Tompkins County Democratic Committee

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

The 2024 National Democratic Party Platform

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<h3>Preamble</h3>Our nation is at an inflection point. What kind of America will we be? A land of more freedom, or less freedom? More rights or fewer? An economy rigged for the rich and powerful, or where everyone has a fair shot at getting ahead? Will we lower the temperature in our politics and come together, or treat each other as enemies instead?"The stakes in this election are enormously high."President Biden and Vice President Harris took office during a time of global pandemic, record job loss, and record crime. These past four years, Democrats proved once again that democracy can deliver, and made tremendous progress turning the country around. President Biden and Vice President Harris turned a setback into a great American comeback for working families."We've created nearly 16 million jobs, a record number of small businesses are being started, and factories are coming home. We lowered families' health insurance premiums, and we stood up to Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices. We're helping students catch up on learning loss, and we're forgiving millions of crushing student loans. We passed the first significant gun safety law in decades and made record investments in public safety, putting more police officers on the beat; today, violent crime is at its lowest in 50 years. We're fighting climate change, reducing pollution, and fueling a clean energy boom. We're rebuilding our nation's roads, bridges, highways, ports, airports, water systems, and more. We're seizing record amounts of fentanyl and securing our border in the face of Republican inaction. We're closing the racial wealth gap and the gender pay gap. We've expanded benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans; and we're strengthening NATO and restoring American leadership in the world."There is so much more to do. Democrats will fix the tax system so everyone has a fair shot. We will restore the right to choose. We will continue to bring down costs for families. We will continue to reject political violence of all forms and give hate no safe harbor."<a href="https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024_Democratic_Party_Platform_8a2cf8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">To read the rest of the 2024 platform, click here</a><a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-democratic-party-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">.</a>

Our nation is at an inflection point. What kind of America will we be? A land of more freedom, or less freedom? More rights or fewer? An economy rigged for the rich and powerful, or where everyone has a fair shot at getting ahead? Will we lower the temperature in our politics and come together, or treat each other as enemies instead?

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The 2024 DNC Platform

tompkins county judge

Maura Kennedy-Smith

Tompkins County has three County Court Judges who preside over felony criminal cases, Family Court, and Surrogate’s Court. They also handle four specialty courts: Family Treatment, Treatment, Sex Offender and Domestic Violence.

Tompkins County Judge

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Town Board

Judy Drake

New York state residents will be asked to vote this year on Proposition One, an <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xuGFE0aawtM2njj55lPUW7V7-w-P4AyP/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Equal Rights Amendment to the state constitution.</a>The amendment will close loopholes that could permit extremists to restrict people’s rights to reproductive freedom, including abortion. It will also protect civil rights for the LGBTQ community and elderly New Yorkers.

Proposition One

What Prop 1 Will—and won't—do for New York

<h2>TCDC is the county-level organization of town, city and ward committees</h2>The committee’s foundation is the base of registered Democratic voters. Interested voters can join Town and Ward committees, which then unite to form the County Committee. The County Committee then elects members to the New York State Democratic Committee, and the State Committee elects members to the Democratic National Committee.(From the Tompkins County Democratic Committee Member’s Handbook, Section I, "Party Overview")

"BOE" provides the most up-to-date information about national, state and local elections. It manages voter registration, oversees elections and provides information for people who want to run for office. If you plan to be active in local politics, keep the main URL—<a href="https://tompkinscountyny.gov/boe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">https://tompkinscountyny.gov/boe</a>—at the top of your browser's bookmarks!

The Tompkins County Board of Elections

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The Town of Caroline is governed by a Town Supervisor and a Town Board. Click on photos to see names and titles.

Caroline Town Board

The Town of Ulysses has a town supervisor and a town board. Click on photos to see names and titles.

Ulysses Town Board

Candidate for House of Representatives, NY-19

Josh Riley

New York's 19th congressional district stretches from Tompkins County to the Massachusetts border. It is currently represented by Republican Marc Molinaro.

Congress

district attorney

Matt Van Houten

A District Attorney, also known as a prosecutor, represents the government and is responsible for ensuring that justice is served by prosecuting individuals accused of committing crimes.

