Attorney General James and Coalition Win Lawsuit Challenging Federal Cuts to New York Energy Programs

 

Court Rules DOE’s Cap on Reimbursement Costs is Unlawful, Protecting Millions in State Energy Funding

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured a major victory in her fight to protect New York energy programs, after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon found that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) cap on state energy program funding is illegal. In a ruling from the bench today, Judge Mustafa Kasubhai granted the attorneys general’s motion for summary judgment, concluding that the DOE policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The policy would have slashed reimbursements for staffing and administrative costs and threatened millions of dollars for essential energy programs.

“Once again, my office has successfully stopped the federal government from illegally cutting off funding that New Yorkers rely on,” said Attorney General James. “These programs help families save money on their energy bills, prepare their homes for extreme weather, and build a more resilient future. DOE’s cap on funding is unlawful and dangerous, and today’s ruling ensures that New York will continue to get the resources it needs to deliver cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy for our communities.” 

Last month, Attorney General James led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and two governors in a lawsuit to block DOE’s attempt to cap reimbursement of indirect (administrative) and fringe (employee benefit) costs at 10 percent of a project’s budget. The attorneys general argued that DOE’s cap violated federal law, disregarded states’ negotiated cost rates, and would undermine staffing and operations for state energy agencies. Today, Judge Kasubhai sided with the states and found the funding cap illegal and in violation of the reimbursement regulations for DOE grants.

In New York, approximately $1.6 million in state energy program funding was at risk due to DOE’s policy, which would have created an enormous, unexpected cost burden that the state would have been unable to meet, jeopardizing funding for 26 staff positions. This funding also helps the state ensure the state’s energy systems can withstand extreme weather or disasters, determine how electricity prices and market rules are set, and run annual practice drills so the state can respond quickly if the power grid or fuel supply is disrupted. Without full federal support, the state could have potentially had to cancel or delay programs that enable it to meet energy demand while prioritizing affordability.

Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit, which was co-led by the attorneys general of Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon, are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

FEMA Awards Nearly $3.5 Billion to Help States Manage Emergency Preparedness

 

FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens

Today, Secretary Noem announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) returned nearly $3.5 billion of taxpayer dollars back into American communities, empowering state and local leaders to better prepare for emergencies like fires, floods, tornadoes, cyber incidents, and terrorist attacks. 

These funds, administered through FEMA’s non-disaster grant programs, empower communities to hire and train firefighters and other first responders, plan for potential cyber disruptions, protect their critical infrastructure like ports and transportation systems, enhance the security of churches and other nonprofits, implement public warning systems, protect themselves against terrorist attacks and transnational crime, and much more. When states, counties, and towns across the country increase their resilience to threats, the entire nation becomes stronger and more secure. 

“Secretary Noem is empowering state and local leaders over Washington bureaucrats,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The Biden administration used FEMA as its own personal piggy bank to fund far-left radical organizations, house criminal illegal aliens, and support pseudo-science. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, it is no longer open season the American taxpayer at DHS. The Trump administration is draining the swamp, restoring accountability for FEMA, and putting Americans FIRST in disaster response.”

This announcement comes after a critical evaluation of all grant programs and recipients to root out waste, fraud and abuse and deliver accountability for the American taxpayer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA worked together to vet grant recipients and ensure that every dollar spent strengthens the nation’s resilience. 

Unlike the Biden administration, recipients of grants will no longer be permitted to use federal funds to house illegal immigrants at luxury hotels, fund climate change pet projects, or empower radical organizations with unseemly ties that don’t serve the interest of the American people.

