Alumni

Dear Friends,
Thanks to you, our recent alumni events have been great successes, and it's been wonderful to see you and be in touch. Thank you so much for your generous support along the way!
NYPIRG continues to drive public attention to the key issues of the day and have a real and positive impact on policy — from environmental protection, to consumer rights, to higher education affordability, to government accountability, and so much more.
Of course, for all of this, the support of our alumni and friends is crucial. Now more than ever, we need your assistance as we grow NYPIRG bigger and better. Please make your vital, tax-deductible contribution today to help us keep fighting and winning.
We'll keep you informed of upcoming events and opportunities to get involved, and I hope to see you soon. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Blair Horner
Executive Director
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NYPIRG in the News
State lawmaker wants new nuclear power plant to be located in Central New York  (My Twin Toers, June 26, 2025)
Southern Tier reacts to proposed Nuclear power plant  (WBNG, June 24, 2025)
Hochul's upstate nuclear power plant proposal comes with mixed reactions  (Spectrum News, June 25, 2025)
Regional Opposition Grows as Croton Prepares to Vote This Week on Project Maple Fracked Gas Pipeline  (The Examiner News, June 23, 2025)
For New York canners, a dime could make all the difference  (Prism, June 23, 2025)
A tale of two legislative houses  (WAMC, June 23, 2025)
Albany takes no action on packaging reduction and recycling bill  (Yahoo News, June 21, 2025)
Affordability, Trump and what to do about late budgets: A look at the 2025 legislative session in Albany  (Spectrum News, June 20, 2025)
Senior Policy Advisor Blair Horner discusses cuts by the federal government and the potential impact on New York on The Capitol Connection  (WAMC, June 19, 2025)
New York State Legislature Strikes Down Gas Industry Giveaway that Drove Up Energy Bills  (Yonkers Times, June 17, 2025)
The Senate wraps up, but not the Assembly; issues to watch  (WAMC, June 16, 2025)
As the state Senate calls it a session, the Assembly still has a lot of work to do  (Spectrum News, June 13, 2025)
Musk, Trump, and the nation’s finances  (WAMC, June 11, 2025)
Critics say new state budget cuts off large blocks of public spending from independent review  (Newsday, June 9, 2025)
Fossil Fuel Companies Rake In Record Profits as New Yorkers Struggle  (Ithaca Journal, June 5, 2025)
Letter: Stop Climate Polluter Handouts  (HV1, June 3, 2025)
Health costs quietly rise in New York State as hospitals buy more private practices  (Newsday, June 3, 2025)
Gas pipelines eye return to New York  (ABC News 10, May 29, 2025)
Recycling, HEAT Act, bottle bill are key issues as NYS lawmakers near end of session  (Newsday, May 26, 2025)
One budget failure  (WAMC, May 19, 2025)
News Archive
Reports & Features
NYPIRG’S REACTION TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S NUCLEAR POWER PLAN
New Yorkers must not be fooled a third time about the purported benefits of nuclear power.
The public should demand that Governor Hochul deliver a full independent public vetting of her latest nuclear power plan. That means allowing the entire state to be part of the discussion, examining the expected costs (including the industry’s history of cost overruns), examining the waste storage requirements (on-site forever?), and examining the full cost impacts both directly and indirectly, such as what New York Power Authority projects will be scrapped in order to fund the building of a new nuclear power facility. The fact that the governor is eyeing new, untested approaches to nuclear power underscore the need for a full, transparent process.
The Albany Money Machine – End Of Session Edition : 176 Campaign Fundraisers Held in the Capital District or by Leadership During 62 Scheduled Session Days
See NYPIRG's 2025 Legislative Review - Tale of the Tape
NYPIRG Statement: The Straphangers Campaign applauds the New York City Department of Transportation's recently unveiled plan to implement center-running bus lanes and pedestrian islands along Flatbush Avenue between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza.
With momentum growing in the state legislature to pass a statewide rebate program for purchasing electric lawn equipment, representatives from STIHL, EGO, Milwaukee Tools, Ryobi, The Home Depot, and Ace Hardware joined organizers from NYPIRG, Environment America, and other advocacy groups for an informative day of testing out cleaner, quieter electric lawn equipment. The “Electric Lawn Equipment Demo Day” offered state legislators and their staff, as well local residents, the opportunity to learn about the benefits of going electric.
Marking the 500th day since the Department of Environmental Conservation released its once-in-a-decade “Solid Waste Management Plan,” a coalition of environmental, charities, and small businesses today called on the State Senate and Assembly to pass the Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill (S.5684/A.6543) and the "Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act" (S.1464/A.1749).
The groups cited the failure of the state to attack the mounting packaging and beverage container trash crisis as a compelling rationale for legislative action this session. All of the state’s landfills are set to fill up within the next 25 years, but there’s no plan in place to reduce waste and stave off a crisis. The groups urged approval of packaging and bottle bill legislation to help curb New York’s mounting garbage problem.