Tompkins County District Attorney

The Town of Caroline is governed by a town supervisor and members who sit on the town board.

Jonathan Bates

Danby has a town supervisor and town board; also featured here, the town clerk and highway superintendent. Click on photos for names and titles.

Danby Town Board

Elected Officials in Tompkins County

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<h3>Bylaws for the Tompkins County Democratic Committee</h3>The rules by which TCDC accepts new members and conducts meetings; appoints officers and assigns their duties; and acts in relation to the town, ward and city committees. <a href="/files/f7f0ceec-b28b-4ce5-95e8-82b8bf3d89da/TCDC_Bylaws_LATEST-6338.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Download a PDF of the bylaws here.</a><h3>TCDC Membership Handbook</h3>The handbook spells out the responsibilities of TCDC members, including duties like attending meetings and carrying petitions. <a href="/files/f7f0ceec-b28b-4ce5-95e8-82b8bf3d89da/TCDC-Handbook-1cac.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">View and download a copy here</a>.<h3>Petitioning Instructions</h3>To get an idea of what the rules for petitioning are like, read and/or <a href="/files/f7f0ceec-b28b-4ce5-95e8-82b8bf3d89da/Petitioning-Instructions-c8be.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">download the 2022 instructions here</a>. Updated instructions and rules for 2025 will be posted shortly after the first of the year.<h3>Petitioning FAQ</h3>The petitioning process can be daunting for newcomers, as a great deal depends on obtaining and reporting signatures accurately. A short list of frequently asked questions can be read and <a href="/files/f7f0ceec-b28b-4ce5-95e8-82b8bf3d89da/Petitioning-85c3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">downloaded here</a>.<h3>Attendance Proxy Form</h3>A fillable form designating a person who can attend a town, ward or city committee meeting for you, but not vote, is <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17YLq9Ji73S9NxAo7QzlYAt9hXFyYXlDT/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">available here</a>.(Pictured: The lighthouse at Myers Park in Lansing, NY)

New York Assemblywoman

Anna Kelles

New York's 125th State Assembly District comprises Tompkins and part of Cortland County, and includes the cities of Ithaca and Cortland.

New York State Assembly

New York's U.S. senators are both Democrats. Kirsten Gillibrand has represented New York in the Senate since 2009, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy left when Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State.

United States Senate

Candidate for UNITED STATES SENATE FROM NEW YORK

Kirsten Gillibrand

City and Town Committees

Candidates for Congress

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The Town of Ithaca surrounds the City of Ithaca like a donut, with Cayuga Lake taking a bite out of the top. The Town is governed by a town supervisor and town board. Click on photos to see names and titles.

Ithaca Town Board

Enfield is governed by a town supervisor and town board. Click on photos to see names and titles.

Enfield Town Board

The easiest way to contact TCDC is to send us email at <a href="mailto:ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org</a> or call us at 607-288-3588.Our paper mail address isTompkins County Democratic Committee P.O. Box 6798, Ithaca, NY 14851You can also reach out to any of the <a href="/tcdc-leadership" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">leadership</a>.(Pictured: Main street in Trumansburg, a village in the Town of Ulysses)

Lansing has a town supervisor and town board. Click on photos for names and titles.

The Town of Lansing is governed by a town supervisor and members who sit on the town board.

The Tompkins County Legislature comprises 14 members who represent the towns and City of Ithaca. Eleven of the members are Democrats, as are the District Attorney, Sheriff and County Clerk. Click on photos to see names and titles.

Tompkins County Legislature

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We work hard to ensure the greatest public participation, in our party and in our society.

<h2>"TCDC strives to benefit the general welfare with special attention to those who need it"</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/f7f0ceec-b28b-4ce5-95e8-82b8bf3d89da/d7526607-db59-4cf5-8335-65e676b7be06/babbb19a-a1e4-43d2-9707-f576bac50713.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C860%2C3072%2C3236&amp;w=1500" alt="Danby dog at election HQ" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">"The Tompkins County Democratic Committee (TCDC) helps find candidates and win elections for the Democratic Party. It aims to help Democrats combine their efforts to elect representatives to local, state and national government."These candidates and elected officials, whatever their views on specific issues, are united in their general Democratic philosophy of striving to benefit the general welfare with special attention to those who need it. The Party, at all levels, is an inclusive one, striving for the greatest possible public participation in our society."(From the Tompkins County Democratic Committee Member’s Handbook, Section I, "Party Overview")

Check this page for up-to-date information about the 2024 elections. Visit our campaign headquarters at 119 West Green Street in downtown Ithaca, open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm and, starting in August, Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. And please take a moment to read about this year's Democratic candidates!

