APRIL 11–NY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CALL FOR RELIEF FROM STATE ON THE STATE BUDGET. COUNTIES TOLD THEY HAVE TO ABSORB 875 MILLION IN FEDERAL CUTS

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For Immediate Release – April 10, 2026

Facing $870 Million Fiscal Emergency, Counties Call for State Action

As a confluence of federal cost shifts, general inflation, rising pension obligations, and growing healthcare costs are creating a fiscal emergency for county governments, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) is calling for support in the SFY 2027 State Budget.

Starting in 2027, counties will be forced to absorb at least $870 million in higher costs from federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program, reductions in federal Medicaid revenue, growth in current pension obligations, and other state mandated cost shifts. These increases arrive as counties are already showing signs of fiscal stress, with 12 counties exceeding the property tax cap in their 2026 budgets—the most in a decade.

Counties are calling on the Governor and State Legislature to assume the local share of new SNAP administrative costs and provide meaningful county relief, on par with what has been proposed for other municipalities, in the enacted SFY 2026–27 budget.

“Counties are the backbone of New York’s service delivery system, implementing state and federal programs in every community,” said Stephen Acquario, executive director of NYSAC. “But this wave of new costs is just unsustainable, and without state partnership, local governments will be forced into difficult choices that could reduce services to residents and businesses.”

A Perfect Storm of Cost Pressures

Federal Cost Shifts

Beginning October 1, 2026, under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the federal share of SNAP administrative costs drops from 50 percent to 25 percent—shifting an estimated $170 million in new annual costs to counties and New York City. At the same time, New York’s SNAP error rate exposes the state to up to $1.2 billion in annual federal penalties beginning as early as October 2027.

New York is one of only three states in the nation that requires counties to both administer SNAP and pay a share of its administrative costs. When the federal share drops from 50 percent to 25 percent, counties—not the state—are left holding 75 percent of the bill.

“Nearly three million New Yorkers depend on SNAP each month—the vast majority are children, seniors, and people with disabilities,” said Phil Church, President of NYSAC. “If counties cannot meet the administrative demands of a restructured program, New Yorkers who depend on these benefits will suffer. We warned our Congressional Delegation this would happen and urged a federal delay.”

 

Medicaid Cost Shifts

New York State is unique in its requirement that counties and New York City must pay a direct share of the program costs of Medicaid services. Today, this cost exceeds $7.6 billion annually.

In SFY 2024, the State began to phase out the annual sharing of $625 million in federal Medicaid funds. By early 2025, these federal savings to counties were completely eliminated. Counties and New York City are now absorbing this loss in funding into local budgets.

“For just a handful of mandated programs, including Medicaid, counties and New York City contribute more than $14 billion annually in local taxes,” said Ryan McMahon, president of the New York State County Executives Association. “And yet, every budget proposal this year allocated zero dollars in new state revenue sharing or unrestricted aid to counties.”

Pension Costs—Before and After Enhancements

Based on the State Comptroller’s October 2025 actuarial report, NYSAC projects that employer pension contributions for FYE 2027 will increase by approximately $180 million for counties alone—before any benefit enhancements currently under consideration in this budget take effect.

The pension enhancements now being discussed could add another $125 to $150 million in new annual costs for counties, bringing the potential total to $330 million.  Most of this new higher state-imposed expense was not accounted for when counties adopted their budgets in late 2025.

“It is worth noting that a central purpose of the 2012 Tier 6 reforms was precisely to prevent local governments from bearing these costs—with an explicit commitment that the State would pre-fund any future benefit enhancements. That commitment should be honored,” noted Acquar
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APRIL 11– DISTRICT ATTORNEY: ATTACKS ON PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES WILL BE PROSECUTED VIGOROUSLY

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A Message from the District Attorney…

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I want to bring to your attention three significant public safety developments that have caused profound concern in the Westchester community, each of them involving our colleagues in public service.

On Wednesday, my office arraigned Thywill Anasu, of Manhattan, for allegedly committing a brutal, chokehold assault against an M.T.A. bus driver, after the two had gotten into a minor accident on the Yonkers-Bronx border.

