Governor Hochul Announces $42 Million Awarded to Establish 200 Units of Supportive Housing Across New York City

State Funding Awarded to Seven Community-Based Organizations To Provide Safe Homes for Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Scattered Site Supportive Housing Units to Strengthen Connections Between Residents; Address Health Challenges

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $42 million has been awarded to help seven community-based organizations establish 200 units of supportive housing to provide stable homes and mental health services to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Administered by the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the awards will fund scattered-site supportive housing units in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens for those enrolled in Housing First initiatives, including the state’s successful Safe Options Support program.

“Access to housing can enable New Yorkers to get off the streets and connect with needed mental health services,” Governor Hochul said. “These additional units will allow individuals who may be staying in shelters or on the streets to maintain stable housing and address physical and behavioral health needs. Safe and stable housing for all New Yorkers remains a top priority for my administration.”

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Attaining safe and stable housing is a key step in the road to recovery for individuals living with behavioral health issues. These units in New York City will support the Housing First model and help residents connect with critical services to help remain safe and stable in their community. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we are prioritizing investments into providing safe, affordable housing that enable New Yorkers to live and thrive in supportive neighborhood settings.” 

The scattered-site supportive housing funding will establish 40 units in Queens, 40 units in Manhattan, 40 units in Brooklyn, and 80 units in the Bronx. The awards include:

• $3.1 million to Options for Community Living, to operate 15 units in Queens.
• $5.2 million to Comunilife Inc. to operate 25 units in Queens; $4.1 million to operate 20 units in Manhattan; and $8.3 million to operate 40 units in Brooklyn.
• $8.3 million to CLUSTER to operate 40 units in the Bronx.
• $8.3 million to Venture House to operate 40 units in the Bronx.
• $4.1 million to ACMH Inc. to operate 20 units in Manhattan.

Scattered-site supportive housing provides affordable, independent homes and access to community-based services. The resident works with the community-based organization to develop an individualized support plan with goals and objectives focused on housing retention, community integration and recovery.

Individuals eligible for this housing will be experiencing homelessness and enrolled in the Safe Options Support, Intensive Mobile Treatment or Shelter Partnered Assertive Community Treatment programs. They may have a mental illness diagnosis, a substance use disorder, physical health care needs or a combination of all three.

Housing First is an evidence-based model that prioritizes providing permanent housing without first requiring individuals to enter shelter or graduate through a series of programs or services. This approach is designed to help individuals who experience chronic homelessness and focuses on providing them basic necessities first before addressing other underlying issues contributing to their housing instability.

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, OMH has aggressively expanded specialized housing, including 1,305 new units associated with her landmark $1 billion mental health initiative, with an additional 2,195 housing units under development. This includes 500 new community residence-single room occupancy units, 750 supportive housing-single room occupancy units, and 900 short-term transitional residential units designed to help New Yorkers living with mental illness reside safely within their community.

The Safe Options Support (SOS) program uses Critical Time Intervention, an evidence-based practice that helps connect vulnerable individuals in crisis to housing and supports, including critical mental health services. Teams work with individuals experiencing homelessness to strengthen their skills and support network so that they can be successfully housed, and their care can be transferred to community-based providers.

Services are provided for up to 12 months, pre- and post-housing placement, with an intensive initial outreach and engagement period that includes multiple visits per week. OMH coordinates with local mental health and social services departments, mass transit, and other organizations to identify priority areas based upon reported density and level of need.

The SOS program now supports 31 teams statewide, including 20 based in New York City, 10 located in areas upstate and one on Long Island. In addition to providing coverage in all five boroughs, the program also supports a targeted response team dedicated to providing outreach in the Times Square area of Manhattan.

With teams canvassing all five boroughs, the SOS program has now helped permanently house 987 individuals in New York City alone. With the first teams launched in Spring 2022, the program has found permanent homes for 1,688 people statewide. 

Permits Filed for 1933 Lafayette Avenue in Unionport, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 22-story mixed-use building at 1933 Lafayette Avenue in Unionport, The Bronx. Located between Steve Mercado Stickball Boulevard and White Plains Road, the lot is near the Parkchester subway station, served by the 6 train. Dimitrios Katehis of HP Park Lane Family HDFC, Inc. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 226-foot-tall development will yield 154,600 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 207 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 746 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, 45 open parking spaces, and 61 enclosed parking spaces.

