MAY 14: GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES INFLATION REFUNDS THIS FALL FOR 8.2 MILLION PEOPLE

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES INFLATION REFUND CHECKS UP TO $400 COMING THIS FALL TO 8.2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE

New York’s First-Ever Inflation Refund Checks Will Be Mailed to Eligible New Yorkers in October and November; No Need To Apply or Sign Up

Visit ny.gov/inflationrefund for More Information

Governor Kathy Hochul  Tuesday announced that inflation refund checks up to $400 will be sent this fall to 8.2 million households across New York State. Checks will be mailed directly to eligible New Yorkers starting in October and will continue through November.

There is no need to apply, sign up or do anything to receive a check.

Governor Hochul secured and enacted this initiative in the FY 2026 State Budget as part of her ongoing commitment to putting money back in the pockets of New Yorkers.

The State Budget also enacted the Governor’s initiatives to cut taxes for the middle class to their lowest levels in 70 years, expand New York’s Child Tax Credit to up to $1,000 per child, and ensure universal free school meals to save families around $1,600 per child.

“Starting in October, over 8 million New Yorkers will get an inflation refund because it’s simple — this is your money and we’re putting it back in your pockets,” Governor Hochul said. “I’ll never stop fighting to help your family address the rising cost of living — and that’s why I also delivered on my promise to cut taxes for the middle class, expand the child tax credit and ensure free school meals for every student.”

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “A budget is a statement of values and priorities. While Washington advocates tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations at the expense of millions of working Americans, we in New York continue to champion the well-being of the middle class. The Senate Democratic Majority has worked with Governor Hochul and the Assembly to deliver a budget that invests in people and addresses the challenges facing New Yorkers. With this enacted budget that includes inflation rebate checks, we have prioritized our state’s working families and individuals, putting money back into the pockets of millions of New Yorkers.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “These checks will put money back into the pockets of New Yorkers, allowing them to save or spend in a way that makes sense for them. This announcement is another step forward in the Assembly Majority’s mission to make the everyday lives of hardworking families easier and we will continue fighting for a future where no hardworking family has to worry about putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads.”

Inflation has driven the costs of everyday necessities higher and as a result, the State’s revenue from the collection of sales tax has also increased. Governor Hochul believes that money belongs to hardworking New York families and should be put back in their pockets as an inflation refund — and that’s why 8.2 million households statewide will receive a check this fall.

Starting today, New Yorkers can visit ny.gov/inflationrefund for more information on eligibility and other details.

Who’s Eligible for an Inflation Refund Check?

You are eligible for an inflation refund check if, for tax year 2023, you:

  • Filed Form IT-201, New York State Resident Income Tax Return;
  • Reported income within the qualifying thresholds below; and
  • Were not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.

Joint tax filers with income up to $150,000 will receive a $400 check.

Joint tax filers with income over $150,000 but no greater than $300,000 will receive a $300 check.

Single tax filers with income up to $75,000 will receive a $200 check.

Single tax filers with incomes over $75,000 but no greater than $150,000 will receive a $150 check.

There are no age restrictions. Filers do not need to do anything to receive an inflation refund check. If you filed a tax return, are below the income thresholds, and no one else claimed you as a dependent, you will receive a check.

When Will Checks Be Delivered?

Checks will be mailed across the state starting in October, and deliveries will continue through November.

Your check may arrive earlier or later than your neighbors, as mailings will not be based on zip code or region.

Additional information from the New York State Tax Department can be seen at ny.gov/inflationrefund.

Regional Breakdown

Inflation refund checks will be sent this fall to 8.2 million households throughout all corners of New York State. A breakdown of the number of checks going to each region can be seen below.

Region

Number of Recipients

New York City

3.53 million

Long Island

1.25 million

Mid-Hudson

924,000

Western New York

585,000

Finger Lakes

513,000

Capital Region

475,000

Central New York

321,000

Southern Tier

251,000

Mohawk Valley

198,000

North Country

156,000

TOTAL

8.2 million

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD LAUNCHES SERIES OF COMMUNITY SPEAKOUTS ON CON EDISON SERVICE, ISSUES, PRICES MAY 20

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BOARD TO HOLD FIRST COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION IN CORTLANDT
Residents Invited to Speak Out about Con Edison’s Proposed Rate Hikes 


Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM

The Westchester County Board of Legislators is launching a series of “Community Listening Sessions” to be held throughout the County in the coming months.