Scenes From This Election

Contact TCDC by email at <a href="mailto:ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org</a>Call us at <a href="tel:+16072883588" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">607-288-3588</a>.Or write to us:Tompkins County Democratic Committee P.O Box 6798, Ithaca, NY&nbsp; 14851You can also reach out to any of our officers or committee chairs.(Pictured, L-R: TCDC 1st Vice Chair Cynthia Mannino, NYS Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, TCDC Chair Linda Hoffmann)

TCDC Officers and Committees

Jane Maryanne Doe, Chairman <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:joe@localparty.org">joe@localparty.org</a> | 999-999-9999

John Richardson Doe, Chairman <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:joe@localparty.org">oe@localparty.org</a> | 999-999-9999

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TCDC runs on volunteer power! Whatever your skills and expertise, we can find a use for them. Please fill out <a href="/volunteer" target="" rel="noopener">this form</a> if you would like to participate in TCDC activities and our action teams. Our <a href="mailto:volunteers@tcdemocrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">volunteer coordinator</a> will be in touch!<h2>Join Our Committee</h2>Anyone who lives in the county and is a registered Democrat can ask to join their town or ward's committee and, from there, apply to join the Tompkins County Democratic Committee. Contact TCDC Chair Linda Hoffmann, <a href="mailto:chair@tcdemocrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">chair@tcdemocrats.org</a>, for details.<h2>Get On Our Mailing List</h2>Sign up for <a href="http://tcdemocrats.org/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">our mailing list</a> to keep up on TCDC news and opportunities.<h2>Our Political Action Team</h2>"Taking Action" is the overarching goal of our Political Action Team. The PAT establishes an annual Action Plan blueprint to direct projects and initiatives related to fieldwork, phone and text banks; community outreach; research on national and state elected Republicans who represent Tompkins County; posting of e-blasts; coordination of volunteers and opportunities; voter registration, and writers. To broaden the scope of impact, representatives from the TCDC/Young Democrats, the Cornell University Dems, Ithaca College Dems, and a select group of advisors are on board.<h2>Other Teams/Committees</h2>TCDC also has internal committees for finance, fundraising, issues, technology, and youth outreach and recruitment. See the <a href="https://940cda5c-9499-43f6-be88-96bb2e9f81e9.site-preview.designedtorun.com/tcdc-leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">T</a><a href="https://940cda5c-9499-43f6-be88-96bb2e9f81e9.site-preview.designedtorun.com/tcdc-leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary)">CDC Leadership page</a><a href="https://940cda5c-9499-43f6-be88-96bb2e9f81e9.site-preview.designedtorun.com/tcdc-leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> </a>for more information.

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The City of Ithaca is governed by a mayor and a ten-member Common Council. All of them are Democrats. Click on photos to see names and titles.(Pictured: The Tompkins County Legislature meeting room.)

City of Ithaca, Common Council

<h2>Headline about running for office</h2>Write a document explaining the steps to run for office in your area. You can bulletpoint the major categories of what candidates have to do in the sidebar.

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<h2>Who we are</h2>Our website address is: <a href="https://tcdemocrats.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://tcdemocrats.org</a>.<h2>What personal data we collect and why we collect it</h2><h3>Contact and other forms</h3>We use the information you submit with your form solely to decide who to send it to and to respond to your questions and comments. We do pass on the information to the person who will respond.<h3>Cookies</h3>If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.<h3>Embedded content from other websites</h3>Pages on this site may include embedded content (e.g. maps, videos, images, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.<h2>Who we share your data with</h2>We do not share or sell your data with any third-parties, except as noted above about embedded content, without your consent, except when legally required to do so.<h2>How long we retain your data</h2>If you submit a form request or comment, we will keep it until we are sure we are no longer interacting with you.<h2>What rights you have over your data</h2>You can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.<h2>Where we send your data</h2>We do not send your data anywhere except as noted above.<h2>How to remove yourself from our lists</h2>To unsubscribe from our mailing or phone list, please send an email to <a href="mailto:contactus@tcdemcrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ContactUs@tcdemcrats.org</a> with the subject line “Unsubscribe” and indicate in the body of the email which contact list (email, phone or text) you are unsubscribing from.Contact UsIf you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at <a href="mailto:ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ContactUs@tcdemocrats.org</a>.

