New York State
New York State
Breaking down Hochul’s State of the State
The governor laid out the broad strokes of her agenda for the year in her annual speech and a nearly 150-page policy book.
Transportation
Transit advocates back bill to encourage alternatives to highway expansion projects
The Get Around NY Act would aim to reduce total vehicle miles traveled by 20% by 2050.
Transportation
Opinion: Affordable transit makes New York more affordable
Proposals to improve transit for families and low-income New Yorkers
Albany Agenda
Senate to pass voting rights bills today
Although legislative leaders previously said that their top priority was affordability, the Senate is sticking with tradition by passing election reform bills first.
Power Lists
The 2025 Political Consultants Power 100
The top operatives winning electoral and issue campaigns across New York.
News & Politics
Suburban Republicans mostly quiet after meeting with Trump on taxes
Republicans still can't agree on how much to lift the SALT cap.
Criminal Justice
Hundreds of deaths in state prisons go unexplained
A City & State investigation found a lack of reporting on people who have died while in custody, as well as for those who were compassionately released, going back decades.
News & Politics
New year, new committee chairs
Legislative leaders announced committee chairs for the new legislative session, with some notable new roles
New York State
Legislative leaders pledge to prioritize affordability as session begins
In opening remarks, both state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said they intend to pass legislation to address New Yorkers’ cost of living.
Policy
State lawmakers await committee assignments as legislative session begins
New year, new committees.
Ethics
Can Cuomo convince New York’s highest court to scrap state ethics commission?
The state Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the former governor’s case against the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying and Government.
Policy
DMV defends Green Light Law meant to protect immigrants
Although the DMV strongly defended the law, Hochul wouldn’t say whether she might revisit the law that has Trump's incoming border czar threatening retaliation against New York.
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Albany Agenda
Paulin’s ‘Weinstein’ bill back on legislative agenda for 2025
The controversial bill, which failed to pass last year, would allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of prior sexual offenses in legal proceedings.
Policy
Hochul says 2025 is the year to change involuntary commitment laws
Despite past opposition from lawmakers, the governor once again plans to propose expansions to laws involving involuntary mental health treatment
Opinion
Opinion: A revolving loan fund could help solve New York’s housing crisis
To drive down the cost of housing, we need a dramatic increase in supply – which means we need to make it cheaper to take out loans to fund new housing construction.
Policy
Happy 2025! It’s time to start thinking about the next census
New population estimates show minor improvements for New York, but experts are worried about how Trump could interfere with census count efforts in 2030.
New York State
Is New York really a ‘sanctuary state’?
A patchwork of statewide measures limit cooperation with immigration officials, but none entirely prohibit information sharing by local law enforcement
Personality
Remembering Jimmy Carter and his New York legacy
The 39th president spent most of his life in Georgia, but he left a mark on New York City, particularly after visiting the blighted South Bronx in 1977.
New York City
2024’s Top Tweets of the Year from First Read Tonight
The best of the best from City & State New York’s evening newsletter.
New York State
Hochul’s end-of-year vetoes and signatures
Just one bill remains for the governor to act on as 2024 comes to a close.
