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
Governor Hochul Approves Major Hudson Valley Gas Expansion Project  (The Yonkers Ledger, February 19, 2025)
New York Passes Climate Superfund to Make Polluters Pay  (Yes Magazine, February 20, 2025)
Trump, tariffs, and trash  (WAMC, February 19, 2025)
Recovering a security deposit in NYC small claims court could take more than a year  (Gothamist, February 18, 2025)
New York's ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state's top court  (Spectrum News, February 18,2025)
NYC Small Claims Courts Are the Slowest in the State to Conclude Litigation  (VNY, February 18, 2025)
At least there’s still a state ethics watchdog  (City & State, February 18, 2025)
Environmentalists push New York Power Authority to go further in renewables plan  (Spectrum News, February 18, 2025)
Court Rules Against Cuomo’s Attempt to Dismantle State Ethics Panel  (The New York Times, February 18, 2025)
Ex-NY Gov. Cuomo loses bid to halt ethics probe into his $5M COVID book deal  (New York Post, February 18, 2025)
Faith Leaders, Environmental Groups Supporting Two Bills Aimed at Reducing Plastic Packaging and Waste  (The Legislative Gazette, February 13, 2025)
Lawmakers examine NY’s health care spending  (WAMC, February 10, 2025)
DEC approves expansions for Hudson Valley stations along Iroquois pipeline  (Albany Times-Union, February 8, 2025)
Governor approves air permit for Iroquois pipeline compressors in Athens and Dover  (Mid-Hudson News, February 7, 2025)
Sponsor of state Climate Change Superfund Act defends law against new suit  (Spectrum News, February 7, 2025)
New York State is One of the Country’s Least Politically Involved Areas As Voter Numbers Plummet  (WPDH, February 6, 2025)
New York voter participation hits lowest level since 2004, ranks 43rd nationally  (CBS News 6, February 3, 2025)
N.Y. Democrats 'pause' introduction of special election bill amid pushback  (Spectrum News, February 3, 2025)
Renewed push for Bigger Better Bottle Bill in NY  (ABC News 10, January 31, 2025)
Assemblymember Pamela Hunter discusses Speaker Pro Tempore role, impact for CNY constituents  (Spectrum News, January 31, 2025)
News Archive
Reports & Features
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.
MAJOR VICTORY: Governor Hochul signs the Climate Change Superfund Act into law! This New York action moves the issue to the forefront in the nation to MAKE POLLUTERS PAY.

Governor Hochul and key members of the state’s legislative leadership announced an agreement to approve the Climate Change Superfund Act. New York will become the second state in the nation to hold the largest Big Oil companies accountable for costs resulting from the worsening climate catastrophe.
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign Statement on MTA Decision to Approve Transit Fare Hike in 2025
NYPIRG joined elected officials and environmental advocates to rally for the Climate Change Superfund Act in the wake of unprecedented climate catastrophes in New York. Governor Hochul only has until the end of the year to sign legislation that makes polluters, not taxpayers, pay for climate disaster repairs and resilience.
After Relaunching Congestion Pricing, Signing the Climate Change Superfund Act Is Next on Gov’s To-Do List
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign Statement on Governor Hochul's decision to implement Congestion Pricing
Press Release: Bus Riders March for Faster Buses on Flatbush Avenue; Call on Mayor and City to Get it Done
A coalition of civic organizations released a letter to the State Board of Elections identifying possible failures in state law mandating that colleges with dorms have polling places. The groups urged action to ensure compliance or to strengthen the law.
A coalition of civic, environmental, social justice, and community-based charities joined with small business “redemption centers” to call on Governor Hochul and the state legislative leaders “to urge your attention and immediate action to prevent business closings and job losses by supporting legislation to boost the ‘handling fee’ that provides revenues for redemption centers, which are critical to the success of the state’s Bottle Deposit Law.”
VICTORY! On Monday, June 17, a six-year fight for clean air and public health came to an end when Danskammer Energy withdrew its application to build a new fracked gas plant on the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY.
As a dangerous heat wave grips New York, sending "feels like" temperatures soaring above 100 degrees, community leaders, local officials, and extreme weather survivors are demanding Governor Hochul take immediate action by signing the recently passed Climate Change Superfund Act (S.2129B/A.3351B) into law.
Tale of the Tape: NYPIRG's 2024 Legislative Review – The number of bills that passed in the Senate increased, while that number decreased in the Assembly. The Governor's use of emergency "messages of necessity" flattens.
NY State Assembly Passes Historic Climate Superfund Bill to Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damages
Reports & Features Archive