Attorney General James Urges Congress to Restore SNAP Benefits and Protect Food Assistance in Farm Bill

AG James Leads Coalition in Calling on Senate to Reverse Federal Cuts that Threaten Food Assistance for Millions of Americans

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 22 other attorneys general in urging congressional leaders to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and eligibility protections in the upcoming Farm Bill and reject efforts to reduce food assistance for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working people. In a letter to Senate leadership and the leaders of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Attorney General James and the coalition warned that recent federal SNAP cuts – the largest reductions to food assistance in modern history – are increasing hunger, creating new bureaucratic hurdles for eligible families, and shifting billions of dollars in costs onto states and local governments. They write that as the Senate considers the next Farm Bill, it has an opportunity to reaffirm a bipartisan commitment that no American should go hungry because they cannot afford food.

“SNAP helps millions of Americans put food on the table and supports the farmers and grocers that feed our communities,” said Attorney General James. “Our representatives in Washington need to understand the consequences of these cuts and the families, veterans, and seniors they are hurting. I am urging the Senate to reverse these cruel changes and restore the food assistance that millions of Americans count on.”

SNAP provides critical support to more than 2.9 million New Yorkers, including children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families struggling with the high cost of living. New federal restrictions passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including expanded work requirements and additional administrative hurdles, make it significantly harder for New Yorkers to keep their benefits or threaten to push them off the program altogether. In their letter, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that expanded work requirements and administrative hurdles do not create jobs or reduce poverty. Instead, they cause eligible families to lose assistance because they are unable to navigate increasingly complex bureaucratic requirements.

The attorneys general also raise concerns about the impact of new SNAP changes on state economies. New cost-sharing provisions require states to shoulder billions of dollars in new costs while imposing substantial new administrative burdens, a significant shift from SNAP’s longstanding federal commitment to ensuring that Americans do not go hungry during times of need. In New York alone, these changes could cost well over $1 billion per year beginning in 2027. Attorney General James and the coalition warn that these unprecedented shifts could force states to make impossible choices between cutting other essential services or reducing SNAP support for vulnerable residents.

Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the Senate to take a different approach from the House-passed Farm Bill, which fails to reverse recent cuts to food assistance. They are calling on the Senate to restore SNAP benefit levels and funding, reverse or delay new cost-sharing requirements, and roll back expanded work requirements and eligibility restrictions. They also urge the Senate to reject further benefit cuts, preserve state flexibility, and strengthen access to nutrition assistance for seniors, children, veterans, and working families.

The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman, and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar. Joining Attorney General James in sending the 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, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 

ICE Asks Connecticut Sanctuary Politicians to Not Release Three Illegal Aliens Arrested in Sting Operation Targeting Online Child Predators

 

All three suspects were released into the country by the Biden Administration

.The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged detainers asking Connecticut sanctuary politicians to not release from jail three illegal aliens arrested as part of a sting operation that arrested multiple online child predators.

On June 5, police in New Britain, Connecticut arrested five individuals who believed they were setting up meetings with underage children for sex. According to local reporting, undercover detectives posted advertisements for adult services on classified websites, and then posed as an adult with access to an underage child. The five suspects negotiated prices for sex with the child and were arrested at the hotel where they arranged to meet.

Of the five individuals, three are illegal aliens: Bruno Orlando Medina Mendoza and Jorge Manuel Escobar Quispe, who are both from Peru, and Raul Andrey Echavez Castro, who is from Colombia.

Bruno Orlando Medina Mendoza

Jorge Manuel Escobar Quispe

Raul Andrey Echavez Castro

All three suspects now face charges of commercial sexual abuse of a minor, criminal attempt to commit sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, and second-degree sexual assault. Mendoza has a criminal history that includes arrests for assault and child neglect, while Castro’s criminal history includes an arrest for disturbing public peace.

 “These illegal aliens thought they were arranging a meeting with an underage child for sex. They now face charges for sexual abuse of a minor, attempt to commit sexual contact with a victim under 16, and sexual assault,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “These pedophiles were RELEASED into our country by the Biden administration. We are calling on Connecticut sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing these child predators from jail and to promise they will turn them over to ICE. It is common sense. These pedophiles should NEVER be loose in American neighborhoods again.”

