Budget
Policy
As budget season gets underway, council presses administration for collaboration
City Comptroller Brad Lander accused the mayor of announcing deep budget cuts so that he could later magnanimously reverse them.
Labor
Policy
State lawmakers look to improve pensions to attract public sector workers
Complaints are rampant about the Tier 6 pension level, which some believe make working for the state less appealing.
Policy
Policy
Parents concerned about addictive social media have the ear of Tish James
The New York attorney general is turning her attention to Big Tech – pushing legislation to give her office the power to crack down on algorithms targeting kids.
New York City
Policy
NYC Education Department taken to task over class size law
The City Council wants to see working group recommendations implemented to help student outcomes.
New York City Council
Policy
The NYC Council is suing Eric Adams. Here’s what you need to know.
The City Council’s lawsuit against the mayor makes an aggressive argument for the separation of powers.
2024 New York congressional battleground
Policy
NY Democrats pass modestly altered congressional maps
Could the redistricting nightmare truly be behind us for the decade?
New York City Council
Policy
City Council approves crackdown on lithium-ion batteries
A string of deadly fires over the past year have been caused by the batteries in New York City.
New York State
Policy
State lawmakers want to boost bus funding before congestion pricing
Additional money would fund more free bus lines in New York City.
Policy
Policy
Out with the new, in with the old: Eric Adams wants to go back to laxer sanctuary protections
In his most forceful comments on the issue to date, the New York City mayor wants to collaborate with federal immigration authorities when a migrant is merely suspected of committing a crime.
NYPD
Policy
In a new seat of power, Yusef Salaam questions NYPD on wrongful convictions.
Salaam said that his new council office has heard from hundreds of individuals who said that they are in prison for a crime that they didn’t commit.
Policy
Policy
Laws on the books that keep New York City open and transparent
How city records and data are compelled into the public eye.
Heard Around Town
Policy
Migrants report sleeping outside or on trains for days as they await shelter assignments
The city currently operates more than 200 shelters for recent arrivals.
LGBTQ+
Policy
Does Bruce Blakeman’s ban on trans players on girls’ teams violate state law?
New York’s Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
Policy
Policy
More than 70% of adult literacy programs are at risk of losing city funding
City Council members have called on City Hall to fix a technicality that could cut off funding for 48 of the 67 adult literacy programs currently operating in the city.
Nonprofits
Policy
Report: Poverty in NYC jumps to 23%
An increase of 7 percentage points from the previous year was noted in the sixth Poverty Tracker Annual Report released by Robin Hood and Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy.
Budget
Policy
New York City’s budget outlook is great/terrible depending which watchdog you ask.
Differences between budget projections point to the complexity of the massive spending plan.
Policy
Policy
Some Assembly Democrats look to criminalize disruptive protests
Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato introduced a bill that would treat peacefully blocking a road or bridge as an act of “domestic terrorism.”
Albany Agenda
Policy
REBNY report: New construction applications are down significantly
The developer group found that new housing projects have dropped off since a state tax break expired.
New York State
Policy
Lawmakers start community conversation ahead of reparations commission formation
The Caucus Weekend panel explored the different schools of thought on reparations.
Albany Agenda
Policy