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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER
FROM SOLAR INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION This morning, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee passed a tax package that takes a sledgehammer to clean energy tax credits, including the 25D rooftop solar tax credit. Studies have shown that the bill passed by the committee will lead to higher energy prices for all Americans and job losses. New York’s solar industry employs over 12,100 people and invested $2.7 billion into the state in 2024 alone. This is only the beginning of the multi-step tax bill negotiation process. Several New York Republicans, including Long Island Representatives Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) and Nick LaLota (NY-01), and Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), have been vocal supporters of protecting the clean energy tax credits. All three were among the 21 House Republicans who warned in a letter (organized by Rep. Garbarino) to House leadership that a repeal of these credits will raise bills “the very next day.” |
| Following is a statement from Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), on the reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee:
“At a time when billions of dollars are being invested in states that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump, this proposed legislation will effectively dismantle the most successful industrial onshoring effort in U.S. history. “While American businesses are demanding more energy to compete against our adversaries, and consumers are turning to clean energy to hedge against rising electricity prices, these proposals will undermine our nation’s efforts to achieve President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda. This legislation will cause hundreds of American factories to close, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, force electric bills to skyrocket for everyone, weaken the reliability of our electric grid, and eliminate our capacity to compete with China. This disruption would devastate local, red-state economies, with more than 75% of at-risk factories and investments concentrated in these communities. “To make matters worse, this legislation is an attack on our individual liberties and freedom to choose how we power our homes. By effectively repealing the clean energy tax credit for homeowners, it rips consumer choice away from millions of hardworking Americans. “There is separate and harmful legislation proposed that impacts the funding mechanisms that allow everybody, including those living in underrepresented communities, to benefit from clean, affordable power. “The solar and storage industry appreciates the many competing interests faced by this Congress and stands ready to work together with our elected officials to ensure that American energy dominance prevails. The current proposals do not achieve that. Our nation’s energy security and national security are on the line.” |
MAY 14– COUNTY BEACHES AND POOLS INCLUDING PLAYLAND BEACH TO OPEN
WESTCHESTER COUNTY BEACHES TO OPEN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND;
POOLS TO OPEN FRIDAY, JUNE 27
Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a trip to the beach as Croton Point Beach in Croton-on-Hudson, Glen Island Beach in New Rochelle and Playland Beach in Rye will open on a pre-season basis, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 24, 25 and 26, weather permitting.
The beaches will be open weekends and holidays only through Sunday, June 22, then Glen Island and Playland Beaches will open daily beginning Friday, June 27 and Croton Point Beach will be open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last entry at 6 p.m.; proof of Westchester County residency is required at Glen Island. Entry and parking fees apply.
Beginning Friday, June 27, all five County-owned pools: Playland Pool in Rye, Saxon Woods in White Plains, Sprain Ridge and The Brook at Tibbetts in Yonkers and Willson’s Waves Pool in Mt. Vernon, will open daily through Labor Day, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last entry at 6 p.m.; entry fees apply at all facilities and parking fees apply at Tibbetts Brook Park. Proof of residency is required at all pools.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester County’s pools and beaches are stunning local treasures—perfect for people to unwind, soak up the summer sun, and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether you’re going for a swim or relaxing on the beach, our parks offer something special for all to enjoy. I’m thrilled to welcome everyone back to our exceptional pools and beautiful beaches for a memorable summer in Westchester County.”
Westchester County residency is required at Glen Island Park, Saxon Woods Pool, Sprain Ridge Pool, The Brook at Tibbetts and Willson’s Waves Pool.
Proof of residency must be shown with either a Westchester County Park Pass or a New York State driver’s license showing a valid Westchester County address.
Admission fees apply at all of the beach and pool facilities and parking fees apply at Tibbetts Brook Park, Croton Point and Glen Island. Park Passes also offer discounted admission and parking and are available at a variety of locations.
This year, Saxon Woods is celebrating its 100th anniversary and will launch a 100-Lap Challenge along with a variety of other activities to mark this milestone. Family Fun Days, DJ Days and the Sand Art Competition at Glen Island will also return; dates to be announced. Participation is free; admission and parking rules apply.
MAY 14– WESTCHESTER SEIU UNION DOCTORS RALLY FOR FAIR CONTRACT WITH WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER, INCREASE TO MATCH INFLATION
Overworked Resident Physicians Express Frustration with System Leadership
Westchester, NY—In contract negotiations with Westchester Medical Center (WMC) since January, about 90 physicians at the Hudson Valley’s only level-1 trauma center came out on Tuesday to voice their frustrations with hospital leadership.
Unionized with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), leaders among the about 480 WMC residents say that their level of work and financial stress is unsustainable, and that this threatens the system’s ability to keep attracting the best doctors.