Christopher Jones of Magnusson Architecture and Planning is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

AHEAD OF OPENING DAY, MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON PROJECT TO IMPROVE BRONX CROSSTOWN BUS SERVICE AND SAFETY NEAR YANKEE STADIUM

 

Project will deliver faster, safer and easier commutes for more than 25,000 daily bus riders 

Bx6 Select Bus Service at East 161st Street and Sherman Avenue 

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle today announced the start of a major project to improve Bronx crosstown bus service and street safety near Yankee Stadium.

The project will add westbound bus-only lanes, including converting the 161st Street underpass to buses only. The redesign also includes pedestrian safety upgrades and new amenities for bus riders — such as bus shelters, benches and leaning bars, along with pedestrian refuges and infrastructure to make boarding buses safer and more accessible.

With baseball’s Opening Day later this week, the project will speed up bus service and improve safety around Yankee Stadium, which sees more than three million visitors each year. The corridor serves 25,000 daily riders on the Bx6 Select Bus Service (SBS) line.

“Unfortunately, as the Mayor of New York City, I must deliver fast and reliable buses for Yankees fans as well,” said Mayor Mamdani. “I can think of no better way to welcome the start of baseball season than by breaking ground on a project that will make commutes faster, streets safer and daily life a little easier for tens of thousands of New Yorkers every day.”

“Improving the bus-rider and pedestrian experiences for those who visit or live in the South Bronx is a home run for all New Yorkers,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “From Fordham Road to Yankee Stadium, this administration is doubling down to deliver better buses and safer streets.”

“This project will help link some of the busiest areas of Manhattan and the Bronx with a fast and safe bus route and access to vital civic resources, moving closer to the administration’s goal of a great bus network for every neighborhood,” said NYC DDC Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. “DDC is phasing the construction so as to not interfere with baseball season but we are hard at work in other areas so that we can meet the 2028 completion date.”

“We are pleased that the City is moving forward with the long-planned effort to make 161st Street more bus friendly,” said MTA New York City Transit Executive Vice President of Buses Frank Farrell. “It’s good news for South Bronx bus riders, and we look forward to celebrating even more improvements throughout the five boroughs because nothing makes buses faster than clear streets.”

The project will reconstruct and redesign East 161st Street from Ruppert Place to Morris Avenue, including portions of East 163rd Street between Washington Avenue and Tiffany Street, as well as segments of the Bx6-SBS route in Manhattan.

As part of the redesign, the City will create a fully protected, center-running bus lane along East 161st Street from Concourse Village West to just west of River Avenue — one of the only corridors of its kind in New York City. Construction has already begun on East 163rd Street between Intervale Avenue and Tiffany Street.

Map of the Bx6 bus route

Better Bus Service

The project will upgrade the existing eastbound bus tunnel under the Grand Concourse to bus-only use in both directions. Currently, the tunnel is restricted to eastbound buses. To complement this change, three blocks of westbound 161st Street on either side of the tunnel will also be converted to bus-only, easing congestion at key bottlenecks.

The City will install full-length concrete boarding islands along center-running bus lanes to improve safety, shorten pedestrian crossing distances and prevent vehicles from blocking bus lanes. Additional improvements include sidewalk extensions, known as bus bulbs, at bus stops along the Bx6 route to speed up boarding and create space for seating and bus shelters.

Improved Pedestrian Safety

Curb extensions, medians and pedestrian refuge islands will shorten crossing distances and improve visibility. Existing painted safety features will be upgraded to concrete and extend the sidewalk out to new curblines.

Pedestrian refuge islands have been shown to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 35.5%, while curb and sidewalk extensions reduce them by 34.1%. The City will also rebuild, expand and landscape medians at East 161st Street and River Avenue, just outside of Yankee Stadium.

Infrastructure Improvements

The project includes 370 ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, 57 new trees and approximately 8,000 plantings of grass and perennials. More than 100 new street lighting and traffic signal poles will be installed, and 16 fire hydrants will be upgraded.

Crews will reconstruct about 45,000 square yards of roadway and upgrade or add more than 180,000 square feet of sidewalk. Below ground, more than 4,500 feet of water mains and sewers will be upgraded, and additional catch basins will be added to improve drainage.

The project follows extensive community engagement and has support from local community boards. Construction is expected to continue through 2028.

City agencies have developed a traffic mitigation plan to minimize traffic disruptions during Yankees games.

SDNY Announces Recovery Of Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars For Victims Of Iran-Sponsored Terrorism

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that the United States has entered into a settlement resolving a 17-year forfeiture litigation that will result in the payment of approximately $318 million to hundreds of victims of Iranian state-sponsored terrorism. 

