ICE Lodges Detainers for Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested for Trafficking More Than 300 Pounds of Cocaine Hidden in a Semi-Truck in Indiana

 

Two criminal illegal aliens accused of trafficking cocaine were issued Commercial Drivers Licenses by Gavin Newsom’s California

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged arrest detainers for two criminal illegal aliens from India arrested for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck in Putnam County, Indiana. With a lethal dose of cocaine being as little as 1.2 grams, that is enough to kill more than 113,000 Americans.

On January 4, 2026, ICE lodged detainers for Gurpreet Singh, a 25-year-old male and criminal illegal alien from India, and Jasveer Singh, a 30-year-old male and criminal illegal alien from India, following their arrest by local authorities in Putnam County, Indiana for narcotics trafficking.

Gurpreet Singh

Jasveer Singh

Law enforcement located 309 pounds of cocaine concealed in the sleeper berth of the semi-truck they were operating during a routine truck inspection. Both individuals were given Commercial Drivers Licenses issued by the state of California.

Law enforcement located 309 pounds of cocaine concealed in the sleeper berth of the semi-truck the two aliens were operating 

“Thanks to Gavin Newsom’s reckless policies, these two criminal illegal aliens were granted commercial drivers licenses by the state of California and were arrested for trafficking a whopping 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Gavin Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians even refused to honor an arrest detainer on one of these criminal illegal aliens in December. Sanctuary policies put American lives at risk. ICE law enforcement lodged arrest detainers to ensure these drug traffickers are not allowed back into American communities.”

Gurpreet Singh illegally entered the U.S. on March 11, 2023 near Lukeville, Arizona and was released into the country under the Biden administration. Gurpreet Singh freely admitted to law enforcement that he was a citizen of India and illegally in the U.S.

Jasveer Singh illegally entered the U.S. on March 21, 2017 near Otay Mesa, California. He was arrested on December 5, 2025 for receiving stolen property in San Bernardino, California. ICE lodged an arrest detainer. Due to Governor Newsom’s sanctuary polices, the detainer was not honored, and this criminal illegal alien was released back into American communities.

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES 3 JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

The mayor appointments and reappointments reflect commitment to accountability, fairness, and safety for New Yorkers  

Mayor Mamdani also announced 9 judicial reappointments  

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced 3 new judicial appointments which will be subject to a public hearing for official appointment in January: Cary Fischer, Natalie Barros, and Andrés Casas.  

 

"New Yorkers deserve a justice system that delivers accountability, safety, and fairness across the five boroughs. I am proud to announce these judicial appointments, whose depth of experience and commitment to impartiality will strengthen our courts and restore public trust," said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

 

•  Judge Cary Fischer began his legal career with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Criminal Court, Grand Jury and Narcotics Bureaus. After six years, he joined the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, initially as an Assistant District Attorney in the Crimes Against Children Trial Bureau. Thereafter, he was promoted to Senior Trial Attorney, then Deputy Bureau Chief of the Red Zone Trial Bureau. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Fischer served as the Bureau Chief of the Early Case Assessment Bureau and New York Law School, Adjunct Professor of the Criminal Prosecution Clinic. 

 

•  Judge Natalie Barros started her legal career with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court and Trial Bureaus, where she served for a decade before joining the New York State Unified Court System. There, Judge Barros served as a Court Attorney in Criminal Court, Richmond County. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as a Supervising Court Attorney. 

 

•  Judge Andres Casas started his legal career working with The Safe Passage Project as a Pro Bono Attorney. He then left to serve as an Assistant District Attorney with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office where he remained for 4 years before joining the New York State Unified Court System. There he served as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Kings County before briefly leaving to work as a Litigation Attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Prior to his appointment, Judge Casas resumed his service with the New York State Unified Court System as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Richmond County. 

