Author Archive

Austin C. Jefferson

News & Politics

Politics

Dems go on offense for ERA

Prominent elected officials fanned out across swing districts this weekend to remind voters about the Equal Rights Amendment.

News & Politics

Politics

Mannion and Williams fight over tax policy, bail reform and abortion in first debate

Democratic state Sen. John Mannion faced off against Republican Rep. Brandon Williams, one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the state.

News & Politics

Politics

Brooklyn Dems organizational meeting mostly goes off without a hitch

During the meeting, reformers tried and failed to change the proxy vote system that has helped entrench the county party’s current leadership.

Energy & Environment

Personality

Is Hochul a climate hero or a villain?

New York has received national recognition for its climate policies, but Gov. Kathy Hochul’s controversial decision to pause congestion pricing could put its climate goals in peril.

Interviews & Profiles

Personality

Liz Krueger says unpausing congestion pricing is the only way forward

In a Q&A, the Manhattan state senator also talks about what life could be like for New York as a Canadian province.

News & Politics

Politics

Conservatives take aim at state ERA in new opposition campaign

Republicans have come up with new attacks on the ballot proposition that would enshrine abortion rights and other protections against discrimination.

Personality

Personality

These infamous brothers created headaches for their siblings in power

James Caban and Terence Banks are just the latest relatives to cause problems for their better-known brothers.

News & Politics

Politics

Here’s where New York politicos are watching tonight’s debate

The Working Families Party, local political clubs and elected officials are hosting debate watch parties across the state.

Energy & Environment

Policy

Hochul pushes nuclear energy as state struggles to meet climate goals

New York shuttered its primary nuclear power plant in 2021, which led fossil fuel emissions to spike, but there’s strong opposition to readopting nuclear power.

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News & Politics

Politics

State AG warns of AI-driven election misinformation

State Attorney General Letitia James encouraged voters to contact her office’s Election Protection Hotline if they come across any election-related deepfake images or videos.

Albany Agenda

Politics

Advocates push for public ownership of Hudson Valley energy company

As Central Hudson continues to raise rates, activists and progressive lawmakers are making a new push to bring it under public ownership – but organized labor is wary.

Kathy Hochul

Politics

Hochul and Heastie talk politics at the state fair

Fried dough and chocolate milk couldn’t distract from Democrats’ 2022 midterm losses or their concerns about November.

2024 New York congressional battleground

Politics

Democrats target Latino voters in Hudson Valley swing district

The party is bringing on bilingual staff and tweaking its abortion messaging as it looks to increase turnout in Spanish-speaking communities.

Personality

Personality

Mondaire Jones hopes to bring pragmatic progressivism back to the Hudson Valley

The former congressional representative now running for his old seat views himself as an independent voice fighting extremists on the right and the left.

Policy

Policy

Union leaders testify at hearing on public school funding

UFT President Michael Mulgrew and NYSUT President Melinda Person spoke out against Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed changes to the school funding formula.

Interviews & Profiles

Personality

NYSUT leader Melinda Person on the changing role of public schools

The president of the state’s largest teachers union is optimistic about the future of school funding.

Campaigns & Elections

Politics

GOP tried to recruit Albany DA David Soares

Soares lost the Democratic primary to a progressive challenger but is now running an independent write-in campaign.