Policy

Policy

Staffed up gun crime unit gets results, amid NYC government job vacancies

There are tens of thousands of unfilled city positions, under Mayor Eric Adams, but a small unit of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner has hit goals after hiring new employees.

Heard Around Town

Policy

A big change in the plans to renovate Penn Station

The new plan to renovate the Manhattan train hub will no longer include funding from surrounding office towers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

Budget

Policy

Hochul and fiscal watchdogs warn of larger-than-expected state budget deficits

The state’s spending is on track to outpace its revenue by more than $10 billion, leading conservatives to call for decreased spending and progressives to call for more taxes on the wealthy.

Immigration

Policy

Appeals court considers arguments for non-citizen voting

Immigrant advocates hope the appellate court will overturn a judge’s ruling that blocked legal permanent residents from voting in local elections.

Abortion

Policy

Hochul marks one-year anniversary of Dobbs by signing law for telehealth abortions across state lines

The governor signed a bill that will protect New York health care providers administering abortion medication to patients living in other states – insisting New York is on solid legal footing to do so.

Homelessness

Policy

Mayor, City Council head for likely veto showdown over expanding housing vouchers

Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a package of bills expanding access to housing vouchers, but the City Council is prepared to vote to override the veto.

Policy

Policy

Nonprofits make final appeals as New York City budget deadline nears

Negotiations have “been tense since day one,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.

Policy

Policy

The Legislature actually passed some (minor) housing bills

Big ideas like “good cause” eviction and the 421-a replacement never made it to the floor, but less controversial housing policies squeaked through.

Rikers Island

Policy

Elected officials sound the alarm on proposed city budget cuts to Rikers

Amid proposed cuts to jail-based programming, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams says the Eric Adams administration is at a crossroads

Policy

Policy

As fires rage on, city looks to further regulate lithium-ion batteries

There’s been a massive increase in fires, and deaths in New York City relating to bad batteries used in some e-bikes.

Heard Around Town

Policy

How should Congress join the AI revolution? Chuck Schumer has thoughts

The majority leader unveiled a plan to address the emerging technology – and it’s emerging threats.

Housing

Policy

Maria Torres-Springer: New York has ‘really failed’ on housing

At the Rebuilding New York Summit the deputy mayor called for action, lamenting state government gridlock on legislation to spur housing development.

Immigration

Policy

Report: Funding cuts threaten services for asylum-seeking kids in NYC

The city launched child care for asylum-seekers and English language learning high school programs soon after migrants started to arrive. The future of those new initiatives is uncertain.

Policy

Policy

Coverage for All hangs in the balance as Assembly returns to Albany

Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas said she worked with the governor to amend the bill but now Hochul is “moving the goalpost.”

Policy

Policy

No, New York wasn’t the anti-slavery hero you thought it was

In light of the state Legislature passing a bill to create a reparations commission, a look back at history shows that the state has a lot of wrongs to make right for Black New Yorkers.

NYPD

Policy

Under Adams and Sewell, advocates allege rollback in police accountability

The city’s police watchdog said that Sewell has disagreed with or declined to pursue their recommended discipline for substantiated complaints of misconduct in most cases.

New York City

Policy

City Council considers bills to alleviate the harms of slavery

From the removal of artwork to reparations, this legislative package also addresses the lingering impacts of systemic racism.