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WESTCHESTER COUNTY LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PREDEVELOPMENT REVOLVING LOAN FUND

New Partnership will Help Advance Affordable Housing Projects across Westchester County

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County is expanding its commitment to affordable housing by launching the Westchester County Affordable Housing Predevelopment Revolving Loan Fund, a new initiative designed to help affordable housing projects move from concept to construction.

Administered by Community Capital New York (CCNY), the fund will provide flexible, short-term financing and technical assistance to developers, nonprofit organizations, faith-based institutions and Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) developers working to create and preserve affordable housing throughout Westchester County. 

The revolving loan fund addresses one of the greatest barriers to affordable housing development:

securing financing for early planning expenses before projects qualify for larger public or private investments.

Loans of up to $50,000 will be available for eligible predevelopment costs such as feasibility studies, architectural and engineering services, environmental assessments, legal expenses, permitting and project planning. As loans are repaid, those funds will be reinvested to support future affordable housing developments, creating a sustainable financing resource for communities across Westchester County. 

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said:

“Expanding affordable housing requires giving projects the support they need from the very beginning. Too many promising developments stall because they cannot secure financing for critical planning and predevelopment work. This revolving loan fund helps bridge that gap by providing flexible capital that will allow more projects to move forward, strengthen partnerships with faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations and ultimately create more affordable housing opportunities for Westchester residents.”

Westchester County Department of Planning Commissioner Blanca Lopez said:

“Predevelopment financing is often one of the biggest barriers to bringing affordable housing projects to life. By creating this revolving loan fund, Westchester County is investing in the earliest stages of development when strategic planning and technical assistance are most critical. This initiative will help build a stronger pipeline of affordable housing projects while supporting innovative partnerships that address local housing needs.”

Westchester County Director of Faith Based Initiatives Kym McNair said:

“Many faith-based organizations are deeply committed to serving their communities and often have underutilized properties that could help address Westchester’s housing needs. This revolving loan fund gives congregations access to the resources they need to explore affordable housing opportunities and turn their vision into reality. It is an investment not only in housing, but in stronger communities and meaningful partnerships.”

Community Capital of New York CEO Robert Benitez said:

“For 38 years, we have supported developers during their early stages of construction, with pre-development loans. We believe that visionary community development requires early, reliable support. CCNY has committed to providing our developers in Westchester County, with flexible predevelopment loans. We understand that this support ensures they have the critical early-stage capital needed to transform innovative concepts into impactful realities.”

Community Capital New York, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), will administer the fund by overseeing outreach, application review, underwriting, loan servicing, and technical assistance, compliance monitoring and reporting. The organization will also work with borrowers to help position successful projects for future financing opportunities, including construction loans, tax credits and grants.

The fund is expected to support multiple affordable housing projects annually while expanding opportunities for nonprofit organizations, emerging developers and faith-based institutions to transform underutilized properties into affordable housing. By providing critical early-stage financing, Westchester County is helping strengthen the pipeline of housing projects that will serve working families, seniors and residents with low and moderate incomes for years to come.

To learn more about the new initiative, visit: https://communitycapitalny.org/affordable-housing-predevelopment-revolving-loan-fund/

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GILLEBRAND BILL TO STOP  IRAN WAR REJECTED BY SENATE

WET WEEK IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA

COUNTY OUTLAWS VAPES IN DISGUISE- MERCHANTS CAN NO LONGER SELL

–HEALTH DEPT TO ENFORCE

GOVERNOR HOCHUL  LEGISLATION ENDS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM PARTICIPATING IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

PASSING STOPPED SCHOOL BUS ENFORCEMENT CATCHES ASTOUNDING 13,621 MOTORISTS PASSING STOPPED BUSES IN 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR

GOVERNOR HOCHUL SAFE KIDS ACT CLAMPS RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNET PLATFORMS  DIRECTING ALGORITHMIC DERIVED FEEDS TO CHILDREN UNDER 18, MUST SEEK PARENT PERMISSION.

