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.

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.

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.

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?

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.