NYGOP Statement on NYC Democrats' Proposal to Limit Dairy Farm Sizes

The NYGOP released the following statement in response to two New York City Democrats' proposal to limit the number of cows on dairy farms:

 

"The whiff of manure from Albany Democrats is stronger than usual this week. Dairy farmers should not be the villains in an imaginary climate change narrative - they should be respected as part of the backbone of our state's rural economy and heritage.

 

"Senator Brisport and Assemblywoman Rosenthal should accept the invitation from Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator Jay Matteson and trade in their soy lattes for a day on the farm - maybe then they'll stop micromanaging rural life without understanding its realities."

 

-NYGOP Spokesman David Laska 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO CUT RED TAPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, MAKE IT EASIER AND SAFER TO HAVE THRIVING BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK CITY

 

“Small Business Forward 2.0” Will Cut Red Tape, Add to $50 million in Savings Business Owners Have Already Seen Under Adams Administration 

New Restaurant Inspection Reforms Will Increase Business Compliance, Food Safety, and Limit Disruption for Business Owners

Applications Open for “NYC Future Fund” Loan Program, Building on Adams Administration’s Work to Facilitate Over $300 Million in Affordable Financing Assistance Since 2022 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross today announced a package of initiatives designed to help entrepreneurs start, operate, and grow their businesses even further. “Small Business Forward 2.0” will be an update to the successful “Small Business Forward” initiative, launched in the first week of the Adams administration, to bring together cross-agency experts to identify reforms that promote entrepreneurship, support existing small businesses, and encourage the formation of new small businesses. To reduce burdens on restaurants, Mayor Adams announced the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is modifying its notification procedure to give restaurants enough time to review their practices, take any steps needed to make improvements, and meet the highest food safety standards for New Yorkers — ensuring business owners have predictability when interacting with city agencies and are meeting their requirements. Additionally, Mayor Adams announced that applications are now open for the “NYC Future Fund,” the city’s first revenue-based loan program designed to help businesses weather fluctuations in revenue throughout the year and boost their growth.

The Adams administration has presided over a strong economic rebound that has seen 183,000 small businesses operate in the city, the highest-ever in New York City’s history. One in five small businesses open today started during the Adams administration.  With 4.85 million total jobs in New York City, the administration has broken the all-time high jobs record 11 times, recovered 100 percent of pre-pandemic private-sector jobs, and added 6,700 total jobs in April 2025 alone.

“One of the first things we accomplished when we took office was to announce a package of reforms to cut red tape for small business owners who were struggling from the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, we have supported a record 183,000 small businesses and facilitated over $300 million in financing to small businesses — allowing us to create a strong economic and business environment that has broken the all-time jobs record 11 times,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are building on this solid foundation with ‘Small Business Forward 2.0,’ an updated plan that will continue to find areas to cut red tape and ways to make it easier to have a thriving business in New York City. And with new, common-sense reforms to the health inspection process, we are giving our restaurants the predictability and clarity to navigate government bureaucracy and ensure they are able to do everything they can to comply with the highest health and safety standards. Every day, we are working to make New York City safer and more affordable, and the unprecedented steps we’ve taken to help our small business community thrive helps us continue to achieve these goals.”

“New York City’s economy is driven by its small businesses and the New York City Small Business Services is committed to supporting them with the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “‘Small Business Forward 2.0’ builds on Mayor Adams’ vision first laid out in 2022, which has led to our city’s remarkable post-pandemic recovery by further cutting red tape, making government work better for entrepreneurs, and expanding access to affordable financing through the ‘NYC Future Fund.’”

“The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has been protecting New Yorkers for 220 years, and monitoring the safety of our food has been a fundamental public health practice for most of that history,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “As part of the Health Department’s expanding support for New York City restaurants, we are pleased to announce the enactment of a two email inspection notification systems designed to give restaurants more time to review their practices and more resources to make improvements to protect the health of New Yorkers. We want every New York City restaurant to practice ‘A-grade’ food safety and meet the highest food safety and health standards.”

Small Business Forward 2.0 comes as the city celebrated its third annual New York City Small Business Month, observed each May since 2023, and as the city has reached a new milestone of over 183,000 small businesses in operation, with one in five having opened during the Adams administration. Amid growing pressures on small businesses and broader economic uncertainty, Mayor Adams’ updated plan will cut red tape, expand access to flexible and innovative financing, and build on his historic effort to reset the relationship between city government and small businesses across all five boroughs.

