Author Archive
Ralph R. Ortega
Heard Around Town
Politics
A city bids farewell to Charles Rangel
The former Congress member lay in state at City Hall on Thursday.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
New York City
Opinion
Editor’s note: AOC’s ranked endorsements boost hopes for NYC Democratic mayoral candidates
Although Zohran Mamdani and Adrienne Adams ranked Nos. 1 and 2, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer and Zellnor Myrie were just as “thrilled” to have her support.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Campaigns & Elections
Politics
The leading contenders for Manhattan BP discuss their solutions for the borough
An excerpt from the Broadway Association’s online forum in May
- By Steve Kastenbaum and Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Train Daddy’s return ‘beyond’ exciting
Penn Station advocate Sam Turvey sees hope for the transit hub’s redevelopment with Andy Byfod leading the project.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Charles Rangel, in his own words
The longtime member of Congress, Harlem power broker and part of the “Gang of Four” spoke to City & State last year.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Adams and Hochul both take credit for bringing back wind farm project
The mayor claimed to have convinced President Donald Trump on the reversal, while the governor actually horse-traded to make the deal happen.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Will Hochul’s ‘Show me the money’ moment pay off?
The governor will be sending the state’s first distribution of “inflation refund” checks to 8.2 million households.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Ensuring Penny the Chihuahua ‘gets the justice she deserves’
Lawmakers answer the call with legislation to enhance pet protections and hold owners criminally accountable for their animals.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Advocates want Andy Byford to lead Penn Station’s redevelopment
But no one’s saying whether that’s a remote possibility.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
New York Historical prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday
Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of New York City’s oldest museum, discusses new exhibits in a recent interview.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Opinion
Opinion
Editor’s note: An original Penn Station eagle hides in plain sight
The 7,500 pound statue has quietly shown up in an open-air plaza between 33rd and 34th Streets, within developer Vornado’s Penn District.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
MagazineShow All
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: City & State to co-host mayoral forum
Senior City Hall Reporter Annie McDonough and New York Times Metro Politics Reporter Jeffery C. Mays are moderating the event, co-hosted by Community Service Society of New York, City & State, FPWA, BronxNet at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s Note: Saving the Upper West Side’s Metro Theater is nothing short of a miracle
An effort to bring the landmarked venue back as a nonprofit is welcome news for New York’s struggling brick-and-mortar cinemas.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Cory Booker showed Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, what it means to have some real chutzpah
The former mayor of Newark, New Jersey, isn’t a stranger to calling attention to himself to make a difference.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: City & State wins 5 awards from the New York Press Association
Our 2025 Better Newspaper Contest honors included a first place win for education coverage for our stories about the Israel-Hamas war college protests.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Randy Mastro is back ‘to answer the call’
After being skewered by the New York City Council in his bid to serve as corporation counsel, the attorney has been appointed first deputy mayor.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: MTA needs $100 billion, but Janno Lieber will settle for $68 billion
The transit system’s CEO is out stumping for an underfunded, capital plan.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
News & Politics
Politics
Penn Station advocates to submit their own redevelopment plan
The proposal from Alexandros Washburn calls for replacing Madison Square Garden with a reimagined Penn Station.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Editor's Note
Opinion
Editor’s note: Latinos’ greater representation at City Hall comes at Adams’ expense
The indicted mayor, having lost his inner circle, appointed Adolfo Carrión Jr., a Nuyorican, to be his deputy mayor of housing, joining one other Hispanic person at the highest level of New York City government.
- By Ralph R. Ortega
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
SUNY pushes back on Trump’s second term
Senior Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Kapil Longani discusses the impact of the president’s return to the White House on the system’s 64 colleges and universities.
- By Ralph R. Ortega