The defendant is accused of placing the bus driver in a chokehold and throwing him to the ground before delivering multiple closed-fist punches. The bus driver suffered a brain bleed and was later transported to Jacobi Hospital, where he has been recovering for nearly a week. We charged Anasu with Assault in the Second Degree, and bail was set by the Yonkers City Court judge at $5,000 cash.

Also on Wednesday, my office arrested and charged a Mount Vernon police officer named Brandon Hunter-Carney in connection with an alleged check-fraud scheme. According to court records, in 2023, Hunter-Carney cashed a stolen check worth over $800,000 that had been intended for an Alabama-based manufacturer of industrial machinery.

Mere days before the check was cashed, a new business entity had been incorporated in New York bearing an identical name as the Alabama business, and with Hunter-Carney listed as the sole incorporator, according to New York Department of State business records.

We are vigorously pursuing both of these cases, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Thursday, my office obtained a guilty plea from Joseph Spennato, of Armonk, for his 2024 assault on North Castle Sgt. William McClure. When police were called to assist a 78-year-old woman in need of medical care, Spennato, who was present on scene, stabbed Sgt. McClure in the back multiple times with a knife. Thankfully, the knife struck Sgt. McClure’s ballistic vest, sparing the worst-possible outcome. But for his preparation, these events could have taken a drastically different turn.

Any attack on our law enforcement brethren is an attack on all of us. It goes to show how an unsuspecting call for medical assistance can turn, without warning, into a life-threatening confrontation.

All of these developments took place over the course of the past week, and this is not an atypical week for a prosecutorial office representing over one million residents. These cases are representative of the work performed on a daily basis by our hundreds of assistant district attorneys, criminal investigators, paralegals, analysts, accountants and clerical staff.

Since day one, my administration has prioritized, without exception, the safety of our partners in public service, and we will seek to hold accountable anyone who betrays the public’s trust. On that, you have my word.

As always, if you have any feedback you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Never hesitate to reach out, and I look forward to keeping in touch.
In friendship,
District Attorney Susan Cacace

87 guns, including multiple ghost guns, taken off streets at
DA Cacace’s first gun buyback
DA Cacace announced the results of her administration’s first gun buyback event, which took place at the Union Baptist Church, in White Plains.
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DA Cacace inaugurates pinwheel garden for victims of child abuse
DA Cacace announced the inauguration of a pinwheel garden at the Westchester County courthouse to raise awareness about child abuse, in commemoration of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
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APRIL 13–BLACK COFFEE TONIGHT AT 7 WITH WHITE PLAINS WEEK FIOS 45 OPTIMUM 76 THE APRIL 10 REPORT: “THE STATE OF EVERYTHING’ WITH JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS. NOW INSTANTLY ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS’

COMMITMENT TO THE PLAYLAND OF THE FUTURE RENOVATION OF THE ICE RINK THE DETAILS

THE GAS PRICE 

THE NEW  WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL BUDGET TAX IMPACT

GOVERNER HOCHUL COMMITS BILLIONS TO FILLING STATE ROAD POTHOLES

NEW COVID CASES GO OVER 1,000 IN MARCH

THE STATE OF EVERYTHING REPORT

WHAT’S MISSING IN THE “STATE OF” MESSAGES:

FACTS, PLANS AND SOLUTIONS. BUT PLENTY OF EXCUSES

WITH

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

25 YEARS ON THE AIR 

REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA THIS WEEK

 

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APRIL 8– HOW TO WRITE A STORY THAT SELLS YOUR POINT OF VIEW THAT IS REMEMBERED

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We all need to become better science storytellers. Here’s why and how.

Last week, in a lovely New Haven bar, six people gathered in front of a crowd to tell stories that were somehow related to science and public health. It was magical.

One person talked about learning how social determinants of health helped them forgive their mother’s alcoholism. Another shared what it’s been like navigating a dementia diagnosis. Another described their last dinner with their mother before they left Nigeria to come to the U.S. and how that moment, plus the diagnosis that followed, shapes their career goals today.

As the Executive Director of The Evidence Collective at Your Local Epidemiologist, I was ecstatic to bring this event, “Science and Storytelling,” to the community surrounding the Yale School of Public Health.

