Press Release, State DEC and Canal Corporation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State Canal Corporation have announced the expansion of operational changes at Champlain Canal locks between Waterford and Stillwater as a precautionary measure due to a recent preliminary detection of round goby eDNA above Lock C-2 in Halfmoon.

eDNA, or “environmental DNA,” is residual genetic material found in air, water or soil. While no physical round goby, an aquatic invasive species (AIS), were captured, DEC and the Canal Corporation are implementing further operational changes in accordance with their joint Rapid Response Plan that was established in 2022 to help prevent the spread of the round goby to the Lake Champlain Basin.

“Out of an abundance of caution and based on preliminary results, DEC and the Canal Corporation are working with State and federal partners to implement the response plan and prevent the potential spread of the round goby to Lake Champlain and safeguard our waterways and fisheries,” said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “Early detection is extremely important in preventing the spread of a suspected new invasive species from entering our environment. DEC will continue to monitor and respond to this situation collaboratively with Canal Corporation to prevent round goby from reaching Lake Champlain.”

The eDNA survey work was collected by U.S. Geological Survey, analyzed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded by Lake Champlain Basin Program. The Canal Corporation and DEC will continue to work with partners to conduct additional sampling and provide updates as the agencies work to confirm this eDNA detection. Further operational changes may occur as this work continues, in conformance with the Rapid Response Plan.

The Rapid Response Plan for the Champlain Canal identifies appropriate necessary actions if round goby is detected in the Champlain Canal and guides lock operations by the Canal Corporation.

Additionally, the Canal Corporation, which has been using a “double draining” procedure at Locks C-1 and C-2 since 2022 to help stop round goby, will expand its use to Locks C-3 and C-4.

The forceful water currents created by using this process at the locks deters round goby, a slow swimmer, from entering the locks and possibly traveling further up the Champlain Canal.

During “double draining” each lock is maintained in a full condition and emptied twice during locking operations. For northbound traffic, the locks will drain twice before traffic enters the lock chamber. For southbound traffic, the lock will empty and refill once before any vessels are admitted into the lock for southbound passage. The second draining will occur with the vessels in the lock.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Any possible spread of the round goby is a concern for all of us and as we work closely with DEC and other partners to further investigate this preliminary detection, the Canal Corporation is taking immediate action to expand our mitigation efforts. We appreciate the patience of mariners and Canal stakeholders as these operational modifications are activated, and we encourage them to learn how they can help us protect our canal waterways.”

DEC and the Canal Corporation appreciate the patience of mariners and local stakeholders, and encourage everyone to help mitigate the spread of AIS in New York State. All New York residents and visitors have a role to play in protecting state waters from invasive species.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York’s new $10 million Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program has paid out its first $140,250 to a total of 105 students from more than 50 fire departments statewide. Click here to see the initial payments.

Initially included as part of the FY24 Enacted Budget, the program seeks to strengthen the volunteer fire service by offsetting the costs of required trainings, making it easier for new recruits to join volunteer fire departments and help protect their communities.

“Volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line each day out of a selfless dedication to serving and protecting our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments affirm our commitment to their service, and to the vital role they play in keeping New Yorkers safe.”

Approximately nine million New Yorkers, nearly half of the state’s population, are served by volunteer firefighters. Yet in recent years, more than 75 percent of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of individuals willing to volunteer and serve. This is further compounded by the increased operational responsibilities beyond fire protection to include vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, and weather-related rescue operations. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020.

As part of Governor Hochul’s effort to strengthen and stabilize the state’s volunteer fire service, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) will administer the stipend to volunteer firefighters for completion of the following training courses completed on or after August 31, 2023.

Additionally, a local fire training stipend may be authorized for the completion of any OFPC training course or equivalents, as determined by OFPC, up to $500.

Stipends are for first time course completions of the listed OFPC course or equivalency as determined by OFPC. Students must be a member of good standing as determined by their department and stipend applications are submitted by the fire chief.

