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Susan Cacace DISTRICT ATTORNEY

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES SUE TO DEFEND NEW COMMUNITY SAFETY LAWS

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James yesterday sued the Trump Administration to protect a new package of state laws establishing critical accountability measures concerning immigration and law enforcement operations in New York.

One of the laws, set to take effect this Friday, prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their identity with masks while interacting with the public and requires all officers to display clear identification.

The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, another of the bills signed into law, ensures local law enforcement can remain focused on local community safety issues by prohibiting local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into agreements to operate as immigration officers or to detain people solely for federal civil immigration violations. The law also prohibits the use of public subsidies for civil immigration detention facilities.

After New York enacted this comprehensive package, the federal administration vowed to attack the legislation, and, last week, notified the state it intended to sue imminently.

White House Border Czar Thomas Homan has also threatened a surge of federal immigration agents to punish New York for enacting the laws. In response, Governor Hochul requested that Attorney General James ask the court to declare that the laws are legal and to prevent the Trump Administration from interfering with New York’s authority to protect public safety, promote transparency and govern the use of state and local resources.

“A badge carries with it a responsibility to uphold the public’s trust. New Yorkers deserve to know who is enforcing the law in their communities and have the assurance that local resources are being deployed to protect public safety, not to intimidate or advance the agenda of a rogue federal agency,” said Governor Hochul. “These laws reflect New York’s values, and we’re not going to let anyone bully us into abandoning them.”

“By hiding their faces and refusing to wear identification, federal immigration officers endanger New Yorkers and intentionally evade accountability,” said Attorney General James. “Our communities should not have to live in fear of being disappeared by unidentified masked agents. If the federal government wants to brazenly defy our laws, then we will fight tooth and nail in court to ensure transparency and keep all New Yorkers safe.”

Masked federal immigration officers have flooded communities across the country as part of the federal government’s mass deportation agenda. These officers have often failed to clearly identify themselves to the public while carrying out enforcement operations, sowing fear, undermining public trust and increasing the risk that bad actors could impersonate law enforcement officers.

Across the country, the use of masked and unidentified agents has made it harder for residents to know who is acting under color of law, report misconduct and seek accountability when officers abuse their authority. In one high-profile operation on Canal Street in New York City, masked agents terrified residents and created chaos in the community.

New York enacted these laws to address this growing threat and protect the rights of New Yorkers during federal immigration enforcement operations.

The new provisions prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks or other face coverings that conceal, disguise, or obscure their identity while interacting with the public, and require officers to visibly display their department and identifying information. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, another measure in the package, prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements that use local resources to detain people for federal immigration violations. This provision ensures that New York’s local law enforcement resources are directed toward local public safety priorities, rather than the federal government’s mass deportation agenda.

Two days after this comprehensive legislation passed, the Department of Homeland Security publicly declared that it would attack​ the law as illegal. Last week, the administration notified New York that it intended to sue the state over the legislation and seek emergency relief before the law takes effect.

New York has a sovereign right under the Tenth Amendment to enact laws that protect public safety, promote transparency and regulate conduct within its borders.

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James assert that the new laws establish basic public safety and transparency requirements for law enforcement officers operating in New York and protect the state’s authority to decide how state and local resources are used.

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James are asking the court to declare that the Trump Administration’s efforts to prevent enforcement of the state’s new immigration protections violate the Tenth Amendment. They are also asking the court to block the administration from taking any action to prevent enforcement of the laws.

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Innovation Wing taking shape as White Plains High School addition moves ahead of schedule

From the  White Plains City School District

Jun 17 2026

The future Innovation Wing at White Plains High School is rapidly taking shape, with school and construction officials reporting that the high-tech hub for Career and Technical Education, arts instruction and cutting-edge learning opportunities is progressing ahead of schedule.

Principal Emerly Martinez led a tour of the construction for engineering teachers Al Martinez, Giordano Garcia and Chad Allen, offering a firsthand look at the two-story addition that will connect to the main building through an enclosed glass bridge.

The approximately 48,000-square-foot facility — designed by H2M Architects + Engineers and oversighted by Triton Construction — is expected to house new CTE programs, expanded arts facilities, specialized learning spaces and a variety of collaborative environments when completed.

The project, which broke ground in the summer of 2025, is currently targeted for opening during the fall of 2027. While emphasizing that construction timelines can always change, Mr. Martinez said the project is “a little bit ahead of schedule.”

The steel superstructure has been completed and most non-structural framing is in place. Roofing work is largely finished, windows are being installed, and crews are currently focused on mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems throughout the building.

Triton Senior Project Manager Bob Firneis said the building shell has been completed and contractors are now working to fully enclose the structure.

“The roof work is complete except for the edging. The air conditioning units are installed on the roof — you see the ductwork going in,” he said, adding that there have been a few modifications along the way, but no notable setbacks.

