Latest news with #Lohud
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP in N.Y. could have significant impacts on children
Proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance could result in more New York children losing insurance coverage or facing hunger, according to child advocates. In New York City, about 1.8 million people receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or 'SNAP' — including 560,000 children, according to figures compiled by the comptroller's office. Medicaid enrollment for residents from birth to age 20 is about 1.2 million. 'This budget hurts millions of people fighting to remain in this increasingly unaffordable city,' Comptroller Brad Lander said in a statement. 'Draconian figures like [President] Trump have tried to gut our social safety net before, but hardworking New Yorkers and their families will remember every time they visit a hospital or go to bed hungry.' House Republicans are looking to push through a package of tax breaks and spending cuts to advance Trump's agenda, including a multibillion-dollar cash infusion for immigration enforcement and the military. The plan has faced pushback from Democrats and GOP hard-liners who insisted on deeper cuts. As of Friday, the latest iteration could cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars, including by new work requirements focused on non-disabled adults without dependents. States, such as New York, that use their own funds to give insurance to undocumented immigrants could also be penalized. Supporters of the measures say they would help root out waste and fraud. 'I will never cast a vote that takes Medicaid away from eligible recipients who rely on this vital program, such as seniors, children, the intellectually and developmentally disabled, single mothers and families facing tough times,' Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Westchester) wrote in a recent op-ed in Lohud. 'Rather, my commitment has always been to strengthen these programs by cracking down on scam artists exploiting them at taxpayer expense.' But child advocates warned of the ripple effects. 'Simply put, the impact of these proposals would be enormous for a lot of children and families throughout out New York,' said Raysa Rodriguez, executive director of Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, which released an online tool to help parents learn about the potential impact of Medicaid and SNAP cuts to their congressional district. The look-up function also lets families know if their representative voted for the budget resolution that called for the cuts. Rodriguez noted that Medicaid goes toward health care coverage for families that are income-eligible, but it is also a mechanism for supporting public services — from school health clinics to special education — that are financed in different shapes and forms through Medicaid funding. Sweeping changes could also impact what resources the state has on hand for other policies that support children and families. 'Part of the concern is changes of this magnitude and size would result in a bigger, more significant burden on the state, and could have an impact on the type and scope of services provided [and] how we determine eligibility,' Rodriguez said. 'This level of decimation of funding would really limit the ability of New York state to respond to the needs of families and children. It's not hypothetical.' Lander's analysis also found more than half of babies delivered in New York City each year are born to parents covered by Medicaid. The package would also cut federal spending on SNAP, largely by shifting substantial new costs to states for the first time and increasing work requirements for parents of children as young as 7 years old. Child hunger advocates also warn against cuts to future SNAP benefits that do not take effect immediately — but could limit the ability of food assistance to keep pace with the rising costs of groceries. 'We know when kids have regular access to meals, they thrive. They have higher attendance rates; they do better in school. They struggle less with chronic health issues like asthma,' said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York. If federal cuts undo years of progress made in fighting child hunger, Sabella added: 'I'm terrified about what that would mean to families.' After the House passes a bill, it faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where a majority of Republicans need to agree to the identical to avoid a filibuster under a complicated legislative process known as reconciliation. 'I want every member of the New York State Congressional Delegation, especially our Republican members that have a powerful voice right now, to remember we shouldn't be playing politics with people's ability to put food on the table,' Sabella said. With News Wire Services
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Videos show thousands turned out for New York 'Hands Off!' protests April 5
