New York, NY — Yesterday evening’s plane crash in D.C. was an unacceptable tragedy. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all 67 individuals whose lives were lost, and I am grateful to the first responders who put their own lives at risk at the crash site. 

While air travel has historically been one of the safest modes of transportation, the recent Trump Administration’s attempt to halt federal aviation funding and an already understaffed air traffic control network made tragedies like this one a matter of when, not if.

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New York, NY — Meeting the diverse needs of New Yorkers requires bold investments and sustained collaboration between our city and state leaders. Governor Hochul’s State of the State address outlines key initiatives that can transform how we support working families, improve public safety, and address longstanding inequities. The Governor’s commitment to expanding affordable homeownership, childcare, and public education is critical to meeting the needs of New Yorkers. 

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New York, NY — With the launch of congestion pricing on January 5th, we are entering a pivotal moment for our city’s transportation system. While this policy aims to reduce traffic and fund much-needed transit improvements, its success hinges on ensuring that our public transit system is both equitable and safe for all New Yorkers.

As more people turn to buses and subways, we must prioritize investments in safety measures and infrastructure that address the needs of transit riders—particularly those from historically underserved communities.

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New York, NY — Commuter vans play a crucial role in bridging transit gaps, particularly in underserved areas like Southeast Queens. However, it’s essential that this industry operates in a way that complements and strengthens our public transit system rather than competing with it. The steep decline in licensed commuter vans, with only 35 currently operating, and the proliferation of unlicensed operators—responsible for 70 out of 75 violations recorded by the TLC in 2023—highlight the need for urgent action. 

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New York, NY — I am deeply heartbroken by the tragic mass shooting at Amazura nightclub on New Year’s Day. My heartfelt condolences go out to the young people who were wounded and their families. I am keeping them in my prayers for a full recovery.

The celebration of life for Taerion Mungo, a victim of gun violence, should never have ended in this tragedy.

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New York, NY — Millions of New Yorkers rely on our subways, buses, and commuter rail every day, yet there is an urgent need for investment in MTA system improvements in order to allow these methods to best serve our communities. I acknowledge Governor Hochul’s willingness to listen to the voices of those who will be the hardest hit by congestion pricing, such as working New Yorkers who live in transit-sparse neighborhoods by lowering the proposed toll and advocating for increased bus service, but we must do more to mitigate the financial burden. 

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New York, NY — Today, we honor the 265 lives lost in the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 587, which occurred 23 years ago on the Rockaway Peninsula. This heartbreaking event deeply impacted our community and forever changed the lives of the families who lost loved ones that day. My thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stands together each year to keep the memories of the Flight 587 victims alive.

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New York, NY — I have been working with the MTA and my partners in government to secure additional resources, investments, and support for Rockaway residents as a result of the Rockaway Line Resiliency and Rehabilitation project, and to ensure we restore full service to the Rockaway Peninsula as quickly as possible.

Rockaway residents already intimately feel the impacts of living in an outer-borough area with scarce public transit access, and I am working to ensure we mitigate the impacts of this planned outage on our community.

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New York, NY — I am devastated to learn of the tragic deaths of two New York City Public Schools students at the hands of subway surfing and local violence. Subway surfing continues to be a pervasive threat to the livelihood of our adolescents and young adults, and we are committed to addressing it at its core. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ loved ones, and my heart goes out to all our students in this tragic moment.

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New York, NY — Today’s bill signing to expand the number of red light cameras in New York City is a major win for street safety. In June, the New York City Council passed a home rule resolution in support of reauthorizing the red light camera program with a modest increase. 

I am grateful to Governor Hochul for signing this critical legislation into law as well as the New York State legislators who were instrumental in getting to this point.

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