New York State

Politics

De Blasio’s donors sit on the fence and paid vacation gets a boost

Marijuana bill amended, de Blasio’s donors sit on the fence and paid vacation gets a boost, and more in this week's political news roundup.

New York State

Policy

School facial recognition gets pushback from state

Not long after New York’s Lockport City School District announced plans to begin testing its facial recognition system on students and faculty next week, the New York State Education Department released a statement calling on the school district to delay its implementation on students.

New York State

Policy

Why civil rights advocates say decriminalization of marijuana isn’t enough

Some opponents of marijuana legalization argue that the concerns of criminal justice reform advocates would be resolved by decriminalization, but the civil rights community disagrees, arguing enforcement would still disproportionately affect minority communities.

New York City

Opinion

The New Yorker from Vermont

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is the personal and ideological epitome of the most New York kind of New Yorker, an identity that previously was absent from the ranks of serious presidential contenders, writes City & State’s Ben Adler.

New York State

Policy

Marijuana’s stumbling blocks

Why, when marijuana is supported by most New Yorkers and large majorities of constituents and Democrats have unified control of the state government, can’t they pass pass marijuana legalization? It comes down to where that support is located.

New York State

Opinion

John Flanagan’s short-lived stint as majority leader

In this week’s City & State cover story, we recount the rise and fall of John Flanagan – and explore whether, after losing so many seats in 2018, he has a viable pathway back to power.

New York State

Politics

The 2019 session countdown

In this year’s session countdown, we identify the biggest bills that are still up for debate – and assess how likely they are to pass in the final weeks of the session.

New York State

Policy

New York’s data security challenge

At a panel discussion during City & State’s Digital New York Summit on Thursday, experts from both the public and private sector weighed in on how New York can do a better job of guarding against future data security threats, and whether legislation like the SHIELD Act could help in that effort.

New York State

Policy

Stopping sexual harassment, cleaning up Albany, taking on Trump – and more

State lawmakers are tackling a broad range of issues in Albany, including ending sexual harassment, cleaning up Albany and taking on Trump.

New York State

Politics

Poll: How far will de Blasio and Gillibrand go?

In a crowded field, some Democratic presidential contenders may not make it past 2019.

New York State

Policy

The labor movement’s push for farmworker rights

Unions are lobbying for expanded prevailing wages and addressing the gig economy.

New York State

Policy

Health care proposals are heating up

Vaccination, the New York Health Act, and other major health-related bills lawmakers are considering as the window for passage quickly closes.

New York State

Policy

Schumer raises national security concerns over possible MTA deal

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called this weekend for the Commerce Department to conduct a “top-to-bottom” review of a Chinese rail technology company aiming to develop new subway cars for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

New York State

Policy

Closing the window on recreational marijuana

Time is ticking until the sessions end and it's still unclear whether or not legalized recreational marijuana use will be included into the state budget.

New York State

Opinion

What New York can learn from Mexico about marijuana legalization

New York could learn a lot from the history of recreational marijuana legalization in Mexico; legalization advocates should make the affirmative case for legal access to marijuana and how that will enhance the lives of New Yorkers, writes journalist Lindsay Beyerstein.

New York State

Policy

New York’s computer-monitoring bid to stop over-billing

Last month, state Sen. Diane Savino introduced a bill that would require certain state contractors to use software to track and verify hours worked on a computer, but some have raised concerns about risks to privacy and security this software could pose.

New York State

Policy

Vanel introduces data disclosure bill

Assemblyman Clyde Vanel introduced the New York data protection act last week, which would allow individuals to request and receive access to personal information collected by government agencies and contractors, as well as related information like the sources of their personal data and the purpose for which it was collected.