Reconnecting Queens: Students Lead the Charge for Subway Expansion at QueensLink Town Hall
More than 100 students, faculty, and community members gathered at Queens College for a town hall spotlighting the QueensLink proposal — a community-driven plan to transform the defunct Rockaway Beach Branch into a new north-south subway line through Queens. Hosted by NYPIRG, the event featured interactive stations, personal storytelling, and direct engagement with project leaders. With Queens residents facing some of the city's longest and most unreliable commutes, attendees voiced strong support for the plan’s potential to connect transit-starved neighborhoods, slash travel times, and foster sustainable growth. Student organizers emphasized the importance of community voices in shaping transit policy, especially as QueensLink clears key funding hurdles and gains political momentum.
CITING A NEW POLL, ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE ACTION ON PACKAGING AND "BOTTLE BILL" LEGISLATION A coalition of environmental groups today reacted to a new Siena Poll released today that shows that New York residents overwhelmingly support state policies to reduce single-use plastic packaging in New York. Seventy-three percent think big companies should be required to reduce packaging on their products, as proposed in the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. And 61% want the beverage container deposit increased from 5 to 10 cents, as proposed in the Bigger Better Bottle Bill.
NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT NY TAXPAYERS COULD SAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF BIGGER, BETTER, BOTTLE BILL IS PASSED New York’s local governments could save tens of millions of dollars if lawmakers approved legislation to modernize the state’s “Bottle Bill.” That’s according to a new report released by a coalition of environmental, civic, labor and business organizations.
The report, produced by the think tank Eunomia, found that the state’s local governments could save as much as $108 million if lawmakers approved the “Bigger Better Bottle Bill,” legislation designed to modernize the four-decade-old law. The state’s Bottle Bill is the law that requires a nickel deposit for certain beverage containers and is redeemed when the consumer brings the container back to the store.
NYPIRG STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING TO OVERTURN NEW YORK’S CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERFUND ACT
EXECUTIVE ORDER MEANS A $3 BILLION TAB FOR ALL NEW YORK TAXPAYERS TO SHIELD BIG OIL
President Trump yesterday signed an executive order that, among other things, attempts to overturn New York’s landmark Climate Change Superfund Act. The Act was approved to mitigate the costs to state taxpayers resulting from the damage caused by the ongoing climate catastrophe.
AS STATE SENATE PASSES ELECTRIC LAWN EQUIPMENT REBATE BILL WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, 100 GROUPS ENDORSE PROPOSAL
Public health, environmental, and community groups call on state legislature to pass S1574/A2657 to promote transition from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric
As lawmakers consider the governor’s proposed higher education budget, NYPIRG today released a policy paper, “Promises made, promises broken.” The paper examined higher education policies which undermined the finances of public colleges and colleges in the independent sector.
REPORT AND NEWS RELEASE: Examining Delays in the Small Claims Courts Throughout New York State and Recommendations for Reform
NYPIRG applauds the decision by the New York State Court of Appeals to uphold the constitutionality of the state’s ethics and lobbying law and reject the separation of powers arguments advanced by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
NYPIRG RELEASES NATIONAL DATA SHOWING NEW YORK’S HOSPITALS RANK BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF CARE
NEW YORK RANKED 34TH IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF CARE IN HOSPITALS
Utah ranked first in the nation, according to The LeapFrog Group’s Fall 2024 report. New York ranked well behind Connecticut (3), New Jersey (5), California (6), Pennsylvania (9), Florida (13), and Massachusetts (23).
New York has consistently ranked in the bottom third of the nation.
NEWS RELEASE: Governor Hochul and the Department of Environmental Conservation approved the Title V Air Permit application submitted by Iroquois ExC to expand the gas compressor stations in the Town of Athens and the Town of Dover, exposing Hudson Valley residents to increased air pollution and higher risks of gas line explosions.
Release: National data showing New York’s voter participation rate dropped to lowest level since 2004. New York ranked 43rd in the nation in terms of voter registration.
NYPIRG analysis released: Modernization of the state's Bottle Deposit Law would generate nearly $100 million more than it does now in the first year of implementation, revenues that can be used to invest in the state’s flagging recycling efforts and to improve its administration
NYPIRG Reacts to Executive Budget
The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) today announced that effective January 1, 2025, Megan Ahearn is its new Executive Director. Ms. Ahearn previously served as NYPIRG’s Program Director overseeing NYPIRG’s community and campus policy work. Ms. Ahearn succeeds Blair Horner and will be NYPIRG’s eighth Executive Director in its 50-plus year existence. Horner will remain on NYPIRG’s staff as its Senior Policy Advisor, primarily focusing on state government advocacy.
Reports & Features Archive