Housing

Policy

City program to incentivize upgrades to rent stabilized apartments has just one applicant

The pilot program is just one way the city is trying to help get vacant units back on the market, city officials said at a City Council hearing on housing vacancies.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Legislation seeks to ban fast food surge pricing

A bill introduced by Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara came as Wendy’s announced it was launching a “dynamic pricing” plan

Immigration

Policy

Over 37,000 migrants applied for asylum and work authorization through city help centers

While New York City has increased legal assistance for asylum-seekers after opening a help center devoted to helping migrants apply for asylum and work authorization, the City Council expressed concerns Tuesday about a lack of funding included in the 2025 fiscal preliminary budget.

Albany Agenda

Policy

NY Legislature seems poised to push back on Hochul’s school funding proposal

The governor wants to move money around based on enrollment, but legislative leaders seem skeptical of that idea.

Budget

Policy

As budget season gets underway, council presses administration for collaboration

City Comptroller Brad Lander accused the mayor of announcing deep budget cuts so that he could later magnanimously reverse them.

Labor

Policy

State lawmakers look to improve pensions to attract public sector workers

Complaints are rampant about the Tier 6 pension level, which some believe make working for the state less appealing.

Policy

Policy

Parents concerned about addictive social media have the ear of Tish James

The New York attorney general is turning her attention to Big Tech – pushing legislation to give her office the power to crack down on algorithms targeting kids.

New York City

Policy

NYC Education Department taken to task over class size law

The City Council wants to see working group recommendations implemented to help student outcomes.

New York City Council

Policy

The NYC Council is suing Eric Adams. Here’s what you need to know.

The City Council’s lawsuit against the mayor makes an aggressive argument for the separation of powers.

New York City Council

Policy

City Council approves crackdown on lithium-ion batteries

A string of deadly fires over the past year have been caused by the batteries in New York City.

Policy

Policy

Out with the new, in with the old: Eric Adams wants to go back to laxer sanctuary protections

In his most forceful comments on the issue to date, the New York City mayor wants to collaborate with federal immigration authorities when a migrant is merely suspected of committing a crime.

NYPD

Policy

In a new seat of power, Yusef Salaam questions NYPD on wrongful convictions.

Salaam said that his new council office has heard from hundreds of individuals who said that they are in prison for a crime that they didn’t commit.

LGBTQ+

Policy

Does Bruce Blakeman’s ban on trans players on girls’ teams violate state law?

New York’s Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

Policy

Policy

More than 70% of adult literacy programs are at risk of losing city funding

City Council members have called on City Hall to fix a technicality that could cut off funding for 48 of the 67 adult literacy programs currently operating in the city.

Nonprofits

Policy

Report: Poverty in NYC jumps to 23%

An increase of 7 percentage points from the previous year was noted in the sixth Poverty Tracker Annual Report released by Robin Hood and Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy.