October 25, 2025 - Day 1
*Unofficial as of Close of Polls 79,409
October 26, 2025 - Day 2
*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative 164,190
Governor Kathy Hochul today marked the 200th anniversary of the opening of the original Erie Canal in New York City with the arrival of the Buffalo Maritime Center's Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. The boat is a replica of the original vessel Governor DeWitt Clinton traveled on from Buffalo to New York City in 1825. The current voyage began September 24 in Buffalo. The Seneca Chief made 28 stops along the Erie Canal and Hudson River before ending its journey at Pier 26 at Hudson River Park in New York City on October 26.
Today’s Erie Canal is now part of the 524-mile New York State Canal system managed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York State Canal Corporation. As the Erie Canal enters its third century of operation, it has primarily become a recreational and cultural destination, with a focus on arts and culture, sustainability, and accessibility, while still moving cargo too large for other means of transportation.
“For two centuries, the Erie Canal has been a symbol of ingenuity and perseverance, shaping the economic and social landscape of New York and the United States,” Governor Hochul said. “As a Buffalo native, I have logged hundreds of hours on the canals and know first-hand of the impact and beauty. As we celebrate this incredible bicentennial milestone, we look forward to the Canal's third century of operation and are committed to ensuring a resilient and accessible Canal system for all New Yorkers for centuries to come.”
The Governor was introduced at today’s event by DeWitt Clinton’s 15-year-old great-great-great-great-great-grandson, DeWitt Silber.
The Erie Canal has been a cornerstone in the development of New York State as we know it, and the nation. It has served as a vital connector for commerce, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, and facilitating the movement of goods and people. Over the years, the Canal has played significant roles in major historical movements, including the Underground Railroad, Women’s Right to Vote, the expansion of religions, fostering communities and driving progress. Through their More Voices initiative, NYPA and the Canal Corporation are working to share a more comprehensive narrative of the Erie Canal’s history. Topics include the stories of underrepresented communities including those of African Americans, women, immigrants, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
To acknowledge the displacement of indigenous people during the building of the Canal, an Eastern White Pine Tree was planted at each stop of the current Seneca Chief voyage that represents the strength of the Haudenosaunee people, as well as a promise for a sustainable future for the Erie Canal. In Haudenosaunee culture, the White Pine also holds significance as the Tree of Peace.
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has emphasized the state’s continuing commitment to the long-term viability of the canal system, designating $50 million in each of the past two state budgets to rehabilitate reservoir dams, improve earthen embankment dams, and repair aging water control structures, many of which predate Clinton’s inaugural Erie Canal voyage. The funds are in addition to NYPA’s annual investment for canal system maintenance and operations.
As the Erie Canal’s third century of operation begins, the New York State Canal Corporation is gearing up to carry out the recently published Canal Recreationway 2050 Plan. Created with input from hundreds of stakeholders throughout the canal corridor, it is structured around seven guiding principles that together form a comprehensive vision for the 524-mile Canal system of waterways, trails and parks. The guiding principles include cultural heritage, accessibility, economic impact, ecological benefit, and environmental resiliency.
Most recently, the Canal Corporation began identifying property along the Erie Canal where pollinator meadows can be created. This endeavor not only aims to reduce maintenance needs, but also aims to enhance biodiversity, support vital ecosystems, and ensure the Canal's ecological health for the next century. This sustainable approach honors the Canal system’s rich history while fostering environmental stewardship and resilience, contributing to a greener, more vibrant future for generations to come. 16 acres have been identified to date, with hundreds more to come.
The New York State Canal system endeavors to become a worldwide destination for accessible recreation through On the Canals, as well as NYPA and Canal Corporation’s On the Canals Accessibility Education Program. Now in its sixth year, On the Canals provides free programming across the Canal system through local providers to get people recreating on the water and the Canalway Trails. With its relatively calm waters and level trail surfaces, it is an ideal location for people of all abilities to recreate. The On the Canals Accessibility Education Program, now in its second year, works with participating businesses to ensure they are receiving the correct tools and knowledge they need to guarantee that their facilities and programming are fully accessible for all who seek to enjoy recreation along the Canal system.