Protests held across the United States Saturday, April 5 drew thousands, if not millions, of Americans to the streets to rally against the actions of the Trump administration. Some dozen "Hands Off!" protests were held across New York state, with several in the Lower Hudson Valley and three in New York City. Video from lohud's Seth Harrison shows thousands marching through the streets of Manhattan, including plenty of Lower Hudson Valley locals that made the trek despite a drizzly weather and unseasonable cold. Learn more 'Hands Off!' rallies in Lower Hudson Valley, NYC draw crowds: 'We've elected a dictator' Across the Cuomo Bridge and into Westchester, about 500 protesters posted up outside Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, hoisting up homemade signs and chanting in unison. Video from lohud's John Meore shows big crowds protesting cuts to Medicaid, education and more from the sidewalk near the intersection of Boston Post and Fenimore roads. "We're seeing the unity of people who recognize that America is being disassembled and reassembled in a way that is not American," Howard Fleischer, 67, of Ossining, said at the Mamaroneck rally, which drew well over 500 people despite the weather. "Real fear has taken hold because the bully in Washington is going after the courts and legal firms. It's difficult for opponents to get around them." Contributing: Lohud's Seth Harrison, John Meore and Gary Stern. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Videos show thousands turned out for NY 'Hands Off!' protests April 5
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Videos show thousands turned out for New York 'Hands Off!' protests April 5
Protests held across the United States Saturday, April 5 drew thousands, if not millions, of Americans to the streets to rally against the actions of the Trump administration. Some dozen "Hands Off!" protests were held across New York state, with several in the Lower Hudson Valley and three in New York City. Video from lohud's Seth Harrison shows thousands marching through the streets of Manhattan, including plenty of Lower Hudson Valley locals that made the trek despite a drizzly weather and unseasonable cold. Learn more 'Hands Off!' rallies in Lower Hudson Valley, NYC draw crowds: 'We've elected a dictator' Across the Cuomo Bridge and into Westchester, about 500 protesters posted up outside Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, hoisting up homemade signs and chanting in unison. Video from lohud's John Meore shows big crowds protesting cuts to Medicaid, education and more from the sidewalk near the intersection of Boston Post and Fenimore roads. "We're seeing the unity of people who recognize that America is being disassembled and reassembled in a way that is not American," Howard Fleischer, 67, of Ossining, said at the Mamaroneck rally, which drew well over 500 people despite the weather. "Real fear has taken hold because the bully in Washington is going after the courts and legal firms. It's difficult for opponents to get around them." Contributing: Lohud's Seth Harrison, John Meore and Gary Stern. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Videos show thousands turned out for NY 'Hands Off!' protests April 5
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Where were you the day the April 5, 2024 earthquake shook the Lower Hudson Valley?
Where were you during the earthquake of April 5, 2024? Were you driving on the Hutch, or racing over to Indian Rock to see if the rumors it had split (even more) were true? Take a look back with us as we explore memories of the day that rattled Westchester, Rockland and Putnam — literally. A 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the New York City area the morning of April 5, 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake was just north of Lebanon, New Jersey, and had a depth of 6.2 miles. An hour later, an aftershock measuring at a magnitude of 2.0 occurred in the area of Bedminster, NJ. 'Understandably, this is an unnerving experience, but Westchester County appears to have no ongoing emergencies due to the earthquake," George Latimer, then Westchester County Executive, said after the quake. "While the earthquake was prolonged and noticeable, it is not dissimilar to what we have experienced in the past with other earthquakes." Indian Rock, a massive glacial rock formation, sits in a fenced-off area in the parking lot of Indian Rock Plaza on Route 59 and Hemion Road in Rockland County. While Indian Rock has always had a crack through its middle, rumors circulated online that the April 5, 2024 earthquake actually made the split worse. Even law enforcement was prompted to do an investigation after receiving phone calls. Ramapo police reviewed past and current photos and other documents and ceased their investigation. "There's no more damage of the rock," Det. Lt. Chris Franklin said that day. After the initial quake on April 5, 2024, a cascade of aftershocks shook areas of New York from the Lower Hudson Valley to Long Island, starting with a 4.0-magnitude aftershock 37 miles west of New York City in New Jersey. New York City's emergency notification system alerted residents to the aftershock minutes later, urging people to remain indoors and call 911 if injured. There were 22 aftershocks reported from 11:20 a.m. April 5, 2024 through 1:07 a.m. the next day. Contributing: Lohud's Alexandra Rivera, Nancy Cutler This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: April 2024 Lower Hudson Valley NY earthquake: Where were you?