“Patients want their doctors focused on their care, not burdened with these other concerns,” said Dr. Garrett Smith. “We did not become physicians to talk about contracts, but for us to be the best residents we can be, we can’t ignore this situation anymore.”
In a “unity break” action around 12pm on Tuesday, the young physicians noted the ever-climbing cost of living in Westchester, their reliance in some cases on subsidized housing, and their difficulty affording basics like groceries and child care.
They say WMC leadership has failed to propose wage increases that even meet inflation, while rejecting proposals for housing stipends and adequate travel reimbursement for physicians who rotate to other sites in the course of their training.
Low pay has led some physicians to take on second jobs.
WMC residents continue to appeal to new CEO Dr. David Lubarsky, who previously led the medical center at the University of California-Davis, to do the right thing and agree to wages on par with the physicians’ peers at other hospitals in the area. Their next bargaining session with WMC is Thursday, May 15.
“From our perspective, this should be an easy call for management: If similar hospitals in the area can offer competitive contracts for their residents, then so can WMC,” said Dr. Smith. “We aren’t asking for their executive level salaries, we’re just asking for the support we need to provide the best care we can for our community.”
The doctors were joined at their rally by WMC-NYSNA chapter president Merima Lynch and a number of elected officials, including County Legislators Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David J.Tubiolo, and James M. Nolan, and Christine Fils-Aimé, the director of constituent services and community affairs for State Senator Shelley Mayer.
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. A local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 40,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
MAY 14—KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT BLOCKED LAST CONGRESS REINTRODUCED IN SENATE: REVIVED IN EFFORT TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT CONTROL SPEECH ON THE INTERNET
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. May 14, 2025:
From Fight for the Future
Despite continued opposition from LGBTQ youth, the parents of trans kids, reproductive rights groups, and free speech experts, KOSA has been re-introduced by Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn, after failing to pass last Congress due to disagreements on its merits and genuine concerns over its constitutionality.
Fight for the Future has opposed KOSA since its advent for its approach: putting control over speech in the hands of the government is a mistake, a concern that is especially prescient during an administration that has used its agency power to stifle speech, crack down on protected minorities and important resources, and has made its commitment to advancing structural discrimination against trans youth abundantly clear.
We warned Congress in December: the incoming FTC chair, who would have enforcement power over online speech if KOSA was passed, would weaponize his position against marginalized people.
Andrew Ferguson, Trump’s pick for the position, has fallen in line with the larger conservative agenda for online spaces, parroting transphobic narratives and doing dirty work.
This power in Ferguson’s hands could do unmitigated damage to abortion funds who provide resources and fundraise online, LGBTQ organizations who resource young people, and any other speech that rightwing lawmakers don’t like.
The bill’s authors have claimed over and over that this bill doesn’t impact speech.
But the Duty of Care is about speech: it’s about blocking speech that the government believes is bad for kids. And the people who will be determining what speech is harmful? They are the same ones using every tool to silence marginalized communities and attack those they perceive as enemies.
Passing KOSA in this environment, when young people need online spaces more than ever to find resources and for political action, is a slap in the face to the young people KOSA claims to protect.
The sponsors take this a step further, flaunting the support of Elon Musk himself who has overseen a gutting of the very federal resources that actually protect young people from harm.
Marginalized people are under attack from all sides right now. Hundreds of trans parents have written to Congress begging them to take their kids into account, who depend on online spaces and resources, especially as access to gender-affirming healthcare is shrinking. As they said in their letter, “We need to hold these companies accountable and regulate them, not cut our kids off from resources that can help them thrive. Big Tech is hurting our kids. KOSA would hurt them even more.”
Hundreds of thousands of young people themselves have called and written to Congress, telling them that this legislation makes them less safe, not more safe. Many more directly implored progressive lawmakers to listen to them and disengage from this win for rightwing ideology, but they haven’t listened.
“We know the truth: rightwing actors want to stifle young people’s voices online,” said Sarah Philips, campaigner at Fight for the Future. “They’ve laid this strategy out in Project 2025. They’ve told us over and over again that they intend to strip speech so that marginalized communities can’t speak truth to power. They can say this is about accountability for Big Tech all they want, but with the likes of Elon Musk standing next to them, none of it rings true. Our communities are trying to survive repression and the gutting of important resources, and online spaces are a safe haven for LGBTQ youth when their resources in their schools and communities shrink. It is unbelievable that Senator Blumenthal and Senator Schumer can ignore everything going on around them for more political theater on a bill that would help silence any opposition to Trump. Senate Democrats need to wake up and look around. Any Democrat still sponsoring KOSA is co-signing fascism. Stop doing their dirty work.”