When Joe Lhota announced his resignation this week from the MTA, ostensibly to dive into the race for mayor in 2013, the reaction from political experts, the media and voters ranged from excitement to indifference. There seems to be a consensus that Lhota would be an interesting candidate–and potentially the most viable in a muddled Republican field where nobody has broken away from the pack–but there are those who believe that the obstacles in Lhota’s path make his ascension to… [More]

Who are the 100 most powerful people in New York City politics and government? The answer is both subjective and controversial. Still, in an attempt to arrive at a ranking that reflects who really drives the city’s agenda, City & State has consulted political insiders, considered dozens of reader nominations and incorporated the results of our online polls.… [More]

Councilmembers are contemplating a compromise paid sick leave bill this week, but the city’s business lobby is scrambling to shut it down. Partnership for New York City CEO Kathryn Wylde has been reminding lawmakers that requiring paid sick days for employees could be detrimental to city commerce, especially small businesses. “We don’t think city government belongs in the business of regulating private employee contracts,” she said. “This isn’t a situation like living wage or prevailing wage. This is the city saying it… [More]

At a Citizens’ Union forum on issues related to the 2013 mayoral election, one of the only things the panelists seemed to agree on was the fact that the city is facing a potential budget crisis sometime in the near future. David Jones of Community Service Society, NYU Professor Pedro Noguera, former Lt. Gov. Dick Ravitch and Partnership for New York City President Kathy Wylde were asked by an audience member at the CUNY graduate school to explain how they… [More]

Albany debates minimum-wage increase, with politics playing a starring role Five days a week Michelle Dawkins wakes up at 2:30 a.m. and drives from her Bronx apartment to begin her shift at JFK Airport, ferrying wheelchair-bound passengers among the airport’s eight terminals. From 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Dawkins—whom her co-workers affectionately call “Mother Love”—will make $7.25 an hour, or $58 for the day. If Dawkins, 42, doesn’t require an unpaid sick day, and if the airport needs her for… [More]

The film and television industries, which spent a whopping $7.1 billion in New York City last year, are giving the city a crucial economic boost, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday at a press conference at the Saturday Night Live studio at 30 Rockefeller Center. But since much of the growth was spurred by generous state tax incentives, which reduce taxes by 30 percent on designated production projects, the joke may actually be on taxpayers The tax credits don’t directly… [More]

* This year’s Albany redistricting battle may be the enemy of reform in more ways than one. The multipronged effort to create public pressure for pension reform is aimed at reaching lawmakers who are obsessed with protecting their seats over the next month, said someone involved in the effort. “You call up there to talk about substance, and all they want to focus on is district lines,” the source said. Pension reformers say they have to get language in the… [More]

From blizzards to Occupy Wall Street, Cathie Black to Carl Kruger, 2011 has had its ups and downs, lefts and rights, and even some unexpected U-turns (tweeting Anthony Weiner). It was a year of overhyped political races and secret backroom deals, spectacular ethical lapses and game-changing protests. As we look forward to 2012, we look back on the bold, savvy and dumb-lucky who won most mornings of the year. And as for the Losers, well, you know what you did.… [More]

By Chris Bragg, Andrew J. Hawkins, Jon Lentz, Adam Lisberg and Laura Nahmias Everybody knows our Prom Queen Christine Quinn is the one to watch—because so much has gone well for her this year, and next year could be even better! She’s planning to get married to the lucky Kim Catullo this year, after working really hard with her Prom King, Andrew Cuomo, to make it possible. She’s BFF with Mike Bloomberg even though she’s starting to stand up to… [More]

* Everybody get in line! The Partnership for New York City’s Kathy Wylde, who deals with billionaires every day, sounded less than pleased with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed tax reform plan Monday night. At NYC & Co.’s annual gala in Manhattan she worried about the governor’s declaration that New York is the “progressive capital of the nation,” telling us, “You know what that means – higher taxes.” But as more details of the plan leaked yesterday, Wylde changed her tune.… [More]