 

In addition to these new appointments, Mayor Zohran Mamdani also announced 9 judicial reappointments: 

 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reappointed the following judges to Criminal Court:  

 

•  Judge Steven Hornstein was first appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2013, then reappointed January 2016. He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Homicide, Transit, Violent Crime and Criminal Court Bureaus for the Bronx County District Attorney's Office before becoming a Supervisor in the Grand Jury Bureau and Burglary-Auto-Gun Unit.  Judge Hornstein then left to establish his private practice as a solo criminal defense practitioner. Then he created a partnership firm specializing in criminal defense which he maintained for 18 years. Prior to his initial appointment, Judge Hornstein had returned to solo criminal defense practice. 

 

•  Judge Althea Drysdale was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2015, then as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2016. Judge Drysdale started her career at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division where she served as a Staff Attorney for a decade before joining the New York County Defender Services. There she served as a Senior Trial Attorney for eight years, prior to her initial appointment to the bench.   

 

•  Judge Joshua Glick was first appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in August 2021. He began his legal career with The Legal Aid Society, Queens County Criminal Defense Practice before joining Queens Defenders where he served for 14 years while also operating his own practice. Judge Glick was then briefly employed as a Principal Law Clerk to a New York State Supreme Court Justice and as an Associate with a private firm. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he returned to the Queens Defenders as a Supervising Attorney while also maintaining his own practice. 

 

•  Judge Jerry Iannece was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017, before being appointed to Criminal Court in January 2018. He began his legal career as a prosecutor with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office and subsequently went into private practice, maintaining a general practice partnership, including criminal defense work, for 29 years before his initial appointment to the bench. 

 

•  Judge Nancy Carrington was first appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in September 2024. Judge Carrington started her legal career as an associate at several law firms before joining the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Domestic Violence, Trials, and Criminal Court Bureaus. She then served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau before leaving to join the New York State Unified Court System. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Carrington served as a principal court attorney in Supreme Court, Kings County, Criminal Term. 

 

•  Judge Michael Hartofilis was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2018. He began his legal career with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office where he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court, Grand Jury, Homicide Investigations, Narcotics and Supreme Court Trial Bureaus. Judge Hartofilis then established his own criminal defense practice, which he maintained for 22 years, prior to his appointment to the bench.  

 

•  Judge David Goodwin was first appointed as a Criminal Court judge in January 2025. He began his legal career as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Judge Goodwin then joined the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey as a Law Clerk, after which he was appointed a Warren H. Sinsheimer fellow working with the Partnership for Children’s Rights. He served again as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit before moving on to join the Appellate Advocates as a Senior Staff Attorney. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Goodwin served as a Supervising Staff Attorney in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Office of Legal Affairs. 

 

Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani reappointed the following judges to Family Court: 

 

•  Judge Gayle Roberts was first appointed as a Family Court Judge in April 1997, she was then reappointed in December 2005 and February 2016. After starting her career as a Staff Attorney with Mid-Hudson Legal Services, Judge Roberts joined the Bronx County District Attorney's Office where she was first an Assistant District Attorney, then a Supervisor of the Criminal Court Bureau. Prior to her initial appointment to the bench, she was serving as a Deputy Bureau Chief of the Trial Division. 

 

•  Judge Lauren Norton-Lerner was first appointed to the Interim Civil Court in June 2025 and has been serving in Family Court. She started her legal career as an Investigative Attorney with the United States Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration before leaving to join the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Division of Legal Services as an Attorney Level III/ Team Leader. She then joined a series of private firms before leaving to serve with the New York State Unified Court System as a Court Attorney in Family Court, Queens County. Judge Norton-Lerner served as Court Attorney Referee in Family Court, Bronx and Queens counties for 13 years prior to her appointment to the bench. 