In 2008, the United States commenced a forfeiture action that exposed an Iranian government-owned bank’s secret interest in 650 Fifth Avenue, a 36-story commercial and office tower located in the heart of Manhattan.  Following the filing of the forfeiture complaint, hundreds of victims of Iranian government-sponsored terrorism filed claims and initiated separate litigation to enforce judgments obtained against the Government of Iran.  After more than 17 years of complex litigation, all remaining parties to the related actions have entered into a global settlement that will result in a multi-hundred-million-dollar payment to these long-suffering victims, including victims and family members of the 1984 bombings of U.S. military facilities in Beirut, Lebanon; of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.; and Iranian proxy terrorist organizations’ attacks against civilians, including U.S. citizens, in Israel and elsewhere.

“Iran has sponsored terrorism for decades,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Since the inception of this litigation, the overriding goal of the Department of Justice has been to vindicate the rights of victims of the Government of Iran’s long-standing policy of supporting and promoting terror attacks across the world, including 9/11.  This Office’s many years of determined litigation show our unrelenting commitment to victims’ rights and has led to this significant recovery.  For nearly two decades, we pursued hidden Iranian government assets tied to a Manhattan skyscraper to ensure those funds would ultimately compensate victims of Iran-sponsored terrorism rather than terrorists and their enablers.”

According to the Complaint, Amended Complaint, public court filings, and other public litigation records:

The building at 650 Fifth Avenue (the “Building”) was originally constructed by a charitable foundation controlled by the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, prior to the Islamic Revolution that led to the installation of the current regime in Iran in 1979.  The new regime took over control of the charitable foundation and created a partnership with Bank Melli Iran, an Iranian government-owned bank sanctioned by the U.S. government for its role in financing Iran’s weapons of mass destruction programs.  Bank Melli Iran controlled its interest in the Building through front companies known as Assa that were established in the Isle of Man and in New York.  The highest levels of the Iranian regime orchestrated this deceptive structure in the 1980s, including the Iranian Central Bank and the offices of the Prime Minister and the President of Iran.

After the imposition of broad sanctions against the Government of Iran by the United States in 1995, the owners of the Building concealed Bank Melli Iran’s ownership interest and facilitated the payment of tens of millions of dollars of income from the Building’s operations to Bank Melli through Assa.

In October 2008, this Office filed a forfeiture complaint against Bank Melli Iran’s interest in the Building.  In November 2009, this Office filed an amended forfeiture complaint against the entire Building and other related properties. Following the filing of the complaint and the amended complaint, numerous groups of judgment creditors holding judgments against the Government of Iran for injuries resulting from state-sponsored terrorism filed claims and independent judgment-enforcement actions against Assa, the Building, and the Building’s owner.

In April 2014 and July 2017, the Office entered into settlements with these victims’ groups providing that any recovery the Government obtained through forfeiture would be distributed to the victims.  In July 2017 and May 2021, the Office and the victims’ groups all obtained judgments against Assa’s interests in the Building and in related partnership distributions from the Building’s income.

In January 2025, this Office, the victims’ groups, and the Building’s owner entered into a further, final settlement providing for the dismissal of all remaining claims in exchange for a payment of $318 million to the victims’ groups, consisting of an initial payment of $129 million and a deferred payment of $189 million to be paid in three years, plus interest.  The initial $129 million payment was completed Friday, March 20, 2026.  

In addition to providing for recovery for terrorism victims, in connection with the settlement the partnership that owned the Building and the majority partner are being dissolved and the Building is being transferred to a new successor entity.  The transfer of the Building and the transactions to consummate the global settlement agreement received approvals from the Office of the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and its New York Field Office Counterintelligence/Cyber Division; the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the New York City Police Department.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice National Security Division for their assistance in this case.

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful USDA Funding Conditions

 

New Federal Rules Threaten Billions in Funding for Food Assistance, Agriculture, and Public Safety Programs

New York Attorney General Letitia James and 20 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block sweeping new funding conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that jeopardize billions of dollars in funding for critical state programs. The lawsuit challenges USDA’s new “2026 Conditions,” which force states to comply with vague and unlawful policy requirements or risk losing essential funding for programs that feed families, support farmers, and protect communities. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to block these conditions and protect states’ access to funding already approved by Congress.  