To help restaurant owners achieve the highest level of compliance with health and safety, restaurants will now receive two emails notifying them that their restaurant will undergo an inspection. The first email will be sent one to five months prior to the inspection, and a second notice will be sent three to six weeks in advance of the inspection. These notifications will include information and resources for restaurants to make improvements and a list of everything a health inspector will look for so that restaurants can ‘self-inspect’ and make improvements immediately to better serve customers. The notices will also refer businesses to the “NYC Business Express Service Team” (NYC BEST), which provides free, one-on-one compliance education in advance of inspections and helps businesses better understand city rules to save time and money, as well as avoid fines.

Today’s announcement is the latest in the Adams administration’s ongoing efforts to deliver on Mayor Adams’ commitment to promote small businesses by:

Cutting Red Tape

To develop Small Business Forward 2.0, Mayor Adams has charged Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion, Jr., Mayor’s Office of Operations Director Daniel Steinberg, and SBS Commissioner Gross with identifying reforms to existing business regulations that promote entrepreneurship, helping existing small businesses get access to financing and other resources, and encouraging new small business formation. During the next three months, the Fire Department of the City of New York, the New York City Department of Buildings, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the New York City Department of Transportation, and DOHMH will review existing business regulations with the goal of reducing fine schedules and allowing for cure periods or warnings for first-time violations; the effort will culminate in a report this September. The city will implement identified reforms through agency rulemaking, operational changes, and legislative advocacy.

The additional reforms to business regulations will build on the success of other initiatives taken by the Adams administration that have led to record numbers of private-sector jobs and record small-business formation, including SBS’s NYC BEST program. Since 2022, the initial Small Business Forward reforms, NYC BEST, and a one-time liquor license fee suspension have saved businesses over $50 million in fines and fees.

Stronger Engagement with Small Business Community

For the past three years, Mayor Adams’ Small Business Advisory Commission has served as a formal platform for small business leaders and business-serving organizations to elevate concerns about the city’s regulatory environment directly to the administration. The latest report on the commission’s accomplishments can be found online.

Starting in the fall 2025, key regulatory agencies will deliver annual presentations at Small Business Advisory Commission meetings to share upcoming legislative and regulatory changes that may impact small businesses. These sessions will be designed to gather direct feedback and inform agency policies and outreach strategies. SBS is actively seeking nominations for business owners or community-based organizations to be members of the commission. Interested parties can complete this online form.

Affordable Financing

In 2024, at the first-ever New York City Small Business Month Expo, Mayor Adams announced the launch of the “NYC Future Fund,” the city’s first revenue-based loan designed to help businesses weather fluctuations in revenue throughout the year and boost their growth. Based on a percentage of monthly revenue instead of fixed payments, loan payments increase when revenue is high and decrease when revenue is low. Loans of up to $500,000 are available for business owners to use for working capital, inventory, marketing, hiring, materials, and more. The fund will accelerate the growth of hundreds of new small businesses in New York City by addressing the gap in access to affordable capital faced by small business owners, particularly early-stage businesses, as well as Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and women entrepreneurs that otherwise often cannot obtain traditional bank financing. Eligible businesses can apply now.

The NYC Future Fund will build on the $300 million in financing assistance provided to small businesses since 2022, including $85 million from the historic “NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund” — the largest public-private loan fund directed at small businesses in the city’s history — distributed to 1,046 businesses, including 80 percent to BIPOC communities.

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration to Protect Scientific Research and Education Programs

 

AG James Co-Leads Coalition of Attorneys General in Defending National Science Foundation Funds and Efforts to Increase Diversity in STEM

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop its illegal attempts to cut critical National Science Foundation (NSF) programs and funding that help maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). On April 18, NSF began terminating projects focused on increasing the participation of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. On May 2, NSF announced that it would also cap “indirect costs” of research projects like laboratory space, equipment, and facility services at 15 percent. This arbitrary limit on indirect costs would slash millions of dollars for groundbreaking scientific research across the country, jeopardizing national security, the economy, and public health. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order blocking the implementation of NSF’s new directives to eliminate programs addressing diversity in STEM and cut vital funding for research across the country.