  

Less Traffic, Better Transit: On Its First Anniversary, Governor Hochul Celebrates Transformational Success of Congestion Pricing

27 Million Fewer Vehicles Entered the Congestion Relief Zone, Traffic Down 11%; Crossing Speeds Up by as Much as 51%; Transit Ridership Up 7%

Congestion Pricing Delivers Cleaner Air and Safer Streets: Pollution Down 22% in the Zone and Down Throughout Region; Crashes Down 7% and Traffic Injuries Down 8%

Manhattan Economy is Thriving: Best Year for Office Leasing in 23 Years; Foot Traffic Up From 2024; Sales Tax Receipts up Over 6%

$15 Billion in Funding Unlocked to Advance Critical Transit Improvements Including New Railcars, Signal Upgrades and the Second Avenue Subway

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that on its one-year anniversary, New York City’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program has been a transformational success, reducing traffic, improving quality of life and supporting billions in transit upgrades. In its first year, congestion pricing resulted in 27 million fewer vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) of Manhattan south of 60th St, an 11 percent reduction in traffic. Reduced gridlock has improved commute times across the region, especially at crossings into the CRZ, with some drivers saving as much as 15 minutes each way. Congestion pricing has reduced emissions, made streets safer, improved quality of life, and has generated over $550 million in net revenue in its first year, allowing the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in transit improvement projects. Governor Hochul has also stood strong to defend congestion pricing from unlawful federal efforts to terminate the program. One year in, congestion pricing is working and it is legal.

“The results are in and it is clear that in just one year, congestion pricing has been an unprecedented success in New York,” Governor Hochul said. “By every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger. New Yorkers are benefitting from congestion pricing every day, and that’s why we have fought to stop any unlawful federal attempt to end this program. And there are even more benefits to come: $15 billion in transit upgrades with major projects already underway, improving the commutes of millions of New Yorkers.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “I want to thank all who worked on this program over the years. The congestion pricing experience demonstrates what the new MTA can accomplish working with our State and City partners. The result here is flawless execution and unprecedented benefits for all New Yorkers.”

New York State and the MTA have successfully fought off repeated legal challenges to congestion pricing and have stood up to block the unlawful attempts of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Trump Administration to terminate the program. In May, a preliminary injunction was issued in the case of Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy, keeping congestion pricing in effect pending further court proceedings and enjoining the federal government from taking retaliatory measures in response.

Since congestion pricing commenced at 12:00 am on January 5, 2025, it has delivered a wide array of benefits according to data from the MTA and other reports from business groups, government agencies and academic institutions.

Congestion Pricing Has Reduced Gridlock

Following the launch of congestion pricing, over 27 million fewer cars have entered the CRZ. On any given day, over 73,000 fewer vehicles are entering the zone, an 11 percent reduction on average. Crossings entering and exiting the CRZ experienced especially pronounced speed improvements, with morning rush hour traffic speeds up an average of 23 percent.

• Brooklyn Bridge: 15 percent faster
• Holland Tunnel: 51 percent faster
• Hugh L Carey Tunnel: 10.8 percent faster
• Lincoln Tunnel: 24.7 percent faster
• Manhattan Bridge: 6.7 percent faster
• Queensboro Bridge: 29.3 percent faster
• Queens-Midtown Tunnel: 18.4 percent faster
• Williamsburg Bridge: 28.3 percent faster

Reduced gridlock is speeding up trips for motorists and transit riders. Within the CRZ, bus speeds increased 2.3 percent, reversing the trend of declining speeds seen in 2023 and 2024. Weekday vehicle speeds in the CRZ were up 4 percent compared to 2024, with weekends seeing a 6.2 percent improvement. Deliveries and the movement of goods in the CRZ are also being completed faster, with truck speeds up 5.6 percent compared to 2024.

The amount of driving done in the CRZ has declined as well, with the total Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) down by 7.1 percent. The share of personal vehicles like cars, pickup trucks and vans entering the CRZ has declined by six percentage points since the launch of congestion pricing.

Congestion pricing has also yielded benefits outside of the CRZ, including in previously identified Environmental Justice Communities. The BQE saw a 5 percent reduction in total traffic and a 10.2 percent reduction in truck traffic. The Cross Bronx Expressway saw total traffic decline by 7.4 percent and truck traffic drop by 4.3 percent. The Major Deegan Expressway in Mott Haven experienced a total traffic reduction of 7.1 percent, with truck traffic down 9.2 percent.