This month, FEMA awarded the following Preparedness Grants:

• Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (including AFG, FP&S, SAFER)
• Emergency Management Grant Program
• Intercity Bus Security Grant Program
• Intercity Passenger Rail Program
• Nonprofit Security Grant Program
• Homeland Security Grant Program (including UASI, OPSG, SHSP)
• Port Security Grant Program
• Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program
• State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
• Transit Security Grant Program
• Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program
• Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program

This month, FEMA also awarded the following additional non-disaster grant programs:

• Community Assistance Program–State Support Services Element
• Detention Support Grant Program
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program
• Homeland Security National Training Program (ASSURE, CTG, NCPC NDPC)
• National Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Response System
• National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (Individual and Multistate)
• National Dam Safety Program
• Next Generation Warning System
• Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program 

More information is available on FEMA.gov: https://www.fema.gov/grants.

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Under the FACE Act Against Violent Protestors at Synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey

 

Today, the Justice Department filed a civil complaint under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act against entities and individuals who targeted a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, during a November 2024 protest that escalated into violence.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that the defendants engaged in threats of force, intimidation, and violent conduct directed at congregants of the Congregation Ohr Torah synagogue. According to the complaint, the defendants’ actions were intended to interfere with the synagogue community’s right to freely exercise their religion, including gathering for a religious ceremony to honor the life of a deceased rabbi.

“No American should be harassed, targeted, or discriminated against for peacefully practicing their religion,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today's lawsuit underscores this Department of Justice's commitment to defending Jewish Americans — and all Americans of faith — from those who would threaten their right to worship.”

“This Justice Department will vigorously enforce the right of every American to worship in peace and without fear,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Those who target houses of worship and violate our federal laws protecting people of faith are on notice that they will face the consequences.”

The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, protects, among other things, the right to freely exercise religious beliefs at houses of worship. The Act makes it unlawful to use force, threats of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising their rights to seek or provide services or to worship. The Justice Department’s complaint seeks injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from engaging in future violations of the FACE Act at synagogues or obstructing worshipers from synagogues throughout New Jersey — the fullest reach of the District Court. If granted, that injunction will ensure that congregants of the West Orange synagogue may attend religious services without harassment, intimidation, or violence.

This case is being handled by the Civil Rights Division. The allegations in the complaint are civil allegations. The defendants are presumed not liable unless and until proven otherwise in court.

Members of the public may report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Division at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

Servicemembers Receive Relief For Unlawful Repossession Of Their Cars

 

New City Agrees to Pay $60,000 to Compensate Four Servicemembers and to Pay a Civil Penalty of $60,000

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights for the United States Department of Justice, Harmeet K. Dhillon, announced today that NEW CITY FUNDING CORP. (“NEW CITY”) has agreed to pay at least $120,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”) by repossessing vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without first obtaining the required court orders. Under the agreement, NEW CITY has agreed to pay $60,000 to compensate four servicemembers whose cars it unlawfully repossessed and will also pay a civil penalty of $60,000 to the United States. NEW CITY has further agreed to provide information regarding additional repossessions and will compensate any additional servicemembers whose cars were repossessed in violation of the SCRA.   

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice launched an investigation into NEW CITY’s repossession practices following the filing of a private lawsuit in the Southern District of New York.  In the lawsuit, the plaintiff alleged that NEW CITY violated the SCRA by repossessing the plaintiff’s vehicle after the plaintiff had entered military service.  The subsequent investigation identified four additional violations to date and revealed that NEW CITY regularly failed to adhere to its written policies and procedures regarding SCRA’s protections against non-judicial auto repossessions. 

NEW CITY, headquartered in Stony Point, New York, provides auto financing to New Yorkers, many of whom are unable to obtain financing from traditional lending institutions.  

“New Yorkers support the women and men of our armed forces, and New Yorkers want our Office to stand up for the rights of our service members, particularly when they are deployed,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects our troops from having their cars and other assets seized while serving, and our Office stands ready to enforce those protections.” 

“By repossessing these vehicles, New City Funding disregarded the law and the duties it owed to members of our Armed Forces,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “We will hold accountable any business that does not respect the legal rights of U.S. servicemembers.”