Stories are not the default way most people communicate about science and public health.

In fact, we are taught to take all the emotion out of data, but that makes it pretty darn boring to everyone else. And if people can’t see themselves in it, feel themselves in it, or influence it, how can we ask them to support it?

Why do stories stick? How can we all—from community members to public health scientists—do better? And what are some examples?

The science of stories

Our brains are wired for stories. It’s why so many of us read books, watch TV and movies, and remember the stories told to us by those dear.

Scientific evidence shows that when people listen to a story (versus a jumbled, out-of-order version), more of their brain lights up, and their brain patterns start to match those of other listeners and even the person telling the story. This mental sync-up is actually a good predictor of how much someone will remember later. Study after study backs this up: people remember information better when it’s delivered as a story rather than a list of facts or statistics.

This is really important when you want someone to be compelled by what you are saying AND to retain and use the information afterward, like in changing a health behavior!

Stories can increase empathy and appreciation for different perspectives

Storytelling doesn’t just help people remember either. It changes how people perceive the world.

A recent study looked at what happened when high schoolers in Kentucky went through a storytelling program. (It hasn’t been formally reviewed by other scientists yet, so take the findings with a grain of salt, but they’re still worth noting.)

Juniors and seniors were divided into two groups: one went through a 10-session storytelling program, the other didn’t. The students who participated in the program showed real improvements in several areas. They became:

  • More empathetic
  • More curious, and
  • More respectful toward classmates and people with different views.

It’s a compelling reminder that storytelling can open the door to tough but important conversations with people we don’t see eye to eye with.

Stories impact behavior

The idea of using stories in science and public health isn’t new. Research supports the idea that stories can increase health knowledge, confidence in a person’s ability to take action using that knowledge, and willingness to participate in preventive health screenings.

Cervical cancer

One study compared a fictional narrative film to a traditional public health film on cervical cancer, both containing identical health information. Two weeks later, the narrative group retained significantly more information. Six months out, they were more likely to have scheduled a Pap smear. This effect was particularly strong among Mexican-American women, helping eliminate disparities in cervical cancer screening for that group.

Breast cancer

In another study, African-American women aged 40+ were randomly assigned to watch either a fellow African-American woman sharing her breast cancer survival story or a video presenting the same content in a purely informational format. The narrative group found their video more engaging than the informational group did, and they were less likely to counter-argue with the message and reported more breast cancer conversations with family. At six-month follow-up, the difference in mammogram rates widened meaningfully among women with less than a high school education and those who distrusted traditional cancer information sources.

Both examples show the positive impact stories can have in helping patients take important action for their health.

Bringing stories to communities

Oral storytelling events aren’t new—you can find many examples such as the Moth or Storycollider. Other events, like Science Cafés and Science on Tap are great, but focus on public lectures and research explainers, not storytelling.

Storytelling events, like the one held in New Haven, are different. We host them in local spaces where people already gather, which lowers the barrier. People don’t need to “opt-in” by purchasing a ticket or subscribing to a podcast. The focus is on personal stories that connect to science or public health, not on data presentations or lectures, and the storytellers are a mix of people, not just scientists or experts.

This method works! Last week, in New Haven, I watched a room full of strangers lean in, laugh, tear up, and leave feeling more connected to one another. All because six people were willing to share a story tied to issues in science and public health that matter.

The six storytellers with me and Megan Ranney, Dean of the Yale School of Public Health. From left to right: Don, Dean Ranney, Wenyi, Semilore, Ellen Sue, Legairre, Jason, and me.

We don’t need to abandon data or lectures, but we do need more spaces where stories are given room to make people feel something, remember the information, and act on it.

If you work in science, public health, or in any field where you’re trying to reach people, I’d encourage you to think about how storytelling fits into what you do. And if you’re interested in bringing an event like this to your community, here’s a starter guide—and feel free to reach out to see how we can collaborate.

How do scientists become better storytellers?

