Joint letter from Senate Minority Leader Robert G Ortt and Senator Bill Weber
October 30, 2025
The Honorable Kathy Hochul Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224
Subject: Urgent Appeal for Intervention Regarding Infrastructure Project Coordination and Economic Harm in Northern Rockland County
Dear Governor Hochul,
We write to you today on behalf of businesses and residents from the Community of Northern Rockland to express our profound concern and request your immediate intervention regarding the devastating economic impact caused by the simultaneous construction of the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) and Orange and Rockland (O&R) utility projects, particularly along Route 9W in Haverstraw, Congers, the broader North Rockland area and the town of Stony Point in the neighboring Senate District. Previously, Congressman Lawler and Stony Point Town Supervisor Jim Monaghan wrote to you expressing dire concerns about the impact of these projects. However, the situation has only deteriorated further, and we are now asking for your direct intervention.
The core problem is a failure of coordination and oversight at the state level, leading to catastrophic consequences for our vital small business community:
- Simultaneous 24/7 Disruption: CHPE has been conducting work at night, while O&R has been relocating a gas main during the day. This has created near 24-hour, 6-day-a-week construction along Route 9W—the main commercial corridor—effectively severing access and foot traffic for local businesses.
- Severe Economic Harm: Businesses have reported massive losses, with some experiencing up to 75% revenue losses. This sustained disruption threatens to permanently shutter locally owned small businesses and inflict long-term economic damage on Northern Rockland.
- Inadequate Communication and Support: There has been a distinct lack of consistent and transparent communication from CHPE regarding the location and duration of construction, causing significant traffic delays and business uncertainty. Furthermore, efforts to communicate and distribute assistance from the existing business support fund have been insufficient, lacking clear guidelines and accessibility.
The State of New York permitted these projects, and we firmly believe that it is the State’s responsibility to protect communities from the adverse consequences of their execution. To mitigate the ongoing crisis and prevent further devastation, we urge you to use your influence and authority to take the following immediate steps:
- Mandate Project Rescheduling to End Simultaneous Work: We urge you to end the overlapping work immediately and reschedule either the O&R or CHPE project to avoid simultaneous construction, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the commercial corridor. As requested by local officials, we also ask that as much of the remaining CHPE construction as possible be shifted to overnight hours to reduce daily economic and traffic disruption.
- Provide and Increase Financial Assistance: Given the scale of the revenue losses caused by the simultaneous construction projects, the state must ensure the immediate availability and distribution of financial assistance to these suffering businesses. Furthermore, we strongly urge you to compel CHPE to increase the total funding available to businesses from $150,000 to a more realistic amount. (For context, the North Rockland Chamber of Commerce states that losses to the business community are projected at $10,000,000) We ask you to ensure the fund has clear, accessible guidelines to adequately meet the needs of those impacted.
- Ensure Stronger Oversight and Accountability: The State must commit to stronger oversight and accountability moving forward. We request that CHPE be directed to engage in clear, consistent communication with local elected officials, business leaders, and the public as the remaining work progresses, to ensure community concerns are directly addressed.
We understand the complexity of managing large-scale infrastructure, but the economic health and survival of our small businesses cannot be the sacrificial cost. We request a timely response outlining the specific actions your office will take to resolve the damage already caused and prevent further destruction of the business community.
Thank you for your immediate and serious attention to this matter of economic survival for Northern Rockland County.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Ortt Bill Weber
Senate Minority Leader Senator
62nd District 38th District