By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 4:25 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – ONE Catholic is hosting the Albion Ministerium’s annual Lenten Luncheon series on Wednesdays at St. Joseph’s Lyceum, 114 South Main Street.
This past Wednesday was the first luncheon of the season. Albion churches and clergy take turns preparing soups and sandwiches, and also sharing a devotional message.
Elsie Boring and her daughter, the Rev. Susan Boring, are in line to try some of the soups and sandwiches prepared by the First Baptist Church of Albion and the Gaines Carlton Community Church. The Rev. Boring is pastor of the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church.
Mike Thaine, left, was an enthusiastic participant in the luncheon. The serving line includes, front to back, Peggy Bropst, Cheryl Denson, Eileen Allen and Lori Thomson.
The hour-long gatherings will occur five consecutive Wednesdays, from Feb. 25 through March 25.
There is no charge for the meal. A free will offering is collected to be used for luncheon supplies and other Ministerium events, such as the Albion High School Baccalaureate in June.
Kay Marsh plays the piano for one of the hymns during Wednesday’s luncheon. Pastor Marsha Rivers of the First Baptist Church and Gaines Carlton Community Church gave the message.
Medina’s Lenten luncheon series is hosted by the Medina Area Association of Churches. It started last Thursday and takes place at noon every Thursday for six weeks at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.
Participating churches will provide lunch on a rotating basis, followed by a meaningful reflection. There is a suggested donation of $5 for lunch, with all the proceeds going to the Meals on Wheels program and the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen in Albion.
Provided photo: County Legislator John Fitzak, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Legislator Skip Draper meet in Tenney’s office in Washington, DC.
Press Release, Orleans County Legislature
WASHINGTON, DC – Orleans County legislative leaders joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference this week in Washington, D.C.
The conference featured speakers from the Trump Administration and Congress including of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.
“Each year, we use this conference as an opportunity to collaborate with county leaders from across the country on our shared priorities and then advocate for those policies and the specific needs of Orleans County with federal leaders,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “In previous years, our advocacy efforts have been key to securing federal funding for local projects.”
Joining Chairman Johnson at the NACo conference were Legislators Merle “Skip” Draper of Medina and John Fitzak of Carlton. The conference touched on several key areas of importance to Orleans County including data centers, artificial intelligence, workforce development and public safety. There was also a Federal Agency Expo, with nearly 50 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.
“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President J.D. Clark. “NACo’s Legislative Conference is an important opportunity for county leaders to strengthen relationships with our intergovernmental partners, tell our county story and advocate for county priorities that help our communities and residents thrive.”
The conference culminated in an Advocacy Day of Action, positioning attendees to advocate for county federal policy priorities. Orleans County officials spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with staff from Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand’s office. In addition, Orleans County officials met with Congresswoman Tenney and staff from the USDA.
Orleans County leaders thanked federal representatives for securing funding for the future Emergency Management Operations Center and the Public Safety Building rehabilitation. This year’s priorities included funding for the modernization and upgrades of the former Genesee Community College building in Albion for the Probation Department; support for the regional dredging initiative that includes Oak Orchard Harbor; and funding for Marine Park dock repairs to support public safety.
“We know we will not get everything we ask for, but it’s important to continue to beat the drum for our funding priorities and hope our federal representatives can deliver,” Fitzak said. “Sometimes it takes years of asking before a funding pot is identified for a project, so our job is to keep it on the front burner until that happens.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 1:22 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The pavement on Ingersoll Street in Albion has cracks and potholes after four months of punishing winter weather. This photo was taken on Thursday. The Village of Albion DPW was out today using cold patch to fill in the pavement.
ALBION – The brutally cold winter has caused cracks in street pavement and big leaks in waterlines.
It’s also meant many trips for DPW and highway departments for salting and plowing roads.
Crews have been out frequently since early November with few breaks from any prolonged warmups in the temperatures.
Jay Pahura, the Village of Albion DPW superintendent, said his crews have already been out 82 times for salting in the past four months. The village is down to its last load of salt – 80 tons, he told the Village Board on Wednesday.
