Politics Mamdani Names Dana Kaplan as New Rikers Czar
Dana Kaplan, a key architect of the original Rikers Island closure plan, has been appointed the Mamdani administration's new 'Rikers czar.'
Politics
City Hall, Albany, and federal policy as it affects New York.
Politics 
NYC's Pied-à-Terre Tax Won't Fix the Housing Crisis
Governor Hochul's proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury non-resident homeowners won't raise $500M as promised and could hurt NYC's finances.
NY Lawmakers Vote on Pension Reforms They'll Personally Benefit From
74 of 213 New York state legislators stand to personally gain from Tier 6 pension reforms backed by Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders in Albany.
New York's Climate Law Failure and Fossil Fuel Dependence
As Iran war spikes gas prices, New York's 2019 climate law remains unmet. Can the state finally move beyond fossil fuel dependence?
Mamdani at 100 Days: NYC Faces $5.9B Budget Gap
Mayor Mamdani hits his 100-day mark as NYC confronts a $5.9 billion structural budget hole and warnings from bond rating agencies.
NYC Doorman Strike Averted as Union Reaches Deal
32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board reached a tentative agreement Friday, averting a strike by 34,000 NYC doormen and porters.
Nassau County Police Collude With ICE Beyond NYC Sanctuary
Nassau County police are routinely handing immigrants over to ICE after traffic stops, exposing a pattern of local law enforcement cooperation beyond NYC's sanctuary protections.
NYC 2026-27 School Year: Late Start and Calendar Quirks
NYC public schools will start Sept. 10, 2026—the latest in years—with a Monday year-end raising attendance concerns. Here's what parents need to know.
UNITE HERE Local 100 Endorses Blake Over Torres in NY-15
UNITE HERE Local 100's 17,000 members back Michael Blake in his primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Ritchie Torres in New York's 15th District.
Velázquez Endorses Carl Wilson in Manhattan District 3 Race
Retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez backs Carl Wilson in Manhattan's District 3 special election, widening her split with Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
NYC's 14,000 Job Vacancies: An $800M Budget Crisis Move
NYC has nearly 14,000 government job vacancies. City Council is banking on $800M in savings from unfilled roles amid a $5.4B budget shortfall.
Mamdani Defends Luxury Second Home Tax, Shrugs Off Trump
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended a proposed surcharge on luxury second homes worth $5M+, dismissing Trump's attacks while citing broad public support.
LGBTQ Representation at Stake in NYC District 3 Special Election
Carl Wilson fights to keep District 3's LGBTQ streak alive in a crowded special election featuring Boylan, Law-Gisiko, and Boghosian Murphy.
Poll Shows Espaillat at 42% in NY-13 Democratic Primary
An internal poll shows Rep. Adriano Espaillat with soft support in NY-13, trailing challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier after positive messaging.
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin's 2026 Agenda: Housing & Childcare
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin outlines her 2026 priorities: affordable housing, universal childcare, lower health care costs, and budget reform.
Home Care Workers Hunger Strike to End 24-Hour Workday
Dozens of home care workers launched a hunger strike outside NYC City Hall, demanding legislation to end grueling 24-hour shifts for aides.
Hochul Pushes 25-Foot Worship Buffer With Hate-Crime Funding
Gov. Hochul renewed her push for a statewide 25-foot protest buffer around houses of worship, pairing it with $35 million in hate-crime security funding.
Mamdani Allies Push Veto of Protest Buffer Zone Bill
Allies urge Mayor Mamdani to veto a City Council bill creating protest buffer zones around schools, warning its broad language could restrict demonstrations citywide.
Home Care Workers Launch Hunger Strike Over 24-Hour Shifts
Fifteen home health aides began an indefinite hunger strike outside City Hall after the City Council failed to advance a bill banning 24-hour work shifts.
Mamdani Endorses Boylan in NYC District 3 Council Race
Mayor Mamdani endorsed Lindsey Boylan in Manhattan's District 3 special election, shaking up the race just as early voting begins Saturday.
Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso State of the Borough 2026
Antonio Reynoso highlights housing, schools, and maternal health care gains in his fourth State of the Borough address at the Brooklyn Museum.
Judge Slams NYC in Gay Couple IVF Discrimination Lawsuit
A federal judge says she is 'very, very troubled' by NYC's handling of a class-action suit over IVF benefits denied to gay male employees.