Dryden Town government comprises a town supervisor and town board. Click on photos for names and titles.

Dryden Town Board

News, events, opinion, media mentions and press releases, by and about the Tompkins County Democratic Committee and its members.

What's Happening in Tompkins County

As we close the door on the 118th Congress, it’s tempting to brood over the business left undone by the least-productive class in congressional history. For women of my generation, it’s been yet another session in which Congress failed to make progress on adding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution.Originally proposed in 1923, the ERA in its current form was sent to the states for ratification in 1972, with a deadline extended to 1982. It was ratified by the required 38 states, but three of the states did so after the deadline, and five states subsequently rescinded ratification. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation ever since.In 2024, the pro-ERA organization Sign4ERA promoted a petition calling on both houses of Congress to recognize the ERA as ratified, and eliminate the timeline. (You may remember a visit from the Sign4ERA bus, which came to Ithaca in September.) The petition won support from all 214 House Democrats. We only needed support from four Republicans to bring the petition to the floor for a vote.But we couldn’t get them. At the close of the first quarter of the 21st century, the Republican congressional caucus stood united against gender equality.We, the voters, must hold them accountable in the 2026 midterm elections.In recent weeks there were calls for President Biden—an ERA supporter—to order the National Archivist to certify and publish the amendment in the Constitution. This yearning for a decisive stroke is understandable. But former Rep. Carol Maloney, who spent 30 years trying to push the ERA through the House, cautioned that this path was fraught with risk.“His intervention could set off a chain reaction, handing ERA opponents an opportunity to challenge the amendment in court,” Maloney recently wrote. “A judicial gauntlet with Trump-appointed judges risks obliterating decades of progress, forcing us to begin again.” Starting over would mean winning another two-thirds vote in the House and Senate, and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.“Congressional actions are the only viable route to affirming the ERA is part of the Constitution,” Maloney writes. “Article V of the Constitution is clear: the power to amend lies solely with Congress and the states. It is Congress that must act to repeal the time limit and recognize the ERA’s ratification by 38 state legislatures. The time for half-measures has passed.”Fixating on half-measures also provides cover for the real obstructionists. Republican leaders and their extremist, anti-woman followers have blocked the ERA effort for more than a century. It is time to call them out.We are grateful to everyone who worked on Sign4ERA over this past year. Now the only way forward is through the voting booth. We must elect enough ERA supporters to Congress to ensure the amendment is recognized, published and shielded from judicial challenge.If you can dedicate a few hours each week or month to the cause, send an email to <a href="mailto:team@sign4ERA.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">team@sign4ERA.org</a>, and become an ERA Champion. Sign4ERA will get right back to you with action steps you can begin taking immediately.Let’s start now to lay the groundwork for enshrining equality in our Constitution. It’s a legacy no court can overturn.Linda Hoffmann, Chair Tompkins County Democratic CommitteeFor another take on this topic, see Looking Back in this section.

As we close the door on the 118th Congress, it’s tempting to brood over the business left undone by the least-productive class in congressional history. For women of my generation, it’s been yet another session in which Congress failed to make progress on adding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution. ...