JOHN BAILEY ON

UNFNISHED UNSTARTED PROJECTS LACK OF PROGRESS

AFTER 7 MONTHS OF A NEW COMMON COUNCIL

AND MORE THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK WITH

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

FOR 25 YEARS

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Prioritizes  State Police Inspections of Firearms Dealers Linked to Crime 

Expands the Scope of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns

Inros Legislative Actions that Would Require the In-Person Sale of Firearms

Launches Public Awareness Campaign Targeting Gun Dealers to Remind Them of New York State Laws

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced actions in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks that would make sweeping and dangerous changes to federal firearms regulations.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced changes to more than 30 rules that will make it easier for dangerous individuals to obtain firearms and harder to hold bad actors in the firearms industry accountable. In response, New York State is taking action by increasing enforcement and education and exploring legislative changes that will blunt the effect of many of these changes and preserve public safety.

“Time and time again, we see the Trump Administration concede to the gun lobby, and these rollbacks are yet another giveaway that will have devastating and dangerous effects across the country,” Governor Hochul said. 

“While the federal government paves the way for increased firearm trafficking and putting guns in the hands of those who should not have them, New York State is taking action to blunt their efforts by bolstering our nation-leading gun laws and committing to closing the loopholes that put lives in jeopardy.”

Firearm dealers operating in New York must obtain licensure at the federal and state levels, but action against licensees happens almost exclusively at the federal level.

The ATF’s proposed rollbacks are a clear abdication of their responsibility to hold bad actors accountable and keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals, requiring states to increase their enforcement against bad actors.

Governor Hochul announced the following actions alongside the New York State Police and members of New York’s gun safety coalition, including representatives from Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, Giffords, Brady United and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence:

Immediate Actions

Prioritizing State Police Inspections of all Firearms Dealers who are Linked to Crime Guns

New York will step up oversight and enforcement to ensure that its state-licensed dealers are complying with the rigorous standards imposed by law. NYSP will prioritize onsite inspections of all dealers who are determined to be the source of crime guns and will work with the Office of the Attorney General to increase enforcement on dealers who are repeatedly traced to crime guns when appropriate.

Expanding the Scope of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns

Originally convened by Governor Hochul in 2022, New York’s Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns includes local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The scope of this Task Force will expand to combine resources, share information, and develop strategies to combat increased public safety threats. Governor Hochul has directed Task Force members to reconvene to develop a coordinated interstate response to the ATF rollbacks and commit to regular information sharing related to crime guns located in one state that were purchased in another state.

Launching a Public Education Campaign Targeted at Firearm Dealers

New York State is launching a public awareness campaign and increased enforcement operation targeted specifically at gun dealers to remind them that many of New York’s strong laws remain in effect notwithstanding the federal regulations and must be followed despite the federal rollbacks. The campaign, which will feature direct mailers and emails to firearm dealers and firearm licensing officials, will focus on ATF rollbacks that state law prevents from having practical effect. This will be developed by the Division of Criminal Justice Services in close coordination with the New York State Police.

Legislative Actions

Requiring the In-Person Sale of Firearms

The ATF rule changes would allow for online sales of firearms. At the start of the next legislative session, Governor Hochul plans on introducing legislation to amend the penal law to require in-person sale of firearms. This law change would align firearm sales with ammunition sales, which are required to be done in-person.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has committed more than $4 billion to public safety initiatives and doubled funding to combat gun violence in New York communities. Governor Hochul also partnered with 11 other states to intercept weapons along the I-95 corridor, enhance Red Flag Laws to keep guns away from individuals that are a risk to themselves and others, and strengthened New York’s concealed carry laws in response to the Supreme Court’s reckless Bruen decision. As part of the FY 27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul sustained record-level investments in prevention, intervention and enforcement, including addressing emerging threats as 3-D printed guns and DIY machine guns.

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A government or law enforcement official reaches out to demand immediate payment for a debt or to collect personal information.

A person claims to have tickets for a high-demand event like a sold-out game for a discount. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

Someone makes a request for an unusual form of payment such as gift cards or crypto. Remember, American Express will never ask you to pay with gift cards or crypto to resolve an issue with your account.

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AMID CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK, GILLIBRAND DEMANDS ANSWERS ABOUT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GUTTING MONITORING OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES

Over 4,000 Confirmed Cases Of Cyclosporiasis Have Been Reported Nationwide, Including Over 400 Reported In New York So Far This Year

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) pressed the Trump administration on its work to undermine federal monitoring of foodborne illness, specifically surveillance of Cyclospora contamination. Cyclospora is the microscopic parasite behind this summer’s nationwide outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which has already sickened thousands of Americans.