“Every time we go online, scan a barcode at checkout, or get an MRI, we use technology made possible by the National Science Foundation,” said Attorney General James. “This administration’s attacks on basic science and essential efforts to ensure diversity in STEM will weaken our economy and our national security. Putting politics over science will only set our country back, and I will continue to fight to protect critical scientific research and education.”

Since its creation in 1950, NSF has been an independent federal agency crucial to maintaining the United States’ dominance in STEM. From developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to creating innovative solutions to environmental and energy challenges, NSF-funded research at American universities is vital to addressing the nation’s biggest challenges and maintaining the country’s competitive edge.

NSF also has a Congressionally-mandated focus on improving diversity in STEM fields. Congress has instructed in law that a “core strategy” of NSF’s work must be to increase the participation of people who have historically been left out of STEM occupations. This policy has been a success. As Attorney General James and the coalition note, between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering occupations, or with science or engineering degrees, has doubled. During that same time, people of color went from 15 percent to 35 percent of science and engineering job or degree holders.

As a result of NSF’s April 18 directive to terminate programs seeking to increase diversity in STEM, dozens of projects have been canceled. In New York, these include 18 programs funded with $11 million in NSF funds within the City University of New York (CUNY) that specifically seek to promote participation in STEM fields by women, minorities, and people with disabilities. All of those programs have had their funding canceled.

Attorney General James and the coalition also assert in the lawsuit that NSF’s directive to cap indirect costs at 15 percent would devastate scientific research at universities throughout the country. Twenty-three campuses across the State University of New York (SUNY) system participate in NSF-funded research and received over $104 million in NSF funding in fiscal year 2024. These funds supported cutting-edge research, including microelectronics research at the University at Buffalo, world-leading atmospheric science and climate research at the University at Albany, and the NSF Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine led by Binghamton University, which aims to establish a hub for new battery technology to decrease dependence on technology from China.

As Attorney General James and the coalition argue, NSF’s new cap would mean essential research and infrastructure would be cut, leading to critical projects being abandoned, staff laid off, and research essential to national security, public health, and economic stability ending. In fiscal year 2025, SUNY expects to receive $24.6 million for indirect costs. A 15 percent cap on indirect costs would slash $18 million in critical research funding for the SUNY system. The administration’s unlawful attempts to cap indirect costs at 15 percent for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Energy (DOE) grants have already been stopped by courts, in part due to a lawsuit brought by Attorney General James and 21 other attorneys general.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that NSF’s directives violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing NSF policy and ignoring Congress’s intent for how NSF should function. The lawsuit seeks a court order ruling NSF’s new policies are illegal and blocking them from being implemented.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington.

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New I Love NY Summer Tourism and Travel Campaign

Comprehensive Marketing Effort Includes New Domestic and International Advertising, an I LOVE NY Mobile Marketing Tour, and Continued Industry Relations Efforts To Promote Visitation

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of I LOVE NY's new integrated summer tourism and travel campaign, highlighted by two new ads running through August across New York State, and in traditional drive markets including Canada. This includes advertising across broadcast, streaming and social platforms, and showcases some of the attractions and activities available. The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY's largest mobile marketing tour ever, and additional complementary travel industry efforts to promote visitation to the State's 11 diverse vacation regions.

“Tourism is synonymous with New York State, thanks to all of our amazing attractions, from beaches to high peaks, from the Erie Canal to iconic museums and performing arts venues,” Governor Hochul said. “This vital industry is facing challenging new political and economic headwinds. That's why supporting our tourism industry is more important than ever, and why we are getting out the message that no matter where you're from, you're always welcome in New York State.”

I LOVE NY's multifaceted summer tourism campaign begins with two new ads featuring a new tagline – “New York State: Everything You Love.” – reflecting the depth and breadth of the world-class attractions and memory-making activities available in communities throughout the state. The new ads can be viewed here and here. More information about planning a summer getaway in New York State is available at www.iloveny.com/summer.