Considered an engineering marvel when it was built 200 years ago and the center of technological innovation, the Erie Canal today still employs cutting edge technology to help maintain and repair its centuries-old infrastructure, including robots, drones and infrared cables. These tools aid with inspections and monitoring of hard-to-reach areas. Officials recently addressed seepage on a 200-year-old earthen embankment in Royalton, Niagara County, by installing a soil-bentonite slurry wall using One-Pass Trenching Technology.
It has been a busy bicentennial year for the Erie Canal, with programming already reflecting the goals laid out for its third century of operation through:
Permits have been filed for a seven-story residential building at 1563 Boone Avenue in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Located between East 172nd Street and East 173rd Street, the lot is near the 174th Street subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Moses Freund of The Vaja Group is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 85-foot-tall development will yield 38,916 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 57 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 683 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 27-foot-long rear yard.
Leandro Nils Dickson Architect, LLC is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
October 25, 2025 - Day 1
*Unofficial as of Close of Polls 79,409
Traffic Enforcement and Patrol Period Begins Today and Will Run Through Friday, Oct. 31
Governor Urges New Yorkers To Stay Vigilant and Not Drive Impaired; Halloween Is the Deadliest Day for Pedestrians Under the Age of 18
46,212 Citations Were Issued This Time Last Year During the 2024 Halloween Enforcement Period
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that State Police and local law enforcement will increase patrols through Halloween, targeting impaired and reckless drivers. The enforcement period, which is funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, runs from Saturday, October 25 through Friday, October 31.
“Halloween should be fun and safe for everyone, regardless of how you choose to celebrate,” Governor Hochul said. “Unfortunately, poor choices behind the wheel can lead to deadly consequences. There is no excuse to drive impaired, drive distracted or speed. The New York State Police and our local law enforcement officers will be out and looking for anyone who makes the decision to jeopardize the safety of others this Halloween.”
During last year’s initiative, law enforcement officers issued 46,212 citations, arrested 1,260 drivers for impaired driving and ticketed 9,029 drivers for speeding.
Motorists can expect several sobriety checkpoints and additional DWI patrols during the enforcement period. In addition to targeting impaired drivers, law enforcement officers will also be looking for drivers that are distracted or speeding.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to the high number of impaired drivers on the roads and a significant increase in pedestrians. In 2023, 29 percent of fatal car crashes on Halloween involved impaired drivers. Studies also show that pedestrian deaths increase by 43% on Halloween compared to other nights. NHTSA data also shows that the impaired driving crisis killed more than 13,000 people for the second year in a row. Drunk driving deaths have increased 22 percent since 2019 with someone killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 85 seconds.
For drivers who might find themselves in need of a way home after Halloween parties, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation’s "Have a Plan" mobile app is available for Apple and Android smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to report a suspected impaired driver.
Defendants Used Bitcoin, PayPal, and GoFundMe to Collectively Transfer Thousands of Dollars to ISIS, Which Were Disguised in Part as Charitable Giving
In federal court in Brooklyn, New York, Abdullah At Taqi, 26, of Queens, was convicted by a jury on all counts of an indictment charging him and co-defendant Mohamad David Hashimi with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and conspiring to launder money. Previously, on Oct. 6, as jury selection was scheduled to begin, Hashimi pleaded guilty to all counts of the indictment.
“An exceptional team uncovered the defendants’ use of electronic currency to bankroll an abhorrent organization that harbors deep-seated animosity toward America,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their intent was to procure weapons for terrorism and now their actions will result in incarceration. Justice has been served.”
“A federal jury convicted Abdullah At Taqi for conspiring to fund ISIS, a terrorist organization that has unleashed terror and unimaginable brutality across the globe,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Taqi conspired to support the group and its atrocities by funneling cryptocurrency to ISIS fighters, hoping they would establish a stronghold in the Middle East from which the group could destabilize the entire region. This conviction reflects the Department’s commitment to holding accountable those who knowingly finance terrorism.”