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Message from the Chair

Until 1937, “A jury of one’s peers” did not include womenBy Carol KammenWinning the vote in 1919 did not give New York women full citizenship.Eighteen years later, in February 1937, with much discussion, the New York State Senate passed the Kleinfield Permissive Woman Juror bill, allowing New York counties to determine who was eligible for jury duty. Tompkins County opted to make enrollment for jury duty voluntary for women, meaning that any woman registered to vote would be added to the jury lists. At the same time, any woman who did not care to serve on a jury could register her unwillingness to participate.There were practical reasons for declining. Some women, especially those in rural areas, could not get to the courthouse, either because they could not drive, or a vehicle was not available for them to make daily trips into the city. Others worried that their clothing would be viewed as inadequate for appearance in court.The Tompkins County Bar Association was not in favor of women being appointed to a jury, voting to disapprove of the change at a meeting in 1937. The League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women, however, voiced strong support.In October 1937, with 35 women eligible to become jurors, Judge Simpson created a night school to instruct women on jury duty, as he believed women would be able to aid the courts. He commented that with “the advent of the automobile, and of women in business the number of women litigants is equal to that of men. It is only fitting that they should assist in giving the verdicts.”The classes were taught by New York Supreme Court Judge Riley Heath. He cautioned that women, “should remember that some witnesses are very plausible and convincing and that other witnesses are nervous and jittery and you must not accept their testimony at face value. On the other hand, the smooth talker may be perfectly honest and the man who is excited may be so because he is guilty. You have to decide, and it is a great responsibility, because the case may be very important from a human point of view.”Although his words sound condescending to us today, Judge Simpson was being realistic for the times. Some thought women might disturb the court, or might be swayed by a handsome lawyer, or by a sympathetic speech; there were even comments that attractive women in court might disturb lawyers.Judge Simpson said that the thing to remember was that, “you as a juror are the judge of the fact. … This is a responsibility which you must deeply feel.”I need to note that no such instruction or comment was made about male persons who were called to jury duty.In 1938 there were eight women’s names on the February Grand jury roll, listed by occupation and place of residence.The first woman called to serve was Mary Curtis, who was not willing to serve. In January 1938, Mrs. Hall, not identified by her given name, wife of the Town of Groton’s Chief of Police, accepted the assignment, saying, “my interest is in my home and my husband’s work.”It was not until 1975 that the United States Supreme Court ruled, in Taylor v. Louisiana, that, “a jury was not duly constituted without a fair cross section of society. That men and women were equally obligated to jury service.”Equality for women is not yet a given. We all should urge President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment, which has already been ratified by the required number of states, that it might become established law as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.It is time and the time is now.For another take on the last paragraph, see the Message from the Chair in this section.

Until 1937, “A jury of one’s peers” did not include womenBy Carol KammenWinning the vote in 1919 did not give New York women full citizenship.Eighteen years later, in February 1937, with much discussion, the New York State Senate passed the ...