“New Yorkers deserve to know whether and how their government is actively monitoring threats to the food supply and that the food on their tables is safe to eat,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Trump administration’s staffing and funding cuts to public health programs and moves to scale back tracking of foodborne illnesses have coincided with the explosion of cyclosporiasis that we see today. I am demanding answers about how the administration plans to remedy this outbreak and protect Americans from foodborne illnesses going forward.”

Over the last year, the Trump administration has eroded key federal efforts to prevent and contain foodborne illnesses, like cyclosporiasis. In July 2025, it removed Cyclospora, along with five other pathogens, from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) mandatory tracking list.

Additionally, the administration cut the budget to the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) by 25 percent, forcing laboratories across the nation to implement hiring freezes, reduce scientific staff, and delay the replacement of critical diagnostic equipment. The administration’s massive federal staffing cuts also forced the suspension of quality checks across the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s national network of labs that test food for pathogens and contaminants – including Cyclospora. These cuts in combination hindered the government’s ability to detect and respond to the current cyclosporiasis outbreak.

As Gillibrand writes in her letter, these cuts have “created dangerous blind spots that directly compromise public health and leave Americans vulnerable to preventable parasitic infections, both presently and in the future.”

She pressed the administration on how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA plan to mitigate the current cyclosporiasis outbreak and monitor future outbreaks going forward.

The full text of the letter can be found here or below:

Dear Acting Director Bhattacharya and Acting Commissioner Diamantas,

I write to express concern regarding the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak and recent actions by the administration that are impeding our nation’s ability to respond. The current uncontrolled outbreak has resulted in hundreds of ill New Yorkers, with more than 400 cyclosporiasis cases reported in New York City alone. This administration’s efforts to scale back federal monitoring of foodborne illness, specifically surveillance of Cyclospora contamination, have created dangerous blind spots that directly compromise public health and leave Americans vulnerable to preventable parasitic infections, both presently and in the future.

A functioning surveillance framework is our primary line of defense, and yet, over the past year, this administration has systematically eroded key protections, decimating our ability to prevent and contain foodborne illness, like cyclosporiasis. The July 2025 decision to remove Cyclospora, along with five other pathogens, from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) mandatory tracking list significantly deteriorates our public health safeguards. The administration’s subsequent 25 percent budget cut to the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM)4 has also forced laboratories across the nation to implement hiring freezes, reduce scientific staff, and delay the replacement of critical diagnostic equipment. Compounding this, the administration’s massive federal staffing cuts also forced the suspension of quality checks across the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s national network of labs that test food for pathogens and contaminants – including Cyclospora..

When tracking is rendered optional and coupled with cuts to staff and funding, the federal government blinds itself to preventing and identifying localized spikes before they escalate into nationwide crises. Cyclospora typically features a prolonged incubation period of a week or more between exposure and the onset of debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms, making real-time coordination vital to trace contaminated agricultural products back to the source before more families are exposed.

New Yorkers deserve to feel reassured that the food on their kitchen tables is safe and that federal agencies remain vigilant in actively monitoring threats to our food supply. To assist Congress in understanding the administration’s mitigation strategy, I request prompt responses to the following questions by July 31, 2026:

1. Now that Cyclospora has been removed from mandatory FoodNet tracking, how does CDC intend to maintain a statistically reliable baseline of infection rates in states that opt out of reporting?
2. With reports indicating CDC can currently fund only 40 percent of state requests for foodborne disease surveillance and response, how will the agency prioritize emerging outbreak investigations?
3. What protocols are being established to counter the delay caused by Cyclospora’s long incubation period, given the reduction in real-time surveillance data?
4. How does FDA plan to ensure that state laboratories can maintain adequate testing for Cyclospora and other high-consequence pathogens following the 25 percent reduction in LFFM funding?
5. With the number of active food safety laboratories in the FERN network reduced from 41 to 15, what contingencies are in place to prevent delays in sample processing during a multi-state outbreak?
6. How will FDA support state laboratories with hiring freezes and scientific staff deficits to ensure critical food safety inspections continue?

Thank you for your attention to this request and ongoing work to protect Americans from foodborne illness outbreaks. I look forward to your prompt response.