“The federal government cannot hold critical funding hostage to force states to comply with vague, ideological directives,” said Attorney General James. “These new conditions put essential programs at risk and cause chaos for states that rely on this funding to feed families, support farmers, and keep communities safe. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers and ensure they receive the resources they depend on.” 

The USDA provides tens of billions of dollars each year to states to support a wide range of programs that sustain the nation’s food system and rural economies, including agricultural research, farm support programs, forestry and wildfire prevention, and infrastructure that connects farms to markets. In New York, this funding supports farmers across the state, from dairy producers in the North Country to specialty crop growers in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, while also helping universities and research institutions develop new innovations that keep American agriculture competitive. In addition, USDA is responsible for some of the nation’s most essential nutrition programs, including the school lunch program; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). 

This year, USDA introduced new requirements for funding recipients, stating that in order to receive funding allocated by Congress, states must certify compliance with broad, undefined federal “policies.” These conditions apply to nearly all USDA programs, and include restrictions related to “gender ideology,” immigration, “fair athletic opportunities,” and other political priorities. However, Attorney General James and the coalition contend that these conditions fail to clearly define which conduct is prohibited, leaving states to guess how to comply while facing the threat of severe financial penalties. 

If allowed to take effect, these conditions could have devastating consequences in New York. Millions of New Yorkers who depend on government assistance to put food on the table could see benefits threatened or delayed. WIC funding that supports pregnant people, infants, and young children could be put at risk, jeopardizing lifesaving health and nutrition services. Emergency food providers across the state could lose support, even though demand for food assistance remains high.  

The conditions would also profoundly harm New York’s agricultural sector. Farmers could lose access to critical grant programs that support crop production, pest and disease management, and sustainable farming practices. State agencies and universities could lose funding for agricultural research that drives innovation in food production, provides essential support to New York farmers, and strengthens supply chains. Programs that connect local farms to schools and communities could be disrupted, weakening local food systems and regional economies. In addition, forestry and wildfire prevention programs supported by USDA funding could be impacted, reducing the state’s ability to manage forests, prevent wildfires, and protect natural resources. 

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that these requirements are unconstitutionally vague and are clearly meant to coerce states into adopting federal policy preferences. They also argue that the conditions exceed USDA’s legal authority and were imposed without following required legal procedures. The attorneys general have asked the court to prohibit USDA from implementing or enforcing the illegal conditions. 

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

ICE Asks Politicians to Not Release Criminal Illegal Alien Who Slit Woman’s Throat in Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Nearly 70% of illegal aliens ICE arrested across the country have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer requesting politicians not release Mexican criminal illegal alien—Jesus Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla— who has been charged with attempted murder in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

According to local reports, this criminal was high on methamphetamine when he attacked a woman in an alley. Ramirez-Padilla reportedly strangled her from behind and she fell to the ground. He allegedly pulled out a knife and then slit her throat multiple times. The woman is in critical condition.  

Ramirez-Padilla has been charged with attempted murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, and drug paraphernalia.  

“Jesus Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla is a dangerous criminal illegal alien who violently strangled and slit a woman’s throat multiple times,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “We are calling on politicians to not release this barbaric criminal from jail and into American neighborhoods. This criminal illegal alien has no place in American communities.” 

Jesus Alejandro Ramirez-Padilla illegally entered the country at an unknown place and time. 

ICE has lodged a detainer for his arrest to ensure he is not released back into American communities. 

“Operation Spring Cleaning”

 

Multi-agency coalition led by USAO of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat and prosecute violent crime in Southwest Missouri

Over the past week, more than 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers worked together with prosecutors to arrest and charge 101 individuals in federal investigations for violent crimes.

The Justice Department announced the results of “Operation Spring Cleaning”, a multi-agency law enforcement operation conducted March 17th – 19th that identified, apprehended, and initiated prosecution against some of the most violent offenders in the Springfield and Joplin metropolitan areas, including Greene, Jasper, and Christian Counties. Its mission was straightforward: use existing Missouri and Midwest-based law enforcement resources in a coordinated way to serve warrants across partner agencies, arrest individuals wanted for serious crimes and identify additional evidence that supports successful prosecution.

This effort resulted in 85 federal indictments charging 101 defendants with a variety of offenses including firearms, narcotics, and sex offenses. During the investigations into these matters, law enforcement seized a total of 141 firearms, 11.21 pounds of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of fentanyl, 204.89 pounds of marijuana, 88.14 pounds of methamphetamine, and 2.06 pounds of psilocyn.  Additionally, 10 arrests on state warrants were executed including an arrest for a suspect charged with murder in the first degree and a CODIS hit for an unsolved rape investigation.