“The defendants used Bitcoin, PayPal and GoFundMe to fund ISIS’s deadly mission,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “ISIS relies on supporters, like the defendants, to sponsor its terrorist aims, which is why our office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to disrupt that pipeline and prosecute those who provide material support to terrorist organizations and their evildoers.”
As proven at trial, At Taqi sent 15 separate Bitcoin transactions to Osama Obeida, also known as Osama Abu Obayda (Obeida), a self-proclaimed ISIS member, over the course of nearly a year. In conversations with an online confidential source (CHS‑1), At Taqi stated that he used cryptocurrency to send money “unnoticed” through a “brother,” meaning an ISIS supporter, he spoke to on an encrypted communications platform. At Taqi confirmed that the “brother” was “from Dawlah,” referring to ISIS.
In later conversations, At Taqi told CHS-1 that he had gotten back in touch with the “brother” through whom he had been sending cryptocurrency and assured CHS-1 that the brother was “from Dawlah.” The brother with whom At Taqi was communicating was Obeida. In introducing CHS-1 to Obeida, At Taqi informed CHS-1 that he had confirmed CHS-1 was trustworthy to the “brother,” Obeida, and at the same time, he vouched for the “brother” to CHS-1, indicating that he had vouched for each individual’s support for ISIS.
Obeida confided to CHS-1 that he had known At Taqi for two years and that At Taqi regularly sent money to Obeida. Obeida sent CHS-1 the below photograph of an ISIS flag and weapons with CHS-1’s online screenname and the date, to prove that the photograph was real, just taken, and that the money given to Obeida from people like the defendant was used to buy weapons for ISIS fighters.
Other messages show Obeida instructing At Taqi to delete messages and change his IP address.
Hashimi was a member of a group chat for ISIS supporters (Group Chat-1) on an encrypted platform. In early April 2021, members of Group Chat‑1 discussed posting links that purported to be raising funds for humanitarian causes, but from which the money would actually be diverted to help the “mujahideen,” an Arabic term used by ISIS supporters to refer to ISIS fighters. A co-conspirator posted a Bitcoin address, and another member of Group Chat-1 posted a link to a PayPal campaign, both of which were controlled by Obeida. In response, Hashimi told people to be careful sending links because they could be detected and arrested by law enforcement.
Through a combination of Bitcoin, PayPal, and GoFundMe, the defendants transferred thousands of dollars to Obeida, the person At Taqi identified as being “from Dawlah,” a reference to ISIS. At Taqi, Hashimi, and a third co-defendant, Seema Rahman, along with co-conspirator Khalilullah Yousuf, contributed more than $24,000 to Obeida’s Bitcoin address, with Yousuf contributing $20,347.89, At Taqi contributing $2,769.35, and Rahman contributing $927.51. The four co-conspirators also sent more than $1,000 to the PayPal account associated with Obeida, with Rahman contributing approximately $550, At Taqi contributing approximately $480, and Hashimi contributing $55. In addition, both Yousuf and Rahman created multiple GoFundMe fundraising campaigns purporting to collect money for charitable causes. Hashimi contributed $364 and At Taqi contributed $200 through the Yousuf-created GoFundMe campaigns, while Rahman raised approximately $10,000 through the GoFundMe campaigns that she created, and then wired the proceeds, approximately $10,024, to individuals connected to Obeida via Western Union.
At sentencing, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison.
Rahman pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and is awaiting sentencing. Yousuf was arrested and prosecuted in Canada.
The FBI New York Field Office is investigating the case.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 22 other attorneys general called on the Trump administration to act immediately to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while the federal government remains shut down. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, Attorney General James and the coalition warn that the administration’s directive to delay next month’s SNAP benefits due to the shutdown could leave tens of millions of Americans without the resources they need to eat. They assert that USDA’s directive, sent with no legal justification or explanation, risks devastating consequences for vulnerable communities and are urging the administration to use existing contingency funds to maintain benefits through the shutdown.
