Author Archive
Education
Policy
School districts fret over potential changes to Foundation Aid in state budget
It’s still unclear how the state budget will tweak the Foundation Aid formula for school funding, which is a problem for school districts that are currently drawing up their own budgets.
Budget
Policy
$50 million for housing vouchers is better than nothing
Supporters of the Housing Access Voucher Program are glad to see it finally included in the budget, though they wish Gov. Kathy Hochul had committed more funding to it.
Policy
Policy
Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $254 billion state budget deal
The conceptual deal includes changes to the state’s discovery laws, a ban on phones in schools, a new criminal charge for committing a crime while wearing a mask and new funding for the MTA.
2026 New York gubernatorial election
Politics
Stefanik dominates Lawler and Blakeman in new poll
Nearly half of GOP primary voters favor Rep. Elise Stefanik, while Rep. Mike Lawler and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman can’t break single digits.
News & Politics
Politics
Inside the split between Kathy Hochul and Antonio Delgado
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado finally had enough of being on Team Hochul.
News & Politics
Politics
Lawler booed at raucous Rockland County town hall
The crowd appeared less interested in listening to Rep. Mike Lawler’s answers than in expressing anger about looming cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.
Budget
Policy
Could a stock transfer tax help NYC weather the Trump administration?
Two lawmakers say restoring a five-cent tax on stock trades could help compensate for potential cuts in federal funding.
Cannabis
Policy
Upstate town sees benefits of cannabis tax revenue
Local tax revenue from sales of the once-illegal substance allowed Henritta to hire an additional sheriff’s deputy.
Albany Agenda
Politics
State budget unlikely to be finished before end of month
Will April policy debates bring a May budget deal?
Policy
Policy
Zyn ban falters amid industry backlash
Poppers of “upper deckys” and “babwes” in New York can breathe easy after proposed Zyn ban dies in committee.
Policy
Policy
Should state lawmakers be paid even when the budget is late?
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s proposed legislation highlights how contentious the budget negotiation process has become.
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Budget
Policy
State Senate leader: Budget negotiations on ‘pause’
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s inclusion of last-minute policy proposals in the state budget is holding back progress, legislative leaders say.
Health Care
Politics
Mark Cuban to headline 32BJ annual conference
The influential billionaire shares 32BJ’s goal of reducing health care costs.
News & Politics
Politics
Josh Riley hauls in $759,000 in first quarter of 2025
The Endicott Democrat, who has not yet been challenged by the GOP, expects Republicans will run a candidate against him because they “put me on their top targets list.”
Personality
Personality
Has the state Office of Cannabis Management begun to turn things around?
Acting Executive Director Felicia A. B. Reid talks about the progress that’s been made in the past year.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Legislature passes $1.7 billion extender as state misses budget deadline
The budget extender will fund the state through Thursday.
Policy
Policy
State budget director warns NY will have to cut services if federal funding dries up
The state’s projected $252 billion budget includes over $90 billion of federal funding – and if the Trump administration cuts that off, the state won’t be able to backfill it.
News & Politics
Politics
Possible GOP cuts to Medicaid put Lawler in awkward position
Ahead of a rumored run for governor, Rep. Mike Lawler needs to maintain his moderate credentials while not antagonizing the Trump administration.
News & Politics
Politics
Anticipated special election goes bust as Elise Stefanik stays in Congress
“At the end of the day, it didn’t matter,” a GOP strategist said of the months of political maneuvering.
MTA
Policy
Heastie warns state may need to raise taxes to fund MTA
The Assembly speaker said the state needs to figure out new sources of revenue to fund mass transit, especially given the uncertainty of future federal funding.
