat islands and mitigation strategies. The study will inform implementation of a wide range of actions included in the plan to address extreme heat, such as providing technical assistance and scaling implementation of green infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptations to mitigate urban heat islands in disadvantaged communities. It will identify urban disadvantaged communities with concentrations of heat islands and include recommendations to identify, prevent, and address the hazard. Agencies and communities will be able to use this information to plan and prioritize projects, for example tree planting, to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Communities across the state are susceptible to increased heat due to infrastructure that traps and stores heat throughout the day and reduces cooling at night, which is known as the urban heat island effect. The study will also provide the ability to model the effects of proposed projects to determine their likely effects on urban heat islands to ensure that disadvantaged communities are not further burdened by extreme heat. 

Earlier this summer, DEC and NYSERDA released the Extreme Heat in New York State report summarizing the impacts of extreme heat, including impacts of concentrations of high heat in urban disadvantaged communities. The Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) and SUNY ESF MOU?are complementary to the ongoing coordinated state response to extreme heat emergencies led by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). DHSES is a member of the EHAP Work Group, which included more than 25 State agencies to collaborate with other local partners on the EHAP, and in June 2023 released an?extreme heat-specific annex?to the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.? 

With the likelihood of ongoing extreme heat this summer, New York State agencies remain committed and ready to help New Yorkers prepare for heat impacts. Governor Hochul?recently encouraged the public to follow a host of actions?and tips to help mitigate and prevent deadly heat exposure. 

For more information about the Extreme Heat Action Plan, visit DEC’s website and watch the webinar recording with State agencies providing an overview on the plan.