The winter started in earnest in early November. Pahura said village crews were out salting 30 times before Jan. 1. In some winters, the DPW plows and salters don’t see much action until January.
The freezing temperatures also have been hard on the village’s underground infrastructure. Pahura said there have been 10 major water leaks this winter, including one on East Bank Street on Wednesday that probably was a 200,000-gallon water loss.
The village’s water system typically shows a 15 percent water loss from leaks in the system. But the current report reports about 20 percent.
Village Trustee Will Gabalski said the brutal winter has caused major waterline ruptures through Western New York, not just Albion.
“It’s been a tough winter,” Pahura said. “It’s hard on the roads and what’s underneath.”
It’s also hard on the DPW budget with additional costs for salt and overtime.
Albion DPW crews are out today putting cold patch on roads. Steve Borowczyk, left, and Shaun Stephens were working on Ingersoll Street.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 February 2026 at 12:45 pm
No. 5 seed Medina will face No. 9 Southwestern in the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball semifinals at 4 p.m. Saturday at SUNY Fredonia.
The victor will advance to next Wednesday’s B1 title game at SUNY Fredonia against the winner of Saturday’s other semifinal between No.2 Olmsted and No. 6 Springville.
Medina advanced by defeating No. 4 Alden 53-35 in the quarterfinals while Southwestern ousted No. 1 Middle Early College 65-54.
On Sunday, No. 2 Akron will face No. 3 Randolph in the Class B2 semifinals at 2 p.m. at SUNY Fredonia.
The No. 5 seed Akron girls will face No. 8 Eden in the Class B semifinals at noon on Saturday at SUNY Fredonia.
Kendall, Lyndonville girls play Saturday
The Kendall and Lyndonville girls teams will both face the top seeds on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Section V playoffs.
In Class C1, No. 9 Kendall (13-8) will visit No. 1 Letchworth (20-1) at 6 p.m.
In Class D, No. 8 Lyndonville (11-10) will visit No. 1 Avoca-Prattsburgh (17-3) at 2 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 10:52 am
ALBION – A business that will be growing cannabis in a 1,000-squarefoot warehouse has the Orleans County Planning Board’s support.
Joe Molisani Jr., owner of Dream orchard LLC, wants to cultivate the cannabis at 13353 Kendrick Rd., Waterport. He then plans to sell it from another business he plans to be opening in downtown Medina, a cannabis dispensary.
Molisani said he won’t be selling any cannabis directly from the Kendrick Road site. If he has any wholesale orders, he will make the deliveries with no customers coming to the site in Carlton.
He needs a special use permit from Carlton to grow the cannabis. The County Planning Board recommended Carlton approve the permit. Some of the Planning Board members didn’t think a special use permit was necessary because Molisani will be doing an allowed use in a residential-agricultural district.
Molisani has his license to grow cannabis as a micro-business through the state’s Office of Cannabis Management.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 February 2026 at 10:05 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Kay Van Nostrand describes this steel shovel used by her father all of his life to shovel snow, coal and even grain. (Right) Georgia Thomas, a member of Medina Historical Society, brought this 12-candle mold to Show and Tell at the February meeting.
MEDINA – The Medina Historical Society’s meeting on Monday night was a crowd-pleaser.
Once a year, the society features “Show and Tell,” and gives members an opportunity to share unique, unusual or unknown items with the membership.
While a stormy evening likely kept some people away, the brave souls who attended the meeting enthusiastically enjoyed the evening’s presentation.
Historical Society president Reinhard Rogowski welcomed guests and announced the next two meetings would be at the Medina Senior Center, due to construction at the library. At the March 30 meeting, Ron Stork will share some of his collection of Medina treasures. The April 27 meeting will feature Erica Wanecski giving a history of Medina Memorial Hospital.
The first to “Show and Tell” was Diane Mazur, who brought her grandmother’s wedding shoes. They were black, size 4 and perfectly preserved.
Next, Georgia Thomas produced an 18th century candle mold, which made 12 beeswax candles. She shared how she made bayberry candles at Christmas.
“Bayberry is very expensive, but it smells nice,” she said.
Kay Van Nostrand demonstrated a very heavy shovel made of steel.
