Governor Hochul Cautions New Yorkers to Prepare for Severe Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, Hail and Possible Tornadoes Tuesday

Areas in Western New York, Central New York, Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes Could See Enhanced Threat of Severe Thunderstorms

Wind Gusts Could Exceed 70 Miles Per Hour in Some Locations

Isolated Tornado Possible for Parts of Western New York, Southern Tier, Central New York and Finger Lakes and the North Country

Areas in North Country, Mohawk Valley and Capital Region Could Also See Some Severe Storms

New Yorkers Urged To Monitor Weather and Take Precautions

Governor Kathy Hochul cautioned New Yorkers in portions of Western and Central New York to prepare for severe weather that includes an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon. Storms with strong winds are predicted along with a possible, isolated tornado for parts of Western New York, Southern Tier, North Country, Finger Lakes into Central New York. Wind gusts could exceed 70 MPH in these locations at times. There is also a possibility for hail up to one inch in diameter within thunderstorms, especially for western parts of the state. Rainfall is expected to be less than a half inch in most areas, but some isolated areas could see up to an inch of rain. There is also a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms for much of the North Country, as well as portions of the Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to closely monitor the weather and take any precautions necessary to stay safe through the storms.

"As storm season approaches and severe weather makes its way to Western and Central New York, I am directing state agencies to be prepared to assist New Yorkers impacted by these storms," Governor Hochul said. "My highest priority is the safety of New Yorkers, and I implore all those in the path of inclement storms to monitor weather conditions and take necessary precautions to stay safe."

For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories, and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division’s Office of Emergency Management is in contact with their local counterparts and is prepared to facilitate requests for assistance. State stockpiles are staffed and ready to deploy emergency response assets and supplies as needed. The State Watch Center is monitoring the storm track and statewide impacts closely.

Department of Transportation

The State Department of Transportation is monitoring weather conditions and prepared to respond with 3,730 supervisors and operators available statewide. All field staff are available to fully engage and respond.

Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:

• 1,528 large dump trucks
• 334 large loaders
• 91 chippers
• 90 tracked and wheeled excavators
• 33 water pumps
• 31 traffic and tree crew bucket trucks
• 29 traffic tower platforms
• 16 vacuum trucks with sewer jets

The need for additional resources will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the event. For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit 511ny.org, New York State's official traffic and travel information source.

Department of Public Service

New York's utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State, as necessary. Agency staff will track utilities' work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.

New York State Police

State Police instructed all Troopers to remain vigilant and will deploy extra patrols to affected areas as needed. All four-wheel drive vehicles are in service, and all specialty vehicles are staged and ready for deployment.

Department of Environmental Conservation

The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Emergency Management staff, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and regional staff remain on alert and continue to monitor weather forecasts. Working with partner agencies, DEC is prepared to coordinate resource deployment of all available assets, including first responders, to targeted areas in preparation for potential impacts due to heavy rainfall and flooding.

DEC reminds local officials to watch for potential flooding in their communities. Municipalities are encouraged to undertake local assessments of flood-prone areas and to remove any accumulating debris. DEC permits and authorization are not required to remove debris unless stream banks or beds will be disturbed by debris removal and/or the use of heavy equipment. Municipalities and local governments are advised to contact DEC's Regional Permit Administrators if assistance is required and to help determine if a permit is necessary.

If a permit is necessary, DEC can issue Emergency Authorizations to expedite approval of projects in place of an individual permit. DEC approves Emergency Authorizations for situations that are deemed an emergency based on the immediate protection of life, health, general welfare, property, or natural resources.

Unpredictable weather and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and other backcountry areas can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for rain, snow, ice, and colder temperatures to ensure a safe outdoor experience. Trails have mixed conditions of snow, ice, slush, and mud.

Hikers are advised to temporarily avoid all high-elevation trails, as well as trails that cross rivers and streams. Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures, and general recreation information.

Backcountry visitors should Hike Smart and follow proper safety guidelines. Plan trips accordingly. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. To request Forest Ranger assistance, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS.

