Gov. Andrew Cuomo has done plenty to please environmentalists over the past few months. In his State of the State address Cuomo called for stricter caps on greenhouse gases, unveiled a new “energy czar” and announced plans for a $1 billion “green bank” and a statewide network of charging stations for electric cars. Environmental groups praised the budget he signed this year, which boosts funding for mass transit, increases capital spending for parks and diverts more money to the state’s… [More]

  Our thoughts and prayers are with Boston this week, where a horrific attack on its marathon and its citizens united the country in empathy for the victims. The world of politics can seem meaningless in the wake of irrational and wanton destruction. But the Northeast has recovered from acts of terror and will show its resolve once again. Aside from the tragedy, as always, we have your winners and losers. Can’t get enough of our winners and losers? Tune… [More]

The key players and issues regarding transportation infrastructure.… [More]

Only after Superstorm Sandy slammed Long Island did the governor finally take a serious look at the Long Island Power Authority in search of a solution to its longtime problems. … [More]

  The state budget did not go into overtime, but there were a number of buzzer beaters this week. Top-seeded Gov. Andrew Cuomo outpaced 16th-seeded David Paterson’s legacy in the first round, but trailed eighth-seeded gun rights advocates at halftime due to sloppy turnovers. The ninth-seeded minimum wage hike ran away from the eighth-seeded small business employers, who sought to limit its scoring to under $9 an hour, and barely slipped by top-seeded Senate Republicans, who forced the wage’s restaurant workers to foul out. But 420th-seed Assemblyman… [More]

After Superstorm Sandy devastated New York City last fall, among the volunteers in Rockaway was a former congressman who left Washington in ignominy. … [More]

Joe Martens Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Q: Is DEC being transparent and open enough in its hydrofracking review? Some opponents have criticized DEC over its process, especially after a year-old health summary was leaked to the press this month while Freedom of Information requests went unanswered. JM: New York’s review of high-volume hydraulic fracturing has provided extensive and ample opportunity for the public to review and comment, including three public comment periods. The health summary you… [More]

When Superstorm Sandy battered Long Island and shut down power for thousands of residents and businesses for days or weeks, much of the frustration residents felt was quickly directed at the Long Island Power Authority, which was criticized for its slow response and poor communications. Since then, public officials have agreed that something needs to be done to change the unusual structure of LIPA—but there’s little agreement as to what the solution is. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for privatizing… [More]

In what was dubbed the first real “debate” of the 2013 election cycle, six New York City mayoral candidates squared off at St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn last night on the topic of housing. The event was hosted by the Daily News in conjunction with Metro IAF, and drew a packed house, with audience participation a hallmark of the forum. The candidates–City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, former comptroller Bill Thompson, Comptroller John Liu,… [More]

The Democratic candidates for New York City mayor should be receiving a letter this week from Assemblyman Micah Kellner asking them to tour the site for a marine transfer station at East 91st Street in Manhattan. The controversial project was intended to help ship out more trash by barge and to spread such facilities more evenly across the five boroughs, but local lawmakers have argued that truck traffic and exhaust would harm children playing at the adjacent Asphalt Green recreational facility. And… [More]