Policy
Rikers Island
With new leadership, advocates are daring to hope for change at Rikers
Mamdani’s Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards and federal Remediation Manager Nicholas Deml will work side by side. Their task – fixing a notoriously dysfunctional jail system – is daunting.
Heard Around Town
Senate leaders – and C&S readers – expect a late budget
This thing isn’t getting settled until after Easter.
New York City
Council passes bills to regulate protests outside schools and houses of worship
There was veto-proof support for the bill pertaining to churches and less support for restricting protests at schools.
New York City
NYC Conflicts of Interest Board declines to clarify electioneering rules
Anticorruption groups wanted to rein in government spending to promote ballot proposals, but the city’s watchdog board said that’s not up to them.
Energy & Environment
Lawmakers may be open to delaying climate law deadlines to avoid something worse
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to change the state’s emissions accounting methods struck a nerve with legislators that could provide room for compromise to keep it the same
Immigration
The Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs is 5 people. Amid ICE crackdown, some NYC officials want more
Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza Ali testified before the New York City Council Immigration Committee on Wednesday, where she fielded calls for a bigger agency.
Budget
Soliman faces the council
The director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget insisted he dislikes the idea of raising property taxes during an hourslong grilling before the City Council Finance Committee.
Immigration
Unions back increased funding for immigrant legal services
Advocates have pushed for $175 million as part of the state budget and two new bills to strengthen access to legal representation in immigration court.
Policy
NYC Council members to Hochul: Tax the rich (corporations)
Progressive New York City Council members are backing the state Legislature’s push to raise the city’s corporate tax rate.
Education
NYC schools chancellor: Class size mandate will be ‘very difficult’
Kamar Samuels faced his first grilling before the City Council in a preliminary budget hearing.
Policy
Hochul draws the line on updating the state’s environmental review process
The debate to modernize the state’s environmental review process could hold up a final budget deal.
Policy
Legislature closes in on immigration package deal
Lawmakers hope to reach an agreement and introduce language next week.
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Energy & Environment
After weeks of public teasing, Hochul outlines proposals to roll back climate law mandates
State lawmakers say Gov. Kathy Hochul hasn’t sent over proposed changes to the law yet, but the governor sketched out her plans in an op-ed this week.
Zohran Mamdani
3 big questions about Mamdani’s new Office of Community Safety
The much-anticipated office has a leader, but a vague mandate.
Artificial Intelligence
Hochul, DiNapoli want more information on AI’s threat and benefits to the workforce
A new commission is tasked with creating policy remedies to the potential rise in automation.
Energy & Environment
Hochul says plan to amend climate law won’t lower utility rates
Gov. Kathy Hochul said her bid to change the emissions reduction deadlines are meant to prevent future rate increases, but it’s “stupid” to say it would impact current rates.
Real Estate
‘Mr. Mayor, I would choose you as an adversary any day of the week.’ Some Council members are readying for latest rental voucher fight
Advocates and some City Council members say expanding CityFHEPS housing assistance is key to preventing homelessness. Budget watchdogs warn it’s unsustainable.
Immigration
Lawmakers want Hochul to use clemency power to protect immigrants
The Clemency Justice Act would make applying for executive clemency easier and more transparent.
Policy
State AG Letitia James pushes ban on surveillance pricing
New York already requires companies to disclose when they set prices based on people’s personal data. Now, lawmakers want to ban the practice entirely.
Policy
Planned Parenthood: Hochul’s buffer zone bill may be unconstitutional
Reproductive health centers worry the proposal to restrict protests would violate New Yorkers’ First Amendment rights.
