Education
Policy
David Banks may not have made much progress on mayoral control in Albany
During his testimony at an education budget hearing, it didn’t seem like the New York City schools chancellor’s message was getting through.
MTA
Policy
DiNapoli: MTA needs $43B for repairs and upgrades
The costs estimates were detailed in a new report released by the state comptroller detailing the agency’s needs assessments over the next 20 years, starting in 2025.
Labor
Policy
Staff shortages slow, hinder work at some city agencies
Amid an ongoing hiring freeze, a report card on city agency performance released this week shows that some agencies still don’t have the staff they need.
Immigration
Policy
'The whole world is literally looking at us:' How New York City is using the migrant crisis as a catalyst for change
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom and Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow-Park detail the city’s shift away from the “right-to-shelter” mandate at the annual Upstream Symposium hosted by HELP USA.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul’s proposal to close 5 more NY prisons rankles state GOP
The prison population has halved since 1999, and staffing is in freefall. But Republicans say the prisons should get more resources, not less.
Eric Adams
Policy
Report: New Yorkers are waiting longer for cash assistance
The mayor’s preliminary progress update for the year showed dismal wait times for cash assistance and continued sluggishness for food assistance.
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