Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

October 24, 2025

What’s Inside

  • Governor Slams Washington Republicans for Spiking Health Care Costs for New Yorkers
  • Governor Announces State Funds to Backfill Reproductive Health Care to Cover Lost Federal Funding
  • Attorney General Releases Statement Following Arraignment
  • Governor Announces Winners of Luminate NY Accelerator Competition
  • Governor Announces Largest DOT Pavement Investment to Take Place in 2026
  • Assemblymember Deborah Glick Will Not Seek Re-Election
  • Mayor Eric Adams Endorses Andrew Cuomo for Mayor
  • In the News
  • Coming Up 

Governor Slams Washington Republicans for Spiking Health Care Costs for New Yorkers 

Governor Hochul slammed Washington Republicans for sending health care costs skyrocketing for 140,000 New Yorkers. According to the Governor, as the GOP refuses to extend the existing enhanced premium tax credits, New Yorkers who rely on the ACA subsidies for coverage are now being notified that their health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 38 percent next year – an average annual increase of nearly $1,400 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. This news comes as New Yorkers are preparing for open enrollment, set to begin November 1.

The Governor called for Congressional Republicans to extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits that help make insurance more affordable for New Yorkers.

Governor Hochul said:

Republicans in Washington have made it clear – they don’t care about New Yorkers’ health care. It’s shameful. By refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, they are turning their backs on their constituents and ripping away access to affordable, quality health care. Republicans in Congress need to do the right thing and extend these credits that make health insurance for New Yorkers more affordable.

A full regional breakdown of increased monthly health care costs by region can be found in the Governor’s press release here.

Additionally, Governor Hochul penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, calling on the USDA to take immediate action to ensure SNAP recipients receive their November benefits. As the shutdown continues, on November 1, millions of New Yorkers will lose access to nutrition assistance. Governor Hochul urged Secretary Rollins to use her power to fund SNAP and prevent a public health crisis.

In a press release announcing the letter, Governor Hochul said:

As the GOP government shutdown continues, thousands of New Yorkers are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits come November 1. I am calling on the Trump administration to guarantee these essential funds so that New Yorkers can continue to put food on the table, and I urge Washington Republicans — including the seven from New York — to actually stand up for their constituents, come to the negotiating table and end this uncertainty and chaos.

The full letter can be read here. 

Governor Announces State Funds to Backfill Reproductive Health Care to Cover Lost Federal Funding

The Governor announced that New York State will provide funding for reproductive health care services at Planned Parenthood health centers in order to replace federal funding cuts by Congressional Republicans.

H.R. 1, enacted into law on July 4, includes a one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid funding for organizations that provide abortions and that received $800,000 or more in federal Medicaid funds in 2023. The bill classified these organizations as “prohibited entities.” Planned Parenthood’s five affiliates in New York are the only providers in the state that meet the definition of a “prohibited entity.”

Prior to the passage of H.R. 1, Medicaid claims submitted by Planned Parenthood were reimbursed with a combination of federal and State dollars, though no federal dollars are used to reimburse abortion services. Now that they are deemed a “prohibited entity” under H.R. 1, Planned Parenthood is no longer eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for any of the services they provide.

Attorney General Releases Statement Following Arraignment

New York Attorney General Letitia James entered pleas of not guilty at her Norfolk, VA, federal court arraignment on felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. A trial was set for January 26 and James was released with no special conditions.

The Attorney General released the following statement after being arraigned: 

I want to thank all of you. I want to thank each and every one of you. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your emails. I want to thank you for your support. 

It has strengthened my spirit. And it has anchored my soul. And so, I want to thank you. 

But this is not about me. This is about all of us, and about a justice system which has been weaponized. A justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge. This justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge – and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and stood up for the rule of law. And a justice system which unfortunately is being used as a vehicle of retribution. 

But my faith is strong. 

I have this belief in the justice system and the rule of law. And I have a belief in America and all of its individuals who have stood with me – not only in New York but all across this nation. 