“I grew up in Attica where they had lots of snow, and my dad used this to shovel snow,” she said. “He was married in 1928 in Dannemora and I’m sure he shoveled snow there. This was the only shovel he ever used. He shoveled a path to the house, to the barn, to the woodshed and to the driveway. In his younger days, he shoveled coal for train cars. He was also known to shovel grain. He would wax his shovel with paraffin from my mother’s canning jars.”
(Left) A photo of noted Medina builder Frank Mallison was shared by Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper during Show and Tell at the Medina Historical Society’s meeting on Monday. The photo was discovered at a house sale in Shelby. Mallison is credited with building many of Medina’s historic buildings. (Right) Ron Stork entertained members of the Medina Historical Society during their Show and Tell meeting with a demonstration of this musical cigarette box.
Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian and board member of Medina Historical Society, shared a photograph of contractor and builder Frank Mallison, which had been discovered at a house sale in Shelby. On the back it listed four generations of his descendants.
“This is significant because Mallison’s buildings form part of the structure of Medina,” Cooper said.
Some of the buildings built by Mallison include Medina Cold Storage, the Senior Citizen’s Center, armory, Medina Memorial Hospital, the high school, S.A. Cook buildings on East Avenue and Main Street, the Masonic Temple addition and the chapel at West Ridgeway Cemetery.
“He left a lasting memory,” Cooper said.
Ron Stork, a longtime collector of Monitor clocks, brought a very unique gadget – a cigarette music box made by Edgar Gould. Gould also made Monitor clocks, owned Medina Toy Company and worked with veterinarian Dr. Stocking. The music boxes were last made in 1933, Stork said. He said they would sit on a bar and for a penny a customer could buy a cigarette. As the six-sided music box revolved, its doors opened wide.
The program concluded with Shirley Bright-Neeper, who read a letter she had received from the late Pete Nesbitt of Pine Hill, after meeting him in 1992. Pete and his older brother Bob were both Navy pilots – Bob serving in World War II and Pete joining 12 years later in peace time. Bob was awarded four Flying Crosses for his heroics during the war.
“This was another year of intriguing items at the Show and Tell,” Cooper said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer harvests soybeans on East Barre Road in Barre on Oct. 13, 2019.
Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
KNOWLESVILLE – “Farming Under Pressure,” a stress management and suicide prevention workshop designed for farmers, farm families, growers, and agricultural professionals will occur at the Orleans County Fairgrounds.
The workshop will take place on March 19 beginning 8:30 a.m. at 12690 State Route 31, Albion, in the Harrington Classroom. The presentation is open to growers and members of the public.
This educational session will feature speakers from FarmNet and GOW Pathway to Hope. Together, they will address the unique pressures facing those in agriculture and provide practical tools to support mental wellness in farming communities.
Topics will include:
Common stressors in agriculture and how they impact mental health
Practical stress management tools participants can use immediately
Warning signs of suicide risk
How to start conversations and support someone who may be struggling
Available local and regional resources for farmers
Farming is demanding work. Long hours, financial pressure, isolation, and unpredictable conditions can take a toll. This workshop is designed to provide practical guidance in a respectful, stigma free environment and to strengthen support networks within the agricultural community.
The program is offered in partnership with FarmNet, Tobacco-Free, and GOW Pathway to Hope.
There is no cost to attend. Pre-registration is not required.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 8:33 am
Site plan goes to Village of Albion Planning Board for final vote on March 12
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Broadway Group wants to knock down this building at 327 East Ave. and build a new 10,640-square-foot Dollar General across from the high school. The Broadway Group will remove three underground storage tanks as part of the project. The current building has been used for auto sales and a warehouse. Ridge Road Station parks school buses on the site.
ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted in support of the site plan for a new Dollar General store at 327 East Ave. in Albion, a store that would be across from the high school.
Fagan Engineers created this site plan showing the parking lot with 35 spaces for vehicles and a 10,640-square-foot building.
One Planning Board member, Bruce Kirby of Gaines, opposed the store at that location, saying he is concerned students from the school would eagerly be going to the Dollar General for snacks and likely wouldn’t use the cross walk from the road across from the middle school.
