Higher Education
We live in a representative democracy — we choose our representatives, and they make policy choices on our behalf. Central to the success of any democracy is the ability of its people to be adequately informed about the issues of the day and the way in which their government works. In addition, an advanced society such as ours relies on the intellect and skills of its people to boost its economic vitality.
An important component to such successes is a quality, affordable system of higher education. NYPIRG has long promoted access to affordable, high quality college education for all students. Working with our sister organization, we have offered analyses that help make the case for enhanced state support for higher education institutions, both public and independent.
Will 2025 be the “affordability” session? (WAMC, January, 13, 2025)
New York To Make Major Greenhouse Gas Emitters Pay for Past Pollution (Next City, January 14, 2025)
New York Climate Superfund Becomes Law (Inside Climate News, January 11, 2025)
Albany already revising new antipollution law after gas industry pushback (Gothamist, January 9, 2025)
New York to make major greenhouse gas emitters pay for past pollution (Canary Media, January 8, 2025)
New NYPIRG Executive Director Megan Ahearn discusses 2025 legislative priorities (WAMC, January 8, 2025)
This week could have a big impact on New York (WAMC, January 7, 2025)
Can Cuomo convince New York’s highest court to scrap state ethics commission? (City & State, January 7, 2025)
5 things to watch as 2025 New York legislative session begins (Spectrum News, January 7, 2025)
New York’s ‘Climate Superfund’ law expected to face legal challenges (WSHU, January 6, 2025)
Recycling in New York, a low-paid job for undocumented immigrants, just got more precarious (El Pais, January 3, 2025)
New York public campaign finance audits underway for state Legislature candidates (Spectrum News, January 3, 2025)
What's next for 'climate superfund' now that Hochul signed it into law? (Spectrum News, January 3, 2025)
NY state passes ‘Climate Superfund’: oil companies must foot bill (Rockland County Times, January 2, 2025)
Senior Policy Advisor Blair Horner discusses NYPIRG's key issues in 2025 (WAMC, January 2, 2025)
Climate and environment updates: Could the UK be a model for clean electricity? (KMA Land, January 2, 2025)
New York state good government group gets new leadership in 2025 (Spectrum News, December 31, 2024)
Hochul's support of the Climate Superfund will save New Yorkers $75 billion (LoHud, December 31, 2024)
Gov. Hochul signs Climate Superfund – saves taxpayers $75 billion (WAMC, December 30, 2024)
Breaking down New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act (WROC Rochester, December 30, 2024)
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
NYPIRG's Statement on Governor Hochul's Delay of Congestion Pricing
A coalition supporting improvements to the state’s Bottle Deposit Law today released a listing of over 1,000 local charities that benefit from the law. The coalition argued that these charities offer services for those in need and that modernization of the forty-year-old law would enhance the charities’ services.
A coalition supporting improving the state’s Bottle Deposit Law today released a review of recent redemption center closures. The review, conducted by redemption centers, identified 97 businesses that have closed or appear to be closed. Another 54 redemption centers had disconnected phones and no obvious social media presence. The coalition argued that many of these closures are the direct result of New York's 15 year "freeze" of the handling fee that redemption centers rely on for revenues.
NYPIRG Reacts to Speaker Heastie's Comments on Climate Change Superfund Act
A coalition of civic groups today called on the New York State Board of Elections to review the state’s polling locations to see if colleges have on-campus polls as required under the law. The letter is in reaction to the results of a survey conducted by NYPIRG.
NYPIRG analyzed 199 colleges (217 campuses, some colleges have multiple campuses) in New York State, of which 147 have dorms located on their premises. This review of the locations of polling places for college students living on-campus identifies a wide gap between those campuses that have dorms and the number that have polling places.
A statewide coalition representing hundreds of community, environmental, labor, and religious groups today applauded state Senate approval of the Climate Change Superfund Act, which requires Big Oil to cover New York's climate damages – not taxpayers. The groups urged swift action in the state Assembly. The majority of Assemblymembers are sponsors of the legislation.
News Release on NYPIRG's Recent Victory Expanding Financial Aid for Low-Income Patients