New York City

Policy

E-bike crackdown gets renewed scrutiny

Critics argue that the NYPD is seizing e-bikes and serving fines to delivery cyclists, who are often low-income immigrants.

New York State

Policy

New York Privacy Act draws industry disapproval

The state Senate passed state Senator Kevin Thomas' SHIELD Act, a long-stalled bill that would expand reporting requirements of data breaches and strengthen cybersecurity regulations for businesses.

New York State

Policy

What we know about rural broadband access

Senator Chuck Schumer is criticizing the Federal Communications Commission for relying on internet providers to self-report their service speeds, which critics say affords companies to opportunity to lie, claiming to provide better service than they actually do.

New York State

Policy

Cuomo has delivered for MWBEs. Lawmakers want to go further.

The state Legislature is finalizing a legislative package on state contracting for minority and women-owned businesses.

New York State

Policy

A bill to halt facial recognition tech in schools

Since Lockport City School District officials announced plans to test a facial recognition system in its schools last week, civil rights advocates have been raising alarms about the technology’s privacy and security risks.

Real Estate

Policy

Can New York rein in big real estate?

As rent regulations come up for renewal, tenant advocates and their progressive allies in Albany are pushing for extensive reforms – and real estate is on the defensive for the first time in years.

New York State

Policy

The internal rift over rent regulations

Democratic lawmakers agree they are racing against time to renew New York state rent laws before they expire on June 15. If it doesn’t happen before then, rent regulations could wind up in the “Big Ugly” – and the risk is growing by the day.

New York City

Policy

Airbnb’s New York City legal battles

How much data Airbnb and its peers will be made to share is still up in the air, but there are a few key legal battles to watch as New York attempts to find that answer. City & State broke down the primary conflicts over data sharing that exist between the city and Airbnb and the arguments on each side.

New York State

Policy

School facial recognition gets pushback from state

Not long after New York’s Lockport City School District announced plans to begin testing its facial recognition system on students and faculty next week, the New York State Education Department released a statement calling on the school district to delay its implementation on students.

New York State

Policy

Why civil rights advocates say decriminalization of marijuana isn’t enough

Some opponents of marijuana legalization argue that the concerns of criminal justice reform advocates would be resolved by decriminalization, but the civil rights community disagrees, arguing enforcement would still disproportionately affect minority communities.

New York City

Policy

The subway’s new contactless payment system begins slow rollout Friday

The OMNY system – short for “One Metro New York” – will allow riders to hold a phone or contactless card up to an electronic reader to pay with the help of a technology called “near-field communication,” rather than swiping a MetroCard. The One Metro New York system will allow riders use a phone or contactless card, rather than swipe a MetroCard.

New York City

Policy

De Blasio weighs in on rumored Amazon site

A New York Post report over the weekend suggested that internet retail and cloud computing giant Amazon was looking at planting roots on Manhattan’s West Side has reignited the debate over the city’s loss of a new Amazon headquarters earlier this year.

New York State

Policy

Marijuana’s stumbling blocks

Why, when marijuana is supported by most New Yorkers and large majorities of constituents and Democrats have unified control of the state government, can’t they pass pass marijuana legalization? It comes down to where that support is located.

New York City

Policy

E-bike pilot revs up for summer

Lime began adding 200 new pedal-assist dockless bikes to its current fleet in the Rockaways over Memorial Day Weekend.

New York City

Policy

New York City’s unglamorous modernization efforts

At a panel discussion during City & State’s Digital New York Summit on Thursday, experts from the private and public sector weighed in on how to make New York City more tech-friendly.

New York State

Policy

New York’s data security challenge

At a panel discussion during City & State’s Digital New York Summit on Thursday, experts from both the public and private sector weighed in on how New York can do a better job of guarding against future data security threats, and whether legislation like the SHIELD Act could help in that effort.

Criminal Justice

Policy

Bail reform done, lawmakers look at more criminal justice bills

There are still a number of criminal justice reforms that are being considered before the end of session, here’s a guide to each one and its prospects for passage.

New York City

Policy

HQ2 still dominating economic development conversation

The latest proposal inspired by the HQ2 debacle would focus on increased oversight of New York’s economic development process.

New York City

Policy

How New York could respond to the taxi medallion lending crisis

Since Sunday, when the New York Times investigation into predatory lending practices for taxi medallions was published, calls for action sprang forth from elected officials, but the proposals wouldn’t necessarily help cabbies who already lost everything.

New York State

Policy

Stopping sexual harassment, cleaning up Albany, taking on Trump – and more

State lawmakers are tackling a broad range of issues in Albany, including ending sexual harassment, cleaning up Albany and taking on Trump.