Mamdani Proposes City-Backed Insurance for Rent-Stabilized Buildings
Mayor Mamdani unveils a city-backed insurance program to cut costs for rent-stabilized buildings, targeting 100,000 apartments by 2030.
Hochul Proposes Luxury Second Home Tax Surcharge in NYC
Gov. Hochul wants a property tax surcharge on NYC non-primary residences worth $5M+, potentially raising $500M yearly to close a budget gap.
How the New York State Budget Works in 2026
Albany lawmakers missed New York's April 1 budget deadline, leaving $260+ billion in spending on health care, housing, and climate policy unresolved.
Menin Backs Mamdani's DOI Pick Nadia Shihata
Council Speaker Julie Menin endorses Nadia Shihata for DOI commissioner ahead of a crucial confirmation vote, citing her prosecutorial experience.
NYC Council Pushes Rikers Island Voting Reform
Only 335 of 6,000 eligible Rikers Island detainees voted in last year's election. The City Council is now pushing legislation to fix the broken system.
NY Senate Drug Discount Plan Fails Low-Income Patients
New York's 340B Drug Discount Program sends 71% of funds to higher-income areas while hospital assets soar and charity care collapses.
Free Subway & Bus Fares for Low-Income New Yorkers
NYC Council leaders push to expand Fair Fares, offering free transit to residents earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level.
Q&A With Council Member Carmen De La Rosa of District 10
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa discusses housing, immigration, and constituent services in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill.
NYC Cooling Tower Rules Tighten to Fight Legionnaires' Disease
New York City's stricter cooling tower testing rules take effect May 8, requiring monthly Legionella testing and higher fines for non-compliant building owners.
NYCHA Offers Senior Housing Option to Chelsea Holdouts
24 elderly tenants are blocking NYCHA's $1.2 billion Chelsea redevelopment. Now the authority is offering seniors-only housing transfers to break the deadlock.
New York's Fossil Fuel Illusion and Its Climate Law Failure
As the Iran war spikes gas prices, New York's ambitious 2019 climate law remains unmet. Can the state finally move beyond fossil fuel dependence?
Mamdani's 100 Days: NYC Faces $5.9 Billion Budget Gap
Mayor Mamdani hits his 100-day mark as NYC confronts a $5.9 billion structural budget hole and warning signs from bond rating agencies.
Mamdani's 100-Day Rally: Socialist Pothole Politics in NYC
Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a 100-day rally at the Knockdown Center, declaring democratic socialism means fixing potholes and filling grocery stores.
ICE Racial Profiling Lawsuit Filed in New York
A coalition of civil rights groups sued DHS, alleging ICE is arresting New York immigrants based solely on appearance and language spoken.
Can Mayor Mamdani Reform the NYPD? 100 Days In
Zohran Mamdani promised sweeping NYPD reforms, but 100 days into his mayoralty, the department looks largely unchanged. What's holding him back?
NYC Affordable Units Sit Empty for Over a Year Amid Housing Crisis
New NYC affordable apartments sit vacant 439 days on average before occupancy—nearly 3x the national median—as thousands await stable housing.
Chris Banks on Seniors, NYCHA, and East New York in 2026
Brooklyn Council Member Chris Banks outlines his 2026 priorities: more DFTA funding, NYCHA reforms, and cleaner streets for East New York and Brownsville.
Q&A with NY Gaming Commission Chair Brian O'Dwyer
NY Gaming Commission Chair Brian O'Dwyer on illegal gambling markets, three new NYC casinos, and Belmont Park's transformation.
Can Nadia Shihata Independently Investigate Mamdani's City Hall?
Nadia Shihata faced tough questions from NYC Council members about her campaign donations to Mamdani and ties to his chief counsel during her DOI confirmation hearing.
Congestion Toll Revenue Funds Clean Fridges in South Bronx
NYC's congestion pricing program is funding 20 electric-hybrid refrigeration units at Hunts Point, cutting diesel emissions equal to 6,000 daily truck trips.
NYC Bond Rating Warnings: What They Mean for New Yorkers
All four major bond rating agencies have warned they may downgrade NYC's credit rating over Mayor Mamdani's controversial budget proposal.
NY Lawmakers Own Homes While Constituents Struggle to Afford Them
New York has the lowest homeownership rate in the US, yet most of its congressional delegation are property owners—raising conflict of interest questions.