Here are some high-level tips I tell community members and scientists alike:

  1. Just start. Like any skill, storytelling is hard at first but gets easier with practice. The best thing you can do is try writing and telling stories, then ask people you trust for honest feedback about what worked and what didn’t. Once you have a story you might tell out loud, practice speaking it and edit from there.
  2. Know your one thing. If someone only remembers one piece of information from your story, what should it be? Build your story around that.
  3. Find your story. What story can you tell that connects to the thing you want someone to learn? It can be from your own life, or from a patient, a family member, even a movie. Just get permission or anonymize details to protect people’s privacy.
  4. Craft the narrative. Start with a hook. It can be a specific moment, a surprising fact, or a scene that pulls people in. Then tell the story. Add as many details as you can related to setting and emotion. Help people see and feel it, not just hear it. Then, end strong. Your last few lines are what people will remember the most.
  5. Let the science emerge from the story. Don’t lead with data or definitions. Tell the human experience first, and then introduce the science. This can be as simple as pausing to explain a concept, delivering a key fact, or connecting what happened to a broader pattern. The goal is for your audience to think “oh, that’s why this matters” or “that’s how that works,” rather than feeling like they’re sitting through a lecture.

Bottom line

It’s time to bring science to society and society to science. And that starts with all of us.

Love, Liz

Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD, is Executive Director of The Evidence Collective and a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust, science, and public health. You can find her on Substack, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads.

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

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APRIL 6–STATE ROAD POTHOLE FILLING BEGINS CALL (1-800-768-4653) TO REPORT POTHOLDS ON STATE ROADS. LOCATIONS IN THIS REPORT

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SMOOTHER, SAFER ROADS: FOLLOWING HISTORIC WINTER, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO FILL POTHOLES AND REPAVE ROADS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE 

 215 NYSDOT Crews Will Fill 175,000 Potholes on State Roads Across New York This Month

Paving Work Is Now Underway on State Highways Across New York, Including $58 Million in Paving Work on Long Island and a $5.1 Million Project on Harlem Road in West Seneca

Hudson Valley:

  • Sprain Brook Parkway at I-287 Interchange in Westchester County
  • Saw Mill River Parkway at various locations in Westchester County

  • Mid-Hudson: 

    • 38 lane miles on Interstate 287, also known as the Cross Westchester Expressway, from Route 119 to Westchester Avenue interchange in the Towns of Greenburgh and Harrison, the Villages of Elmsford and Harrison, and City of White Plains in Westchester County.
    • 6.5 lane miles on State Route 308 in the Towns of Rhinebeck and Milan and the Village of Rhinebeck.
    • 3.6 lane miles of the Sprain Brook Parkway in the Towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant and the Village of Elmsford, Westchester County.
    • 1 lane mile of the Taconic State Parkway from the Sprain Brook Parkway to the Saw Mill River Parkway in the Town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an unprecedented state effort to fill potholes and repave roads across New York State, following one of the coldest winters in recent memory. This month, State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) forces will conduct a statewide push to address potholes on state roads. In April, 215 crews will place more than 8,000 tons of asphalt to fill an anticipated 175,000 potholes statewide. Plans are in place to fill hundreds of thousands more as the weather permits over the months ahead.

Motorists are urged to call 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) to report potholes on any State-owned highway, including the Thruway, except in New York City, where motorists may report potholes by dialing 311.

Potholes on county or town roads, city and village streets, or private roadways should be reported to the appropriate owner.

“I know where each and every pothole is hiding on the state highway system, and I have bad news for these public nuisances: Your days are numbered,” Governor Hochul said. “We’ve had an unforgiving winter this year in New York, and the frigid cold and heavy snowfall can take a toll on our roads. That’s why we are stepping up with an unprecedented state effort to repave hundreds of miles of roadway and fill hundreds of thousands of potholes in the next few weeks alone. Our outstanding DOT and Thruway crews will not rest until every pothole in this state has been repaired.”

 

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Our crews have worked tirelessly this winter keeping our roads clear for New Yorkers during a brutally cold, snow and ice-filled winter. Now, as the weather transitions, we are moving from fighting snow and ice to carrying out one of the most robust construction programs in recent memory – anchored by record infrastructure and paving investments from Governor Hochul. Our forces are ready to kick construction into high gear in the coming months, with thousands of miles of smoother rides ahead for people in every region of the state.”