Looking Back

From the New York State Democratic Committee, <a href="https://www.nydems.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.nydems.org</a>This week, Governor Hochul delivered her 2025 State of the State address, detailing her <a href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/100461611/522874569/1699809365?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9OR1AvTkdQMzAvMS84OTYzMiIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICI4ZDZkOWMyNS1hZWQzLWVmMTEtODhkMC0wMDIyNDgyYTlkOTIiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogImxpbmRhLmhvZmZtYW5uQGhvdG1haWwuY29tIg0KfQ%3D%3D&amp;hmac=9T8dw70slr7-CyAEYRoHrylMoM66_d4SgKM90RUgIQ4=&amp;emci=e607a9e4-8bd3-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&amp;emdi=8d6d9c25-aed3-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&amp;ceid=27527204" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">proposals</a> to put money back in people’s pockets, keep New Yorkers safe, and fight for our families.&nbsp;<h3>Money in New Yorkers' Pockets</h3>Under pressure of rapidly rising inflation, Governor Hochul knows that too many families across the state are struggling to make ends meet. To help more families get ahead and make life in New York more affordable, Governor Hochul is committed to driving down costs and putting money directly back into people’s pockets.&nbsp;<ul><li>Middle Class Tax Cut: Governor Hochul is proposing a historic tax cut for every filer making under $325,000 — this will represent the lowest middle class tax rate in 70 years </li><li>Inflation Refund: Would provide a $500 payment for families making less than $300,000; $300 Payment for individual New York taxpayers filing less than $150,000 </li><li>Major Expansion of Child Tax Credit: Governor Hochul is proposing the largest expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the program’s history. Governor Hochul’s plan would give 1.6 million New York families an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under age four and up to $500 per child from four through sixteen. </li><li>Universal Free School Meals: Governor Hochul has a plan to provide free school meals to all New York students. The free school breakfast and lunch program is estimated to put approximately $1,200-$1,600 back in a family’s pocket for a single year.</li></ul><h3>Keeping New Yorkers Safe</h3>Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, gun violence is down across the state, and investments in law enforcement and innovative initiatives are delivering results for New Yorkers but Governor Hochul knows we must do more. The Governor is committed to keeping New Yorkers safe both on the streets and on the subway.&nbsp;<ul><li>Subway Safety: Governor Hochul is proposing to surge NYPD police officers to our subways and committing to putting police officers on every overnight train for the next 6 months from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.. She is proposing to accelerate physical changes like LED lights, erecting platform edge barriers, and updating gates and turnstiles. </li><li>Fighting Transnational Gangs: Governor Hochul is proposing to increase support to take on transnational trafficking. This includes strengthening efforts to prevent trafficking of weapons, drugs and people. </li><li>Supporting Victims: Governor Hochul is proposing increased support for victims of domestic violence, assault, bolstering child advocacy centers. She is proposing to hold hospitals accountable to report when victims come to them with reports sexual assault to ensure they are getting access to the services they deserve.</li></ul><h3>Improving New York’s Mental Health Care</h3>Building on Governor Hochul’s landmark mental health plan, Governor Hochul announced proposals to reduce barriers to care and ensure the facilitation of earlier intervention for individuals at risk of harm by revising the criteria for involuntary commitment and more.<ul><li>Existing Investments: Governor Hochul has invested $1 billion in enhanced mental health care services throughout the state. She has provided funds to add 1,000 beds, and to date about 700 have already opened. </li><li>Involuntary Commitment: The Governor plans to propose language to add an additional standard for involuntary commitment — she doesn’t take that lightly. Her plan does not criminalize homelessness or mental illness. However, if someone–because of their mental illness is unable to accept help to meet their basic needs like sourcing food, etc., then we must engage with them compassionately to connect them with the help they need. </li><li>Expanding Beds To Increase Access to Involuntary Commitment Standards: Currently, state law allows for involuntary commitment if you are an imminent threat to yourself or others. Governor Hochul is proposing to adopt a ‘grave disability standard’ here. 20 other states do this.</li></ul><h3>Supporting New York’s Families</h3>Governor Hochul fights for New York’s families the way she would her own and she knows families need support now more than ever. That is why she is making investments to ensure families across the state can thrive.<ul><li>Investing in Child Care: Governor Hochul has made it clear that we need to move to provide universal childcare. She is making bold first steps by proposing to invest $110 million in capital grants to increase availability of quality child care and by creating a substitute pool for child care centers to ensure programs do not have to close if a provider is sick or otherwise unable to provide care. Governor Hochul understands that childcare must be affordable and available to all parents. </li><li>Expanding Baby Benefit Program: Governor Hochul is proposing to enhance the baby benefit program–which serves TANF eligible moms– to $50 to $100 each month and $1,200 at the birth of a child — investments like this are designed to lift up families and reduce maternal and infant death in first months. </li><li>Baby Boxes: Governor Hochul is proposing a program that would provide baby boxes for moms which would include diapers, formula, onesies, information about developmental milestones, services, help and more. The program is estimated to reach 100,000 babies at implementation.</li></ul><h3>Creating More Homes and Protecting Housing Affordability</h3>Governor Hochul will build upon her commitment to address the housing shortage and increase affordability by creating more homeownership opportunities, strengthening State support to unlock local housing development and taking actions to protect housing affordability. Governor Hochul’s five-year plan to build and renovate 100,000 affordable homes is more than 50 percent complete – ahead of schedule.&nbsp;<ul><li>Unlocking Local Housing: Strengthening tools to unlock housing development, including vacant or historic property redevelopment. </li><li>Disincentivizing Institutional Investors: Proposing legislation to crack down on landlords using price-fixing algorithms to drive up housing costs and restricting private equity purchases of single and two-family homes. </li><li>Provide Starter Home Innovation Funding: proposing $50 million in capital funding to incentivize the building of more starter homes, including innovative approaches to homebuilding such as the use of factory-built and modular development. </li><li>Support First-Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance: Providing $50 million in new state funding to support New Yorkers struggling to save for down payments and help more individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership.</li></ul>

