Have a question for THE CITY about elections, voting and local campaigns? Let us know at ask@thecity.nyc with the subject line “Election” — or by texting “Election” to (718) 215-9011. Hearing from you makes our reporting better! With no federal or statewide races, 2023 is an off-year for politics — except in New York City. Here, […]
Rachel Holliday Smith
Rachel is an associate editor for THE CITY leading explanatory and service journalism in the newsroom.
Posted inHousing
How to Snoop Through Property Records Like a Reporter
In New York City, there are a lot of ways to find publicly available information about the buildings on your block — and even more reasons to want it. Maybe you need to find the name of a contractor who botched a repair, or your landlord’s real mailing address, or how many violations a building […]
Posted inElections
Seven City Council Races to Watch This Election
New York’s politically purple neighborhoods are just weeks away from choosing their next City Council members in redrawn districts. And with expected low turnout in November’s elections, the results are anyone’s guess; public polling in Council races are very rare. Races to watch include conservative-leaning neighborhoods in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, including one newly […]
Posted inAdministration for Children's Services
What to Do When Children’s Services Comes to the Door
Every year, the Administration for Children’s Services visits families in New York City tens of thousands of times. Typically, those investigations start with a knock on the door as staff members of the child welfare agency try to assess reports of abuse or neglect by a parent or other family member. That first moment is […]
Posted inHousing
Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Landlords’ Challenge to New York’s Rent Regulations
Property owners argued that 2019 reforms violated their rights and is “destroying” housing. Yet profits are still plentiful.
Posted inHow to New York
How to Clean Up After a Storm: A Guide for Flooded New Yorkers
More severe weather is bringing water into homes more frequently across the five boroughs. Here’s what to do if flooding damages your place.
Posted inHow to New York
The 7 Ideas in Mayor Adams’ Housing Plan, and How It Gets Built
Building “a little more housing in every neighborhood” may seem like a commonsense plan for a city with a massive housing crisis, but a long, complicated and possibly contentious review awaits.
Posted inHow to New York
With COVID Surging, Here’s What You Need to Know About Tests, Treatments and Vaccines
Can you still get Paxlovid for free? Where did all the COVID testing sites go? And how do you get the new vaccine?
Posted inHow to New York
How to Get the New COVID-19 Vaccine in New York City
The newest shot is not a booster, and it’s available at pharmacies at no cost. Here’s how to make your appointment for a jab.
Posted inHousing
NYC Lost 100K Homes in Apartment-to-House Conversions
New research of historic property records estimates the toll of mansion and other space combinations, especially in Manhattan.