The agreement requires NEW CITY to provide $15,000 in compensation, plus any lost equity in the vehicle with interest, to each of the four affected servicemembers who have been identified to date and will provide similar compensation to any additional servicemembers subsequently identified whose rights under the SCRA were violated by NEW CITY.  NEW CITY will also take steps to repair the credit of the affected servicemembers.  NEW CITY will contact servicemembers to be compensated through this settlement in the upcoming months and will distribute payments at no cost to servicemembers.  As noted above, NEW CITY will also pay a $60,000 civil penalty to the United States.

Enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country.  For more information about SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov

Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office.  Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS WILL INVEST ADDITIONAL $1.8 BILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR TO SPEED UP CREATION OF THOUSANDS OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES

 

Adams Administration Will Accelerate Additional $1.5 Billion in HPD and $300 Million in NYCHA in FY 2026 to Expedite Construction and Rehabilitation of Nearly 6,500 Homes

City Investing Total of $25.8 Billion in Affordable Housing Through the Upcoming 10-Year Capital Plan 

Adams Administration Has Already Created, Preserved, or Planned Over 426,000 Homes for New Yorkers Through Efforts to Date  

Announcement Part of Mayor Adams’ “Affordable Autumn” Initiative, Series of Announcements to Create a More Affordable City for Working-Class New Yorkers 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that his administration will invest an additional $1.8 billion this fiscal year alone to speed up the development of thousands of affordable homes in New York City. By increasing the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget by $1.5 billion and the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Section 8 Conversions FY 2026 budget by $300 million, the Adams administration will be able to expedite the creation and rehabilitation of nearly 6,500 more homes across more than 10 projects. The new projects, which will be prioritized to serve the most vulnerable New Yorkers, will increase the amount of new affordable housing financed by HPD in FY26 by approximately 25 percent and reinforce, once again, the Adams administration’s position as the most pro-housing administration in city history as the administration has already created, preserved, or planned over 426,000 homes through its efforts to date alone. Today’s announcement continued Mayor Adams’ “Affordable Autumn” initiative, a series of announcements throughout the season focused on the Adams administration’s work to put money back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers and create a more affordable city.

“We’ve invested record amounts of money into new housing, created record amounts of homes for New Yorkers, and passed historic zoning reform to open the door to more housing across the entire city. With this $1.8 billion investment, we’ll deepen our commitment to creating the housing New Yorkers need and the affordable future they deserve,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re not just talking about solving the city’s housing crisis; we’re putting our money where our mouth is to build more housing more quickly and proving once again why we are the most pro-housing administration in city history.”

“We are in a housing crisis that makes it difficult for New Yorkers to live the life they need and want to live,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion, Jr. “That is why this administration has worked hard to be the most pro-housing administration in the history of the city. This acceleration of investment further builds on the monumental accomplishments we have made and will be pivotal in creating more affordable housing and getting more New Yorkers housed.”

The new funding — which will be moved from the out years of the capital plan into FY26 — underscores the Adams administration’s continued commitment to tackling New York’s housing crisis; by moving this funding to FY 2026, HPD will be able to close on additional housing developments in the near term and build approximately 4,000 affordable homes more quickly than originally planned. Moreover, with the infusion of an additional $300 million into FY26, NYCHA will be able to convert approximately 2,500 units from traditional public housing to Section 8 through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. PACT conversions bring in much-needed funding to facilitate repairs and upgrade residential units, building systems, and outdoor spaces.

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams announced that his administration has already created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers through its work to date. Mayor Adams also announced that, in Fiscal Year 2025, the Adams administration created the most affordable rental units in city history and celebrated back-to-back-to-back record-breaking years for producing permanently-affordable homes for formerly-homeless New Yorkers, placing homeless New Yorkers into housing, and connecting New Yorkers to housing through the city’s housing lottery.

In addition to creating and preserving record amounts of affordable and market-rate housing for New Yorkers, the Adams administration has also passed ambitious plans that will create tens of thousands of new homes as well. Last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing.