“Operation Spring Cleaning is an example of the extraordinary impact that law enforcement, at all levels of government, can have when we combine our resources and focus collectively on aggressively combatting violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price. 

U.S. Attorney Price thanked the partner agencies in this coordinated effort including:

●    Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

●    Carthage Police Department

●    Christian County Sheriff’s Office

●    Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

●    Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

●    Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

●    Greene County Sheriff’s Office

●    Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

●    Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

●    Jasper County Sheriff’s Office

●    Joplin Police Department

●    Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)

●    Newton County Sheriff’s Office

●    Nixa Police Department

●    Ozark Police Department

●    Springfield Police Department

●    United States Marshals Service (USMS)

Price continued, “Operation Spring Cleaning serves as a double-down on our ongoing collaboration in Southwest Missouri and a reminder that law enforcement officers, not violent criminals, control the streets of Springfield, Joplin, and all surrounding areas. We are playing offense now, and will remain on offense to confront crime and engage violent criminals at the time and place of our choosing.”

Operation Spring Cleaning was conducted by the Violent Crime Abatement Team (VCAT), a coalition of Missouri-based federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to respond to violence and gun crimes.  The goal of this team is to bring significant, coordinated resources to address violent crime in the Southwest Missouri area, including federal prosecution.

Please note that a video of the press conference, B-roll of the operation, and photos will be available after the event on DVIDS, which is free to join but requires an account. If interested, please use the link to register an account. https://www.dvidshub.net/member/ registration.

Attached is a breakdown of the operation.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The charges contained in any charging document are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

“Operation Spring Cleaning”

Total agencies involved	18
Federal indictments	85
Defendants charged federally	101
Total firearms seized during investigations/arrests	141
Federal firearms cases charged	49
Federal narcotic cases charged	23
Combined firearm and narcotic cases charged	19
Federal sex offense cases charged	9
Cocaine seized during investigations	11.21 lbs.
Fentanyl seized during investigations	1.51 lbs.
Marijuana seized during investigations	204.89 lbs.
Methamphetamine seized during investigations	88.14 lbs.
Psilocyn seized during investigations	2.06 lbs.

DEC RELEASES 2025 HUNTING SAFETY STATISTICS

 

2025 Season the Safest on Record

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced another year of safe hunting. Hunting remains one of the most popular forms of wildlife-related recreation in the state with nearly 600,000 New Yorkers participating annually, helping achieve State wildlife management objectives and safely enjoying time outdoors. 

“The historic low number of incidents observed in 2025 demonstrates that hunting is safe and is getting safer thanks to the efforts of DEC’s Hunter Education Program, volunteer instructors, and the vigilance of New York’s hunters,” said Commissioner Lefton. “In addition to being safe, hunting is ecologically important, helping manage wildlife populations, promoting conservation-related behaviors, and providing a local, affordable food source. I am proud of our team’s efforts to grow New York’s hunting community.” 

The 2025 hunting season was the safest in New York’s recorded history. The total number of hunting-related shooting incidents (HRSI) in 2025 was seven, five of which were self-inflicted and two involved more than one person. One incident involved an unlicensed individual who was hunting illegally. Fortunately, there were no HRSI fatalities. 

Many, if not all, HRSIs can be prevented if people follow the primary rules of hunter safety:

• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
• Control the muzzle, always keep it pointed in a safe direction.
• Identify your target and what lies beyond it.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
• Wear hunter orange or pink. 

DEC also documented nine falls from tree stands or elevated platforms, including one fatality. Like HRSIs, elevated hunting incidents (EHIs) can be avoided by following simple safety measures. Hunters can prevent severe injuries or death due to falls from tree stands or elevated platforms by wearing and properly using a fall-arrest system (FAS). A FAS keeps a hunter attached to the tree from the time they leave the ground until they get back down. A harness only works if it is attached to the tree the entire time the hunter is off the ground.

A FAS includes:  

• A full-body harness with shoulder, chest, and leg straps;
• A strap that attaches to the tree when in the stand;
• A tether strap that attaches the harness to the tree strap;
• A “lifeline” to keep a hunter safe while climbing and descending; and
• A suspension relief strap to be used in the event of a fall.

DEC encourages all New York hunters to Strap Up before you Go Up. 

For more information on hunter education courses and hunting safety statistics, visit Hunter Education Program - NYSDEC.