Roads approaching the CRZ are moving faster as well: sections of Flatbush Ave approaching the Manhattan Bridge saw speed increases of 6 percent, I-495 in New Jersey has experienced a 15 percent speed increase approaching the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Gowanus Expressway saw a 7 percent improvement between the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.

New York City’s Economy is Thriving

The launch of congestion pricing has coincided with a booming Manhattan economy. On metrics ranging from office leasing rates to Broadway ticket sales, 2025 saw business up in the CRZ and in New York City as a whole.

Manhattan’s office economy is thriving. In July of 2025, New York City became the first major American city to exceed pre-pandemic office traffic, according to data from placer.ai. Office leasing has surged in 2025: according to a recent report from Colliers, office leasing activity in Q3 2025 was up 9.2 percent year over year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and on track for the highest volume of new office leases since 2002. There are one percentage point fewer vacant storefronts in the CRZ in the year since the program launched, according to NYC Economic Development Corporation data. Jobs increased as well, with NYS Department of Labor statistics showing private sector employment in New York City up 2.0 percent in August, more than double the national rate of 0.9 percent.

Economic activity has increased both in the CRZ and across New York City. Data from the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance shows that sales tax receipts were up 6.3 percent in New York City in 2025 through November, exceeding the state’s average, three times higher than neighboring Westchester County and more than six times higher than neighboring Nassau county. In 2025, Broadway had its best season in history, with $1.9 billion in ticket sales, up 23 percent from the previous season. Restaurant reservations and retail sales were also up in the CRZ, according to industry reports.

More people are entering the CRZ to work and visit since the launch of congestion pricing. Foot traffic increased by 3.4 percent in the zone, compared to a boroughwide increase of 1.4 percent. Transit ridership also rose entering and within the CRZ; according to MTA data, subway trips entering the zone increased by 9 percent, with express bus trips up 7.8 percent and local bus trips up 8.4 percent. 

Congestion Pricing Has Improved Quality of Life

Congestion pricing has produced benefits that extend far beyond reduced traffic and faster trips; it has yielded transformative benefits to the quality of life of New Yorkers.

Preliminary data has shown improved air quality since congestion pricing launched. A recent study from Cornell University found that air pollution, in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller, dropped by 22 percent in the CRZ, with reductions seen across the five boroughs and surrounding suburbs. MTA data also found a 6.1 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within the zone through Q3 of 2025. Reduced gridlock is also driving down noise pollution. According to 311 data, vehicle noise complaints for issues like horn honking decreased in the CRZ by 17 percent compared to 2024.

Reduced traffic has corresponded with a record year for street safety in New York City. Crashes within the CRZ declined by 7 percent, with traffic injuries down 8 percent. Traffic fatalities were down by 40 percent in the CRZ as of July, according to data from the NYPD. Citywide, 2025 saw the fewest traffic deaths in recorded history, with fatalities down 19 percent from 2024. Safety was improved for motorists, pedestrians, and the cyclists who take 600,000 trips each day: pedestrian fatalities were down 9 percent, and cyclist fatalities on New York City’s streets decreased to 20, compared to 23 in 2024.

Critical Transit Improvement Projects are Underway

Congestion pricing has consistently met monthly revenue targets needed to generate the projected $500 million in annual net revenue. As of November 2025, $518 million in net tolling revenue has been collected and allocated to support transit improvements and mitigation initiatives, with preliminary projections for year-end exceeding $550 million in net revenues.

Overall, the program allows the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in funding for the 2020-2024 Capital Plan, advancing projects to rebuild, improve and expand the transit system. A third of that funding is dedicated towards performing critical state of good repair work to ensure the continued reliability of the transit system.