I have heard from just about every jurisdiction in this nation who have said, ‘Stand up and be tall. Never ever bow down or back down or break or bend.’ 

So, there’s no fear today. No fear. No fear. No fear. No fear. 

Because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. 

And I am here to say that my work and my job and all that I do – all throughout my public career – I have stood up for the rights of New Yorkers and Americans. And I will not be deterred. 

I will not be deterred. I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day. And that is why I am headed back to New York, because there is work to be done standing up for the rule of law. 

God bless you and thank you all. I appreciate you.

Governor Announces Winners of Luminate NY Accelerator Competition

The Governor announced Pensievision as the winner of Round Eight of the Luminate NY optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) startup accelerator competition. The San Diego, California based company received the “Company of the Year” Award at Luminate NY Finals 2025. Pensievision will receive $1 million in investment from New York State through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The company will use the follow-on funding to anchor its growth in the region by engaging with local supply chains, hiring engineering talent from area universities, and partnering with Rochester-based design and manufacturing firms. Luminate NY, which is administered by NextCorps, is the world’s largest business accelerator for emerging companies that have technologies enabled by optics, photonics, and imaging.

amPICQ, originally from Hyderabad, India, and now located in Rochester, New York, was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Award and $500,000 in follow-on funding. Its team is designing and developing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) to make quantum-safe security both practical and accessible across Quantumcom, Datacom, and Telecom industries.

For the first time, three companies were tied for the Distinguished Graduate Award, with each being awarded $200,000. Oblate Optics, from San Diego, makes ultra-thin lenses that keep laser beams in perfect focus—even on curved or uneven surfaces—without the need to move or refocus the optics. Münster, Germany based Pixel Photonics is removing the barriers to the widespread use of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) with its waveguide-integrating design (WI-SNSPDs) to support OEM integration across quantum communications, microscopy, medical diagnostics, and advanced sensing. SNOChip, from Princeton, NJ, is pioneering on-chip optical components, such as microlens arrays, computer-generated holograms, and metasurfaces, designed for seamless integration with semiconductor lasers and sensor chips.

Event attendees voted LirOptic as the Audience Choice, earning $10,000 in follow-on funding. The investments were presented after a panel of judges from the OPI industry and venture capital community scored the participating companies based on their business pitches and due diligence completed during the seven-month accelerator program.

The Governor said:

Thanks in part to the successful Luminate NY competition, our state continues to lead the nation on cutting-edge technological ideas and research. The winners of the competition’s eighth round represent some of the world’s most innovative businesses that are bringing transformative products in the optics, photonics and imaging supply chain to market. I congratulate this year’s winners, and remain committed to supporting the fast-growing, high-tech businesses and industries that will move New York forward.

Governor Announces Largest DOT Pavement Investment to Take Place in 2026

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an investment to renew dozens of vital state roadways across New York State during the 2026 construction season. Leveraging the $800 million that Governor Hochul secured in the most recent state budget to augment the final two years of its five-year, $34.3 billion Capital Plan, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will invest more than $600 million in over 180 paving projects across the state to be completed next year.

These projects, totaling almost 2,150 lane miles, are in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT’s core programs. Taken together, they represent the most ambitious annual road resurfacing agenda ever put forward by NYSDOT. A full list of paving projects broken down by region can be found here. 

More information on this investment can be found here.

Governor Hochul said:

As someone who has ridden on virtually every mile of every state road across New York, I know firsthand every curve and every pothole, and next year we will be making an unprecedented investment to improve state roads across New York. New Yorkers will be seeing crews out there like never before next year, rejuvenating highways, enhancing the safety of the traveling public, and laying a solid foundation for economic development across the Empire State.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said:

Today’s historic announcement firmly demonstrates Governor Hochul’s commitment to fundamentally investing in building back our roadway network to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Now, thanks to the Governor’s unprecedented investment, we are putting that commitment into high gear with an historic paving agenda for 2026 that will provide easier travel on roads from one end of the state to the other. Infrastructure investments like these are foundational to the future of the New York that Governor Hochul is building, a future that is affordable, safe and healthy for all residents.