As part of this new campaign, I LOVE NY is extending a special invitation to international visitors – especially Canada, which represents New York's largest inbound international market. International visitation is vital to New York State's tourism economy. Historically, overseas visitors plan longer trips and produce more direct spending during their stays. New for this year's campaign is a direct-to-consumer international marketing element in the United Kingdom and Australia, which includes digital billboards, plus streaming and digital advertising. I LOVE NY also continues to work with members of the travel trade industry, like tour operators and travel agents in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia through trade shows, sales missions and familiarization tours.

The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY's largest-ever mobile marketing tour with more than 40 stops throughout the Northeast. The mobile tour will make stops at popular events such as music festivals, street fairs and sporting events where guests can interact with fun experiences to learn more about the state’s attractions, win special I LOVE NY prizes, and take pictures with a large I LOVE NY logo sculpture.

Under Governor Hochul, tourism is New York State's second largest industry, supporting one in 10 jobs. Recently, more than 306.3 million travelers visited New York State, generating $88 billion in direct spending and a record-high economic impact of $137 billion. Each year, tourism spending saves the average New York State household $1,400 in taxes. 

Bloods Gang Leader Convicted of Narcotics Distribution Resulting in Three Overdoses

 

Defendant Distributed Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Heroin Throughout Long Island

A federal jury in Central Islip convicted Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader, on 22 counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with narcotics distribution, including distribution that resulted in three non-fatal overdoses, as well as a firearms-related crime.  The verdict followed a four-week trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. When sentenced, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to life in prison.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York  Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the verdict.

“Johnson peddled his potentially lethal drugs across Long Island while lining his pockets with profits, causing life threatening injuries to several members of our community in the process,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “This Office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to finding, arresting, and prosecuting the drug traffickers and gang members who seek to profit from the ongoing opioid crisis and stopping all of the devastating effects these narcotics have brought with them.”

“For years, Gary Johnson, a Bloods gang leader, carelessly supplied potentially lethal quantities of heroin and fentanyl to turn a profit,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “By distributing highly addictive narcotics, Johnson demonstrated a disregard to communal health and endangered countless residents, even causing three individuals to overdose.  With the assistance from our law enforcement partners, the FBI will never cease its mission to disrupt all criminal enterprises poisoning our communities with dangerous drugs.”

“While nothing can take away the suffering of those who experienced life-threatening impacts caused by Johnson’s greed, let this sentence bring some solace that his crimes will not go unpunished,” stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to ensure narcotics trafficking is ceased.”

As proven at trial and set forth in court filings, between June 2013 and November 2020, Johnson, a leader in the G-Shine set of the Bloods based in Suffolk County, sold fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin throughout Long Island.  The drugs the defendant sold resulted in multiple victims experiencing overdoses, including three overdoses in March and May 2020.  The jury returned a verdict convicting Johnson of multiple counts of distributing heroin, cocaine, and/or fentanyl.  In connection with the overdoses, Johnson was convicted of three counts of narcotics distribution resulting in serious bodily injury.

Johnson was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  This charge arose from evidence recovered from Johnson’s residence when law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered a semi-automatic firearm.  

New York State Agencies Form Working Group to Accelerate Clean Vehicle Adoption and Charging Infrastructure Deployment

 

Initiative Builds Upon New York Investments and Complements Ongoing Multi-State Collaboration with U.S. Climate Alliance’s Affordable Clean Car Coalition

New York State announced a new interagency working group focused on the successful implementation of the clean vehicle transition and enhancing existing efforts to build out electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The working group includes representatives from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Thruway Authority, Empire State Development (ESD), Department of Public Service (DPS), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Tax and Finance (DTF), and Office of General Services (OGS) which will collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders to rapidly accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure across New York State.

The working group will help address the challenges presented by unprecedented federal actions and the resulting economic uncertainty and ensure that New York remains a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy. Objectives include:

Expanding Charging Infrastructure: 

• Develop a coordinated strategy for the rapid deployment of public and private EV charging infrastructure that can support all vehicle classes, including fast-charging stations along major highways and in underserved communities. Including leveraging the utilization of $1 billion in newly proposed climate funding, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative revenue, and cutting red tape; 
• Evaluate and recommend solutions to ensure grid stability and reliability as EV adoption increases;
• Look to streamline regulatory processes for charging station installation and related infrastructure; and  
• Coordinate between all agencies to maximize usage of state-owned property for charging station installment. 
  

