New York State
Policy
New York hits the brakes on e-bikes
A proposal that would have allowed localities to decide for themselves whether to legalize e-scooters and throttle e-bikes – which, unlike pedal-assist e-bikes, are still illegal in New York — was quietly dropped from the finalized budget crafted by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic legislative leaders, despite increasing support at both the city and state level.
New York State
Politics
Why New York is relying on commissions to make policy
Public financing, compensation and the price of congestion tolls are heated issues. Is convening commissions to hammer out their details the right approach?
Andrew Cuomo
Policy
Mixed results for organized labor in state budget
After the 175.5 billion state budget passed, union leaders say they will continue to push for their legislative priorities in the coming weeks.
New York State
Opinion
State budget jeopardized public financing of elections
For progressives hoping for a full Albany transformation, New York’s new state budget was sobering because the public financing of elections was put in real jeopardy by being left up to a commission, writes Ross Barkan.
New York State
Personality
Zellnor Myrie, a “Mariano Rivera” in the state Senate
Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie outlines what he and his allies are hoping to accomplish during the remainder of the legislative session.
New York State
Policy
New York can’t let go of HQ2
It's been two months since Amazon pulled out of its HQ2 deal in Long Island City but New Yorkers are still pining for the tech giant's unlikely return.
New York State
Politics
Republicans target four New York Democrats in 2020
The National Republican Congressional Committee is looking to oust three freshman Democrats from New York – Reps. Max Rose, Antonio Delgado and Anthony Brindisi – and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.
New York State
Politics
Which counties just say “no” to marijuana?
Local New York lawmakers are not quite sure of whether or not they want to allow legalized recreational marijuana use in their counties.
New York State
Policy
Cash bail still in judges’ tool belts after major reforms
Despite Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic legislators agreeing that they wanted to eliminate the use of cash bail in New York state, it will remain as an option available to judges in limited circumstances.
New York State
Policy
What we know about New York City’s congestion pricing plan
As a part of the new state budget Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature agreed to enact congestion pricing to help raise revenue for the MTA and reduce traffic in New York City.
New York State
Policy
New York gets an internet sales tax
A marketplace provider tax made it into New York's $175.5 billion budget.
New York State
Politics
The budget crunch and Serrano to retire
Rep. Jose E. Serrano announced that he will not seek re-election in 2020, New York will be adopting a state-wide ban on plastic bags, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray dismissed her ThriveNYC "haters," and more of this week’s most important political news stories.
New York State
Politics
Cuomo: State budget deal reached, except public financing
Everything we can expect to see in the New York state budget thus far.
New York State
Policy
Erie wants to lead in 5G
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, fed up with the lack of high-speed internet access in rural and other underserved parts of his county, wants to borrow $20 million to install 360 miles of proprietary fiber lines in an effort to ensure that Erie is ready for 5G.
Andrew Cuomo
Policy
Is campaign finance an issue of gender and racial equity?
Advocates have a new approach to pushing for publicly-funded campaigns.
New York State
Policy
Transferring to a real estate transfer tax
Details about the proposed new transfer tax are scarce, but lawmakers have said it will apply to the sale of real estate that is valued at $5 million or more on top of the existing transfer tax.
Campaigns & Elections
Politics
March Madness: The presidential tournament, round 2
City & State is creating its own Sweet 16 March Madness bracket, now we're down to our Elite Eight matchups of Democratic presidential contenders to see who our readers think will come out on top in 2020. Maybe.
Andrew Cuomo
Politics
The high-profile bills stuck in legislative limbo
Despite the amount of celebrated legislation passed this month, several high-profile bills have yet to be signed into law by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
New York State
Politics
The downstate-upstate divide – budget edition
It's unclear whether or not upstate and downstate Democrats are going to agree on these five key budget issues.
New York State
Opinion