New York State

Opinion

To end mass incarceration, New York needs a fully staffed parole board

While New York state law allows for up to 19 commissioners on a parole board, there are currently only 12 seated commissioners. These seven vacancies leave the board in a state of crisis, writes New York state Senator Luis Sepulveda.

New York State

Politics

We dreamt up some alliterative economic plans for New York

City & State came up with some fun and alliterative nicknames for economic plans New York can launch.

New York City

Opinion

The MTA has money now, but how will it be spent?

Lawmakers rushed through new funding for the MTA and confirmed its new chairman without forcing reforms of its constantly over-budget and behind-schedule construction and maintenance.

New York State

Policy

The right way to do economic development

New employers won’t be able to keep growing without a skilled, ready workforce in the area, nor can locals take part in the growth without the credentials to get the jobs, a workforce training center in Buffalo shows the way to solve those problems, writes Bryce Covert.

New York City

Policy

Facial recognition a bridge too far for MTA

The MTA’s attempt at facial recognition technology on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge did not yield any faces detected within acceptable parameters rendering the trial unsuccessful.

New York State

Policy

How six state upstate economic development projects have fared

New York has put millions upon millions of dollars into flashy new projects, sadly most of them haven't fared too well, or well at all.

New York State

Policy

Buffalo’s billion-dollar Band-Aid

Most of Buffalo, New York's largest and most costly individual projects have produced underwhelming results, whereas some of the smaller-scale, lower-profile programs are actually generating a lot of growth – or, at least, the potential for it.

New York State

Politics

Cuomo’s pay hike, Foye’s promotion and no to President de Blasio

New Yorkers aren't pleased by the prospect of a president Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature finalized the budget that was passed last weekend, the smoking age may be raised, and more in this week's headlines.

New York City

Opinion

Pied-à-terre tax died for ridiculous reasons

Every New Yorker sitting on a delayed subway should know that some of the blame rests with the ultra-rich, luxury real estate developers and their lackeys in Albany, who killed the pied-a-terre tax, writes Ben Adler.

New York State

Policy

New York hits the brakes on e-bikes

A proposal that would have allowed localities to decide for themselves whether to legalize e-scooters and throttle e-bikes – which, unlike pedal-assist e-bikes, are still illegal in New York — was quietly dropped from the finalized budget crafted by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic legislative leaders, despite increasing support at both the city and state level.

New York State

Politics

Why New York is relying on commissions to make policy

Public financing, compensation and the price of congestion tolls are heated issues. Is convening commissions to hammer out their details the right approach?

Andrew Cuomo

Policy

Mixed results for organized labor in state budget

After the 175.5 billion state budget passed, union leaders say they will continue to push for their legislative priorities in the coming weeks.

New York State

Opinion

State budget jeopardized public financing of elections

For progressives hoping for a full Albany transformation, New York’s new state budget was sobering because the public financing of elections was put in real jeopardy by being left up to a commission, writes Ross Barkan.

New York State

Personality

Zellnor Myrie, a “Mariano Rivera” in the state Senate

Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie outlines what he and his allies are hoping to accomplish during the remainder of the legislative session.

New York State

Politics

Which counties just say “no” to marijuana?

Local New York lawmakers are not quite sure of whether or not they want to allow legalized recreational marijuana use in their counties.

New York State

Policy

Cash bail still in judges’ tool belts after major reforms

Despite Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic legislators agreeing that they wanted to eliminate the use of cash bail in New York state, it will remain as an option available to judges in limited circumstances.

New York State

Policy

What we know about New York City’s congestion pricing plan

As a part of the new state budget Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature agreed to enact congestion pricing to help raise revenue for the MTA and reduce traffic in New York City.

Andrew Cuomo

Politics

Cuomo, lawmakers reach $175.5 billion budget deal

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers have reached a $175.5 billion budget deal that includes congestion pricing, a permanent cap on local property tax increases, bail reform and a plan for publicly-financed political campaigns.