Page 1 - QT Eedition #28 July 10, 2025

TI MES

QUEENS

Published for the Borough of Queens

VOLUME 30, NO. 28 THURSDAY JULY 10, 2025 25 CENTS

New York Invests $7 Million in EV Grid
CONSUMER ALERT
Attorney General James Urges Integration and Charging Innovation

New Yorkers to Take Advantage of
New “Click-to-Cancel” Rule Governor Kathy Hochul has
announced a $7 million invest-
New FTC Rule Takes Effect on July 14, ment in electric vehicle (EV)
Allowing Consumers to Easily Cancel infrastructure and grid integra-
Unwanted Subscriptions tion technologies, reinforcing
New York State’s commitment
New York Attorney General Letitia James reminded to clean transportation and grid
New Yorkers that the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) modernization. The initiative
new “Click-to-Cancel” Rule will go into effect on July 14, includes $3 million awarded to
making it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions three innovative projects under
and other services that renew automatically. The rule the Vehicle Grid Integration Pro-
requires companies to make cancellation at least as simple gram, alongside a new $4 million
as enrollment and to allow consumers to cancel using funding opportunity to address
the same method they used to sign up – either online, in the challenges utilities face in
person, or over the phone. When canceling a subscription managing EV charging.
online, the cancellation mechanism must be easy to find, Awarded Projects: Enhancing
and consumers cannot be forced to chat with an agent if Grid Readiness
they did not do so when they signed up. Administered by the New York
“New Yorkers should never have to jump through State Energy Research and Devel-
hoops just to cancel an unwanted subscription,” said opment Authority (NYSERDA),
Attorney General James. “This new ‘Click-to-Cancel’ the $3 million in awards is tar-
rule will protect consumers and ensure companies are geted at scalable solutions to in-
operating fairly. I encourage anyone who has a difficult tegrate EVs into the electric grid.
These projects focus on technolo-
(Continued on page 2) gies such as bi-directional charg-
ing, onsite energy generation,
State Health Department Slow to energy storage, and EV managed in NYC, Capital Region, and 10 new Level 2 chargers
charging.
Inspect Violations at Adult Care Key Awards Include: Hudson Valley The Mobility House – $867,000
Voltpost – $775,000
Goals: UL certification, retro-
Facilities, NYS Comptroller Dinapoli’s Focus: Lamppost EV chargers fitting lampposts, adding at least (Continued on page 3)
Audit Finds

in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Congresswoman Grace Meng Fights For
If the state Department of Health
isn’t conducting timely inspec- Money For Maspeth Firehouse
tions or following up to make
sure violations are corrected, then
vulnerable residents could be left
at risk.”
Adult care facilities are primar-
ily home to the elderly who can no
longer live independently, but do
not require the care of a nursing
home. These facilities provide
The state Department of Health housing, meals and personal care
(DOH) is not adequately oversee- for individuals who need help with
ing adult care facilities, risking the daily activities. All facilities must
health and safety of vulnerable be licensed, and DOH is required
residents, according to an audit re- to supervise them through regular
leased by New York State Comp- inspections and complaint inves-
troller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The tigations. As of 2023, there were
audit found DOH at times failed to 534 adult care facilities operat-
conduct timely inspections and of- ing in New York, serving 37,547
ten lacked documentation to show residents.
critical problems were corrected. The audit reviewed DOH’s over-
“Adult care facilities across sight of these facilities from Janu-
the state have a responsibility to ary 2018 to October 2024. Health
protect residents and deliver qual- and safety issues at facilities can
ity care,” DiNapoli said. “Regular include, but are not limited to,
and routine inspections of these inadequate staffing, call bells not
facilities, and correcting prob- Pictured is Congresswoman Grace Meng during her recent visit to the firehouse pictured with
lems, ensure residents are not left (Continued on page 2) Commissioner Tucker, Chief of Department Esposito and FDNY officials. See story on page 2.
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