Projects funded by congestion pricing include:

• Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 ($3B)
• Signal upgrades along the AC and BDFM lines ($3B)
• Accessibility improvements to 23+ subway stations ($2B)
• New railcars and buses ($2B)
• State of Good Repair projects ($5B)

As of January 1, 2026, more than $6 billion in projects unlocked by Congestion Relief are in construction, including Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, ADA upgrades at nine stations, new signals serving more than 600,000 A/C riders in Brooklyn and Queens, and systemwide state of good repair work.

Mitigation Initiative Progress

The MTA and its project sponsors continue to deliver on the mitigation and monitoring commitments outlined in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA). The MTA and sponsors committed to $125 million in total mitigations across eight initiatives, with every initiative now in progress. Final implementation has now begun for three mitigations:

• Expand NYC Clean Trucks Program ($20M): Implementation has begun. NYC DOT will begin accepting new applications for rebate incentives by the spring.
• Expand NYC DOT Off-Hours Delivery Program ($5M): Implementation is in progress. In partnership with NYC DOT to improve safety and reduce daytime truck traffic, NYC DOT will begin onboarding new participants in Q1 2026.
• Replacement of Truck Refrigeration Units (TRUs) at Hunts Point Market ($15M): Implementation is in progress. Replacing up to 1,000 TRUs will result in major nitrogen oxide and particulate matter reductions — replacement of a single TRU avoids the equivalent of particulate-matter emissions from 330 truck trips a day on the Cross Bronx Expressway. The first unit was delivered in December 2025.

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Volunteer with us!

 

Call for Volunteers: Art Gallery Desk Reception

The Bronx River Art Center is seeking friendly, responsible volunteers to serve as Gallery Desk Reception Volunteers during our winter 2026 gallery season. Gallery volunteers are ambassadors for our visual arts program and play a vital role in welcoming neighbors, artists, and visitors into our space.

About the Opportunity



Gallery Desk Reception Volunteers help create a warm, welcoming, and informative experience for all visitors. Responsibilities include:



•   Welcoming and orienting guests
•   Answering basic questions about current exhibitions and programs
•   Maintaining the gallery desk and sign-in materials
•   Answering phones and directing inquiries
•   Guiding visitors throughout the building as needed

This role is ideal for individuals interested in visual arts, community engagement, customer service, or nonprofit experience.

Volunteer Schedule & Commitment

We are recruiting volunteers to support gallery hours from January through March 2026, including exhibition openings and regular gallery hours.

Gallery Hours:



•   Tuesday–Friday: 3:00–6:00 PM (Volunteer shift: 2:45–6:15 PM)
•   Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00–5:00 PM

•   (2–3 hour shifts available)
•   Shifts are flexible, with a 2-hour minimum commitment per shift.

Volunteer Benefits

•   After completing three gallery shifts, volunteers receive a complimentary art class at BRAC
•   15% Discount for classes after 3 shifts 
•   Hands-on experience in a community-based arts organization
•   Opportunities to engage with artists, curators, and visitors
•   Be part of a welcoming, creative, and mission-driven environment

How to Get Involved

Email us at BRACinfo@bronxriverart.org 

Please let us know your availability, and a member of our team will reach out to discuss next steps. We look forward to welcoming you to the Bronx River Art Center and thank you for supporting contemporary art in our community.

Senator Julia Salazar - Tomorrow: Free Tenant Support

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: Three Kings Day Celebration

 

Teledyne Electronic Safety Products Agrees to Pay $1.5M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving the Sale of Non-Conforming Parts to the Department of Defense

 

Today, the Justice Department announced that Teledyne RISI Inc., also known as Teledyne Electronic Safety Products (Teledyne ESP), an aerospace and defense electronics company based in Chatsworth, California, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by supplying aircraft parts to the military that did not meet contract specifications.

The settlement resolves allegations that Teledyne ESP, as a subcontractor for U.S. Navy contracts, knowingly caused false claims to be submitted to the U.S. Navy in connection with its manufacture of Digital Recovery Sequencer (DRS) units containing a microelectronic part that did not conform with the specifications reviewed and approved by the Navy. DRS units were a component of ejection seat systems used by various types of military aircraft. Teledyne ESP allegedly obtained the non-conforming parts from a third-party broker that was neither an Original Equipment Manufacturer nor an authorized re-seller of the part. The DRS units with the alleged non-conforming part were delivered to the Navy between November 2011 and June 2012 and installed as part of ejection seat systems in military aircraft.