Additional information on the stipend program can be found by clicking here.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Volunteer firefighters provide a critical service in so many New York communities that do not have a full-time paid department. Training should not be a barrier to those who want to serve. Governor Hochul created this stipend program to help offset the personal costs of training for those who give so much of themselves to protect the public and keep us safe across New York State.”

Orleans expected to go from 3 full-time priests to 2 in near future

Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Mark Noonan, priest for a family of six Catholic churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara counties, met with about 35 parishioners on Wednesday evening for about two hours at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley. Father Noonan went over recent data, showing a declining number of priests and church attendees in the 8-county Diocese of Buffalo.

HOLLEY – The numbers at local Catholic churches mirror the challenge throughout the 8-county Diocese of Buffalo: a shrinking number of priests, and smaller congregations and financial resources.

Father Mark Noonan, a priest serving churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara counties, met with about 35 people on Wednesday evening at St. Mary’s in Holley, the first of seven meetings he is holding through Sunday with parishioners at Catholic churches in Holley, Kendall, Albion, Medina, Middleport and Barker.

Noonan is giving the local Catholics a chance to weigh in on a proposal announced last week from the Diocese of Buffalo that would close 34 percent of the churches in the Diocese. The churches in Orleans County are part of a family of churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara. The recommendation from the Diocese is to keep Catholic churches in Medina, Albion and Holley.

“This makes sure there is a Catholic presence within a reasonable geographic distance,” Father Noonan said during a two-hour meeting on Wednesday evening. “I don’t want to lose anything. But what is best for this family of parishes long-term?”

The proposal from the Diocese for ONE Catholic (Orleans and Niagara East) would close St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Stephen’s in Middleport. St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville was badly damaged in a fire last year and then torn down. The site and the rectory will be sold, and so will the land in Hulberton for the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival.

The Diocese also recommends to move Barker to a different family of churches in Niagara County. That will better align them with churches that are closer to Barker, Noonan said.

Father Mark Noonan said he wants the local Catholic churches to re-engage with the community, especially with its outreach to younger families.

The restructured family of churches will go from seven sites when the family was created to start 2023 to three churches with three priests serving congregations in Medina, Albion and Holley.

Father Noonan said he thinks of the churches locally as “one big family.” He knows some of the Catholics are hurting because their long-term church home has been recommended to close. That includes the church where he was raised: St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Cheektowaga.

“Some of our members in the ONE Catholic community are hurting,” Father Noonan said.

When the Diocese has closed churches before in a downsizing or “right sizing,” Father Noonan said there was a tendency to feel like there had been winners and losers though the process.

“We can’t have that,” he said. “When something is lost, that pertains to all of us. We something is gained, that pertains to all of us.”

Jim Simon of Lyndonville is president of the pastoral council for the family of churches. He said the plan to close about a third of the churches in the Diocese is painful. He is hopeful this will be the last downsizing needed by the Diocese.

“We don’t want to do this again in five years,” he said.

Jim Simon of Lyndonville is president of the pastoral council for a family of churches in Orleans and eastern Niagara counties. He is hopeful the downsizing plan presented by the Diocese will be the last time the organization has to consider closing churches and selling off property. He urged the attendees on Wednesday “to keep the faith and move forward.”

Father Noonan looked at historical data from the ONE Catholic family of churches in Orleans and Niagara East.

The churches, which used to include a site in Gasport and smaller churches in Albion and Medina, had 14 priests in 1985. There were eight or nine assigned to the area in 2005. Now there are three priests – Father Mark Noonan, Father Paul Ladda and Father Jan Trela.

In the Diocese there were 511 active priests assigned to parishes in the 8 counties. Now there are about 115 assigned to churches. That is projected to further drop to 70 in 2030, and then 38 in 2040.

The weekly attendance at the ONE Catholic churches is down collectively from about 1,600 in 2012 to 1,000 in 2023. In the past year, however, it is up about 100, with Holy Trinity in Medina seeing 10 percent growth a Spanish-speaking Mass at Holy Family in Albion drawing about 50 on Sunday afternoons.

