FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2026

Mayor Noble, Elected Officials & Public Safety Leaders Hold Albany Press Conference to Support Governor Hochul’s Auto Insurance Proposal

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that he held a press conference in the State Capitol on Monday in support of Governor Hochul’s proposal to lower the cost of auto insurance for New Yorkers.

Alongside elected officials and first responders from the Village of Spring Valley, City of Middletown, City of Mount Vernon, Town of Red Hook, Town of New Paltz, Westchester County, members of the Kingston Police and Fire Departments, and the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association, Mayor Noble stood at the steps of the Capitol to discuss the importance of the Governor’s proposal to lower insurance costs by reducing fraud and disincentivizing bad actors, which is part of her proposed FY27 State Budget.

“Insurance costs have increased exponentially, both for our families and for municipalities across the region. We’re all facing higher costs from our residents to our City fleets. By lowering rates, the City will save on insurance for our firetrucks, EMS services, Kingston Police Department cruisers, and vehicles for other City staff. This proposal could potentially relieve the burden to our taxpayers significantly.”

New York drivers pay some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation, paying over $4,000 on average towards annual insurance premiums. These high premiums are a result of outdated and anomalous laws that enable fraud and encourage expensive litigation and put New York out of step with other states. Hudson Valley and Western New York communities need the Governor’s common-sense reforms that will align New York with other states, preserve the ability of victims to get the justice they deserve and crack down on the major drivers of auto insurance costs. 

Kingston Police Chief Egidio Tinti said, “For law enforcement, these bad actors are creating a serious public safety issue, and this is not a victimless crime. It’s organized, dangerous, and it’s growing. This is a troubling trend, and there’s real risk to human life.” 

New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association President Samuel Fresina spoke about the critical issue of diverting first responders, who are responding to needless crashes instead of providing assistance and care to those genuinely in need.

The press conference can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/wgMyM-HkVfQ