From the New York State Democratic Committee, <a href="https://www.nydems.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.nydems.org</a>This week, Governor Hochul delivered her 2025 State of the State address, detailing her <a href="https://click.ngpvan.com/k/100461611/522874569/1699809365?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9OR1AvTkdQMzAvMS84OTYzMiIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICI4ZDZkOWMyNS1hZWQzLWVmMTEtODhkMC0wMDIyNDgyYTlkOTIiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogImxpbmRhLmhvZmZtYW5uQGhvdG1haWwuY29tIg0KfQ%3D%3D&amp;hmac=9T8dw70slr7-CyAEYRoHrylMoM66_d4SgKM90RUgIQ4=&amp;emci=e607a9e4-8bd3-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&amp;emdi=8d6d9c25-aed3-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&amp;ceid=27527204" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">proposals</a> to put money back in people’s pockets, keep New Yorkers safe, and fight for our families.&nbsp; ...

Governor Hochul's 2025 State of the State

From the New York State Democratic Committee, <a href="https://www.nydems.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.nydems.org</a>Governor Hochul today announced comprehensive new steps to increase law enforcement presence, expand public resources and strengthen mental health policies to make the transit system safer for New Yorkers. These new measures include partnering with New York City officials to increase NYPD patrols on subway platforms and trains; installing new protective barriers on subway platforms to protect riders; upgrading fare gates and delaying egress on exit gates to help crack down on fare evasion; adding LED lighting throughout stations to increase visibility; and updating and strengthening key mental health laws to ensure that New Yorkers with severe mental illness are connected with care instead of being left to languish on subway trains and platforms. These new steps continue the Governor’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing public safety and protecting riders and workers throughout the subway system.“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and that means making sure our subways feel safe and are safe for every single rider and worker.” Governor Hochul said. “No one should be in fear that they’ll be a victim of crime as they commute to work, go to school or enjoy a night out — that is why we’re partnering with law enforcement, improving our infrastructure and ensuring that New Yorkers struggling with mental illness get the support they need.”Increasing Law Enforcement Presence Throughout the SystemGovernor Hochul will partner with New York City to increase New York Police Department (NYPD) presence on platforms and trains by temporarily surging patrol levels in addition to the National Guardsmen that have been re-deployed into the transit system. Approximately 750 NYPD officers will be stationed across New York City with an additional 300 in the train cars themselves. The increase in enforcement will prioritize 30 subways stations and transit hubs that account for 50 percent of crime in the transit system.The Governor will also work with New York City to increase police patrols on every overnight train for the next six months. NYPD officers will work from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and there will be a uniformed officer onboard every subway train in service during those hours.This expansion of law enforcement patrols builds on the Governor’s previous announcement in December 2024 to add an additional 250 members of the National Guard to support subway safety, bringing the total to 1,000 National Guardsmen stationed at subway entrances in points throughout New York City.New Public Safety Resources To Protect Riders and Prevent Fare EvasionGovernor Hochul will provide the funding to install platform edge barriers at more than 100 additional stations by the end of 2025. The selection of stations for the installation process will prioritize feasibility, including stations with standard car-stopping positions in segments of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, F, M and L trains. Among these train lines, stations with higher ridership levels and island platforms will be prioritized.To address fare evasion, Governor Hochul will invest in modern fare gates in more than 20 stations across the system in 2025, and an additional 20 stations in 2026. Additionally, exit gates will delay egress at 150 additional stations in an effort to reduce fare evasion. At the Governor’s direction, the MTA will prioritize stations with higher ridership traffic, accessibility features and those with high fare evasion. The piloted design used in the roll-out was solicited through the MTA’s “Request for Information” to qualify the next generation of fare gates across the system. Initial installation is scheduled to begin at 42 St-Port Authority, Delancey St-Essex St and Roosevelt Av-Jackson Heights.The Governor will also provide funding to install LED lighting in all subway stations throughout the system which will increase visibility throughout the stations.These new investments build on the Governor’s previous deployments of public safety programs and resources throughout the subway system, including a new proposal to ban assaulters of commuters and transit workers, improved coordination between law enforcement and district attorneys, and installing new cameras in subway trains throughout the system to help protect customers, conductors and staff.Expanding Mental Health Partnerships and ResourcesGovernor Hochul’s Safe Options Support (SOS) initiative has successfully transitioned nearly 850 unhoused individuals into permanent housing and continues to make progress. SOS teams deployed across New York State often encounter individuals experiencing unmet medical and psychiatric needs. To address this gap, Governor Hochul will add street medicine and street psychiatry providers to SOS teams statewide. These providers will deliver timely care directly to individuals during outreach, improving access to psychiatric evaluations and medical treatment without requiring individuals to leave their belongings or seek care in hospitals. This approach will enhance trust, build rapport and encourage individuals to accept services and transition indoors, improving outcomes for New York’s most vulnerable residents.Additionally — to further help reduce homelessness in the subway system — Governor Hochul will work with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to expand their 24/7 “Welcome Center” model near end-of-line stations and will create spaces within stations that have a large presence of unhoused people for our mobile outreach teams to better connect and coordinate services.Governor Hochul previously announced a $20 million investment to expand the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT) throughout the system to ten by the end of 2025, as a part of her five-point plan to protect New Yorkers on the subway. SCOUT teams are trained to address the most severe cases of mental health crisis within the subway system and assist New Yorkers in gaining access to mental health treatment and supportive housing.The Governor has made strengthening New York State’s mental health system a priority of her administration, landing historic investments in housing for people with mental illness and directing a large increase in inpatient psychiatric bed capacity at state-operated and community-based hospital systems. In addition, her initiatives have broadened prevention services, improved insurance coverage, and expanded outpatient services for people with mental illness.

