Author Archive
Austin C. Jefferson
New York State
Politics
Wildcat prison strikes continue upstate
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the head of the state corrections department are trying to use a combination of carrots and sticks to get corrections officers back to work.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
News & Politics
Politics
‘Shredding of the American Dream’: Immigrants fear ICE raids at schools
Undocumented families are keeping children home from school, and there’s only so much elected officials can do to ease their fears.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
News & Politics
Politics
Split over Adams highlights rift between Hochul and Delgado
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado disagree on whether Mayor Eric Adams must leave office – the latest public split between the governor and her independent-minded deputy.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Housing
Politics
Albany’s next big housing fight might be over upstate rent stabilization
How hard will the real estate lobby fight to block a bill that doesn’t affect New York City?
- By Austin C. Jefferson
2025 New York City Mayoral Election
Politics
Why do Black voters currently seem to prefer Andrew Cuomo over Eric Adams?
“You vote for the choice that's going to do the least amount of harm to you, knowing how white voters are going to behave.”
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Housing
Politics
Hochul says housing voucher bill is still too expensive
The bill’s supporters want to include housing vouchers for homeless and low-income New Yorkers in this year’s affordability-focused state budget.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Upstate
Politics
Upstate mayors rattle tin cups for increased state aid
The mayors of Buffalo, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester and Albany want a permanent increase in the state budget’s Aid and Incentives to Municipalities funding.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Albany Agenda
Policy
New law aims to stop red states from prosecuting NY abortion doctors
After a New York doctor was indicted in Louisiana, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will keep doctors’ names off of prescriptions for abortion medicine.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Housing
Politics
New statewide tenant group hopes to counter real estate lobby
Organizers working with the Housing Justice for All coalition are launching the New York State Tenant Bloc, a 501(c)(4) organization to support pro-tenant candidates.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Policy
Policy
Albany considers multiple approaches to discovery reform
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Assembly Member Micah Lasher introduced a bill to help prosecutors comply with the law, while Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to weaken the law’s requirements.
- By Austin C. Jefferson and Rebecca C. Lewis
Policy
Policy
Will banning cellphones keep students safe?
Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested that students would be safer in an active shooter situation if they were unable to use their cellphones.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
MagazineShow All
News & Politics
Politics
What makes a good special election candidate?
In recent years, Republicans and Democrats have had varying success with picking strong candidates that can capture the imagination of an electorate in a condensed campaign cycle.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Personality
Personality
Will Barclay wants to work with Hochul to make New York affordable
An interview with the top Republican in the Assembly.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Personality
Personality
Meet the 2025 class of new state lawmakers
Two dozen electeds are joining the state Legislature in Albany.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
NYPD
Policy
New bill would seal unproven complaints against officers
Would this be a Clean Slate Act for cops?
- By Austin C. Jefferson
Policy
Policy
Brisport skeptical of Hochul’s universal child care pledge
State Sen. Jabari Brisport, who has championed universal child care in the state Legislature, said he’ll believe Hochul’s commitment to the policy when he sees it.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
New York State
Policy
Breaking down Hochul’s State of the State
The governor laid out the broad strokes of her agenda for the year in her annual speech and a nearly 150-page policy book.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis and Austin C. Jefferson
Albany Agenda
Policy
Senate to pass voting rights bills today
Although legislative leaders previously said that their top priority was affordability, the Senate is sticking with tradition by passing election reform bills first.
- By Austin C. Jefferson
New York State
Policy
Legislative leaders pledge to prioritize affordability as session begins
In opening remarks, both state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said they intend to pass legislation to address New Yorkers’ cost of living.
- By Rebecca C. Lewis and Austin C. Jefferson
Ethics
Policy
Can Cuomo convince New York’s highest court to scrap state ethics commission?
The state Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the former governor’s case against the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying and Government.
- By Austin C. Jefferson