Among the ONE Catholic churches individually, the average weekly Mass attendance so far this year include 165 at St. Mary’s in Holley, 27 at St. Mark’s in Kendall, 270 at Holy Family in Albion (plus another 50 for a Spanish-speaking Mass), 273 at Holy Trinity in Medina, 80 at St. Stephen’s in Middleport, and 121 at Our Lady of the Lake in Barker.

Among ONE Catholic churches, annual baptisms in the past decade are down from 76 to 21, while weddings dropped from 21 to 9, and confirmations also decreased from 119 to 39. There were about 600 children in religious education in 2012. Now it’s about 130, Father Noonan said.

The local churches long-term viability will need more younger families, Father Noonan said. He said the churches need to reach out to those who have stopped going to church, and invite people who haven’t been.

“I want to find new ways to grow,” Father Noonan said. “Our goal is to grow, to grow in our spiritual lives and to reach out to more people.”

He would like to see more Bible studies and small group discipleship programs in ONE Catholic .

At the Holley meeting, two of the parishioners asked that the St. Rocco’s festival grounds not be sold. The site is used for a popular Italian festival the day before Labor Day in a tradition going back nearly 50 years.

Father Noonan said the festival could be at a village park or at the St. Mary’s church property. He said the Lawn Fete at Holy Family also is a popular church festival at the Albion parish property.

“Using St. Rocco’s one day a year doesn’t make sense to me,” Father Noonan said.

The church buildings and properties that are sold will go towards a settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests. That settlement is in negotiation. About 900 people have claimed they were abused by priests.

One of the parishioners at the Holley meeting said the abuse scandal has driven many from the church.

St. Mary’s in Holley would be the only Catholic church to remain open in eastern Orleans, according to a proposal from the Diocese of Buffalo. St. Mark’s in Kendall is recommended to close.

Father Noonan also held meetings on Thursday at St. Stephen’s in Middleport and Holy Family in Albion, and today at St. Mary’s in Medina.

There are meetings scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake in Barker, and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s in Kendall, and then a final Spanish language meeting on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family in Albion.

Any counter proposals from the Diocese recommendations must be submitted by July 15. If a family of churches recommends keeping one church open that is proposed to close, the family has to pick a different church to close, Father Noonan said.

“There has to be a one-for-one,” he said.

From the counter-proposals from the families of churches the Diocese is expected to make a final decision in September on which churches will be closed.

ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church may raise the bail from $2,500 for a man charged with second-degree murder in a fatal Barre crash on Feb. 8.

During the arraignment in county court last week for Noah Magee, District Attorney Joe Cardone requested bail be increased from $2,500 set at the town court level to $250,000.

Cardone noted the charges in the case had been upgraded from reckless endangerment in the 1^st degree to second-degree murder. But Judge Church kept the bail at $2,500, noting he had made all of his court appearances.

Magee was driving a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road on Feb. 8 when he hit Roger Kingdollar who was driving a dirtbike. Kingdollar, 24, died from the collision.

In a court appearance today after Cardone filed a bail application, Judge Church said he didn’t have the minutes from the grand jury testimony or a video that showed the crash when he set the bail last week.

Cardone said those minutes and video would be provided this afternoon. Judge Church said he will review the evidence and could decide to increase the bail from the current $2,500.

The judge last week also approved five temporary orders of protection for family and friends of Kingdollar. Magee was not to drive by the homes or linger near them. The judge issued those orders of protection despite Magee’s attorney Paul Vacca saying there is “no reasonable basis” for issuing them.

Cardone said in court today that Magee may have violated the order of protection in one instance by driving a vehicle near the residence of one of the people he is to stay away from. But Vacca said there is no clear evidence that the vehicle is question was Magee’s or that he was driving it.

The judge stressed to Magee to avoid driving near or having any contact and communications with the five people with orders of protection.