 

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “The Thruway Authority is committed to investing in critical infrastructure projects across our 570-mile system, ensuring we keep our vital network modernized and reliable. With more than $1 billion in anticipated construction projects and a historic five-year capital plan that will resurface roughly 60 percent of our highway system, these investments are strengthening safety, reliability and the overall travel experience for millions of motorists. We thank Governor Hochul for her continued support and commitment to investing in infrastructure that keeps New York moving.”

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “The colder the winter, the more work that lies ahead to keep our roads reliable and safe. I want to thank Governor Hochul for tackling potholes head-on, our road crews for their efforts to repair our roadways, and the entire team at NYSDOT for prioritizing the safety of drivers across New York. I’m especially pleased to see these projects will be starting in the coming weeks, especially those impacting my constituents here in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.”

Assemblymember William Magnarelli said, “Investing in pavement rehabilitation of our roadways ensures that they remain safe and sustainable for all users. Roads and infrastructure that are maintained and strengthened help encourage statewide commerce and travel. Here’s to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to providing and maintaining our transportation system in New York.”

In addition, Governor Hochul highlighted that this week is the official start of paving season in New York, as NYSDOT crews commence the most ambitious year of road improvements in state history. Last October, the Governor announced record state investment to dozens of vital state roadways across New York State during the 2026 construction season. Leveraging the $800 million secured in the FY26 Executive Budget to augment the final two years of its five-year Capital Plan, NYSDOT will invest more than $600 million in more than 180 paving projects across the state to be completed in the upcoming paving season. 

These projects, which total almost 2,150 lane miles, are in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT’s core programs and, taken together, represent the most ambitious annual road resurfacing program conducted in state history, totaling more than 4,000 lane miles of renewed pavement to give New York drivers a smoother, safer ride.

The Governor’s announcement today comes as statewide asphalt plants come online, with paving season beginning in most regions of New York. On Long Island work will begin on a $58.8 million investment to improve its transportation network with new pavement, curb ramps, turning lanes and other features introduced to critical roadways, including the Northern State Parkway, Nassau Expressway, Veterans Memorial Highway, Hempstead Turnpike, Middle Country Road and Sunrise Highway’s service roads.

 

These Long Island projects include:

  • An $18.5 million project to repave 50 lane miles on the Northern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk Counties has begun. Resurfacing the parkway’s eastbound direction will begin at the Wantagh State Parkway interchange (Exit 33) in the Village of Westbury and continue eastward to the New York Avenue overpass near Exit 40 in the Town of Huntington. The westbound lanes were completed last fall. When this section is completed in the summer, it will mark the final phase of a five-year effort to renew the parkway’s riding surface with previous sections being completed in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
  • A $13.8 million project to resurface approximately 36 lane miles of State Route 24 (Hempstead Turnpike/Fulton Avenue) and State Route 102 (Front Street) in and around the Village of Hempstead, which is one of the most densely populated areas of Long Island and is a major economic and transportation hub. Work is planned at the following locations: State Route 24 between Munson Avenue and North Franklin Street; State Route 24 between Hendrickson Avenue and the Meadowbrook State Parkway; and State Route 102 from William Street eastward to State Route 24.
  • An $8.8 million pavement renewal project that’s now getting started that will rehabilitate 27 lane miles of roadway and upgrade approximately 100 sidewalk ramps at the following locations: Nassau Expressway (State Route 878) between Burnside Avenue and the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll booth in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County; and Veterans Memorial Highway (State Route 454) between State Route 111 and the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) North Service Road in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County.
  • Construction is resuming on a $17.7 million project that began last fall to resurface 61 lane miles of pavement and upgrade more than 180 sidewalk ramps in Suffolk County along key sections of the Sunrise Highway (State Route 27) Service Roads and State Route 25. Last fall, pavement resurfacing was completed in both directions of the Sunrise Highway Service Roads between Manor Lane and Brentwood Road in the Town of Islip.

Major construction is scheduled for completion later this year at the following locations:

  • State Route 25 (Middle Country Road) from State Route 25A to Splish Splash Drive in the Town of Riverhead.
  • Sunrise Highway South Service Road from Montauk Highway (County Route 85) to Nicolls Road (County Route 97) in the Town of Islip.
  • Sunrise Highway North Service Road from Nicolls Road (County Route 97) to Pond Road in the Town of Islip.