All three suspects came into the United States illegally in 2023, with Quispe and Castro entering through Arizona while Mendoza entered through California. All three were RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration.

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Siddhartha Sanchez as Executive Director of Mayor's Office of Food Policy

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Siddhartha Sanchez as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy (MOFP). Sanchez brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, government philanthropy and community-based food systems work to advance the administration’s commitment to make healthy, affordable food accessible to every New Yorker.   

  

“New Yorkers are struggling to put healthy food on the table while grocery prices continue to rise. Building a city that people can afford means building a food system that works for everyone,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Siddhartha Sanchez has spent his career fighting for food justice, strengthening community-led solutions and expanding access to healthy food. Food access is an economic justice issue and I am proud to welcome him to this administration, as we work to ensure that every New Yorker has access to food as a basic human right.”     

  

“Food insecurity is among the most pressing issues facing our city, and making high-quality, nutritious food affordable and accessible to New Yorkers is a top priority of this administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “It is important to have dedicated, experienced partners in government, and Siddhartha Sanchez, who has dedicated more than two decades to serving low-income communities of color in New York City, is just the kind of leader we need to further our food policy agenda. I am thrilled to announce his appointment as Executive Director for MOFP, and I look forward to working alongside him to help struggling families put healthy, affordable food back on their tables.”  

  

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New York City — the city I grew up in and have dedicated my career to,” said Siddhartha Sanchez, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. “Food security is inseparable from racial and economic justice, and for too many New Yorkers — especially in low-income communities of color — access to healthy, affordable food remains out of reach. I am committed to the Mamdani Administration's vision of a city where every resident can thrive, and I look forward to building on the tremendous foundation MOFP has laid. Because of their work, we understand these challenges more clearly than ever before. I'm eager to work alongside our most impacted communities to continue turning MOFP's legacy into real solutions. I'm excited to get started.”  

  

The Mayor’s Office of Food Policy works across City government to increase food security, expand access to healthy food and build a more equitable, sustainable and resilient food system. As Executive Director of MOFP, Sanchez will also serve as a member of the Mayor's Grocery Store Task Force.  

  

About Siddhartha Sanchez  

  

Siddhartha Sanchez is a lifelong advocate for food justice whose work centers racial, environmental and economic justice for more than 20 years. He has dedicated his career to serving low-income communities of color across New York City, developing deep expertise at the intersection of food systems, economic development, climate justice and community-driven policy.   

  

Most recently, Sanchez served as Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance, where he oversaw stewardship of a 23-mile urban watershed and more than 100 acres of public land while advancing environmental restoration, public access and community engagement. A cornerstone of that work was the community-led Bronx River Foodway – the first edible food forest in a New York City, which demonstrates how public land can be used to strengthen food sovereignty and community well-being.   

  

Prior to that role, Sanchez served as Interim Executive Director of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative, where he advanced efforts to leverage institutional procurement as a tool for community wealth-building and equitable food systems.  

  

As co-founder of KPS Strategies, a public interest consulting firm, Sanchez advised government agencies, mission-driven businesses, philanthropic organizations and nonprofits on food systems strategy, stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Representative José Serrano, helping secure federal funding for food access and infrastructure projects, and managed a philanthropic portfolio supporting organizations focused on food access, affordable housing and community development.   

  

Born and raised in Washington Heights, Sanchez is a lifelong vegan, family chef and avid gardener. His parents migrated from the Dominican Republic. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Brown University.   

Georgia Man Indicted for Distributing Methamphetamine in Northern District of Florida

 

Jimmy Randell Chason, 69, of Cairo, Ga., has been indicted in federal court on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.

"Methamphetamine--which destroys families--is a frequently trafficked substance in the Pan Handle of Florida," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. "We work tirelessly to stop the flow of this poison into our communities."

Chason appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Fla. Change of plea is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 11:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.

If convicted, Chason faces 10 years to life imprisonment on each count.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). 

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 

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.

Former Chief Investment Officer Pleads Guilty

 

Ken Leech, Former Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management, Pleads Guilty to Obstructing an Investigation of His Fraudulent Scheme to Favor Certain Clients at the Expense of Others

Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sean S. Buckley, announced that S. KENNETH LEECH II, the former Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management Company (“WAMCO”), pled guilty to obstructing justice by giving false and misleading testimony to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with an investigation into LEECH’s fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others.  LEECH pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.  

