New York State

Policy

Can the Green Light bill protect against facial recognition mining?

Reports revealed the FBI had been mining state driver’s license databases with facial recognition technology, prompting concerns about New York’s new Green Light law.

New York State

Policy

How much lead-contaminated water does NY let students drink?

It’s not just NYCHA that struggles with potential lead poisoning. Schools across New York state may also have lead contamination at levels experts consider unsafe, and now activists are calling for tightening the lead regulations and strengthening the testing and remediation rules.

New York City

Policy

Why the federal government could take Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion

The federal government is seeking to seize Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion. Here’s how criminal asset forfeiture can be applied in a sex trafficking case and what it means for the future of one New York City’s biggest homes.

New York State

Policy

Cuomo signed pay equity legislation – but does it guarantee equal pay?

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his signing of “new pay equity legislation” on Wednesday morning, but fully ensuring that women and people of color get the same pay for the same work will be more complicated.

New York State

Policy

Trump’s blocking of critics ruled unconstitutional

A three-judge panel sitting at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled unanimously that because Trump uses his Twitter account for government business, he can’t block other users because they have disagreed with or mocked him. 

New York City

Policy

City recommends tighter regulations for medallion lenders

The big question is: will a city bailout be approved to ease some drivers’ more immediate issues?

New York City

Policy

MTA ‘network communications issue’ halts subway service

The Fast Forward plan would modernize the subway system’s decades-old signaling system over the next 10 years.

New York State

Policy

New York bucks the national trend on immigration

As the federal government takes a hard-line stance on immigration, the Empire State opens its doors.

New York State

Policy

Cuomo targets Facebook ad practices

Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the Department of Financial Services to investigate reports that Facebook advertisers are able to block or modify ads in a discriminatory manner.

New York City

Policy

Is New York City ready for 5G?

Some in the tech industry worry that New York City is falling behind other major tech hubs when it comes to updating the infrastructure to sustain 5G wireless service – whenever it eventually arrives.

New York State

Policy

Can New York hit its environmental goals?

New York state just passed its most ambitious climate targets yet, but history suggests they won’t be easy to hit.

New York State

Policy

New York, Israel partner on tech

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an agreement for New York to enter into a $2 million partnership on tech and other economic development with Israel.

New York State

Policy

Why New York’s hospitals do terrible in federal rankings

While New York has many prestigious teaching hospitals and specialized centers, its hospitals perform terribly overall on national measures of quality of care. Here’s why, and what can be done about it.

Technology

Policy

Does Yang’s Universal Basic Income make sense in New York City?

Andrew Yang’s “Freedom Dividend” is an attempt to curtail the economic consequences of automation.

New York State

Policy

Cuomo’s Israel roundtable to focus on trains and drones

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo heads to Israel today to show solidarity during a nationwide “rash of anti-Semitism,” according to his office.

New York City

Policy

Why don’t owners of super-luxury apartments pay their fair share of taxes?

There’s a systematic, widespread under-assessment of New York City’s most expensive homes. Forcing the owners to pay their fair share of the city’s property-tax burden seems like a political no-brainer, but here’s why it can’t be fixed without a larger reform.

New York State

Policy

Tech bills left in limbo in Albany

Sen. Kevin Thomas’s New York Privacy Act and state Sen. Diane Savino’s Dependent Worker Act are among the bills stalled until next session.

New York State

Policy

School facial recognition pause passed in Assembly

The legislation, introduced by New York Assemblywoman Monica Wallace in March, would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from purchasing biometric technology – like facial recognition – until July 1, 2022.