Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul finishes 2023 business with no pocket vetoes
The Legislature passed hundreds of bills before breaking in June, and three had made it into 2024.
Policy
Policy
Hochul signs Rape is Rape Act
The law expands the definition of rape in New York to include non-penetrative forced sexual contact.
Health Care
Policy
Social media declared a ‘public health hazard,’ as efforts to rein it in ramp up
New York City Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement last week, while Florida lawmakers advanced a bill banning accounts for anyone under 16 years of age.
Heard Around Town
Policy
NYC touts faster fire inspections in new report
Wait times for fire alarm inspections were down compared to last year.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Across the political spectrum, lawmakers are peeved about Hochul’s plan for education funding
Republican state senators joined the chorus of teachers and their Democratic colleagues to condemn the proposal Monday.
Criminal Justice
Policy
Lawmakers debate bail reform and gun violence at public safety hearing
State legislators asked state law enforcement leaders about the impact of bail reform and how to keep guns out of children’s hands.
MTA
Policy
MTA head 'really burned' by New Jersey over congestion pricing lawsuit, calls NJ Transit 'crummy service'
Janno Lieber unleashed his frustrations with the Garden State while some New York lawmakers made their own complaints about his agency during a joint budget hearing on transportation.
Eric Adams
Policy
5 takeaways from Eric Adams’ State of the City
During his third State of the City speech, the New York City mayor said the city is ‘back from the brink,’ striking a hopeful tone about a drop in crime and job growth despite the ongoing migrant crisis.
Cannabis
Policy
Hinchey bill would regulate cannabis owners’ energy consumption
Indoor grow operations can be energy intensive.
Policy
Policy
Hochul wants to build housing on SUNY campuses. How will that work?
State university faculty and administrators are cautiously optimistic about the governor’s proposal to build housing on state-owned land.
Albany Agenda
Policy
New York Democrats return to abortion in the hopes of galvanizing voters
The issue has yielded mixed results in a state where access is less threatened, but Democrats are giving it another shot on the 51st anniversary of Roe.
Cannabis
Policy
When will New York’s pot industry be ready to take off?
Despite lawsuits and bureaucratic snafus, the state has redoubled its efforts to jump-start the cannabis industry.
NYPD
Policy
Adams’ vetoes set up council fights over public safety and solitary confinement bills
The City Council has vowed to override the vetoes of the How Many Stops Act and the solitary confinement ban.
Ask the Experts
Policy
How did New York City reverse its 2024 budget cuts?
City & State assembled a panel of experts to answer questions about the 2024 spending plan.
Policy
Policy
Legislators object to including mayoral control in budget negotiations
State Sen. John Liu wants to wait to decide on mayoral control until after the state Education Department completes a review of the policy.
Energy & Environment
Policy
Quite a few lawmakers are on board to reduce NY plastic packaging by half
A bill to cut the use of plastic packaging in half has support from New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and a majority of the state Senate.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul’s ‘placeholder’ housing developer tax break
After her previous proposals were rejected, the governor is leaving the most controversial parts of a 421-a replacement for others to decide.
Policy
Policy
As NYC cuts spending on migrants, Hochul backs a boost in state aid
A boost in tax revenue and support from Gov. Kathy Hochul takes some despair out of New York City’s budget projections.
Budget
Policy
Adams announces $109 billion preliminary budget, addresses $7.1 billion budget gap
The New York City mayor said he was able to balance the spending plan and restore several unpopular cuts to police, fire, sanitation, and parks, attributed to benefits from reduced spending on asylum-seekers, city reserves and higher-than-expected tax revenue.
Albany Agenda
Policy