Author Archive
News & Politics
Politics
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn is losing her grip on the Brooklyn Dems
The Assembly member has weathered storms before – but she’s having a really bad week.
Rikers Island
Policy
With new leadership, advocates are daring to hope for change at Rikers
Mamdani’s Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards and federal Remediation Manager Nicholas Deml will work side by side. Their task – fixing a notoriously dysfunctional jail system – is daunting.
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Stanley Richards wants Rikers closed. In the meantime, he works there.
The new correction commissioner is committed to borough-based jails, ending solitary confinement and collaborating with federal supervisors.
Heard Around Town
Politics
Unions, NYC council members to rally for DCWP funding
The worker protection agency is looking at an 8% budget cut.
New York City
Policy
Council passes bills to regulate protests outside schools and houses of worship
There was veto-proof support for the bill pertaining to churches and less support for restricting protests at schools.
New York City
Policy
NYC Conflicts of Interest Board declines to clarify electioneering rules
Anticorruption groups wanted to rein in government spending to promote ballot proposals, but the city’s watchdog board said that’s not up to them.
Budget
Policy
Soliman faces the council
The director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget insisted he dislikes the idea of raising property taxes during an hourslong grilling before the City Council Finance Committee.
Heard Around Town
Politics
NYC electeds back NYU faculty union with strike looming
Non-tenure track professors have been negotiating a contract with the downtown college for more than a year.
News & Politics
Politics
Amid ethics probe over Islamophobic tweets, Vickie Paladino is likely suing too early, experts say
She’s arguing her posts are protected from council discipline by the First Amendment, but, as one legal expert put it, “you can’t sue before there’s a definitive action.” Her lawyer says she shouldn’t have to go through an "unconstitutional process.”
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
Susan Sarandon lends her celebrity to ‘One Fair Wage’ campaign
The movie star is advocating for a $30 minimum wage.
News & Politics
Politics
Ariola and Paladino leave NYC Council Common Sense Caucus
With a socialist mayor and a growing Progressive Caucus, the moderate group finds itself even further weakened with just six members left.
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News & Politics
Personality
Mamdani’s deputy mayor Julie Su didn’t officially start until this week
The DM for economic justice was working bicoastally as an unpaid volunteer and later a paid senior adviser before that.
Interviews & Profiles
Personality
NYC Council Oversight Committee to review compliance with sanctuary city laws
And Oversight Committee Chair Shekar Krishnan wants the committee to have actual teeth.
News & Politics
Politics
Mamdani criticizes Iranian regime’s ‘brutal government’ while still condemning U.S. and Israeli attacks
The New York City mayor said getting involved in Iran could replicate “devastating consequences” of previous interventions.
News & Politics
Politics
Vickie Paladino charged by ethics committee
The Republican New York City Council member will have a chance to defend her X posts calling to expel Muslims from western nations and similar Islamophobic comments.
New York City
Politics
As Trump launches attacks on Iran, Mamdani still lacks national security clearance
The mayor has promised to keep New Yorkers safe, but he’s still awaiting approval to know classified federal information.
Policy
Policy
Could the Sunnyside Yard project, once rejected by AOC and local elected officials, be revived?
Mayor Zohran Mamdani pitched the massive project to President Donald Trump this week, and he said he got a positive reception. Back in Queens, however, the reactions were mixed.
New York City
Politics
Pals Mamdani and Trump meet again
The mayor and the president talked about building housing and New York City students in trouble with the feds.
New York City
Politics
Eric Adams’ last-minute charter revision commission is hell bent on meeting ‘imminently’ – and self-funding if necessary
The previous mayor convened the group as a final gesture of defiance toward his predecessor. Members want to change New York City’s primary system, and they’re working on strategies to go around Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s likely opposition.
New York City Council
Personality
Julie Menin always gets her way
The New York City Council speaker wants to get stuff done again on the other side of City Hall.