In Western New York, construction has begun on the second and final phase of a $5.1 million project to enhance safety and mobility along Harlem Road (State Route 240) in the Town of West Seneca, Erie County. The project includes the resurfacing of the roadway and the reconfiguring of lanes to include a center two-way left turn lane. It also calls for the installation of new curbs, drainage systems and sidewalks to enhance safety, resilience and mobility for all users.

 

As the weather continues to improve, hundreds more projects of all sizes will begin across New York. 

Major paving projects slated to start in the coming weeks include:

 

Capital Region: 

  • 113 lane miles from Western Avenue to Exit 11 on the Adirondack Northway in Albany and Saratoga Counties.
  • 23 lane miles on I-90 from Exit 1 (87 Split) to Exit 5A (Corp Woods Blvd)
  • 2.4 lane miles on Route 385 in Athens

Mohawk Valley: 

  • 28 lane miles on I-88 from the Otsego County line to just east of Exit 20 in the town and village of Richmondville, Schoharie County.
  • 23 lane miles on State Route 365 in Oneida County.
  • 11.9 lane miles on State Route 167 from Route 5 to the Dolgeville Village Line.
  • 3 lane miles on State Route 5 in Palatine Bridge.

Central New York: 

  • 28 lane miles on the Route 5 bypass from Old Route 5 to Route 695 in the Town of Camillus, Onondaga County.
  • 5.9 lane miles on I-81 from the Syracuse City Line to Mattydale.
  • 12.6 miles in the City of Ithaca on portions of Routes 13, 34, 96, 79 and 89.
  • 2.5 lane miles on State Route 370 in Onondaga County.
  • 20 lane miles on portions of I-81 and I-481 in Onondaga County.

Finger Lakes: 

  • 67 lane miles on I-490 from Exit 2 (Rt 33A) to Exit 6 (Rt 204) in the Towns of Gates, Chili, Riga, and Bergen, Monroe and Genesee Counties.
  • 30.5 lane miles on State Route 104 between Ridgeway Avenue in the City of Rochester and Culver Road in the Town of Irondequoit.

Western New York: 

  • 28 lane miles on I-190 from Route 31 to Upper Mountain Road, and NY 951A (LaSalle Expressway) from I-190 to Williams Road, Niagara County.
  • 27 lane miles on I-86 between Exit 29 (Friendship) and Exit 30 (Belmont) and the Friendship rest area in the towns of Friendship, Amity and Angelica, Allegany County.

North Country:

  • 26 lane miles on State Route 37, from Waddington to Route 56, in the Towns of Waddington & Louisville, St. Lawrence County.

Mid-Hudson: 

  • 38 lane miles on Interstate 287, also known as the Cross Westchester Expressway, from Route 119 to Westchester Avenue interchange in the Towns of Greenburgh and Harrison, the Villages of Elmsford and Harrison, and City of White Plains in Westchester County.
  • 6.5 lane miles on State Route 308 in the Towns of Rhinebeck and Milan and the Village of Rhinebeck.
  • 3.6 lane miles of the Sprain Brook Parkway in the Towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant and the Village of Elmsford, Westchester County.
  • 1 lane mile of the Taconic State Parkway from the Sprain Brook Parkway to the Saw Mill River Parkway in the Town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County

Southern Tier: 

  • 13 lane miles on State Route 268 from Lang Road to Route 10, in the towns of Hancock and Tompkins, Delaware County. 
  • 48 lane miles on I-81 in Broome County in the Towns of Dickinson, Chenango, and Barker.

Long Island: 

  • 35 lane miles on State Route 27 (Sunrise Highway) from Harrison Avenue to Wantagh State Parkway in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County.