Vacca asked the judge to consider 10 orders of protection for Magee from people who were unruly during his court appearance on June 12.

Church declined to do that, but told the people in court they need to stop having disturbances in the courtroom or in the parking lot outside the courthouse.

Church had people escorted by security on Friday due to their behavior, when they were yelling at Magee and the judge.

Church said he will insist on order in the courtroom.

“It’s difficult,” he said to Kingdollar’s friends and family. “I am sorry for your loss. But you have to be patient and trust the process.”

MEDINA – The Board of Education met on Thursday and appointed Donnell Holloway to fill a vacancy on the board. Holloway will take the spot of Debra Tompkins, who resigned.

Holloway will serve on the board until May 20, 2025, the day of the next board election.

During the meeting, the Board of Education reviewed all letters of interest to fill the recently vacated board seat.

First ‘Lace Up for the Library’ 5K also planned for July 20

LYNDONVILLE – The Yates Community Free Library’s concert series was scheduled to start on June 24, but the first concert has been pushed back a week due to unforeseen circumstances, said library director Emily Cebula.

The first “Concert on the Lawn” for the 2024 season will be July 2 at 11 a.m. featuring Dave Stockton on a variety of instruments. The morning show on a Tuesday will include special audience guests – the residents of Medina Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Home.

The concerts in the series are all free to attend and people are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Besides the Tuesday concert on July 2, the events are all on Monday evenings.

The schedule includes:

• July 2 at 11 a.m. – Dave Stockton
• July 8 at 7 p.m. – Feedback
• July 15 at 6:30 p.m. – Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra
• July 22 at 7 p.m. – Old Hippies
• July 29 at 7 p.m. – Stanton
• Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. – Barker Community Band
• Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. – Mystic Sisters with Ruby Hoffee
• Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Puckdaddys
• Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. – Celtic Spirit

The library’s concert series is funded by the state with money administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Yates Community Library also is planning its first “Lace Up for the Library” 5K on July 20. Walkers and runners are welcome to event which starts and finishes at the Yates Town Park. The race starts at 9 a.m. and people who register by July 12 will receive an official race T-shirt. Click here for more information.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Pat Harrington Trio played Thursday evening at State Street Park under the pavilion to kick off Medina’s third Blue Thursdays concert series. The trio include Pat Harrington, right, Owen Eichensehr and Paul Yates.

At least 600 people attended the concert, despite temperatures near 90.

The lineup for the blues concerts the rest of the season includes:

• June 27: Dave Viterna Group
• July 11: Nickel City Blues Band
• July 18: Maria Aurigema
• July 25: Thurman Brothers Band
• Aug. 1: Frank Grizanti Band
• Aug. 8: Tommy Z Band

Pat Harrington, a Grammy nominated musician from Gasport, performed for two hours in the debut concert for this year’s concert series. Harrington lives in Memphis, Tenn. and has toured full-time nationally and internationally the past five years.

Harrington will be performing with Victor Wainwright and The Train for part of the summer, including a concert on Wednesday in Atlantic City, NJ. Click here for more about Pat Harrington.

Several food and beverage vendors are at the concerts.

The seven-concert series is produced by The Print Shop in partnership with the Orleans Renaissance Group.

There is no charge to attend the concerts and no vendor fee for those selling food and beverages.

Ken Daluisio, owner of The Print Shop, said the goal is to bring a big crowd to Medina, which he said benefits local businesses and the community.

Steven Sones, owner of NOLA Concessions in Medina, serves up a snow cone. He started the business on June 1 and the “Sno Balls” he makes are very popular in New Orleans, where he grew up.

He offers 12 flavors and tops them the snow cone with sweet condensed milk. He served more than 100 of them for free to kids on Wednesday when the temperatures were well above 90 degrees.

NOLA Concessions will be at Blue Thursday, the Albion concert series on Wednesdays, and at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market location on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Most of the attendees brought their own lawn chairs and relaxed for two hours, listening to the music.

