Heard Around Town

Politics

Zohran and Kal go to a coffee shop

Actor and former Obama staffer Kal Penn supports his good friend, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, but he is highly critical of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Nonprofits

NYN Media

Opinion: Why after-school programs are New York City’s silver bullet

Greater support for these programs will create a transformative ripple effect that will resonate throughout the city.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Don’t let ICE turn state and local facilities into immigrant detention centers

The Dignity not Detention Act would prohibit New York state and local government entities from contracting with ICE for immigrant detention.

Albany Agenda

Politics

Hochul says subway crime ‘not statistically significant, but psychologically significant’

The governor's supporters say the specter of National Guard troops checking bags will make New Yorkers feel safer, but activists say it’s just a militarized version of stop-and-frisk.

News & Politics

Politics

The Adams administration quietly hired its first AI czar. Who is he?

Jiahao Chen, who led AI initiatives at JPMorgan Chase and Capital One, is the city’s new director of AI and machine learning.

News & Politics

Politics

New York guest list for 2024 State of the Union

Who is attending the president’s speech alongside the Empire State’s senators and representatives?

Interviews & Profiles

Personality

Steve Romalewski wants to help you understand redistricting

The CUNY researcher’s project “Redistricting and You” translates the complexities of redistricting into easy-to-read interactive maps.

Housing

Policy

City program to incentivize upgrades to rent stabilized apartments has just one applicant

The pilot program is just one way the city is trying to help get vacant units back on the market, city officials said at a City Council hearing on housing vacancies.

Criminal Justice

Politics

Hochul leaves bail behind and continues tough-on-crime approach with subway deployment

The governor said she would send National Guard troops and state police to check bags in the New York City subway system.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Legislation seeks to ban fast food surge pricing

A bill introduced by Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara came as Wendy’s announced it was launching a “dynamic pricing” plan

News & Politics

Politics

WFP endorses Jonathan Soto in 82nd Assembly District

Soto, who also has the support of DSA, is challenging Assembly Education Chair Michael Benedetto.

Immigration

Policy

Over 37,000 migrants applied for asylum and work authorization through city help centers

While New York City has increased legal assistance for asylum-seekers after opening a help center devoted to helping migrants apply for asylum and work authorization, the City Council expressed concerns Tuesday about a lack of funding included in the 2025 fiscal preliminary budget.

Albany Agenda

Policy

NY Legislature seems poised to push back on Hochul’s school funding proposal

The governor wants to move money around based on enrollment, but legislative leaders seem skeptical of that idea.