Author Archive
Rebecca C. Lewis
2024 New York congressional battleground
Politics
Heastie visits incumbents facing left-wing primary challenges
In recent weeks, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has hosted in-district events with Assembly Members Didi Barrett, Michael Benedetto and Stefani Zinerman – who are all fighting off primary challenges backed by the WFP or DSA.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
News & Politics
Politics
Appellate court agrees that state ethics commission is unconstitutional
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sued the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government to prevent it from investigating his $5 million book deal.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Policy
Judge tosses abortion rights measure from November ballot
Democrats had been pushing the state constitutional amendment that would protect abortion rights and other civil rights
- By Austin C. Jefferson and Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Personality
SUNY chancellor John King talks budget wins and campus protests
The head of the state’s public university system discussed the police response to pro-Palestinian protest encampments and the fate of SUNY Downstate.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Politics
Here’s where the Leave It Blank campaign did best in New York City
In some Assembly districts in Brooklyn and Queens, a third of voters cast blank ballots in the Democratic presidential primary.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Politics
New York state Legislature 2024 races to watch
Here are some of the challenges, swing districts and open seats to keep an eye on.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis, Peter Sterne and Austin C. Jefferson
News & Politics
Politics
State AG demands answers about Meta AI chatbot’s false accusations
Letitia James sent a letter to the Facebook parent company after City & State reported that the chatbot was making up sexual harassment allegations against lawmakers.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Politics
Meta AI falsely claims lawmakers were accused of sexual harassment
The new AI chatbot in Facebook Messenger provides detailed information about the sexual harassment allegations against state legislators. The only problem: none of it is true.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Updated
Politics
Crickets from Building Trades Council on New York’s housing deal
The construction unions were absent from an event with Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrating labor wins in the state budget.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Heard Around Town
Politics
Hochul: No plans to send National Guard to college protests in NY
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state stands ready to assist the NYPD if they ask, but she doesn’t believe the National Guard is currently necessary.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Policy
The biggest issues left out of the state budget
The NY HEAT Act could still be passed before the end of session, though higher taxes on the wealthy are likely dead.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
MagazineShow All
Albany Agenda
Policy
All the details of Albany’s final housing deal
‘Good cause’ eviction protections, a replacement for 421-a and tweaks to rent-stabilization all made it into this year’s state budget.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
New York State
Politics
Gov. Kathy Hochul hits new polling lows
A new Siena College poll shows New Yorkers aren’t happy with the governor, or congestion pricing.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Policy
What’s in and out of the state budget
The state Legislature finished approving the state’s $237 billion state budget on Saturday.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis and Austin C. Jefferson
New York State
Politics
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: There’s light at the end of the budget tunnel
He offered a few new potential housing nuggets while expressing optimism that the final budget will come soon.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Albany Agenda
Policy
Reactions to Hochul’s preliminary budget deal
If no one’s happy, that’s compromise!
- By Rebecca C. Lewis and Austin C. Jefferson
New York State
Politics
Hochul announces the framework of a budget deal
The spending plan isn’t done, but the governor took a victory lap after getting closer to an agreement with legislative leaders.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis and Austin C. Jefferson
Albany Agenda
Policy
Tenant advocates alarmed about latest budget negotiations
Housing Justice for All published a fact sheet comparing the current version of “good cause” eviction to what was originally proposed.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Policy
Policy
Here are the details of Albany's potential three-way housing deal
The proposed deal includes a weakened version of “good cause” eviction, an increase to individual apartment improvement caps and a new version of the 421-a tax break. But everyone seems to hate it.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis
Kathy Hochul
Politics
A peek at Hochul’s 2023 tax returns
The governor made her documents public on Friday.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis