New York State
Politics
COVID-19 is back in City Hall and the Capitol, but that hasn’t changed the public health strategy
Elected leaders continue to tout the vaccine and boosters as New York’s primary COVID-19 strategy, resisting new restrictions.
New York State
Politics
Democrats granted temporary pause of lawsuit against New York’s redistricting maps
Petitioning for the upcoming June primaries can continue as planned, despite a judge’s ruling that the maps were blatantly gerrymandered.
Nonprofits
Politics
Nonprofit human services workers may finally get a raise through the state budget
Their cost-of-living increases were routinely cut out of the annual final agreement under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Politics
Politics
With Buffalo Bills proposal, Hochul sets the tone for a rocky relationship with the Seneca Nation
After a yearslong dispute, the Hochul administration forced the hand of the Seneca Nation to pay hundreds of millions in casino revenue, only to announce the funds should go to an NFL stadium in her hometown.
Budget
Policy
Bills stadium opponents are blitzing legislative overtime
Advocacy groups and elected officials are pushing legislators to keep $600 million in state support out of a final state budget despite efforts by Gov. Kathy Hochul to move the deal forward.
New York State
Politics
State Supreme Court judge rules NY’s district maps unconstitutional
Justice Patrick McAllister said political bias was clear in the maps “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Policy
Policy
Kendra’s Law hangs in the balance with little recent discussion among Albany Democrats
State lawmakers might approve a state budget early next week that would make it easier to force people to get mental health treatment.
Budget
Policy
The consequences of a late New York state budget
New York lawmakers are unlikely to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 spending plan before their Thursday midnight deadline.
Budget
Policy
With time running out, progressives turn to activist tactics on the NY state budget
Sleeping in the Capitol for immigrant health care, going on a hunger strike to protect bail reform, blocking escalators calling for affordable housing: Progressives are trying it all.
Education
Power Lists
Higher Education Power 100: Driving diversity on campus
College and university officials who are making their schools more inclusive.
New York State
Politics
Why economists called Kathy Hochul’s $850 million Buffalo Bills deal a ‘boondoggle’
The agreement would be the largest public funding of a sports stadium in U.S. history.
Policy
Policy
Key state lawmaker questions bonding proposal for Belmont racetrack
The New York Racing Association is seeking $450 million in state-backed bonds despite past criticism of its finances.
Housing
Policy
Lawmakers to Hochul: Get that developer tax break out of our budget
State officials say that debate over replacing the controversial 421-a program to incentivize affordable housing should wait until after the budget.
Healthcare
Policy
How much would it cost for New York to insure low-income undocumented people? Depends who you ask.
The governor and lawmakers have vastly different thoughts on the price tag to expand public health care to undocumented immigrants, hindering an initiative to do so in the state budget.
New York State
Politics
Cuomo closely trails Hochul in hypothetical matchup: poll
The former governor has just 10 days to decide whether he will run for his old seat again – and most voters don’t want him to.
New York State
Politics
Hochul’s proposed deal would put $850 million in taxpayer money toward a new Buffalo Bills stadium
Legislative leaders have yet to weigh in on whether they’ll approve funding before the April 1 deadline.
Housing
Policy
11 New York Congress members throw their support behind ‘good cause’ eviction bill
The lawmakers lauded the bill, which would limit rent increases and aims to prevent “unreasonable” evictions.
Policy
Policy
Trading Tesla for child care: New York progressives take aim at wasteful ‘economic development’
Pointing to a series of boondoggles, legislators are pushing for more transparency on economic development programs to fund a social spending wishlist.
Policy
Policy
The one part of Hochul’s public safety plan that progressives don’t hate
Opposition to changing bail reform aside, many Albany Democrats are getting behind gubernatorial efforts to force more people to get mental health treatment.
Policy
Policy