Thunderstorm Safety Tips

Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that can produce 50+ mph winds, lightning, hail and cause flash flooding and tornadoes. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to a safe shelter immediately.

• Move to a sturdy building. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
• If lightning occurs and sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up.
• Get out of boats and away from water.
• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances.
• Do not take a bath or shower.
• Turn off air conditioners — power surges from lightning can overload compressors.
• Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible.
• Do not attempt to drive to safety — most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles.
• If outdoors, find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles.
• If you are in the woods, take shelter under short trees.
• If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet; place your hands on your knees with your head between them; make yourself the smallest target possible; and minimize your contact with the ground.

Tornado Safety Tips

• If outdoors: Seek shelter in a substantial building immediately. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately.
• If at home or in a small building: Go to the basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Stay away from windows. Closets, bathrooms, and other interior rooms offer the best protection. Get under something sturdy or cover yourself with a mattress.
• If in a school, hospital, or shopping center: Go to a pre-designated shelter area. Stay away from large open areas and windows. Do not go outside to your car.
• If in a high-rise building: Go to an interior small room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Do not use the elevators. Use the stairs.
• If in a mobile home or vehicle: Get out of mobile homes or vehicles - they are easily tossed about by strong winds in the tornado.
• Take shelter in a substantial structure: If there is no shelter near-by, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.

Flood Safety

• During flash flooding, never attempt to drive on a flooded road. Turn around and go another way. If water begins to rise rapidly around you in your car, abandon the vehicle immediately.
• Do not underestimate the power of fast-moving water. Two feet of fast-moving flood water will float your car, and water moving at two miles per hour can sweep cars off a road or bridge.

 

Statement from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on the FY26 State Budget Agreement

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement:

“As President Trump and Elon Musk create chaos by recklessly blocking grants, slashing funding, and driving up the risk of a recession, State leaders in Albany agreed upon a budget that gives New York City some additional stability – but we must do more to ease the astronomical costs of living and keep New Yorkers safe.

“Governor Hochul addressed a key concern for public safety by providing additional flexibility for involuntary hospitalization when a person with serious mental illness becomes a risk to themselves or others, along with a commitment to better coordination and more holistic discharge planning. These reforms will increase safety on our streets and in our subways — but they must be accompanied by a new ‘housing first’ approach at the City level that connects people to housing and services or they will simply keep cycling from subway to street to hospital, and then back again.

“New Yorkers are grateful for the additional money in their pockets through the rebate check that the Governor and Legislature agreed to. But we need to be even bolder in providing affordable housing and child care – right now those costs are crushing working families.

“Given the relentless attacks from Donald Trump and Secretary Duffy, New York City straphangers should give Governor Hochul recognition for her willingness to fight for congestion pricing and her commitment to fully funding the MTA’s Capital Budget.

“With this State budget agreement, New York City can now get serious about its own budget, which must do more to defend New Yorkers from Trump’s devastating cuts. The City is woefully underprepared without significant additions to its own Rainy Day Fund and General Reserves — which is why I’ve called for $1 billion to be added to each — to protect us against the risk of a recession or significant federal budget cuts. I will be watching closely to see if the Adams Administration takes serious steps to address the risks we face when the Mayor unveils the Executive Budget later this week.”

Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims

 

A Nigerian national was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ogbata and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ogbata and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ogbata admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”

“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges of the USPIS Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI and USPIS to protect our citizens from these scams.”

“It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life, and then are duped out of it all,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behavior – we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”

Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. USPIS and HSI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

161st Street BID - 🌳 Joyce Kilmer Clean-up on Saturday!

 

Meet at Lorelei Fountain at 10:45AM!

The BID is excited to host our third clean-up of the spring this Saturday at 11AM. We will be meeting at Lorelei Fountain at 10:45AM. Please feel free to RSVP below and share with anyone who may be interested.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend! Please feel free to email us if you have any questions.