“Our military aviators rely on defense supply chains to provide them with equipment that they can depend on, even in the most difficult conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who supply equipment to the U.S. military that does not conform to the contract specifications.”

“Our military should not only expect the correct, conforming parts for the equipment they need to serve and defend our country, they deserve that proper equipment,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to support this multi-agency investigation to protect our servicemembers from risks introduced by non-conforming parts in our military supply chains.”

“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General (OIG), remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Special Agent-in-Charge John E. Helsing of the DoD-OIG, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “Non-conforming parts in the DoD supply chain presents a risk to our warfighters and threaten our Nation’s security.” 

“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the warfighter by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in the defense supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman of Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Southeast Field Office. “Today’s $1.5 million settlement demonstrates that AFOSI, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Department of Justice, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Air Force Materiel Command partners, will aggressively pursue and hold accountable any contractor that fails to meet contract requirements that protect the safety and readiness of U.S. military personnel.”

In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Teledyne ESP took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperation with the government’s investigation, including identifying witnesses and facilitating their interviews; and providing investigative updates to the United States and other customers, including through the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program. Teledyne ESP received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines in Justice Manual § 4-4.112 for taking cooperation into account in cases involving False Claims Act allegations.   

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, DCIS, AF OSI, and the Air Force Materiel Command Law Office, Procurement Fraud Division. This matter was handled by Fraud Section attorney Richard W. Hagner and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leventis for the District of South Carolina.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Protecting Our Kids: Governor Hochul Announces Nation-Leading Proposals to Protect Kids Online, Restrict AI Chatbots and Combat the Youth Mental Health Crisis

New Legislation Will Help Protect Kids from Predators, Scammers and Harmful AI Chatbots on Online Platforms

New York Will Lead the Nation in Teen Mental Health First Aid Training

Expands Resources To Allow Every Tenth Grader to Be Trained in Teen Mental Health First Aid, Empowering Kids to Support Their Peers

Builds on Governor’s Nation-Leading Work To Ban Smartphones in Schools, Enact Social Media Warning Labels and Restrict Addictive Feeds, Create Safeguards Against Harmful AI Companions, and Open More than 1,300 School-Based Mental Health Clinics

Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled her first State of the State proposals, which will continue to build on her progress to keep New York’s kids safe online and combat the youth mental health crisis statewide. The new legislation will help protect children from online predators, scammers and harmful AI chatbots integrated on online platforms. Additionally, the Governor is proposing a first-of-its-kind, statewide expansion of Teen Mental Health First Aid training, designed to give young people the tools to identify, understand, and effectively respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among their friends and peers. These proposals build on Governor Hochul’s nation-leading work to ban smartphones in schools, enact social media warning labels, restrict addictive feeds, and create safeguards against harmful AI companions. Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health also led to the creation of more school-based mental health clinics, community-based treatment options, and peer-based supports for youth and adults.

“As New York’s first mom Governor, the well-being and safety of our children has always been one of my top priorities, and today we are continuing to break new ground to give our kids the tools and safeguards they need to contend with the unprecedented mental health challenges and real world dangers that can sometimes be a byproduct of navigating today’s digital world,” Governor Hochul said. “These proposals will create a nation-leading standard that will ensure our kids’ safety in online and real world environments where they spend time.”

New Protections for Kids on Online Platforms

Numerous lawsuits and investigations have alleged that online platforms have not taken appropriate steps to protect the children using them. These online platforms allow children and adults to contact each other worldwide — which leaves children susceptible to grooming, child abuse, and exposure to violent and inappropriate content, including suicide.

