Policy

Policy

Hochul lifts mask mandate on transit

The governor announced that masks are still encouraged, but no longer required on MTA trains and buses.

Policy

Policy

With inflation soaring, some lawmakers want to hike New York’s minimum wage rates next year

They also want to follow the lead of 16 states who annually index their minimum wage to inflation to keep up with the cost of living.

Policy

Policy

Buffalo Starbucks workers say the company illegally fired them. Will a conservative federal judge agree?

A pending labor case in Western New York could tip the scales for the Starbucks union after a recent victory in Tennessee.

Nonprofits

NYN Media

New York’s new concealed carry law is severely flawed, federal judge says

The Wednesday ruling allowed the new law to take effect, but reads like a blueprint for future court battles.

Transportation

Policy

Penn Station redo and skyscraper plan may lead to a repeat of past mistakes

Developers’ plans include building 10 new buildings in the area around the transit hub, but it’s unclear how a Hudson Yards-esque expansion would benefit the surrounding neighborhood.

Transportation

Policy

With Penn Station’s rebirth in the making, a look at other transit hub rehabs

Here’s how the New York City transit hub’s counterparts around the country delivered after taking on similar redevelopment efforts.

Heard Around Town

Policy

NY GOP lawmakers reject birth control rights bill

Only one GOP Congress member from New York, Rep. John Katko, voted to protect contraception.

Policy

Policy

Critics say New York’s new gun control law will fuel mass incarceration

When the old law was ruled unconstitutional, public defenders had hoped that the Legislature could craft a better law.

New York City

Policy

NYC homeless advocates cast doubt on Eric Adams’ claims that ‘2,800 asylum seekers’ have entered shelters

Advocates accused the mayor of using asylum seekers and the federal government as scapegoats for the failures of his own housing policies.

Policy

Policy

Monkeypox cases nearly double as NYC continues to plead for more vaccine doses

The city administered 4,000 vaccine doses on Sunday across three newly opened mass vaccination sites.

Policy

Policy

New York City’s first women-majority council to take on abortion access

The City Council will consider bills to allow people to sue for abortion interference and prohibit city resources for enforcement of other states’ restrictions among other actions.

New York State

Policy

Janet DiFiore’s resignation comes at a pivotal time in New York’s fight against conservative Supreme Court

Gov. Kathy Hochul will choose a new judge to lead the state’s highest court, which could be tasked with making determinations on consequential issues, including abortion and gun control.

New York State

Policy

RIP JCOPE

New York’s beleaguered ethics watchdog has officially been replaced, going out with something of a bang for its last action.

New York State

Policy

Takeaways from JCOPE’s 2021 New York lobbying report

Lobbying spending reached almost $293 million in 2021, according to a new report from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. The hospital association, United Teachers and Doordash were among top clients.

Nonprofits

NYN Media

How New York’s highest court has veered right

A new four-judge bloc has consistently voted together in the most recent term, impacting criminal defendants, workers and people suing police

Policy

Policy

How New York’s highest court has veered right

A new four-judge bloc has consistently voted together in the most recent term, impacting criminal defendants, workers and people suing police.

Policy

Policy

NYC Ferry is taking on water, audit finds

Comptroller audit finds $224 million in undisclosed expenditures during the previous administration.

Policy

Policy

Here’s how New York’s revised concealed carry law will set new limitations on guns

The legislation signed into law Friday mandates training courses for concealed carry license holders, prohibits guns in Times Square and sets firearm storage requirements.

New York City

Policy

New Yorkers are scrambling for public restroom access with limited availability

While a new bill would require city departments to identify a new restroom location in every ZIP code, it stops short from ordering their completion.

New York State

Policy

New York lawmakers address abortion, gun restrictions during sleep-deprived extraordinary session

The Legislature took steps toward amending the state constitution to protect abortion rights and enacting adjusted gun restrictions after two pivotal Supreme Court rulings.