New York City: 

  • 11 lane miles at various locations along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway in Bronx and Kings counties.
  • 17.3 lane miles on the Korean War Veterans Parkway and West Shore Expressway in Staten Island

Priority locations for this week’s pothole filling push include:

Capital Region:

  • Central Ave/State Route 5 in Albany and Schenectady Counties 
  • “The Box” (787, 90, Northway, 7 area)
  • State Route 443/Delaware Avenue

Central New York:

  • State Route 298 in Lyncourt and Town of Salina
  • US11 in town of Cicero and village of North Syracuse

Finger Lakes:

  • State Route 19 from NY 31 to NY 104 in the Town of Sweden and the Village of Brockport
  • State Route 18 from NY 237 to NY 259 in the towns of Hamlin and Parma

Southern Tier:

  • I-86 in East Corning
  • I-390 in Kanona

Western New York: 

  • State Route 990 and Millersport Road in the Town of Amherst
  • Walden Avenue in the Town of Lancaster
  • State Route 39 in the Town of Yorkshire
  • US 219 in the Town of Ellicottville
  • I-86 in the Towns of Sherman and North Harmony
  • I-86 in the Towns of Ellicott and Poland
  • US 20 in the Town of Westfield
  • State Route 394 Village of Lakewood

North Country:

  • State Route 11 in the Village of Malone
  • State Route 11 from Gouverneur to the Jefferson County Line
  • State Route 3 in the City of Watertown

Hudson Valley:

  • Sprain Brook Parkway at I-287 Interchange in Westchester County
  • Saw Mill River Parkway at various locations in Westchester County

Long Island: 

  • State Route 25 between State Route 347 and County Road 83 in Suffolk County 

New York State Thruway Authority

The Thruway Authority’s approved 2026 budget invests a total of more than $600 million in capital contracts scheduled to be awarded in 2026 and is one of the largest single-year investments in Thruway history. The 2026 budget includes a historic $2.8 billion Capital Plan for 2026-2030, which represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments in Thruway history, with more than $1.3 billion dedicated to paving, rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects and more than $835.6 million invested in bridge replacements and preservations across the state.

The five-year plan will fund the replacement or preservation of 150 of the Thruway’s 819 bridges—about 18 percent—and the resurfacing of more than 1,500 of its 2,800 lane miles of highway, or roughly 60 percent.

For a list and interactive map detailing all completed, ongoing and future Thruway capital projects, go to thruway.ny.gov/oursystem.

Significant repaving projects now underway or scheduled to begin in the next month include:

  • A pavement resurfacing project to 36 lane miles of I-90 in Erie County, between exit 49 (Depew – Lockport – NY Route 78) to west of exit 52 (52E & 52W in both directions) Buffalo – Cheektowaga – Walden Avenue).
  • A pavement resurfacing project to 20 lane miles on the New England Thruway (I-95) in Westchester County from exit 18 (Mamaroneck – Fenimore Road to exit 20 (Rye – US Route 1 South).
  • A pavement resurfacing project to 20 center lane miles of I-90 in Monroe and Ontario Counties between exit 42 (Geneva – Lyons – NY Route 14) and exit 44 (Canandaigua – Victor – NY Route 33).
  • A pavement resurfacing project to 41 lane miles of I-87 in Ulster County, from north of exit 18 (New Paltz – Poughkeepsie – NY Route 299) to south of exit 19 (Kingston – NY Route 28 – Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge).
  •  A pavement resurfacing project on I-90 in Albany and Schenectady Counties, which includes the resurfacing of more than 36 total lane miles from exit 24 (Albany – Montreal – I-90 East – I-87 North) to west of exit 25 (Schenectady – I-890 – NY Routes 7 & 146).
  • A pavement resurfacing project on I-90 in Madison County, which includes the repaving of more than 25 total lane miles between exit 34 (Canastota – Oneida – Chittenango – NY Route 13) to east of exit 34A (Syracuse – Chittenango – Oswego – I-481).
  • A pavement resurfacing project to 11 lane miles on I-90 east of exit 49 (Depew – Lockport – NY Route 78) to east of exit 50 (Niagara Falls – I-290) in Erie County.

These efforts build on work done last year by Department of Transportation forces to fill more than 1.3 million potholes on state highways from Long Island to Buffalo and every area in between. From mid-February through April 1, 2026, Department of Transportation forces have already laid down more than 1,400 tons of asphalt on state roads across New York, filling more than 28,000 potholes during that period. Many areas of New York experienced some of the coldest winter seasons in recent memory, with the downstate region seeing its snowiest winter in at least a decade, contributing greatly to the freeze-thaw cycle that forms potholes on roads across New York State. Crews have been out for many weeks now, balancing continued snow and ice response efforts, which began in October, with pothole repairs as the weather has allowed them to do so. 

