Author Archive
Policy
Policy
Legislature closes in on immigration package deal
Lawmakers hope to reach an agreement and introduce language next week.
Policy
Policy
Planned Parenthood: Hochul’s buffer zone bill may be unconstitutional
Reproductive health centers worry the proposal to restrict protests would violate New Yorkers’ First Amendment rights.
Events
Policy
70K older New Yorkers on waitlists for basic services
Advocates spoke at an AARP panel are seeking more funding to implement the state’s Master Plan for Aging.
Policy
Policy
State legislators gear up for budget fight with one-house proposals
Both the state Senate and Assembly included tax hikes on the wealthy in their budget rebuttals, while rejecting the governor’s marquee pitch for car insurance reform.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul remains firm on immigrant protections after meeting with Trump’s border czar
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Trump’s border czar Tom Homan met in Albany following the death of a nearly blind Burmese refugee in Buffalo.
Health Care
Politics
Hochul says federal Medicaid probe won’t impact health care coverage
The governor isn’t concerned a federal investigation and imminent lawsuit related to the state’s Medicaid decisions will hurt its chances to receive a key waiver from the Trump administration.
Policy
Policy
Lawmakers want independent medical examiner’s office to investigate prison deaths
It’s unclear how much it would cost to create the new entity within the state Commission of Correction.
Campaigns & Elections
Politics
SCOTUS sides with Malliotakis on redistricting case, in blow to NY Dems
New York City’s congressional districts, including Rep. Dan Goldman’s, all are but guaranteed to stay the same for the 2026 midterms.
Policy
Policy
Ex-cops and business leaders oppose Hochul’s 75% tax on nicotine pouches
The pushback comes as state lawmakers consider what proposals to include in the state Senate and Assembly’s one-house budgets.
Policy
Politics
Thousands, but few electeds, descend on state Capitol to pressure Hochul to tax the rich
Over 1,500 people marched in Albany, calling on state leaders to raise income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations.
Policy
Policy
State Senate’s bid-rigging probe prompts constitutional amendment
Lawmakers want to empower the state Legislature following an investigation into Gov. Kathy Hochul’s changes to a $9 billion Medicaid home care program.
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Zohran Mamdani
Politics
Trump gives ‘nice guy’ Mamdani a State of the Union shoutout
And the president advertised NYC’s emergency snow shoveler program to the world.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Lawmakers won’t water down or delay climate law mandates, Stewart-Cousins says
Republicans blame the state’s green energy mandates for high energy costs, but state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said there are no plans to change the law.
2026 New York state elections
Politics
Molinaro launches grand return to New York politics
Marc Molinaro left his post as the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Transit Administration to run for an upstate Assembly seat.
Policy
Policy
Hochul’s 30-day budget amendments mum on Essential Plan debate
State leaders are still waiting on a decision from the Trump administration that could end health coverage for 470,000 legal noncitizens.
Policy
Policy
Updated state police tattoo policy could become law
The bill is advancing in the state Legislature, but State Police leaders and the union representing troopers disagree on its necessity.
New York State
Policy
SUNY, CUNY seek more state aid beyond proposed increases
The city and state’s public universities want a combined $3B this year for capital projects.
Criminal Justice
Policy
Legislature considering funding reforms for Raise the Age, not rollbacks
Tweaks could come to the 2017 law increasing meant to keep teens from getting criminally charged as adults.
News & Politics
Politics
John Kagia could be tapped to lead Office of Cannabis Management
Gov. Kathy Hochul may promote Kagia, the office’s policy director, to take over the state agency.
Immigration
Policy
Lawmakers, Hochul negotiating proposal to sue federal officials
State and city officials and criminal justice groups are urging the gov to keep qualified immunity out of the final policy.
