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
Hochul wants to protect Taylor Swift and drink at home
The governor’s 30-day budget amendments were somewhat minimal, targeting harmful AI and continuing to permit to-go cocktails. She also restored a fund for legal representation for low-income people.
New York City
Policy
The MTA will put all future capital projects on hold until congestion pricing lawsuits go away
The Port Authority’s Rick Cotton and Jamie Torres-Springer of the MTA talked about major infrastructure projects at City & State’s event.
Labor
Policy
Report: Warehouse injuries in New York are on the rise
The National Employment Law Project found 1 in 11 workers needed to seek medical attention for a workplace injury.
Albany Agenda
Policy
New York local news outlets create lobbying coalition to save the industry
The group plans to support bills that subsidize journalism efforts.
Kathy Hochul
Policy
Kathy Hochul is not done talking about crime
The governor highlighted her proposals to curb retail theft on Wednesday.
Albany Agenda
Policy
NY lawmakers call for tax credit reform after gnarly state audit
Turns out New York might be cool enough to make it on TV without having taxpayers foot the bill.
Energy & Environment
Policy
The Army Corps wants to protect Jamaica Bay from climate change. Environmentalists say they might ruin it in the process.
A plan to close in the bay with a sea gate to protect against future storms could cost billions of dollars and imperil natural marshes.
Education
Policy
SUNY and CUNY leaders tell lawmakers they need more state aid
SUNY chancellor John King assured legislators that there are no plans to close down any public universities, though staffing levels may be cut.
Policy
Policy
Over 70% of New Yorkers favor Medical Aid in Dying bill, new poll finds
The bill would permit doctors to prescribe medication to terminally ill patients enabling them to end their own lives.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul touts her housing carrots for NY municipalities
The governor said there is increased interest in state grants to build housing.
New York City
Policy
New York City reaches deadline to show progress on rental voucher expansion
The City Council threatened to sue if the city didn’t take steps to implement rental voucher expansion by Feb. 7.
Upstate
Policy
Upstate mayors highlight flat payments to cities on ‘Tin Cup Day’
They asked for Aid and Incentives for Municipalities to be indexed to inflation so that they can continue to revitalize their cities.
Albany Agenda
Policy