Infrastructure

Policy

Federal infrastructure bill is still a long way off

Spending money to advance the Gateway rail tunnel and other projects could jump-start the economy when New York reopens.

MTA

Policy

Congestion pricing is both a problem and solution for the MTA

Implementation will be difficult, but the transit agency desperately needs money.

New York State

Policy

The unanswered questions about antibody testing

This early, antibody testing for COVID-19 will not lead to quick and easy public policy decisions.

Education

Policy

Cuomo’s chance to redefine public education

Deep cuts to schools could happen unless billions in new federal stimulus funding comes through.

Health Care (Archived)

Policy

Billions going to hospitals based on Medicare billings, not COVID-19

New York, the worst-hit state, would receive only $12,000 per case.

Health Care (Archived)

Policy

NY hit its COVID-19 apex, but the virus isn't going away

If the state’s lockdown measures are lifted now, it could make things worse in the future.

Andrew Cuomo

Policy

How New York changed its bail law

State lawmakers avoided major changes to the 2019 bail legislation, but they did add more bail-eligible offenses in the state budget.

Labor

Policy

Front-line workers hope newfound respect leads to better conditions

Labor unions are determined to make sure employers don’t forget essential workers’ sacrifices.

Budget

Policy

Medicaid cuts make the state budget, with some tweaks

To protect New York’s access to federal aid, those cuts could be delayed.

Budget

Policy

Slight uptick in state school aid

New York State budget deal may cause NYC, other districts to tighten their belts

New York State

Policy

Cuomo orders redistribution of critical medical supplies

Says state will ‘share,’ not ‘seize’ ventilators, with compensation or replacement later

Budget

Policy

How legislators lost control of the budget

Even before the coronavirus, Stewart-Cousins and Heastie were losing ground to the governor.

Andrew Cuomo

Policy

Budget proposal in play would end cash bail

A state budget proposal to end cash bail in New York, but it would allow judges to assess a defendants' dangerousness.

Housing

Policy

A rent freeze is possible, but the details are murky

A bill in the state Legislature would offer rent relief for struggling tenants, but landlords would be affected too.