Senator Kristen Gonzalez started her first day of session this year in Albany standing with her colleagues and advocates to call for universal child care. The next day, she joined Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani at a press conference in Brooklyn to announce a historic investment to bring universal child care to all New Yorkers.

At the announcement, Senator Gonzalez said, “As someone who plans to start a family in New York, I am relieved that our state is acting today on universal child care. I am so proud to have joined the Governor and Mayor to deliver on our promise to New Yorkers and make universal child care a reality in New York State. Our working families and children deserve an affordable and dignified life, and I am committed to working with city and state leadership, my colleagues, and advocates to deliver for them.” 

Senator Kristen Gonzalez celebrated the announcement that New York City will complete a full street redesign of McGuinness Boulevard, implementing long needed safety measures that will save lives in Greenpoint. On January 3, 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the City will implement traffic calming safety measures including parking protected bike lanes along the entire McGuinness Boulevard corridor from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. Kristen could not be more proud to stand with Mayor Mamdani as he commits to improving the safety of our community. She thanks the Make McGuinness Safe coalition and all of the parents, advocates, and organizers who fought to make this a reality and whose advocacy has saved lives. 

On January 5, Senator Gonzalez joined Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani, MTA Chair Lieber and elected officials from across the city to celebrate the success of Congestion Pricing on the one year anniversary its implementation. After one year, pollution is down 22%, traffic injuries are down 8%, and the MTA has unlocked $15 billion in capital funding to improve service and increase accessibility. These benefits improve the quality of life for working class New Yorkers every day. Senator Gonzalez will continue to advocate for investments in public transportation.

Senator Gonzalez joined her colleagues in Albany to call on the Public Service Commission to reject Con Edison’s proposed rate hikes. Rate increases are an impossible burden at a time when so many New Yorkers are already feeling high costs and inflation. We are in an affordability crisis, and Senator Gonzalez is calling for the PSC to reject Con Edison’s continued proposals to raise energy and gas costs. People should not have to choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table. Senator Gonzalez has introduced many bills to promote lower energy costs.

On Monday, January 12, the New York State Senate passed a package of bills through the Committee on Elections, Chaired by Senator Kristen Gonzalez, to protect election integrity by expanding accessibility, protecting voters and election workers, and confronting the growing threats of political violence and foreign influence. The package includes seven bills including Senator Gonzalez’s bill the New York Election Officer Protection Act (S8646A) which prohibits the intimidation, obstruction, or unlawful dissemination of personal information of elections officers. Other legislation in the package prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters (S1085), establishes portable polling locations (S568), and improves training for BOE Commissioners (S1035).

Democracy works best when every New Yorker can participate freely, safely, and without fear of intimidation, and this legislation makes it clear violence and intimidation have no place in our elections. As Chair of the Committee on Elections, protecting election integrity is a priority for Senator Gonzalez.  

Senator Gonzalez joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine to sign two Executive Orders designed to address the deceptive practices of hidden junk fees and subscription traps that cost New Yorkers money. Senator Gonzalez is proud to stand with Mayor Mamdani as he takes steps to hold businesses accountable for unfair practices that exploit both workers and consumers. As Chair of the Committee on Internet and Technology, Senator Gonzalez is steadfast in her commitment to addressing the affordability crisis and looks forward to partnering with City officials to take on bad actors.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez, a member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, joined the Joint Legislative Hearing on the 2026 Executive Budget Proposal for Environmental Conservation and Energy last month. 

New Yorkers in Greenpoint and Williamsburg are breathing in toxic air from Green Asphalt. These facilities don’t belong in residential neighborhoods so the Department of Environmental Conservation needs to hold them accountable. 

Watch the Senator ask the DEC Commissioner about the unaddressed toxic fumes in the district, here.

In addition to joining NYSNA nurses on the picket line as they went on strike for fair and safe contracts, Senator Kristen Gonzalez organized a letter with Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. They urged the Governor to support the nurses and require hospital systems to continue gender-affirming care.

Senator Gonzalez also wrote an op-ed about Mount Sinai Health System's investments in AI amidst NYSNA's demands for fair contracts and safe staffing. She stands with them in the demand for transparency to center frontline workers' voices, and safeguards to protect patients. Read it here. 

New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, convened a public legislative hearing to examine the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in high-risk settings within the private sector. The hearing focused on the growing role of AI in critical decision-making processes and the need for strong guardrails to protect New Yorkers from potential harm.

The hearing provided lawmakers with the opportunity to hear testimony from invited experts, advocates, labor representatives, and industry stakeholders on the current use of AI in high-risk settings, as well as its real-world impacts on workers, consumers, and the general public.

A major theme that legislators spoke to and reiterated during the hearing was the strong need to act in the face of gridlock in Congress and for greater transparency as a first step in the larger process of regulating AI.

You can watch a recording of the hearing here.