The Governor’s proposed legislative package to keep kids safe from emerging threats on social media and online gaming platforms will include:

• Expanding Age Verification: Expanding requirements for platforms to conduct age verification, including online game platforms.
• Privacy by Default: Kids will be set to the highest privacy settings on covered platforms by default, meaning non-connections cannot message kids, view their profile, or tag them in content. Location settings will be turned off by default, and children under 13 must receive parental approval for new connections.
• Disabling AI Chatbot Features: Disabling certain AI chatbot features on social media platforms for kids.
• Parental Controls: Parents must be able to set limits on children’s financial transactions.

This package draws on existing legislation sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic.

Expanding Youth Mental Health Training For Hundreds of Thousands of Teens

Governor Hochul will propose to make Teen Mental Health First Aid training available to all 10th graders across New York State. New York would phase in a commitment to make training available to more than 180,000 students annually, ensuring that over time most high school students will have the basic skills to support themselves and each other.

When teens experience mental health and substance use challenges, often their first resort is to talk to their peers. Likewise, friends are often best positioned to identify and empathize with stressors that may be acting on fellow students. Research demonstrates that with training, young people have the capacity to both identify and effectively respond to mental health challenges in ways that can improve and even save lives.

This training is designed for young people between the ages 15 and 18 so they can identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. It equips them with skills to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges; the impact of bullying and school violence on mental health; how to have impactful conversations with classmates about mental health concerns or to seek help from an adult; formal and informal support, and self-care.

As part of this initiative, the State will also offer new Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults who regularly interact with youth in schools and community programs. This nationally-recognized curriculum introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. 

This State of the State proposal builds on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis statewide and help keep kids safe online. This work has established New York as a global leader in securing a safer online world for children. Initiatives include:

• The SAFE for Kids Act, which restricts addictive features of social media for kids, and establishes important national precedent about age verification.
• The Child Data Protection Act that prevents online operators from collecting and monetizing children’s data without informed consent.
• AI Companion legislation which set first-in-the-nation safeguards, diverting user conversations about self-harm to mental health resources and interrupting unhealthy addictive behaviors. The Governor also outlawed AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material.
• The Unplug and Play Agenda which helps encourage the healthy socialization and child development by funding social infrastructure, physical sites like playgrounds, community centers, and pools, and expanded youth programming.
• New York’s Distraction Free Learning Policy which is already resulting in greater academic achievement, improved student wellbeing, and safer school environments for students.
• The recently signed Warning Labels bill that will require social media companies post warnings about the platform's potential impact on mental health.

Governor Hochul’s nation-leading $1 billion mental health initiative and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding in subsequent budgets is significantly expanding access to care for young people and their families –from increasing inpatient and residential treatment capacity to building community-based services designed to help youth remain at home and in their community.

• Governor Hochul also expanded school-based mental health clinics, which help students get a licensed mental health care provider in a familiar stigma-free setting on their school campus. The state now supports 1,300 clinic satellites, up from 872 in 2020, covering 25 percent of all NYS public schools.
• Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health also led to the creation of new Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams to support young people with serious emotional disturbances who are either at risk of entering, or are returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services. New York funds 42 new Youth ACT teams — 23 now operational -- in 31 counties, providing youth and family therapy, medication management, family and peer support, and skill-building.
• There are also now 65 Home Based Crisis Intervention Teams - including 60 that are now accepting referrals - which serve youth between the ages of 5 and 20 and provide intensive individualized services to help families support young people recovering from mental illness in their own homes.
• Governor Hochul also established the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, a 30-member advisory board which includes youth between the ages of 11 and 17. The advisory board convenes quarterly and is designed to ensure that youth-informed best practices continue to be incorporated in developing behavioral health programs and policies.
• Governor Hochul also expanded Youth Safe Spaces programs, which provide a place for young people between the ages of 12 and 24 to access behavioral health and wellness resources, foster positive relationships with their peers, and receive support in a comfortable setting. To support the initiative developed with input from the Governor’s Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, the Office of Mental Health awarded $7.5 million to establish four sites this fall and is soliciting proposals for additional locations to be awarded early next year.