These forums will give residents an opportunity to voice concerns and questions about Con Edison’s proposed double-digit rate increases, which would raise average residential electricity bills by 11.4% and gas bills by 13.3% by 2026.

In March, the Board joined Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins as a party to the major rate case against Con Edison to ensure the voices of those directly impacted by soaring rates are prioritized.

WHO:             Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Residents

WHAT:           First Community Listening Session about Con Edison’s Proposed Gas and Electric Rate Increases

WHERE:         Cortlandt Town Hall, 1 Heady Street Cortlandt, NY 10567

WHEN:           Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST

Watch it on Facebook Live HERE.

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MAY 12 — WASHINGTON REPORT: Law to Allow Government Discretion to Strip “Non Profits” of Tax Exempt Status Set to be Added to Tax Bill

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. May 12 2025:

From Fight for the Future.org

On Monday, May 12, in the late afternoon eastern time, the manager’s amendment to the House Ways and Means Committee reconciliation mark under H.Con.Res. 114 was released.

It includes language from HR 9495 aka the “Nonprofit Killer Bill” from last Congress.

See https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SMITMO_017_xml.pdf at Pages 380-88, section 112209.

A previous version of the “Nonprofit Killer Bill” set the Internet on fire this past autumn, with 100+ organizations condemning it and demands for action from the NAACP to Greenpeace.

The budget reconciliation package that includes this language goes to markup on Tuesday, May 13, at 2 pm ET.

The following statement can be attributed to Lia Holland (they/she), Campaigns and Communications Director at Fight for the Future:

“The House is about to hand the Trump administration the ability to strip nonprofits of their 501(c)3 status without any reason or recourse. This is a five-alarm fire for nonprofits nationwide. If the text of last autumn’s H.R. 9495 is passed in the budget, any organization with goals that do not line up with MAGA can be destroyed with a wink from Trump to the Treasury.

This terribly thought-out legislation means that under the current administration every environmental, racial justice, LGBTQ+, gender justice, immigration justice, and—particularly—any anti-genocide organization throughout the country may be on the chopping block. And in the future, the same shadow will fall on organizations that sit outside of more liberal ideological lines.

This is a first amendment issue—no President should have the right to destroy nonprofits for no reason. We urge lawmakers to insist that section 112209 is struck from the FY 2025 budget reconciliation before it moves forward.

The bill’s proponents have insisted that such provisions are necessary to combat nonprofits that raise funds to support terrorism.

That is a bald-faced lie, as there are already laws that prohibit and punish such activities without taking away our civil liberties.

In particular, Democratic Committee members Reps. Brad Schneider (IL), Tom Suozzi (NY), and Jimmy Panetta (CA) need to reverse their previous “Yes” vote on H.R. 9495 and recognize the dire threat that their support of section 112209 would pose to all the causes they say they support.

In this moment, actions count much more than words.

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MAY 12 — THE SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE. MEASLES FUTURE EFFECTS. RFK JR.s address today

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HEY MOM!

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 (This is for all you Moms out there. We know what you go through!)

“HEY MOM!”

Hey Mom– Bring me two waters so I’m set?

Where’s my underarmor? And my visor? Are my tights washed? My skates are dull.

Hey Mom, can you call the advisor?

Hey Mom,  I wasn’t yelling at you.

I didn’t mean to! You were yelling at me!

You never let me do anything my friends do

 

Hey Mom, would you chill, lighten up, just do!

Hey Mom, I don’t like the way this looks for the prom –

I don’t like the color, how could you think this was me?

I just can’t wear this, it’s this, it’s that it’s…Oh, Mom!?! 

 

Hey Mom, I’ve been studying all morning getting knowledge.

Can’t I go out, I’ll be back by ten?

But, I know the material, gone over it again and again.

Oh, Mom – I hate my life! I can hardly wait until college.

 

Hey Mom – But I did call and let you know

Don’t you understand, I couldn’t call at that time.

No, you can’t not let me go – it’s a great band

Oh, Mom – I hate you! You never understand!

 

Hey, Mom, please don’t embarrass me at the game

By screaming so loud, it’s just so tacky

But, hey mom, I like that you’re over there in the stand

Watching me play, you know that don’t you Mom, you understand?

 

Hey Mom, can you get me to the rink At 5

– I know you have to take off from work early?

Thanks, Mom, I’m so sorry but the team has a special thing

I have to be there, thanks Mom – I love you—really.

 

Hey, Mom, please when you pick me up at the dorm

Don’t come inside. Just wait outside, call me on the cell

I’ll be right down — it’s the norm.