“Leech willfully and intentionally gave false and misleading testimony to the SEC in an effort to obstruct an investigation into his fraudulent scheme to favor certain clients at the expense of others,” said Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean S. Buckley.  “Investment managers, like Leech, are entrusted by the SEC and the public at large to comply with their duty to be honest to regulators and fair to their clients.  This plea reflects the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to protecting everyday investors—in New York City and abroad—from investment advisers who violate their legal commitments and seek to deceive clients for their gain or the gain of others.” 

As alleged in the Indictment, Superseding Information, and other public filings in this case: 

Between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH committed fraud and abused the trust placed in him by clients of the investment-management firm WAMCO.  LEECH engaged in a criminal scheme commonly known as cherry-picking to compensate for losses in his marquee investment strategy by assigning trades that performed well during their first day into client accounts associated with that investment strategy, and assigning trades that performed poorly over their first day into the accounts of other clients, who were not aware that LEECH was causing them losses to favor others.  LEECH’s victims included institutional and retail investors who entrusted LEECH to manage their savings and pension plans.  Over the course of his criminal scheme, LEECH allocated trades with net first-day gains of at least approximately $600 million to his favored strategy and clients, and allocated trades with net first-day losses of at least approximately $600 million to strategies and clients to whom he owed an equal fiduciary duty.

In an effort to obstruct the investigation of that fraudulent scheme, LEECH testified before the SEC that he knew where he planned to allocate trades at the time he placed them.  The facts showed differently.  LEECH owed a fiduciary duty to all of his clients.  But between 2021 and October 2023, LEECH improperly engaged in a scheme to delay his trades in order to allocate them in a manner that benefitted some of his clients, to the detriment of others.  LEECH’s scheme defrauded clients for whom he was serving a registered financial advisor.  

LEECH, 72, of Pasadena, California, pled guilty to one count of obstructing justice, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  LEECH is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026. 

Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Buckley also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.

Mayor Mamdani Names Celeste Ramirez President of the School Construction Authority

 

Ramirez becomes the first Latina New Yorker to lead the organization   

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani named Celeste Ramirez President of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA).    

  

Ramirez returns to the SCA after previously serving in multiple leadership roles at the agency before founding and leading her own construction management firm. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, Ramirez will become the first Latina New Yorker to lead the organization.   

  

The School Construction Authority is responsible for designing and building safe, welcoming and sustainable public schools for New York City’s students.   

  

“Every child deserves a school that inspires them to learn, supports them to succeed and reflects the value we place on their future. School buildings are more than bricks and mortar. They are places where young New Yorkers learn, grow, eat healthy meals, build community and forge their futures,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Celeste Ramirez brings decades of experience, a deep commitment to public service and firsthand knowledge of the work ahead. Under her leadership, we will accelerate the construction of the classrooms we need to meet class size requirements, modernize our school infrastructure and ensure every student has access to a world-class learning environment.”  

  

“Throughout my life, I’ve seen the impact public schools have on our communities – first as a child, newly immigrated to this country, welcomed with open arms by my local public school, and then in my professional career, where I saw the ways physical infrastructure that inspires and innovates turns schools into true community centers,” said SCA President Celeste Ramirez. “As I step into this role, I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the schoolchildren, educators and staff that make up our school communities, and eager to support the contractors that make this work possible.”    

  

About Celeste Ramirez  

  

Celeste Ramirez most recently served as the President and CEO of CARA Construction Management, Inc., the construction consulting firm she founded in 2004. Under her leadership, the firm completed more than 150 projects and developed innovative tools to evaluate project performance and contractor capacity.  

  

Prior to founding CARA, Ramirez spent 15 years with the SCA, serving in several leadership roles, including Manager of Operations for the SCA’s legal and real estate divisions. She also led community relations efforts, helping strengthen partnerships between the agency and the communities it served.  

  

Following her tenure at SCA, Ramirez continued supporting the agency’s mission by mentoring contractors and subcontractors participating in SCA projects. In partnership with Baruch College (CUNY), she helped administer an intensive 10-month training program designed to support emerging SCA contractors and expand opportunities for small firms.   

  

Ramirez began her public service career in the Office of the Bronx Borough President, where she served as the director of housing services before becoming a budget analyst and community relations liaison.   