“No family should go hungry because of dysfunction in Washington,” said Attorney General James. “SNAP benefits are a lifeline for millions of Americans, including children, veterans, and seniors, who rely on this assistance to put food on the table. The USDA has both the funds and the authority to keep these benefits flowing, and I am calling on the agency to act immediately. My office will always stand up for working families and hold the federal government accountable when it fails to meet its most basic obligations.”
SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, providing critical assistance to low-income households to help them buy groceries and maintain food security. Nationwide, more than 42 million Americans depend on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. Children and seniors make up nearly 60 percent of all SNAP recipients, and well over a million veterans receive SNAP benefits each year. In New York, SNAP serves nearly three million people – individuals the Trump Administration now risks going hungry because of the federal government’s reckless pause.
On October 10, USDA notified states that, if the government shutdown continues, the agency will not have sufficient funds to distribute November SNAP benefits. The USDA instructed all states to delay issuing benefits or sending files to vendors, writing that it was “exploring contingency plans” in case the shutdown was not resolved. In their letter, Attorney General James and the coalition stress that a contingency plan is urgently needed – and that, two weeks after USDA’s initial letter, states have received no further guidance. The attorneys general request immediate clarification on the agency’s legal authority and operational plan to prevent an interruption in benefits.
Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that this “hold” on benefits is unnecessary. USDA has access to at least $6 billion in contingency funds appropriated by Congress for precisely this purpose, and the agency has previously acknowledged that those funds can be used to continue SNAP operations during lapses in appropriations. Despite this, USDA has not indicated how it plans to use these funds to protect families from losing access to food assistance.
Attorney General James and the coalition are calling on USDA to provide clarity by October 28, including detailed answers about whether the agency intends to use contingency funds to issue at least partial November benefits, and what legal authority it has relied upon in directing states to delay distributions.
Attorney General James and the coalition are calling on USDA to respond by October 28 with a clear explanation of its contingency plans, including whether the agency intends to use available funds to issue full or partial November benefits and what legal basis it relied upon in ordering states to delay distributions.
Joining Attorney General James in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Wall Street’s profits could top $60 billion in 2025 if current trends continue, according to a report released by Comptroller DiNapoli. The securities industry earned $30.4 billion in the first half of 2025, a faster pace than last year, when full year profits totaled $49.9 billion, the fourth-highest level on record. DiNapoli anticipates profits and bonuses could help generate higher-than-expected city and state tax collections if this pace continues.
“The securities industry’s gains provide an important boost for tax revenues that support critical investments in housing, transportation, and public services that New Yorkers depend on,” DiNapoli said. “While uncertainty remains around interest rates, inflation and the broader economy, Wall Street looks to have another strong year.”
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The owner of a Schenectady County medical transportation company was charged with stealing more than $1.8 million from the state’s Medicaid program over a nearly four-year period, Comptroller DiNapoli, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney and Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino announced Friday. The company’s office manager was also charged with money laundering in connection with the scheme.
The company owner is accused of inflating Medicaid bills from January 2020 through September 2024 by submitting claims for rides which never occurred, overbilling for group rides, and lying about the destinations of the trips to inflate their payments. The office manager is accused of paying kickbacks to Medicaid recipients as part of the scam.
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Comptroller DiNapoli, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York John A. Sarcone III, and Acting Inspector General for U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Mitch Behm announced the indictment of the owner of Pearl Transit Corp., on ten counts of wire fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud New York State of over $1.2 million in transportation grant funds.
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Comptroller DiNapoli, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the arrest of a former Troy Housing Authority information technology employee for the alleged theft of $7,089 in wages. The former employee is accused of running his own company while clocked in at his job for the housing authority.
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Assistance fell short for vulnerable adults in New York City because Adult Protective Services experienced staff shortages and high caseloads, according to an audit by Comptroller DiNapoli. The audit found that inadequate state oversight led to missed visits and delayed service plans, leaving some adults with physical or mental challenges without timely services.
“Our audit found that staff shortages and high caseloads strained New York City’s Adult Protective Services,” DiNapoli said. “Case files showed missed visits, delayed eligibility decisions and late service plans. The Office of Children and Family Services needs to strengthen its oversight, so caseworkers have the support they need to help the adults who depend on these services.”
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