Among the most striking features already visible are the soaring two-story entrance vestibule, expansive glass elements, multiple staircases and the signature bridge that will connect the new wing directly to the existing high school.

As he guided the teachers and Assistant Principal Gaetano Vitiello through unfinished hallways and classrooms, Mr. Martinez repeatedly returned to the building’s central purpose: creating a space where students can explore career pathways, artistic expression, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.

The first floor will feature a culinary arts training kitchen connected to a café, an art gallery and a presentation space with tiered seating capable of accommodating about 90 people. The principal said the combination will allow the district to host exhibitions and community events while showcasing student work.

He envisions culinary students eventually preparing meals for events and potentially serving staff as part of a hospitality-focused learning experience.

The addition will also become home to three specialized CTE programs being developed in partnership with Southern Westchester BOCES: cybersecurity, pharmacy technician studies and an introduction to sports science and sports medicine.

Mr. Martinez said the partnership grew out of regionalization efforts encouraged by New York State and conversations between district leaders and BOCES officials about programs that were not currently being offered elsewhere in the region.

The programs are expected to serve both White Plains students and students from neighboring component districts.

Beyond the BOCES partnership, the principal said the Innovation Wing will significantly expand opportunities unique to WPHS.

A dedicated robotics laboratory is being created to support the school’s growing STEM initiatives and provide students with additional hands-on engineering experiences. A new entrepreneurship and incubator space will allow students to collaborate with mentors from businesses such as IBM and JPMorgan Chase and local entrepreneurs while developing innovative projects and business ideas.

Another area being developed is a media arts laboratory designed for podcasting, broadcasting, digital storytelling and potentially future journalism courses.

Mr. Martinez said the district wanted to create learning spaces that align with student interests while also preparing them for future careers.
“The possibilities are going to be endless when it comes to how that space is used,” he said.

The building will also include a state-of-the-art life skills apartment designed to help students with specialized learning needs practice independent living skills in a realistic setting. The apartment will feature a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry area, creating opportunities for students to learn daily living skills in a safe educational environment.

Mr. Martinez noted that the space could also support interdisciplinary learning opportunities for other students, including engineering and science classes.

The second floor will primarily support the arts, featuring new studios for photography, ceramics, fashion design, graphic arts and visual arts, along with a darkroom, additional kilns, expanded ceramics facilities and dedicated studio space filled with natural light.

A student commons area and atrium-style gathering space with large windows and high ceilings will provide opportunities for collaboration and informal learning throughout the day.

For Mr. Martinez, the Innovation Wing is ultimately about creating opportunities for students and expanding programs that will continue evolving long after the building opens.

As construction advances, he said the district remains focused on ensuring that every space supports innovation, creativity and real-world learning experiences.

“We wanted to provide that space to our staff and students. It’s really what it’s all about,” the principal said about what district leaders hope will be one of the most innovative learning environments in the region.

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL ISSUES PROCLAMATION FOR JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE

Pan-African Flag to be Flown at New York State Buildings

Sixteen Landmarks To Be Lit Statewide at the Governor’s Direction To Commemorate the End of Slavery in the United States

Read Proclamation Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a proclamation in observance of Juneteenth. The Governor also announced that the red, black, and green Pan-African Flag will be raised over the New York State Capitol today, Friday, June 19, and that State landmarks will be illuminated red, black, and green.

“Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of how far our nation has come and how much work still remains,” Governor Hochul said. “This commemoration is both a celebration of freedom, and a reminder of the work ahead to ensure all New Yorkers are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.”

The following 16 landmarks will illuminate red, black, and green this evening in

honor of Juneteenth:

• One World Trade Center
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
• Niagara Falls
• The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• Lake Placid Olympic Center
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal – will light red only
• Moynihan Train Hall – will light red only
• Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

The Pan-African flag will be flown over the New York State Capitol and the following State buildings today:

• Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Harlem
• Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building, Poughkeepsie
• Hudson Valley Transportation Management Center, Hawthorne
• Perry B. Duryea State Office Building, Hauppauge
• Empire State Plaza, Albany
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany
• Executive Mansion, Albany
• Harriman State Office Building Campus, Building 18, Albany
• Binghamton State Office Building
• Dulles State Office Building, Watertown
• Henderson-Smith State Office Building, Hornell
• Homer Folks Facility, Oneonta
• Senator John H. Hughes State Office Building, Syracuse
• Utica State Office Building
• New York State Preparedness Training Center, Oriskany

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“BULL” ALLEN, BASEBALL’S VOICE OF THE PAST

TALK ABOUT THE 2026 SEASON SO FAR TWO MONTHS IN WITH 4 MONTHS TO GO

WHO’S HOT! WHO’S NOT?  THE PITCHING CLOCK WHO BENEFITS WHO SUFFERS?

GAMBLING AND BASEBALL?  ADJUSTMENTS ON DEFENSE

THE STRIKE. THE ISSUES IN THE GAME. EXPANSION INTERLEAGUE PLAY AND MORE