Assemblymember Deborah Glick Will Not Seek Re-Election

This week, longtime Assemblymember Deborah Glick announced that she will not seek re-election to continue serving in the New York State Assembly. Assemblymember Glick has represented the 66th Assembly District for 35 years, which includes the East and West Villages, Tribeca, and SoHo. She also chairs the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. The Assemblymember’s full remarks can be read here

Assemblymember Glick has assured her constituents that, with another year left in her tenure, she will work hard to continue her commitment to the 66th District, as well as build on her accomplishments related to addressing the serious threats to clean water and clean air.

Following this announcement, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie issued a statement commending Assemblymember Glick for her service, dedication, and commitment over the last 35 years in the Assembly.  

Mayor Eric Adams Endorses Andrew Cuomo for Mayor

Following the abandonment of his re-election campaign for New York City Mayor, this week, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race. The New York Times initially broke the story yesterday, as well as interviewed Mayor Adams, where he said that he would be campaigning with Cuomo in neighborhoods where the Mayor is most popular, and push people to vote for the former Governor.

The Mayor of New York City also told the Times, “I think that it is imperative to really wake up the Black and brown communities that have suffered from gentrification on how important this race is.”

In an interview with NY1 back in September, Cuomo stated “Both the mayor and myself are Democrats, and we do see Mamdani as an existential threat. A person who’s dangerously inexperienced who could hurt this city.”

In addition to the Mayor’s endorsement this week, all three main candidates for New York City Mayor participated in a second debate, broadcast by Spectrum News NY1. The full debate can be watched here.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

Manhattan Assemblyman joins primary to succeed Nadler in Congress.

Bombshell NYC mayoral poll shows trouble for Zohran Mamdani in one-on-one race with Andrew Cuomo.

Onstage and at a soccer tournament, Mamdani and Cuomo make their cases.

NY’s GOP delegation not thrilled with Trump decision to free Santos.

Curtis Sliwa bashes Andrew Cuomo, Dems for pushing him to quit NYC mayoral race: ‘Go out and get your own votes’.

Tim Kennedy might be new to Congress – but he’s not shy about it.

Cannabis growers in New York highlight challenges, benefits of the crop.

Former Hochul aide, accused of being unregistered agent for China, indicted on new charges.

NY loses $450M for clean energy projects as Trump administration cancels Biden-era grants.

Foe of Young Republicans resigns.

To stay or to go? For older New Yorkers, either option is fraught.

Trump and Hochul have kept the peace. Mamdani could end it.

NY lawmakers claim Hochul is targeting them for ongoing probe into alleged $11B Medicaid program scandal.

Hochul’s recent vetoes forecast tough N.Y. budget decisions.

Calls for Sliwa to drop mayoral bid mount.

Judge orders Schoharie County elections commissioner off the job.

Who’s in Hochul’s mystery universal child care coalition?

New York’s cost-of-living crisis draws rare challengers in state comptroller’s race.

Moderate Assembly Dems push Hochul to delay all-electric buildings mandate.

Environmental advocates call on Hochul to block pipelines.

Wall Street profit surge, giving New York a fiscal boost, state comptroller says.

N.Y. lawmakers mull expanding rent control upstate.

Syracuse University declines to sign Trump’s higher education compact.

Four vying for job as Syracuse’s next mayor.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on emerging farmers on October 28. 

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine the combating of problem gaming on mobile wagering platforms on October 29. 

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine barriers to accessing residential placements for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and explore ways to ensure adequate residential supports are available to those with varying support needs on November 3.

The Public Health and Health Planning Council’s Health Planning Committee will hold a meeting on November 12.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine ways to increase veterans’ access to mental health services on November 12.  

The Senate will hold a public hearing to discuss risks, solutions, and best practices with respect to the use of artificial intelligence in consequential or high-risk contexts, and related issues, such as classification of the types and risk levels of AI uses, frameworks for auditing AI tools for bias, and transparency improvements on January 15.