Gale Brewer Impersonator Scammed NYC Pension Fund $32,980
A scammer posing as NYC Council Member Gale Brewer stole $32,980 from NYCERS. She's one of 33 victims in a broader pension fraud scheme.
Judge Keeps NYC Council Staffer in ICE Detention
A Trump-appointed judge denied NYC Council staffer Rafael Rubio Bohorquez's release from ICE custody, ruling his TPS status was effectively withdrawn.
Iran War Turbulence Threatens Mamdani's NYC Budget
Fiscal watchdogs warn Mayor Mamdani's budget faces risk as Wall Street wobbles from Iran war uncertainty, oil price spikes, and slowing bonus growth.
NYC Sues Empower Ride-Sharing App for Operating Without License
New York City filed suit against Yazam Inc., maker of the Empower app, for operating ride-hailing services without a TLC license since 2022.
MTA to Triple Wheelchair Lift Training for Express Bus Drivers
NYC Transit plans to increase wheelchair lift training for express bus operators from two to six sessions annually amid criticism over failures serving disabled riders.
Q&A With Council Member Frank Morano of Staten Island
Council Member Frank Morano discusses his 2026 agenda for Staten Island's 51st District, focusing on accountability, public safety, and constituent services.
Appeals Court Pauses NYCHA Chelsea Complex Demolition
A five-judge appellate panel issued a stay on NYCHA's plan to demolish and rebuild 2,000 public housing apartments in Chelsea pending a lawsuit review.
Landlord Income Up 6% as NYC Rent Board Eyes Freeze
NYC's Rent Guidelines Board reviews a report showing landlord income rose 6.2% as Mayor Mamdani pushes his signature rent freeze promise forward.
Mamdani Budget Director Blames Adams for $5.4B Deficit
NYC Budget Director Sherif Soliman testified that deliberate underbudgeting under former Mayor Adams created the $5.4 billion fiscal hole Mamdani must now fix.
Judge Orders Rikers Island Fixed in 7 Years or Less
A federal judge appointed Nicholas Deml as remediation manager to overhaul Rikers Island, giving New York City up to seven years to fix the jail system.
NYC Emergency Housing Vouchers Expiring, 16,000 at Risk
Over 16,000 New Yorkers face housing instability as Emergency Housing Voucher funding runs out with no replacement plan in sight.
Mamdani Appeals Court Order to Expand NYC Housing Vouchers
Mayor Mamdani reversed his campaign promise by appealing a court order to expand CityFHEPS housing vouchers, stunning low-income housing advocates.
NYC Schools Chief Warns 80% Class-Size Goal May Miss Deadline
Chancellor Kamar Samuels says reaching 80% class-size compliance by September will be 'very difficult' as NYC sits at just 64% compliance.
MTA Pushes Q Line Extension Amid Federal Funding Fight
The MTA prepares to award a key Second Avenue Subway contract while battling the Trump administration over $60M in withheld federal funds.
ICE Agents Deployed to Airports Amid TSA Shortage
Federal immigration agents will deploy to major airports as TSA struggles with a staffing crisis. New York politicians and advocates call it a dangerous escalation.
NYPD Still Issuing Criminal Charges to Street Vendors
Despite a new NYC law reclassifying vendor violations as civil infractions, NYPD has already issued at least seven illegal criminal summonses to street vendors.
NY Prison Reform: Advocates Demand Accountability After Deaths
Over 50 advocacy groups press New York lawmakers for prison accountability following the deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in state facilities.
NYC Faces Negative Outlook From Third Credit Agency
KBRA joins Moody's and S&P in issuing a negative financial outlook for NYC as Mayor Mamdani's administration battles a $7.3 billion budget deficit.
Ex-NYC Taxi Boss David Do Backs Out of Empower App Job
David Do, former NYC TLC head, has withdrawn from his role at ride-hail app Empower amid the company's mounting legal troubles in Washington D.C.
Mamdani Appoints NYC Salary Commission Members in First 100 Days
Mayor Mamdani filled out the Quadrennial Advisory Commission on elected official pay, appointing three members with deep City Hall expertise.
Hochul Proposes Weakening New York's Climate Law
Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined three changes to New York's landmark climate law, citing affordability concerns and a hostile White House toward renewable energy.
