Heard Around Town

Politics

NYC leaders acknowledge 22% increase in overall crime, while pointing to signs of progress

Year-end data from the NYPD reports that homicides and shootings declined in 2022. Leaders say the last three months of the year pointed to even more promising signs ahead.

Heard Around Town

Policy

City Council finally gets its sexual harassment audit

Years in the making, the audit was meant to address concerns about a hostile work environment after two members received allegations of sexual misconduct.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Tenants’ rights advocates and lawmakers tout legislative agenda

Activists, elected officials and tenants rallied outside the governor’s Manhattan office to launch their legislative campaign to protect renters.

Heard Around Town

Policy

State lawmakers renew push for free school meals

In letters sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul this week, state lawmakers are calling for funding in the state budget for free school meals statewide.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Office to residential conversions – again – a focus of Adams and Hochul

The governor also previewed a goal of 800,000 new housing units over the next decade, presenting a united front with the mayor

Heard Around Town

Politics

Proponents for a better Penn Station redevelopment push for unified approach

A panel of transportation, infrastructure and planning experts said an effort to improve on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s much criticized plan for the transportation hub will require coming together at the local, state and federal levels.

Heard Around Town

Policy

NYC budget watchdog warns of fiscal cliff

The Citizens Budget Commission had a dreary outlook at their budget briefing this week.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Seeing houses of worship as promoters of Eric Adams’ housing agenda

The mayor’s chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin suggested at City & State’s Building Bridges interfaith event that churches, mosques and synagogues could play a role in helping her boss achieve his goal of building 500,000 new housing units in the next ten years.

Heard Around Town

Politics

Scott Stringer’s defamation suit may be unwise – but the real goal may be to depose Jean Kim

The former New York City mayoral candidate thinks other people were working with the lobbyist whose 20-year-old allegations of sexual assault derailed his campaign – and he’s not willing to move on.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Port Authority head promotes a ‘big role’ for biometrics at airports

Executive Director Rick Cotton said that customers should be able to opt in to programs that use biometric technology like facial recognition.

Heard Around Town

Policy

NYC Council ‘still waiting’ to see a plan on mayor’s plan for severe mental illness

Eric Adams and his team have been doing a media blitz, explaining and defending last week’s announcement.

Heard Around Town

Politics

Meet the Orthodox Jewish woman trying to unseat Inna Vernikov in NYC

Democrat Amber Adler, who now has a Netflix cameo, is using her community activism in defense of women stuck in unwanted marriages as a launchpad.

Heard Around Town

Politics

Peter Abbate is fundraising – but doesn’t think he’ll run again

The outgoing senator lost his Brooklyn seat to Lester Chang, who is facing residency questions from Assembly Democrats.

Heard Around Town

Politics

No “pushback” against two Brooklyn leaders, as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ascends

The Brooklyn Congress member will be House Democratic leader, while neighbor Chuck Schumer remains U.S. Senate majority leader.

Heard Around Town

Policy

Advocates expect Hochul to sign bitcoin mining moratorium

Assembly Member Anna Kelles does not expect chapter amendments that would alter the proposed moratorium on proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining.