Policy

Policy

State budget director warns NY will have to cut services if federal funding dries up

The state’s projected $252 billion budget includes over $90 billion of federal funding – and if the Trump administration cuts that off, the state won’t be able to backfill it.

Budget

Politics

Eric Adams and Adrienne Adams are both running for mayor. They’re also hashing out the city’s $115 billion budget.

The mayor and the City Council speaker are going to have to find consensus amid an unprecedented and fractious primary election.

Policy

Policy

Survivor groups split over Hochul’s proposed changes to discovery laws

After a number of organizations representing survivors of sexual and domestic violence called on lawmakers to support the governor’s proposal, other survivor groups called on lawmakers to reject it.

Policy

Policy

New York has debated forced psychiatric treatment for decades

Half a century after the state tightened the criteria for involuntary commitment, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to hospitalize mentally ill people against their will.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Distraction-free is the way forward

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban would create safer schools and better learning environments.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: A more sustainable NY starts with empowering education

The state should increase funding for climate education programs that serve marginalized communities.

News & Politics

Politics

Fearing federal cuts, unions ask Hochul for more DOL funding

32BJ SEIU, CWA District 1, NYSNA and others are calling on the governor and legislative leaders to include an additional $200 million for the state Department of Labor in the budget.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Discovery rollbacks indulge prosecutors at the expense of New Yorkers

An argument against proposed legislation reducing the amount of information that prosecutors are required to disclose.

Budget

Policy

Feds suddenly terminate funding for NY addiction recovery programs

Lawmakers and advocates are calling on the state government to backfill the federal grant funding that’s been cut.

MTA

Policy

Heastie warns state may need to raise taxes to fund MTA

The Assembly speaker said the state needs to figure out new sources of revenue to fund mass transit, especially given the uncertainty of future federal funding.

Policy

Policy

Advocacy groups demand state restore cut public health funds to NYC

The state pays for 36% of cities’ core health services costs – except in New York City, where it only pays for 20%.

Healthcare

Policy

Lawmakers, advocates and contractors beg Hochul to delay April 1 CDPAP deadline

Tens of thousands of people could temporarily lose their home care if the transition isn’t completed in time

Campaigns & Elections

Politics

NYC comptroller debate: a war of the wonks

Leading candidates Justin Brannan and Mark Levine agree that the Adams administration is as transparent as a brick wall when it comes to budgeting.

Policy

Policy

Advocates for domestic violence survivors back Hochul’s proposed discovery changes

Groups that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence are asking lawmakers to approve controversial changes to the state’s discovery laws that are favored by prosecutors and opposed by criminal justice reformers.

Policy

Policy

Legislature proposes spending millions to help legal cannabis industry

For the state’s legal cannabis cultivators, the Assembly and state Senate one-house budget proposals are dope.

Albany Agenda

Policy

Assembly and state Senate release ‘one-house’ state budget proposals

The Legislature’s budget proposals differ from the governor’s executive budget proposal when it comes to discovery reform, involuntary commitment and rebate checks.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: Universal child care in NY could save the Democratic Party

Let’s show the nation that when Democrats are in power, they pass universal policies that directly improve the lives of working-class people.