Hochul makes data-center pause central to her reelection campaign
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who previously resisted a pause on data-center development, is now making a proposed moratorium a focus of her campaign. Her Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman, says Hochul failed to prepare for the industry’s disruptive effects. The debate has put concerns about data-center impacts at the center of the governor’s campaign, as Hochul has discussed the issue at events including a roundtable at Fishkill Farms.
Early voting draws more than 250,000 New Yorkers over the weekend
More than 250,000 people voted during the first two days of early voting, with election officials reporting higher turnout on Long Island than at the same point two years earlier. New York City had recorded 224,894 early votes by the end of its third day, according to preliminary Board of Elections figures: Brooklyn led with 64,556, followed by Manhattan with 63,195 and Queens with 54,595. Hochul campaigned with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, while Blakeman promoted a plan to address farmworker needs through work permits. Early voting runs through Nov. 1.
Upstate House race tests Republican support for Trump
Democratic dairy farmer Blake Gendebien is seeking to flip an upstate congressional seat, where Republican incumbent Elise Stefanik’s loyalty to President Donald Trump may be a vulnerability. The contest is one of the New York races drawing attention as Democrats look for opportunities in a potential wave year. The district is among the state’s most closely watched House contests.
State Assembly commits $12 million to Buffalo’s 5/14 memorial
A $12 million award from the New York State Assembly closes the funding gap for the planned 5/14 Living Memorial and Healing Center in Buffalo. The center, planned for the Apollo Media Center on Jefferson Avenue, will include an outdoor memorial with 10 arches representing victims and a pillar for survivors, along with an indoor museum. The new state funding brings the project’s total support to about $25 million and allows organizers to reassess the planned spring construction start.
Court rejects Buffalo effort to stop Seneca Nation gas-station construction
A state judge rejected Buffalo’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt the Seneca Nation’s construction on its Miami Street property. Judge Donna Siwek said concerns about zoning, planning and environmental impacts were reasonable but found that the parcel’s sovereign status meant the city lacked jurisdiction over those issues. The city acknowledged it did not submit an objection during a 30-day federal review period in 2023. The Seneca Nation said it had conducted environmental testing and was in contact with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the EPA.
Love Canal family asks EPA to intervene over contamination
A family living near Love Canal is asking the EPA to intervene over contamination and its implications for their son’s care. Daniel McKiernan said the government’s declaration had left the family in what he called a “de facto sacrifice zone” and was preventing his son from receiving state-mandated health care as a protected person. The dispute renews scrutiny of how environmental decisions affect residents near the historic Niagara Falls contamination site.
Hochul’s $1 billion energy rebates sharpen debate over affordability
Energy rebate checks from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion program are reaching millions of New Yorkers, while Mamdani administration officials argue that one-time payments cannot resolve the underlying cost-of-living pressures. City Chief of Staff Elle Bisgaard-Church and Economic Development Corporation board chair Lina Khan emphasized longer-term measures, including public services and efforts to reduce costs. Hochul’s office said the rebates are one part of a broader agenda that also includes utility protections, expanded child care, a larger child tax credit and middle-class tax cuts. City Hall pointed to its partnership with the governor on universal child care, which it estimates could save families $20,000 per child annually.