Michael Darryl Torres

mtorres@161bid.org 

161st Street Business Improvement District

RSVP Here

Governor Hochul Announces Agreement on FY 2026 State Budget

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an agreement has been reached with legislative leaders on key priorities in the Fiscal Year 2026 New York State Budget.

“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer. That’s exactly what this budget will do,” Governor Hochul said. “Working with our partners in the Legislature we’ve reached an agreement to pass a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. Good things take time, and this budget is going to make a real difference for New York families.”

Highlights of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget include:

• A $1 billion tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers, bringing tax rates to their lowest levels in nearly 70 years.
• Delivering a sweeping increase to the Child Tax Credit by giving eligible families a $1,000 credit for kids younger than 4 years old and a $500 credit for kids ages 4-16, effectively doubling the credit for the average family
• Expanding access to child care by investing $2.2 billion statewide, including a $350 million investment to save child care subsidies for tens of thousands of New York City families.
• Sending New York’s first-ever Inflation Refund checks, which will dedicate $2 billion to provide direct cash assistance to more than 8 million New Yorkers with checks of up to $400 per family.
• Reducing the Payroll Mobility Tax for small businesses, and eliminating it for self-employed individuals earning $150,000 or less.
• Providing $340 million to ensure free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in New York, saving families an average of $1,600 per child.
• Investing a record $357 million in gun violence prevention programs that have helped drive gun violence down by more than 50% when compared to pandemic-era peaks.
• Fixing the discovery laws to support victims and survivors, and reduce the number of cases being thrown out on technicalities, while investing $120 million in funding for discovery law compliance for prosecutors and defense attorneys.
• Creating a new Class B misdemeanor to crack down on individuals who use a mask to conceal their identity when committing a Class A misdemeanor or higher crime or fleeing the scene immediately after committing such a crime.
• Making our subways safer by investing $77 million for police officers on every overnight subway train, installing platform barriers and LED lighting and allocating $25 million for welcome centers to connect homeless individuals with services and care.
• Strengthening involuntary commitment, improving Kendra’s Law and investing $16.5 million in Assisted Outpatient Treatment and $2 million in OMH staffing to ensure people with severe mental illness get compassionate care.
• Strengthening the continuum of mental health care by investing $160 million to create a 100 new forensic inpatient psychiatric beds in New York City.

• Setting a statewide bell-to-bell distraction-free schools policy with a $13.5 million investment to help schools operationalize bans on smart phone and other internet enabled devices usage during the school day, making New York the largest state in the nation with a bell-to-bell ban.
• Investing $47 million to make community college free for adult students pursuing associate degrees in certain high-demand industries.
• Leveling the playing field for homebuyers by banning private equity purchases within the first 90 days a home is on the market and making investments in Pro-Housing Communities and City of Yes.
• Making a record $1 billion investment in climate priorities, including assistance to electrify homes, thermal energy networks, EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
• Making the biggest capital investment in New York’s transportation history by fully funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA’s) proposed $68.4 billion 2025-2029 capital plan to build the Interborough Express, crack down on fare evasion and focus on much needed repairs and upgrades.
• Investing an additional $800 million in the Department of Transportation’s 5-year Capital Plan to support core highway and bridge construction projects.
• Modernizing the Hudson Valley Rail System to reduce travel time, increase connectivity and strengthen economic connections across the region.

With a conceptual agreement in place, the legislative houses are expected to pass bills that will enact these priorities in the coming days. Based on a preliminary assessment of the negotiated changes to the Executive proposal, the total Budget for FY 2026 is currently estimated at $254 billion. The FY 2026 Budget does not raise income or statewide business taxes, maintains record State reserves to safeguard state finances and grants the Governor the powers necessary to make future adjustments if actions by the federal government require.