 Increasing Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Adoption: 

• Identify and recommend strategies to increase the market availability of ZEVs, including passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles; 
• Evaluate enhancing and expanding financial incentive programs to make ZEVs more affordable for consumers and businesses;
• Recommend how to increase public awareness regarding the cost saving benefits of EV ownership and addressing range anxiety; and 
• Support fleets in creating plans to aid in the transition of commercial vehicles to ZEVs. 
  

 Supporting Industry Transition: 

• Develop programs to support the transition of the transportation industry to ZEVs, including providing technical assistance and financial incentives;
• Work with manufacturers and suppliers to increase the production and availability of ZEVs and charging equipment in New York State;
• Evaluate current programs that educate and train the workforce for ZEV-related jobs; and 
• Analyze any supply chain issues including the supply chain of critical minerals and battery production as well as recommend policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing of ZEV components. 
  

The creation of the working group follows multiple actions New York and other states that adopted California’s clean vehicle standards are implementing to increase charging infrastructure, incentivize EV purchases, and address recent supply chain and other production challenges driven by the instability of recent federal policies and pronouncements.

Last week, DEC issued additional enforcement discretions to vehicle manufacturers working to comply with New York’s clean vehicle requirements, New York also joined 10 other states as part of the U.S. Climate Alliance’s launch of the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition (ACCC). ACCC will sustain America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, support U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and preserve states’ clean air authority. Alongside the launch, the Alliance announced the availability of resources to help states tackle vehicle pollution and lower barriers for consumers to more affordably own, drive, charge, and maintain cleaner cars.

State Investments in Electric Vehicles 

To date, New York State’s nearly $3 billion investment in electrifying its transportation sector has supported a range of initiatives aimed to increase access to EVs and charging while improving air quality and health outcomes for all New Yorkers. These programs include EV Make Ready, EVolve NY, Charge Ready NY 2.0, the Drive Clean Rebate, the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program, the New York School Bus Incentive Program, the Direct Current Fast Charger program, and the Municipal ZEV and ZEV Infrastructure grant programs.  

To incentivize new ZEV purchases, Governor Hochul recently announced $30 million now available for consumers to lease or purchase new EVs in New York through the State’s Drive Clean Rebate program, which provides point-of-sale rebates for more than 60 new EV models. This program has issued more than 190,000 rebates to consumers since 2017, contributing to the more than 280,000 EVs on the road statewide.

Secretary Noem Releases Statement After ICE Arrests Illegal Alien who Threatened to Assassinate President Donald J. Trump

 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested an illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump.

“Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This threat comes not even a year after President Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania and less than two weeks after former FBI Director Comey called for the President’s assassination. All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trump’s life and tone down their rhetoric. I will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure the protection of President Trump.”

On May 21, an ICE field intelligence officer received a handwritten letter in the mail from Ramon Morales Reyes, in which he promised to self-deport after he used his gun to shoot President Trump in the head at one of his rallies.

On May 22, ICE arrested Ramon Morales-Reyes, a 54-year-old illegal alien from Mexico.

Morales entered the U.S. illegally at least nine times between 1998-2005. His criminal record includes arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier.

He will remain in ICE custody at Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, pending his removal proceedings.

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Attorney General James Wins Court Victory Against TikTok

New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after New York State Supreme Court Judge Anar Rathod Patel denied TikTok’s motion to dismiss her lawsuit against the company for harming young people’s mental health:

“I am pleased with the decision denying TikTok’s attempt to dismiss our lawsuit. In New York and across the country, TikTok challenges have put kids in harm’s way, and countless others are struggling with high rates of anxiety and depression because of TikTok’s addictive features. The youth mental health crisis is hurting families nationwide and we will continue our efforts to hold TikTok accountable and protect our young people.”

In October 2024, Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing lawsuits against TikTok for misleading the public about the safety of its platform and harming young people’s mental health. The lawsuits, filed individually by each member of the coalition, allege that TikTok violated state laws by falsely claiming its platform is safe for young people. The lawsuits cited examples in which young users are struggling with poor mental health and body image issues due to the platform’s addictive features and are getting injured, hospitalized, or dying because of dangerous TikTok “challenges” that are created and promoted on the platform.

Today’s decision denies TikTok’s motion to dismiss and allows Attorney General James’ case against the company to move forward.