“A lot of us are concerned about putting a candy store across from the school,” Kirby said during the board meeting. “This is a damn bad place to have a store.”
Other Planning Board members noted the zoning as general commercial fits for the store. The site is in a school zone with the speed limit at 20 miles per hour, and there already is an ice cream business next to the proposed site.
There also is a crossing guard at the beginning and end of the school days, and the Albion Police Department also helps monitor the speed on East Avenue.
Kirby said the zoning may allow for the store, but he declared “it’s not safe.”
Dan Strong, the Planning Board vice chairman, noted there is a Dollar General in Lyndonville across from the school. He said he is unaware of any incidents with students and traffic.
Another board member, William Quaranto from Carlton, said he was concerned about delivery trucks being able to negotiate the site. The plan shows them pulling in on one side of the store, and then backing up on part of the site. Then will back in front of the store and be able to exit the site driving forward. The trucks will be limited to exiting from the east only. That was a stipulation by the state Department of Transportation.
Trey Lewis, development manager for the Broadway Group, said many other stores have the same layout for truck deliveries as the one proposed for Albion. He expects there will be one or two Dollar General truck deliveries a week and those deliveries can be scheduled during lower peak times. There will also be trucks from other vendors, such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola.
The Broadway Group will demolish the existing building and will need to remove three underground tanks. Then it will build the new 10,640-square-foot store with 35 parking spaces.
The project goes before the Village of Albion Planning Board for a final vote on the site at 5 p.m. on March 12. The County Planning Board voted to recommend Albion approve the site plan.
The property is owned by Chris Kinter, the village’s code enforcement officer. He has recused himself from the review of the project with Dan Strong, the Town of Albion code enforcement officer, filling in for the village with this proposal.
The Orleans County Planning Board discusses the site plan for a Dollar General on East Avenue in Albion.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 February 2026 at 8:49 pm
Top seeded Wilson defeated visiting No. 8 Portville 73-51 and No. 12 Barker dropped a 54-39 decision at No. 4 Westfield this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class C boys basketball tournament.
Wilson will now face Westfield in the Class C semifinals on Tuesday at Jamestown Community College.
Aidan Neumann scored a game high 22, Ryan Hough 16, Shamus George 13 and Brock Lepsch and Nick Lemke 9 each to lead the way for Wilson.
Aidan DeFazio scored 15 and Eilijah Truman to to pace Portville.
Wilson jumped out to a 15-8 first quarter lead as Lepsch hit two threes and Chase Martin one.
The Lakemen went on to increase their advantage to 15, 36-21, at the half and to 22, 56-34, at the three-quarter mark.
Neumann and George both scored 6 and Hough 4 in the second quarter. Lemke then hit two threes and Neumann had 6 points and Hough 4 in the third period.
Westfield 54, Barker 39
Leading by four, 21-17, at the half, Westfield used a 21-15 third period scoring edge to open up a 10 point, 42-32, advantage at the three-quarter mark and Barker could get no closer than six in the final period.
Brayden Paddock scored 16, including five threes, Grant Beadle 15 and Braylon Swanson 11 to spark Westfield.
Paddock and Lincoln Thomas both hit threes and Swanson had a three-point play to lead the decisive third period uprising in which the Wolverines got point production from seven players.
Anthony Taliaferro scored 16 and Carter DerSarkissian 13, including three threes, to lead Barker as Donovan Hefferon and JJ Prynn both had 3 and Peyton Wagner and Caden Garcia 2 each.
Threes by Taliaferro and DerSarkissian did pull Barker to within six, 45-39, early in the final period but Westfield answered with a 9-0 run to close the game and lock up the win.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2026 at 4:45 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street on Albion at the East Bank Street intersection is shown on Wednesday evening.
ALBION – The Albion Historic Preservation Commission is no longer an entity where building owners need to get “certificates of appropriateness” for signs, exterior renovations, structural work or demolition of a building in the historic downtown district.
The Albion Village Board on Wednesday voted to do away with the commission which has struggled in recent years to get a quorum. The group has seven members and needs at least four to have a meeting.