World Cup Economic Boom Looks Like a Bust in 2026
Hotel bookings for New York's World Cup weeks are running 2% below 2025 levels, raising doubts about FIFA's $3 billion economic windfall projection.
NYC Lawyer Moves to Drop Adams Defense in Sexual Assault Case
Corporation Counsel Steve Banks cites new evidence in seeking to end NYC's legal defense of former Mayor Eric Adams in a civil sexual assault lawsuit.
MTA Sues Feds Over $60M for Second Ave Subway Extension
The MTA filed suit against the federal government for withholding $60M in contractually obligated funding for the Second Avenue Subway extension to East Harlem.
NYC Pooper Scooper Law Nearly Impossible to Enforce
NYC's acting sanitation commissioner says the city's pooper scooper law is nearly unenforceable, with only two summonses issued in all of 2025.
Transit Union Sues MTA Over Subway Booth Staffing Cuts
TWU Local 100 filed suit against the MTA for illegally reducing subway station booth staffing without required public hearings under state law.
Home Care Aides Fight for 24-Hour Wages in New York
A New York judge reopened cases for 100+ home care aides claiming stolen wages under a rule that allows workers to be paid for only 13 of 24 hours worked.
NYC Prefab Bathroom Years Late, Now Costs $3.5 Million
A modular restroom hyped as fast and affordable for Fort Washington Park is years behind schedule and has ballooned to $3.5 million in costs.
NYC Council Considers Ban on Rodent Glue Traps
New York City Council weighs a ban on glue traps amid animal welfare concerns and the city's ongoing battle with its rat population.
Brooklyn Nurses Lose Health Care Despite $15M State Aid
Over 400 Brooklyn Hospital Center nurses have gone six weeks without health insurance while Governor Hochul sent $15M in emergency state funding.
Budget Watchdogs Warn Mamdani on Wall Street Reliance
NYC budget watchdogs warn Mayor Mamdani his $127B spending plan relies too heavily on Wall Street growth, rainy-day reserves, and property tax hikes.
MTA Seeks Albany Reform to Stop $50M in Dubious Crash Claims
MTA CEO Janno Lieber joins Gov. Hochul to push auto insurance reforms, saying the authority loses nearly $50M yearly to questionable crash liability claims.
NYC HOPE Count 2026: Measuring Homeless New Yorkers
Volunteers conducted NYC's 21st annual HOPE count after a cold-weather delay, with nearly 1,300 participants surveying unhoused residents across all five boroughs.
NYC Council Revives Third Party Transfer Program With Reforms
Bronx Councilmember Pierina Sanchez introduces the SAFER Act to revive and reform NYC's Third Party Transfer program for negligent landlords.
Brooklyn Appellate Court Celebrates First-Ever Hellenic Heritage Day, Honors Greek Legal Leaders
The Greek flag flew for the first time at the Appellate Division, Second Department courthouse in Brooklyn Heights as the court celebrated its inaugural Hellenic Heritage Day, honoring the contributions of Greek judges and lawyers to the American legal system.
Buffalo Refugee's Death Pushes NY Lawmakers to Advance Immigration Protection Bills
New York state lawmakers are accelerating work on a package of immigration protection bills following the death of a blind refugee who was abandoned by federal agents outside a closed Buffalo coffee shop last week.
Adams Housing Pick Faces NYC Rental Hunt After Appointment
New NYC housing commissioner faced the same brutal rental market she now oversees, highlighting how the city's housing crisis affects even high-level officials.
Goldman Pushes Bill to Send Federal Cash to NYCHA Boilers
Rep. Dan Goldman introduced legislation to create dedicated federal funding for NYCHA boiler upgrades, targeting chronic heating problems affecting 400,000 residents.
Frozen Snow Piles Block Bus Lanes Across NYC
Frozen snow piles are blocking bus lanes across NYC, forcing buses into traffic and adding 10-15 minutes to commutes as sanitation crews work to clear the icy debris.
Starbucks Workers End 3-Month Strike at NYC Stores
Starbucks workers at unionized NYC locations returned to work this week, ending a nearly three-month strike that began Dec. 20 over scheduling and union recognition.
Queer Hockey League Scores Big in NYC Ice Rinks
A queer hockey league inspired by romance novel "Heated Rivalry" is drawing LGBTQ+ players across NYC's five boroughs to ice rinks from Chelsea to Queens.