Museum plans photography exhibit, dessert fundraiser in August

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Larry Grimes, Cheryl Giacherio and Dr. David Giacherrio.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum President Chris Manaseri

POINT BREEZE – The Board of Trustees of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum expanded this month, adding three members from the community.

Larry Grimes, a life-long resident of Kenyonville, has been active as a docent at the OOLHM for several years. Cheryl Giacherio grew up spending her summers at her parents’ cottage near Point Breeze. Her husband, Dr. David Giacherrio, was both a practicing chemist at Kodak for many years, and a college teacher at Nazareth and at St. John Fisher.

The Giacherios reside in Rochester but summer at their Lake Ontario cottage. All three are active in the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, for which Dr. Giacherio acts as secretary.

The Board of Trustees for the Lighthouse Museum has been functioning since 2003 with the formation of the Lighthouse Committee, organized to raise funds for the construction of the replica which occurred in 2010.

Margaret “Peg” Wiley, the powerhouse behind the community project, served as the organization’s first president. Wiley will be honored with a plaque to be displayed on the Lighthouse at an Aug. 10 fundraising Dessert Buffet at the Carlton United Methodist Church on Archbald Road in Waterport, where Grimes is an elder and the kitchen master.

A first edition of this Dessert Buffet sold out last August when Susan Peterson spoke about her Lake Ontario sailing books. This year’s guest speaker is Roy Widrig, a geologist with the NYS Sea Grant Program who will address concerns specific to high water impacts at Oak Orchard and Point Breeze.

Tickets are $20 for the event and are available online at the Lighthouse website, at the lighthouse each weekend, and at the OONA Summer Concerts each Tuesday evening at the Orleans County Marine Park. Half of the ticket price is a tax-deductible donation to the Lighthouse, which is dependent on donations and gift shop sales to fund its open hours and programs.

The Lighthouse was also a recipient of a GO Art! regrant this year in support of a photography exhibit which will also take place at the Dessert Buffet on Aug. 10. Entries for the exhibit are open to amateur and professional photographers, and must be made through ShowSubmit.com (click here) by July 17. A portion of each entry fee also supports the lighthouse.

With its three new members, the Board is now 10 members strong. Vice President Larry Albanese and Treasurer Diane Blanchard are the senior members of the Board, having served on it since the early days of fundraising and grant writing that brought the lighthouse project to fruition in 2010.

Recently retired Albion teacher Dawn Squicciarini, daughter of the long-time and late president Dick Anderson, also has been part of the lighthouse for many years. Relative newcomers to the community, Ann and Ken Martin and Holly and Chris Manaseri, round out the Board membership.

The Lighthouse Museum is chartered by the NYS Education Department with a mission to educate the public and to preserve and interpret local history, particularly maritime history of the Oak Orchard communities along the lake and river.

The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month from April through October, and as needed to maintain the building during the winter. The lighthouse is open to the public each weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day, thanks to a cadre of dedicated volunteer docents including several Board members, Paul Blake, Kim Charron, Sylvia Goodstine and Tracy Panczyszyn.

Provided photo: At the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center,  Jennifer Raduns presents the Liam’s Legacy scholarship to Layne Hodgins, who is joined by Lt. Steve Cooley of the Medina Fire Department.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Three students from Orleans/Niagara BOCES are the recipients of the Liam’s Legacy scholarships.

At the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, Layne Hodgins, a Medina student in the Allied Health program was announced as one of this year’s award winners.

At end-of-year celebrations at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, Landon Sabol (North Tonawanda) and Cooper Bulkley-Fish (Niagara Academy) in the Emergency Medication Services program were recognized.

The awards were started by Jennifer Raduns in memory of her grandson Liam. The 6-month old baby was beaten by his father in 2016 and later died from his injuries.

“I wanted to pay homage to the first responders who tried to save Liam’s life,” Raduns said.  “I am happy to be able to celebrate Liam’s life by helping others.”