The lack of a quorum has slowed approvals for projects in the downtown, code enforcement officer Chris Kinter said. He told the Village Board he has two applications that have been waiting on the commission.
Although the HPC has been disbanded, the duties of the group will be passed to either the code enforcement officer or the Planning Board. That will be determined by the Village Board.
“Don’t just throw it away,” Planning Board Chairwoman Karen Conn told the Village Board. “We should preserve what we have.”
The HPC’s most recent members included Ian Mowatt, Mary Anne Braunbach, Linda Smith and Courtney Henderson. None of them spoke against doing away with the HPC at Wednesday’s public hearing.
Trustee Joyce Riley said Albion can discuss the preservation standards if the village moves to update its comprehensive plan.
Trustee Tim McMurray said the code for the downtown standards should be revamped. He said there are some inconsistencies. He noted projecting signs are allowed in one part of the code but not in another.
Any changes in the code would need to have another public hearing for the community to have a chance to comment.
The village code notes Albion “has many significant historic, architectural and cultural resources which constitute its heritage.” The village has sought to “protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent distinctive elements of Albion’s historic, architectural, and cultural heritage.”
The code states certificates of appropriateness will be needed for alteration, demolition or new construction affecting landmarks or historic districts.
“No person shall carry out any exterior alteration, restoration, reconstruction, demolition, new construction, or moving of a landmark or property within an historic district, nor shall any person make any material change in the appearance of such property, its light fixtures, freestanding lights, signs, sidewalks, fences, stairs, outbuildings, walls, driveways or alleys, paving or any other exterior element which affects the appearance and cohesiveness of the landmark or historic district without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission,” the code states.
My name is Joyce Riley, a resident since 1960 and senior citizen of Albion, New York. I am a proud graduate of our local high school in Albion, New York. I am a Registered Nurse and hold a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
As a Registered Nurse with over 50 years of experience in practice and administration, I have been an international presenter and I have served on multiple boards within this community. Today, I am writing to share why I am running for Mayor.
For the past four years, I have had the honor of serving this village as a Trustee, including two and a half years as Deputy Mayor. That experience has given me a clear-eyed understanding of what our village needs — and what it is capable of becoming.
When I first took office as Trustee, one of the most urgent challenges facing the village was closing the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). No one in the current administration had the knowledge or time to dedicate to close it correctly, and without proper closure, the village risked having to repay a significant amount of money. I took it upon myself to learn the process, successfully closed the grant, and protected the funds of those who participated in the grant.
I then built on that knowledge by writing small grants to support summer programming at Bullard Park and our downtown Erie Canal park — resources that directly benefit our residents.
I am by nature action-oriented and an optimist. I want to fight for our Village and I believe we could do it together — residents, property owners, Village staff, other municipalities and leadership working side by side.
That being said, what I did not fully anticipate was the depth of the financial challenges that awaited us – loss of the Fire Department. That crisis forced us to think creatively and boldly. We worked to form a fire district and by collaborating with other municipalities around shared services, like the codes department, and reduced some cost and redundancy. More instances of collaborative actions need to take place in the future to decrease the financial burdens and redundancy.
I am running for Mayor because I believe this village deserves leadership with the experience, the tenacity, and the genuine love of community to see us through the next chapter. As a senior citizen who has lived and worked in this community, I am not running for prestige — I am running because I know there is more we can accomplish together, and I know I have the background to help us get there.
My goal has always been simple: to serve the people and improve the community in which I live. I humbly ask for your support.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 February 2026 at 1:46 pm
Provided photo: A grouping of flower pots is positioned in front of Rotary Park at the four corners of downtown Medina. The Medina Area Partnership is seeking donations to place 69 flower pots in the business district this summer.
MEDINA – Beautifying the downtown business district has always been a major goal of the Medina Area Partnership, and in continuing that long trend they have announced plans to place 69 flower pots throughout the downtown, in addition to four hanging baskets at the intersection of Main and Center streets.
To achieve that initiative they are seeking monetary donations from the public to assist with the cost of flowers, soil and other products associated with the project.