From the New York State Democratic Committee, <a href="https://www.nydems.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.nydems.org</a>Governor Hochul Announces New Initiatives to Protect Subway Riders and Transit Workers, NYPD on Every Overnight TrainGovernor Hochul announced comprehensive new steps to increase law enforcement presence, expand public resources and strengthen mental health policies to make the transit system safer for New Yorkers.&nbsp;Thes new measures include partnering with New York City ...

Governor Hochul: Safety on Overnight Trains

Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ healthcare are on the block for next year—good thing we’ve sent a Democrat to Washington!By Ann Reichlin While careening towards a year-end government shutdown provoked by billionaire Donald Trump and his shadow president-elect, billionaire Elon Musk, GOP House leaders agreed to pass the current budget. They did so by promising GOP House members that they will slash Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ healthcare as part of a future budget agreement. According to the<a href="https://tcdemocrats.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=631a395b582a53d12df7817d6&amp;id=47c5073622&amp;e=06b3a41e6e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> New York Times,</a> the Republican leadership proposal said:“House Republicans agree to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in the first reconciliation package, with an agreement that we will cut $2.5 trillion in net mandatory spending in the reconciliation process.”Let that sink in. Because Trump/Musk sabotaged the budget vote at the eleventh hour, GOP House leadership promised their radical members that the budget in the upcoming year will slash programs millions of Americans depend upon. If the next congress were to pass such an egregious piece of legislation, and Trump were to sign it, this would represent a profound betrayal of the American people.Behaving like arsonists with a burn-it-down mentality, Trump and Musk toy with peoples' lives and livelihoods for sport and attention. Their greed is simultaneously dangerous and pitiful: dangerous, because it puts ordinary Americans' lives at risk, and pitiful, since no matter how much power and money these two men acquire they are never content.Although the GOP controls Congress, their margins are slim, due in part to our efforts here in Tompkins County. Thankfully, we have sent Democrat Josh Riley to Congress to help hold the line against these two radical, irresponsible, pathological billionaires, their fellow arsonists and their enablers.

While careening towards a year-end government shutdown provoked by billionaire Donald Trump and his shadow president-elect, billionaire Elon Musk, GOP House leaders agreed to pass the current budget. They did so by promising GOP House members that they will slash Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ healthcare as part of a future budget agreement. According to the<a href="https://tcdemocrats.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=631a395b582a53d12df7817d6&amp;id=47c5073622&amp;e=06b3a41e6e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> New York Times,</a> the Republican leadership proposal said: ...

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