Budget
Policy
Hochul wants to tax the rich … if they don’t live in NYC
Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced an entirely new tax proposal on ritzy second homes in New York City – two weeks after the state budget was due.
Heard Around Town
Policy
Council bills would seek bathrooms, maps ahead of World Cup
Preparing for an influx of a million spectators who need to know where to hang out and where to pee.
Budget
Policy
Hochul blames activists’ lawsuit for climate budget standstill
The governor is set on amending the 2019 Climate Act in wake of a lawsuit filed by environmental activists, and says the need for change is their fault.
Budget
Policy
Tensions rise in slow budget talks as lawmakers poised to pass third extender
Lawmakers are staying in Albany this week with little movement on the final spending plan.
Criminal Justice
Policy
Robert Brooks’ father pushes for new office to probe prison deaths as counties push back
County coroners are fighting to retain jurisdiction over prison fatalities.
New York State
Policy
Bipartisan push grows to backfill federal cuts to food stamps in state budget
Lawmakers and organizations are concerned climate issues and other policy stalemates are hogging up the budget limelight.
Heard Around Town
Policy
Mamdani heads to the zoo to announce the latest DCWP settlement
At the red panda exhibit, the mayor will tout a settlement with HungryPanda.
Criminal Justice
Policy
At Bellevue Hospital, Mamdani takes a step toward closing Rikers
The mayor touted the opening of a 104-bed therapeutic unit for incarcerated people to replace a Rikers Island infirmary.
Budget
Policy
Business as usual: Lawmakers pass second one-week budget extender
Lawmakers popped back to Albany for a few hours to pass a bill to fund state government for another week as talks drag on.
Zohran Mamdani
Policy
City Hall cut references to ‘DEI’ from NYC racial equity plan
The Mamdani administration is worried about the Trump administration’s reaction to its legally mandated report.
Education
Policy
Report: Absenteeism, lagging test scores, school transfers soar for homeless NYC students
Advocates for Children found that more than 154,000 public school students were homeless last year.
Technology
Policy
Where does Waymo operate now?
The self-driving car company has an eye on New York City, but its cars are already ferrying people in other cities.
Technology
Policy
Across NY, debate about the inevitability of driverless cars begins
Waymo is crouched at the gates, and labor and worker advocates are hell bent on keeping them out.
Budget
Policy
The astroturf war in New York over car insurance reform
The fight over the incredibly technical topic is pitting two powerhouse industry lobbies against one another.
Health Care
Policy
Lawmakers, state officials scramble to help 450,000 New Yorkers set to lose health insurance
New Yorkers making between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty line on the Essential Plan will lose their health benefits on July 1 unless state leaders act.
New York City
Policy
NYC Council’s preliminary budget response doesn’t include CityFHEPS expansion in its priorities
The eligibility expansion would cost the city billions of dollars and is currently tied up in court.
Health Care
Policy
Helen Keller’s family members irate over changes to communication bill of rights proposal
The proposed changes to the bill have also caused a rift between the chairs of the Assembly and Senate committees on disabilities.
Policy
Policy
Lawmakers apathetic, yet unfazed, by sluggish state budget talks
State budget talks are expected to drag on weeks past the April 1 deadline.
Immigration
Policy
Report finds immigrant legal services under stress in New York
Immigrant rights advocates want state leaders to approve landmark new funding and legislation to improve access to attorneys for immigrants amid a hostile federal government
Policy
Policy