“These efforts are not possible without the support of the community and help from the village DPW in placing and watering the plants,” said Mary Lewis of Creekside Floral who chairs the project.
Lewis said the downtown flower project was started about 20 years ago by the Medina Business Association, which became Medina Area Partnership. She doesn’t know how many pots were originally sponsored, but she is sure the number steadily grew to the 69 flower pots and four hanging baskets they have had in recent years.
She said they have limited the pots to that number, as they have to rely on the Department of Public Works to place and water the pots all summer.
“We couldn’t do this without them, and we don’t want to over-burden them,” Lewis said.
Lewis also stressed their efforts would not be possible without the support of the community, on whom they count for donations to cover the costs associated with the project.
The cost to sponsor a flower pot is $100 and anyone who is interested should send a check payable to Medina Area Partnership, in care of Creekside Floral, 509 Main St., Medina. Sponsors will be recognized on a sign in a flowerpot, on the large sign outside of City Hall and on the MAP website.
Donations of any amount will also be accepted to assist with beautification projects. Donation forms can be found on MAP’s website.
Lewis urges everyone to consider helping them continue to make Medina’s downtown community and greater Medina area an attractive place to visit.
Lewis notes that signs may not be placed until June 30.
Anyone with questions is welcome to contact Lewis at Creekside Floral.
Provided photo: These students were recognized on Wednesday for committing to paid co-ops. From left include Joshua Zayac (Albion), Tyler Rothwell (Royalton-Hartland), Elliot Beyrle (Albion), Miles Arbegast (Medina), Deven Byrne (Medina), Carson Schwab (Barker) and Aaden Munn (Barker).
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – There was a celebration on Wednesday evening at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.
The Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering students in teacher Bill Rakonczay’s program had their annual Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program signing event. The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program bridges the gap between youth and manufacturing careers through apprenticeships, job shadows and paid co-ops. Students gain skills and experience while connecting to future career opportunities.
“Students get recognized for signing on to play college sports, correct? Why not recognize students signing on to the workforce?” Mr. Rakonczay said.
The students were recognized for officially signing on to their paid co-op program. Each student received a swag bag from the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship that included a caliper and micrometer set.
“Thank you to all the parents that showed up to support their loved one,” said Mr. Rakonczay. “A huge thank you to our local employers that support my program and students. Without them none of this would be possible. I am so proud of these students!”
Governor Kathy Hochul today sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling on him to immediately work with federal agencies to refund all tariff payments to New Yorkers.
Following the recent Supreme Court decision that ruled President Trump’s tariff policies to be unlawful, Governor Hochul continues to demand a full refund of $13.5 billion in tariff payments.
Based on estimates by the Budget Lab at Yale, the average New York household has faced an estimated $1,751 in added costs due to tariffs since they were enacted last year, for a total estimated $13.5 billion statewide impact.
The full text of the letter is included below:
The Honorable Scott Bessent
Secretary of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220
Dear Secretary Bessent,
On behalf of over 20 million New Yorkers, I demand the Trump Administration refund approximately $1,751 for every New York household, for a total tariff refund of approximately $13.5 billion to New Yorkers. To that end, I am calling on the Department of the Treasury to coordinate with appropriate agencies and immediately formulate and implement a plan to refund all tariff proceeds.
Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump administration’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful. These unlawful taxes wrought havoc on the American economy and increased costs for hard-working families.
Having unlawfully seized billions of dollars from American people and businesses, the federal government should now do the right thing: give it back. Based on estimates by the Budget Lab at Yale, the average New York household has faced an estimated $1,751 in added costs due to tariffs since they were enacted last year, for a total estimated $13.5 billion statewide impact.
New Yorkers have felt the consequences of these tariffs ripple through every sector of our economy. Consumers have paid dramatically more for everyday goods. Small businesses have faced increased supply and equipment costs. Our state’s farming industry has taken a particular hit, with farmers reporting an added layer of uncertainty that makes planning and future investment challenging.
Millions of New Yorkers are owed a refund for the real and widespread consequences of President Trump’s reckless and illegal tariff policy. Compensation is owed to the people of New York, and New Yorkers look forward to receiving our payout in full.
