RyeCity THE REVIEW THE FINAL TEST Gov. Hochul announces $658M to strengthen health care

DMV celebrates long-awaited return of White Plains office

Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado joined New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder at a grand opening event for DMV’s new White Plains office, located at The Source at White Plains shopping complex at 1 Maple Avenue.

“It took us several years to get to this point, part of that due to the issues presented by the pandemic, but that time all seems worth it when you look at this new office,” said DMV Commissioner Schroeder. “I commend all of the hard work by our staff who work here, as well as other DMV colleagues who were involved in all of the planning and implementation to get us to this day.”

“This brand new space will provide incredible resources and customer service to the residents of Westchester County,” said Delgado. “This is about making government work for the people and ensuring a trip to the DMV is a smooth, seamless process. Thrilled we could open this office today and create a more efficient facility in White Plains.”

The new office replaces a temporary office that had been set up in Tarrytown in the interim between when the old DMV office at White Plains Mall closed and before the new space was ready to move into. The office was designed to provide a more streamlined customer flow to make the experience easier and quicker for our customers.

The office was built from the ground up and includes an information screen to direct customers to where they need to go, improved seating and counter space and a dedicated area for new drivers to take their permit tests, including those seeking a commercial driver’s permit. Most transactions will be able to be completed so that customers can be in and out in 30 minutes or less.

Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am very pleased that today the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is open and ready to serve the people of Westchester. My constituents were very concerned about losing access to the White Plains office when the old office closed, so this will be a tremendous benefit to our district and to all of Westchester County. This is such a beautiful new facility, located centrally in the heart of White

Plains. Congratulations to Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder and his team for this exciting opening!”

This office and other ongoing and upcoming renovations are part of the DMV’s overall transformation initiative, in which the department is modernizing its technology and streamlining its customer service options. The goal of this transformation effort is to shatter New Yorkers’ perceptions of DMV by providing simplified, effective, and responsive services.

As part of that plan, the focus is to make the DMV less complicated for customers and employees; providing more ways for customers to interact with DMV; and make transactions and services simpler so that customers are successful the first time and do not require a repeat visit.

In addition to physical changes in DMV offices, the agency is in the process of making significant improvements to its website, putting more transactions online, expanding access to DMV services in their communities, and launching new digital services, including a digital pre-screen process for customers applying for a REAL ID or enhanced driver license.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday more than $658 million in state funding to support 127 projects that will protect and transform New York State’s health care delivery system. Administered by the State Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program will help to improve patient care by supporting high-quality facilities serving the inpatient, primary care, mental health, substance use disorder and long-term care needs of communities throughout the state.

“New Yorkers deserve access to quality health care and a strong, stable, and equitable health care system,” Governor Hochul said. “These grants will provide critical funding for improvements at hospitals and other facilities throughout our state to ensure they deliver the top rate care New Yorkers deserve.”

The awards will help fund 127 projects throughout the state. View a list and description of the projects by region.

Acting State Health Commissioner James McDonald said, “These funds will enable our health care providers and facilities to further modernize and integrate health care services to ensure that New Yorkers receive access to the medical care they require now and for future generations. New York is a national leader in providing first-rate health care thanks to Governor Hochul’s dedication to making sure our health care systems have the resources necessary to deliver the best care possible for all New Yorkers.”

The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program is aimed at supporting efforts to reduce health care costs and improve the health outcomes of New Yorkers by expanding access to inpatient, primary, preventative, and other ambulatory care services as part of regionally integrated health care delivery systems. These awards are also focused on projects which will help ensure the financial sustainability of safety net health care providers, and the preservation or expansion of essential health care services.

The funding announced today was awarded under the second phase of the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program III and the first phase of Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV. In total, New York State has awarded nearly $1.68 billion in total funding through the program.

The State will award an additional $1.15 billion through additional phases of Statewide IV. Additionally, Governor Hochul’s FY 2024 Executive Budget includes $1 billion in additional funding to establish Statewide V.