The Adams administration is also advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if all adopted, would deliver nearly 50,000 homes over the next 15 years to New York neighborhoods. In addition to the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, the Midtown South plan, and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan — all of which have already been passed by the New York City Council — the Adams administration is also advancing plans in Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens.

Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his “City of Yes for Families” strategy in his State of the City address earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

Further, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24 million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.

Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that are already helping spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments.

Join Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. for a Silent Disco Dance Party!

Friends,

I hope you will join me on the evening of Saturday, October 4th, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM for our inaugural Fall Silent Disco Dance Party.

Dance the evening away with friends and family while listening to your favorite tunes!

• When: Saturday, October 4th
• Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Where: Loreto Playground, 1111 Van Nest Ave., Bronx, NY

This is sure to be a wonderful event for the whole family to enjoy.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

John Zaccaro, Jr.

New York State Assembly

80th Assembly District 

Governor Hochul Warns Against Scams Targeting New York’s Inflation Refund Initiative

Scammers are Sending Text Messages, Emails and Direct Mail Falsely Claiming That New Yorkers Must Submit Payment Information To Receive an Inflation Refund Check

Eligible New Yorkers Will Receive Their Inflation Refund Check With No Need To Apply, Sign Up or Provide Personal Information

Governor Kathy Hochul today warned New Yorkers of scammers who are sending text messages, voice messages, emails and direct mail to taxpayers in an attempt to spread false information about New York State's inflation refund checks. These messages falsely claim that New Yorkers must submit accurate payment information in order to receive an inflation refund check, supposedly so revenue agencies can deposit money into a taxpayer's bank account. The New York State Tax Department and the IRS will not call or text New Yorkers with requests for any personal information. View an example of this text message, so you know what to look out for.

“New Yorkers do not have to do anything to receive an inflation refund check outside of meeting the eligibility requirements,” Governor Hochul said. “With scams targeting the state’s inflation refund initiative, let me be clear: The Tax Department and the IRS do not call or text individuals for personal information. My administration urges New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report these scams to the Tax Department to protect yourself from being a victim.”

Eligible New Yorkers do not need to apply, sign up, or do anything to receive an inflation refund check. If you filed a tax return, are below the income thresholds, and no one else claimed you as a dependent, you will receive a check. Governor Hochul recently announced that the State has begun sending inflation refund checks to more than 8.2 million households across New York State, with check deliveries to continue throughout October and November. For more information on eligibility and other details, visit the New York State Tax Department's webpage at ny.gov/inflationrefund.

If you receive one of these messages appearing to be from the Tax Department, block the sender, delete the message, and report this scam to the Tax Department or IRS. The Tax Department does not use text messages, email, direct mail or social media to request your personal tax information.

By staying alert and knowing what to watch out for, you can reduce your risk of becoming a target of common tax scams.

How you can protect yourself

Follow these best practices to help keep your personal information safe and prevent yourself from becoming a victim. In addition:

• If you receive a threatening phone call regarding your taxes, hang up immediately.
• Never agree to meet anyone who claims to be a tax representative in person to hand over payment for a debt.
• Don’t provide personal information in an email or click suspicious links in an email asking for personal information.

Report scams

If you’ve been scammed or think you’ve received an email, phone call, or text that seems suspicious, report it. We review all complaints promptly and, if appropriate, take corrective action.

For more taxpayer scam information, visit the Division of Consumer Protection's Taxpayer Scam webpage. For additional identity theft prevention and mitigation resources, call the Consumer Helpline at 800-697-1220 or visit the Division’s Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program webpage.

 

NEW DMV OFFICE COMING TO THE BRONX

 

Dear Neighbor,

We have big news for the Bronx!

 

Starting October 1st, a brand-new DMV office will open at Bronx Terminal Market, 610 Exterior Street. This location will bring more convenience and access for Bronx residents to get the services they need, right here in the heart of our borough.

 

Go to www.bronxterminalmarket.com for more information.