Don’t ring the bell!

 

Hey, Mom, I’ve read the classifieds

There are no jobs, I can’t make all those calls.

Well, OK, I guess  I can send that resume you made for me (sigh).

OK, I’m lost, where’s the post office, down Lexington to what?

 

Hey Mom, well I’m bringing my friends by,

Don’t let Dad embarrass me with his jokes, OK?

I’ll just die if he’s silly again — you won’t let him do that?

You’ll talk to him about that?

 

All right, Mom I’ll take that extra course.

But I’ve just been going to school for months it never ends!

Can’t I have a little vacation, I don’t know what’s worse

Can’t I spend a little time with my friends?

 

You do like him, Mom? Oh, I hoped you would.

Yes, I really do I am so glad you do too!

Hey Mom, can you take care of the kids this weekend?

We’re going to Vermont with a friend.

 

And Mom, the cats get kibble in morning and meat at night,

We love you mom, sorry for the short notice, talk to you tonight.

 

Hey Mom, I’m sorry I can’t see you Mother’s Day.

Are you all right, what will you be doing today?

Going to a play – great – you know we love you in every way?

Though we may not show it you’re always with us even when you’re away.

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE MAY 9 REPORT FROM JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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OPPERATION PLAYLAND BEGINS

 24/7 TASK FORCE TO OPEN NEGLECTED PARK BY  MEMORIAL DAY – COUNTY EXECUTIVE JENKIN TAKES ACTION  DEPLOYS HUNDREDS PLUS 3 REPAIR ORGANIZATIONS -$10 TO PARK  ADMISSION FREE  POOL & BEACH OPEN MEMORIAL DAY 

KEN JENKINS  AND JOAN MCDONALD DETAIL THE THE SCOPE OF THE OPERATION.

SHOCK THEATRE!

HOLE IN THE GROUND ON FORMER ALEXANDER’S/WHITE PLAINS PAVILION MALL IS SOLD FOR $60 MILLION AFTER 9 YEARS OF OF BEING A HOLE. COUNCIL SHOCKED AND AWED AND ANGRY

SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE MAY 20. 4 CANDIDATES FOR 2 SEATS ON BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

THIS WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

EVERY WEEK FOR 24 YEARS

 

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MAY 7— FLASH! PLAYLAND OPENS FREE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE DETAILS MASSIVE REPAIRS UNDER WAY 24/7 BY COUNTY TASK FORCE OF HUNDREDS

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WPCNR State of Playland News Conference .

 

JOANNE MACDONALD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR  WESTCHESTER COUNTY  DESCRIBED THE STATE OF PLAYLAND TODAY AND THE REPAIR OPERATION OF RIDES THAT STARTED SUNDAY AND THE SCOPE OF THE  MASSIVE REPAIR JOB NOW BEING HANDLED BY HUNDREDS OF COUNTY DPW WORKERS, AND THREE CONSULTING FIRMS.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER WE ALL LOVE PLAYLAND. HE SAID THE NUMBER RIDES OPEN DEPENDS ON TIMELY ACTION BY THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS TO APPROVE REPAIRED RIDES AS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC.

 

County Executive Jenkins began the State of Playland Briefing announcing the 1929 vintage Playland would open on Memorial Day Weekend. Admission would be free. Parking would be rolled back to $10. Admission prices for the season possibilities are still being worked out.

Mr. Jenkins started the State of Playland report with a history of the Standard Amusements Westchester County arrangements. Arbitration  between the county and Standard Amusements will convene August 5.

Upcoming job fairs for Playland Park.

Job fairs will be held Saturdays May 10 and 17, and June 7.

Positions include: Park Management (Operations), Ride Operators, Ride Attendants, Lifeguards, Cashiers, Custodial and Painters.

The May 10 and June 7 job fairs will take place at the Westchester County Center in the Exhibition Hall, and the May 17 job fair will take place at Playland Park.

All job fairs will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 Attendees will need to bring a valid photo I.D. Applicants ages 16 and 17 who plan to complete their application at the fair must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Eligible applicants that may wish to enroll in Westchester County Payroll Direct Deposit as their form of payment, must bring with them, either a blank voided check or a bank issued Direct Deposit Set Up Form, which includes their routing number and account number printed on the document.

Salaries start at $16.60 per hour. Additional job fairs may be added. The Westchester County Center is located at 198 Central Avenue in White Plains. Parking will be free for those attending. Playland Park is located at 1 Playland Parkway in Rye.

 

 

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