 

Motorists are urged to call 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) to report potholes on any State-owned highway, including the Thruway, except in New York City, where motorists may report potholes by dialing 311. Potholes on county or town roads, city and village streets, or private roadways should be reported to the appropriate owner. Potholes are formed primarily due to infiltration of water into pavements through cracks in the surface. Cold weather causes the water to freeze, creating a bulge in the pavement. When the temperature warms above freezing, the pavement surface returns to its original level. Subsequent freeze-thaw cycles weaken the pavement material and a pothole forms. The process repeats itself during subsequent freeze-thaw cycles and potholes become worse and more numerous. Heavy traffic also contributes to the creation of new potholes and the worsening of existing ones.

 

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APRIL 6 –NY COUNTIES ENDORSE SUBSTANTIAL SEQR REVIEW AND REFORM

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Statement from NYSAC Executive Director
Stephen Acquario on SEQRA Reform

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) supports modernizing the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to address the delays and costs that affect municipalities across New York State seeking to build housing, infrastructure, and community facilities their residents need.

New York’s housing and infrastructure projects face some of the longest approval timelines in the nation. Projects can take years longer to complete here than in peer states, increasing costs and delaying critical investments. These delays persist even for projects that consistently have negligible environmental impacts and have already navigated comprehensive local zoning, permitting, and land use review processes. High costs are driven by duplicative reviews, unpredictable timelines, and a process that too often subjects locally-approved projects to years of additional environmental review.

Local governments bear the brunt of these delays. Counties and municipalities conduct thorough local land use review, apply local zoning standards, and require compliance with environmental permits—yet projects are frequently stalled for years in state environmental review even after clearing all local hurdles. This undermines local decision-making authority and prevents communities from delivering the housing and infrastructure needed and supported by their residents.

Thoughtful SEQRA reform can help counties and municipalities realize meaningful benefits through faster project delivery, reduced costs, and more predictable timelines. Exempting categories of projects with minimal environmental impact—including housing on previously disturbed sites, water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, parks and trails, childcare facilities, and green infrastructure—while maintaining strong environmental protections and full local control over zoning, would empower communities to build what they need. Every dollar saved and every month of delay eliminated are resources we can reinvest in public safety, infrastructure, and health and human services.
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APRIL 6—STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS MAY 6

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State of the County Address Information Flyer
Westchester County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins
Invites you to Join us for the

2026 State of the County Address

Wednesday, May 6
Doors Open at 6 p.m.
Speech Begins at 6:30 p.m.

Michaelian Office Building
Board of Legislators Chambers
148 Martine Ave
White Plains, NY

Watch the event live:
WestchesterCountyNY.gov or Facebook.com/Westchestergov

To request a seat, please email:
Communications@WestchesterCountyNY.gov
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APRIL 5– THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE–TRADITIONAL SUNRISE SERVICE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SPIRITUALLY LIFTS FOG, MAKES MESSAGE OF EASTER CRYSTSAL CLEAR

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WPCNR SUNDAY SERVICE. APRIL 5, 2026

The fog was heavy in White Plains New York USA this morning with a light mist, however that did deter a little congregation of some 25 people  from turning out for First Baptist Church Sunrise Service which is commenced every year on the bluff behind First Baptist Church.

As Reverend Frank Frawley welcomed the stalwarts who all greeted each other with embraces, handshakes, and “glad-to-see-yous”  in the chill, warmth was in their faces and a solemn joy,too  lifted their faces high in a sense of reverence and wonder.

Here here is what the service was like beginning with a hymn, Reverend Frawley’s Easter Message and the closing song expressing the comfort that Easter Sunday always restores to the mystery of life and how this day helps you to deal with it.

Reverend Frawley began with acknowledging the fog of the morning, a phenomena that afflicts us all in daily life. He said the sun is always behind the fog every day though we cannot see it as God is with us to help us through our personal sorrows and dilemmas.

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