Author Archive
Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: ‘Get stuff done’ delivers for Juneteenth
It looks like Mayor Eric Adams’ determination helped create a paid holiday in celebration of Juneteenth for all municipal employees for the first time in city history.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Celebrating My Comrade magazine’s place in New York history
Drag queen Linda Simpson founded the publication in 1987, leading the charge for “Gay Lib” as the AIDS crisis was unfolding.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: A call for saving the medallions along the Avenue of the Americas
There were once 300 medallions with the national seals of countries in the Western Hemisphere, but now only a handful remain, rusted and neglected.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Personality
Personality
A new group to help Times Square emerge from COVID-19 pandemic
A Q&A with Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris about the Midtown BID Coalition and what’s being done to connect homeless people with services.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: City & State New York and PIX11 to co-moderate lieutenant governor Democratic primary debate
The event, presented in partnership with the Coro New York Leadership Center and hosted by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, will be livestreamed on June 1.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
News & Politics
Politics
City & State event highlights efforts to help MWBEs
The annual Diversity Summit gathered stakeholders to discuss how to improve the competitive procurement process.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: ¡Ay caramba! There’s no easy way of saying ‘gerrymandering’ in Spanish
This dirty word from politics has no easy translation for Spanish-speaking voters, who along with the rest of the electorate need more education on the redistricting process.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Opinion
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Leave Delgado’s ethnicity alone
Debating what a person thinks about their own ethnic background is offensive.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Public transit options to LGA need more promotion
Transit officials have done it before. Remember “Take the train to the plane?”
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Personality
Personality
City & State’s long shot suggestions for New York City casinos
A board will eventually decide where to place three downstate gambling sites, but we’re not waiting for them.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Creating broadband access for NYCHA residents that’s essentially free
Internet service for public housing residents would be covered in part by a federal subsidy.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
MagazineShow All
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Q&A: The Black Car Fund’s push to secure benefits for drivers
The nonprofit wants legislation renewed that added dental exams, cleanings and vision coverage for its members.
- By Ralph R. Ortega and Jaylen Coaxum
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Delivering on cryptocurrency’s supposed social good
Elected officials need more education about bitcoin before promoting it as a way of benefiting New Yorkers.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Fighting for the wage protections of NY’s construction workers
City & State caught up with Kevin Elkins, political action director at the New York City District Council of Carpenters, about the union’s successful resistance to a tax incentive for real estate developers.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Making a case for how New York can reach its climate goals
As state Climate Action Council hearings solicit public input statewide, National Grid New York President Rudy Wynter discusses a new report where the company details ways the state can reach its ambitious climate goals.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: NYC heroes who ended day of nightmare deserve thanks
From the straphangers that helped one another to the security camera technician who said he identified the gunman, New Yorkers came together to protect their own.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Vacant NYC stores need tenants who want to be there
The expectation that some businesses will return to the brick-and-mortar locations they vacated during the pandemic is not realistic.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: New York Nonprofit Media returns with in-person events
BoardCon attendees were excited to collaborate again after two years away due to the pandemic.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Personality
Personality
The New York political ‘Star Trek’ cameos we want to see
There’s no reason Stacey Abrams has to be the only political figure in the spotlight.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Eric Adams needs his own ad targeting New Yorkers who’ve fled to Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is campaigning on disgruntled New Yorkers. Adams should remind them of what the best city in the world has to offer.
- By Ralph R. Ortega