Referendum to buy 153 acres fails in 260-145 vote

Photos by Tom Rivers: Staff from the Orleans County Board of Elections counts ballots this evening in the Yates Town Hall while onlookers observe the county. Town Supervisor Jim Simon is in back at left.

LYNDONVILLE – Voters in the Town of Yates today gave a decisive rejection of a land purchase along Lake Ontario to expand the town park.

The town held a referendum today on whether Yates would be authorized to spend $700,000 in grant funds to acquire 153.3 acres next to the current 6-acre Town Park on Morrison Road.

The town wanted to expand the park by buying the land from NYSEG. Even though the purchase would only move forward with grant funding, residents still said no. Several voiced their concerns about ongoing expense with maintenance and the uncertain plan for how the town would use the land.

Town Supervisor Jim Simon envisioned a nature trail for the property, and keeping the site mostly wild.

“The people have spoken,” Simon said after the votes were counted in the town hall. “It’s definitive.”

The stack of “no” votes is about twice as high as the “yes” votes.

There were 415 votes counted today, with 382 ballots cast in person today and 33 more through absentees. A few more absentees also might trickle in the next few days but they won’t change the outcome.

There are 1,629 registered voters in Yates. That puts turnout at 25.5 percent.

Simon said residents are feeling a general uneasiness about the economy, and many recently had their assessments raised adding to their angst.

He will inform NYSEG that the land purchase was denied by residents. Simon expects NYSEG will put the land up for sale with the future use unknown. Residents in favor of the town purchase preferred to keep it mostly wild or have public access, over the land being developed for housing or industry and business.

Simon said he was pleased to meet more residents through the town discussions about the land, including recent public meetings.

“It got more people involved in the process,” he said.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online.

Legislation S.7694A/A.8148A establishes the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act to require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18.

Legislation S.7695B/A.8149A enables the New York Child Data Protection Act to prohibit online sites from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.

“Young people across the nation are facing a mental health crisis fueled by addictive social media feeds – and New York is leading the way with a new model for addressing the crisis and protecting our kids,” Governor Hochul said. “By reining in addictive feeds and shielding kids’ personal data, we’ll provide a safer digital environment, give parents more peace of mind, and create a brighter future for young people across New York.”

The Governor was joined at today’s bill signing by Attorney General Letitia James and bill sponsors State Senator Andrew Gounardes and State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, marking the culmination of a jointly led push to pass and sign this nation-leading legislation.

With this newly signed legislation, New York has established the nation’s most stringent protections to safeguard kids on social media. This action also builds on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis.

“Addictive feeds are getting our kids hooked on social media and hurting their mental health, and families are counting on us to help address this crisis,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James. “The legislation signed by Governor Hochul today will make New York the national leader in addressing the youth mental health crisis and an example for other states to follow.”

The legislation signed today addresses critical challenges facing young people. According to an advisory issued by the U.S. Surgeon General, recent research shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, a recent report from Pew Research Center found that six out of 10 teens say they feel they have little or no control over the personal information that social media companies collect about them.

The SAFE For Kids Act

Addictive feeds, or algorithmically driven feeds, facilitate unhealthy levels of social media use. This legislation will require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Unless parental consent is granted, users under 18 will not receive addictive feeds. Notably, the SAFE for Kids Act is the first bill of its kind to be signed into law in any state across the nation.

Under this law, kids may still use social media. For example, they can continue to search for specific topics of interest or subscribe to creators but will not be subject to algorithmically driven feeds that promote unhealthy levels of engagement. The law will also prohibit social media platforms from sending notifications regarding addictive feeds to minors from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. without parental consent. The law will authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to enforce the law and ensure compliance, including by seeking civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, among other remedies. And finally, it calls for the establishment of acceptable age verification and parent consent methods, to be determined by the OAG as part of a rulemaking process.

The New York Child Data Protection Act

This legislation will prohibit online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website. It also authorizes the OAG to enforce the law, including by seeking civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.