  

Ramirez’ family moved from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic, where Ramirez was born, before moving to the Bronx where she was raised. Ramirez has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity through public investment, community engagement and infrastructure development.  

NYC Comptroller Levine and Pension Boards Announce Search for Asset Managers to Provide Passive Indexing Investment Services

 

Public equity index services last solicited in 2017; search launched today reflects commitment to fiduciary best practices and good governance as existing contracts set to expire by the end of 2026

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine and trustees of the City’s five public pension systems (the Systems) announced the launch of a search for asset management firms to provide public equity passive indexing services. This includes capitalization weighted indexes, smart beta/alternatively weighted indexes, or any other type of indexed portfolio (consistent with each System’s investment guidelines), such as those based on ESG factors and limits on carbon. As of March 31, 2026 the Systems held $127.11 billion in public equity investments, with the majority invested in passive index products. The amount allocated to managers selected through this search will be determined based on the needs of each System.

The Comptroller’s Office will manage the search according to the City’s Procurement Policy Board Rules on behalf of the Systems. Each of the Systems’ board of trustees, in partnership with their general investment consultants and the Bureau of Asset Management, will engage in a rigorous review process to make the final selection of one or more  firms that best serve their individual investment needs.

“Fulfilling our mandate of delivering strong returns for our public sector workforce and retirees requires ongoing review of our contractual relationships with each of our asset managers. We cannot keep these relationships on autopilot. I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to ensure we select the managers that meet our highest standards of performance,” said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine.

Details on minimum requirements for firms interested in participating in the search, the evaluation process, contract award procedures, and proposal evaluation criteria are provided in the full Notice of Search. Investment managers that are small, New York City-based or MWBEs are encouraged to participate in this search.

Interested firms must submit information to the appropriate databases by Wednesday, July 15th. The contract will have an initial term of three years and options for renewal.

The full notice of search can be read online at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/rfp/notice-of-search-for-equity-index-investment-management-products-and-services/. Interested firms may reach out to EquitySearch2026@comptroller.nyc.gov with any questions.

In addition to Comptroller Levine, trustees of the New York City public pension systems are as follows:

Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS): Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s appointees: Ahmer Qadeer, Director and Chief Pension Administrator, Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments, and Joseph Borelli; Greg Faulkner, Chair, New York City Public Schools Panel for Educational Policy; and Thomas Brown (Board Chair), Victoria Lee, and Christina McGrath, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s representative Ahmer Qadeer, Director and Chief Pension Administrator, Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments (Board Chair); New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Donovan Richards Jr. (Queens), Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn), Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx), Brad Hoylman-Sigal (Manhattan), and Vito Fossella (Staten Island); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; John Chiarello, President, Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

New York City Police Pension Fund (Police): Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s representative Ahmer Qadeer, Director and Chief Pension Administrator, Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments; New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch (Board Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Richard Lee; Patrick Hendry, President, Albert Alcierno, First Vice President, Arthur Egner, Second Vice President and Michael Freeman, Chair, all of the NYC Police Benevolent Association; Chris Monahan, President, Captains Endowment Association; Louis Turco, President, Lieutenants Benevolent Association; Vincent Vallelong, President, Sergeants Benevolent Association; and Scott Munro, President, Detectives Endowment Association.

New York City Fire Pension Fund (Fire): Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s representative Ahmer Qadeer, Director and Chief Pension Administrator, Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments; New York City Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore (Board Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Richard Lee; Andrew Ansbro, President, Robert Eustace, Vice President, Christopher Viola, Treasurer, and Dennis Tveter, Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; Sean Michael, Chief’s Rep., Liam Guilfoyle, Captain’s Rep., and Joseph Camastro, Lieutenants’ Rep., all of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and John Young, President, Marine Engineers Association.