 

Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect Haitian Immigrants

 

AG James Defends Haitian Immigrants’ Legal Status under TPS, Argues in Amicus Brief That Trump Administration’s Termination of TPS Would Endanger Immigrants

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in opposing the Trump administration’s attempt to strip hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants of their legal status under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. TPS is a humanitarian program that protects individuals from returning to countries that have been deemed unsafe due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent their safe return. In an amicus brief, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that eliminating TPS for Haitian immigrants would put them in danger, tear families apart, and hurt local economies. Attorney General James is asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to keep TPS in place for thousands of Haitian immigrants, including the more than 5,400 Haitian TPS holders living in New York City. 

“Revoking Haitians’ legal immigration status that has kept them safe with their families in the U.S. is cruel and dangerous,” said Attorney General James. “Haitian immigrants have contributed immensely to our communities, neighborhoods, and local economies, and without them New York and this nation would not be the same. I am urging this federal court to keep Haitians’ legal status intact so that families can safely stay together.”  

Despite ongoing humanitarian crises in Haiti, the Trump administration has taken actions that would terminate TPS protections for Haitians, who were provided the opportunity to apply for that legal status in 2010 after an earthquake devastated the island. Since 2010, Haiti has faced political instability and the U.S. has continued to extend TPS protections for Haitians since 2011. Despite unsafe conditions in Haiti, the Trump administration moved to end protections for TPS holders, jeopardizing the safety of countless individuals.

In an amicus brief filed in Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association v. Donald J. Trump, Attorney General James and the coalition state that the Trump administration’s changes to TPS were made without considering the perilous conditions in Haiti, and if allowed to take effect, these changes would upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of TPS holders and their families. These terminations would decrease the amount of time Haitian TPS holders are allowed to stay in the U.S. with work authorization and subject them to the risk of deportation.

In addition to the humanitarian impact, the attorneys general argue terminating TPS would disrupt local economies and strain state resources in multiple states, including New York. Haitians are critical members of New York’s workforce, filling essential roles in healthcare, education, construction, and other industries. Many are homeowners and business owners who contribute billions to the economy through wages and taxes.

New York is home to approximately 56,800 TPS holders, with more than 5,400 Haitian TPS holders living in New York City alone. In 2023, New York TPS households earned $2.3 billion in income, paid $348.9 million in federal taxes and $305.5 million in state and local taxes, and contributed $1.6 billion in spending power.

Attorney General James and the coalition further argue that families of Haitian TPS holders will be harmed if changes to the program are not postponed, creating serious hardship for these households. It would also force TPS-holder parents to make the agonizing choice between:

• Returning to their country of origin alone, leaving their children behind in broken families and the foster care system;
• Taking their family members, some of whom are American citizens, with them to a dangerous country that they do not know; or
• Staying in the United States and retreating into the shadows, knowing that they cannot work legally and could be ripped from their families at any time.

Attorney General James has been fighting to protect vulnerable immigrant communities. Last month, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of attorneys general in opposing the Trump administration’s unlawful and baseless attempt to strip TPS from Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California expressly relied on an amicus brief co-led by Attorney General James in granting preliminary relief protecting Venezuelan TPS holders in National TPS Alliance v. Noem. 

Joining Attorney General James in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Former Teacher In New York City Charged With Distribution And Possession Of Child Pornography

 

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) announced today the arrest of SAMUEL GONZALEZ, a former teacher at an acting school in New York City.  GONZALEZ is charged with distributing and possessing child pornography, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.  GONZALEZ was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses. 

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, Samuel Gonzalez distributed a large volume of child pornography, including images of sexual abuse of children as young as a few months old.  The lasting scars from the horrific abuse of children are deeply troubling to all New Yorkers.  Together with our partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who victimize children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” 

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Samuel Gonzalez allegedly distributed thousands of pornographic images of infants and minors to an undercover federal agent over a brief period.  Gonzalez’s alleged actions grossly disregarded the victims’ welfare and repeatedly violated their privacy by sharing this twisted material.  The FBI is deeply committed to preventing crimes against children and will continue to apprehend any individual who supplies these explicit images.”   