Board of Education Retirement System of the City of New York (BERS): Members of the New York City Public Schools Panel for Educational Policy, including: Borough President Appointees Shirley Aubin (Queens), Camille Casaretti (Brooklyn), Jonathan Collins (Manhattan), Rima Izquierdo (Bronx), and Aaron Bogad (Staten Island); Elected CEC Members Adriana Alecia (Queens), Faraji Hannah-Jones (Brooklyn), Naveed Hasan (Manhattan), Brenida Parsons (Bronx), and Debra Altman (Staten Island); Mayoral appointees Joseph Borelli, Marjorie Dienstag, Amy Fair, Gregory Faulkner, Dr. Madeline Fox, Anita Garcia, Anthony Giordano, Dr. Angela Green, Alice Ho, Yadira Jimenez, Jessamyn Lee, Sharon Odwin, Alan Ong, and Maisha Sapp; New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, represented by Karine Apollon (Board Co-Chair); as well as two elected employee members: Donald Nesbit, District Council 37, Local 372 (Board Co-Chair) and Frank Sirabella, IUOE Local 891.

“Revisit the Revolution” Tour Highlights New York State Parks and Historic Sites Connected to the American Revolution

 

OPRHP Commissioner Moser’s Tour Marks 250^th Anniversary of the American Revolution Throughout Parks and Historic Sites System

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Kathy Moser will embark on a three-day “Revisit the Revolution” tour to highlight New York State Parks and Historic Sites that preserve and highlight the history of the American Revolution. New York State is home to more Revolutionary sites than any other state, and the tour, June 15-17, 2026, will stop at 12 of these sites – including Washington’s Headquarters – the nation’s first public historic site.

“We are traveling across New York to visit the places where America’s story was shaped, defended, debated, and preserved,” Commissioner Moser said. “As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, these places remind us that the American Revolution was never the story of a single battle, a single leader, or a single moment. It was the story of people – soldiers and statesmen, families and farmers, immigrants and Indigenous nations, men and women whose lives intersected with the struggle for independence.”

New York manages 45 state historic sites and parks – along with thousands of historic collections – connected to the American Revolution. Their stories tell what happened before, during, and after the conflict, and they also show how later generations commemorated anniversaries and worked to preserve the story of the American Revolution for us to explore today.  

The tour will cover 550 miles through the Hudson Valley, Capital District, Central Region and Mohawk Valley visiting historic sites and discussing programs associated with the American Revolution. The itinerary includes:

Monday, June 15, 2026

Knox Headquarters State Historic Site, Vails Gate – 8:45 a.m.  Costumed interpreters will share history of the place where Major General Henry Knox – Commander of the American artillery – established his military headquarters during the war.

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor – 10:15 a.m.  Commander-in-Chief George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, an award to recognize enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers who had distinguished themselves during the war. The badge, the precursor to the Purple Heart Medal, is on display at the Hall of Honor.

Fort Montgomery State Historic Site/Bear Mountain, Fort Montgomery – 12:45 p.m.  The stop will include a tour of Fort Montgomery and the ruins of Fort Clinton – within present day Bear Mountain State Park – which were built by American forces in 1776 to protect the Hudson River from British control – and were the site of a significant battle on October 6, 1777.

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, Yonkers – 2:30 p.m.  The estate of a Loyalist family during the Revolution, this historic site is a featured “Our Whole History” destination – dedicated to sharing untold stories of the past – and welcoming diverse audiences.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Washington Headquarters State Historic Site, Newburgh – 9 a.m.  The Nation's first publicly owned state historic site, which opened on July 4th of 1850, preserves the house that George Washington called headquarters for more than 16 months. 

Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown – 11:30 a.m.  The home of one the Nation’s Founders, Robert Livingston, the history at Clermont features the many individuals who lived there, the slaves who were there, the German Palatines, the woman who rebuilt the house after it was burned during the revolution.

Peebles Island State Park, Waterford – 2 p.m.  The stop will feature the “Revisit the Revolution” traveling exhibit – which is bringing historic artifacts to communities across the state – as well the America 250 license plate offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, Oriskany – 9:30 a.m.  The visit will include a display of artifacts discovered as part of the archeological investigation into one the Revolutionary War’s major battles.

Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Little Falls – 11:15 a.m.  The stop will include a tour of a new visitor center under construction at the home of Revolutionary War General Nicholas Herkimer.

Johnson Hall State Historic Site, Johnstown – 1 p.m.  A new house tour “A World Turned Upside Down” will be featured in this visit to William Johnson, a major figure of the Colonial era.

Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Albany – 4 p.m.  The stop will include work to make the home of General Philip Schuyler more accessible to visitors.

The tour is open to the media. Media members wishing to attend should RSVP to news@parks.ny.gov.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.