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]

GONZALEZ is an actor, dancer, theater producer, and former teacher at an acting school in New York City.  In or about January 2023 and April 2023, GONZALEZ used an online messaging application to send links containing over 1,500 files of child pornography to a federal law enforcement agent acting in an undercover capacity.   In addition, in or about June 2023, federal agents executed a judicially-authorized search warrant of GONZALEZ’s apartment.  Pursuant to that warrant, federal agents seized and searched GONZALEZ’s phone and laptop, which were found to contain over 80 unique files of child pornography, including videos and images of infants and prepubescent adolescents who had not attained 12 years of age.

GONZALEZ, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  GONZALEZ is further charged with one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the FBI/New York City Police Department Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Cheng and Diarra M. Guthrie are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

DEC AND NORTH AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE REFRIGERATION COUNCIL ANNOUNCE TWO STORES IN THE BRONX TRANSITION TO CLIMATE-FRIENDLY REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

 

New Equipment Reduces Harmful Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Demonstrates Progress in Reducing Hydrofluorocarbons

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) today announced completed projects at two Key Food stores in the Bronx. The projects replace older refrigeration equipment that used hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with cleaner, natural alternatives. The projects, implemented with assistance through $350,000 in state grants, advance efforts to reduce pollution that contributes to climate change.

“HFCs are known harmful emissions that greatly contribute to climate change and New York State is leading on advancing efforts to reduce pollution in all sectors of our economy,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “I applaud Key Food and the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council for working with DEC to advance these Bronx-based projects that demonstrate successful installations of new, non-HFC equipment that increases efficiency, reduces costs, improves public health, and advances the transition from HFCs.”

HFCs are extremely potent greenhouse gases often used in refrigeration and cooling. The Key Food stores located on White Plains Road and Tremont Avenue in the Bronx each received approximately $175,000 for the purchase of an ultra-low GWP R-290 self-contained refrigeration systems. The projects were managed and administered by NASRC with DEC support through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund.

The projects are great examples of how small and independent stores can lower costs and phase in natural refrigerants by staging their equipment replacements over time. By transitioning to the new systems, both stores expect to see reduced energy costs. The systems meet State compliance requirements and provide an opportunity for the stores to update their merchandising and overall store design.

Danielle Wright, Executive Director of NASRC, said, “These projects are excellent examples of how turnkey remodels can provide practical and scalable solutions for retailers aiming to stay ahead of regulatory pressures while future-proofing their stores. By transitioning to natural refrigerants, these stores have positioned themselves for long-term operational and compliance benefits.” 

Salvatore Bonavita of Key Food’s store on White Plains Road said, “I would like to thank the NASRC, DEC, and Empire Refrigeration for their support of our Store’s ongoing efforts to meet the amended regulations. And, although the regulations may not require the replacement of existing equipment, the practical realities of running a grocery store often require otherwise. Our new, low-temp R-290 cases are sleek, quiet and an efficient replacement of our HFC-dependent frozen food cases. A great option that would have not happened but for the confluence of circumstances only made possible through this program. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to every refrigeration challenge facing long-serving, inner-city-based stores, which typically have a patchwork of legacy systems. Even projects like ours had additional costs not covered under the generous grant. So, for many independent grocery stores serving income-sensitive communities, the best hope may lie with similar collaborative projects.”

HFCs are among the most impactful climate pollutants, having hundreds to thousands of times higher global warming potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a certain time period relative to CO2, resulting in increased climate impacts and more harmful to the environment.

In December 2024, DEC announced amended regulations to support the State’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, including HFCs. Part 494 includes prohibitions, reporting, and other requirements for HFCs to help reduce emissions, improve the environment, and benefit New Yorkers’ health and safety. The amended regulation does not require the replacement of existing equipment prior to the end of its useful life. For more information on the Part 494 regulation, including requirements for suppliers and owners or operators, visit DEC’s website.

In March 2024, DEC announced the completion of the first two projects under this program that successfully demonstrated the use of natural refrigerants in grocery stores in Buffalo and Long Island. These four natural refrigerant projects, located in disadvantaged communities, are models for future commercial sustainable refrigeration transitions in retail food facilities.

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.