Sam Mellins

New York Focus
This was a stinging rebuke to Governor Kathy Hochul, who pushed aggressively for LaSalle’s confirmation.
The judiciary committee voted Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nominee down 10 to 9. Senate Democrats say his candidacy is dead, but Hochul says the full Senate needs to vote.
The ruling puts pressure on the city to finalize a Medicare Advantage plan for a quarter million retirees — and may lead to the elimination of Senior Care.
City Council must enable budget-cutting new health insurance options for retirees, warns Eric Adams’ chief labor negotiator — or City Hall will eliminate existing insurance plans.
A proposal to build dozens of units on a block near the Gowanus industrial zone was cut in half after locals lobbied Councilmember Shahana Hanif.
The ruling, which isn’t binding on other judges but will surely be noted by them, was based on the 2019 bail reform law’s requirement judges consider “ability to post bail without posing undue hardship.”
The mayor and major city unions plan to press the City Council to clear a path for a privatized Medicare plan for retired city workers.
The cancellation of a proposed cost-saving health plan after retired city workers sued could drain a special fund City Hall and unions use to pay employee benefits.
With a lawsuit slowing things down, insurers Elevance Health and Empire BlueCross BlueShield have pulled out of a controversial deal to change retired municipal employees’ Senior Care to a privately run plan “given the level of uncertainty at this time.”
Hundreds of thousands of city workers and their dependents could have their healthcare shifted to a cheaper plan by 2024, documents show.
After New York Focus revealed that Hochul had failed to disclose the individuals behind corporate donations to her campaign, she provided that information for recent donors — revealing major support from a nursing home industry powerhouse.
Following an article that found the Board of Elections failed to enforce a 2019 transparency law, the board sent donors a letter requesting that they comply with the law’s requirements. Thousands did within weeks.
The state legislature has passed a measure intended to counter a court ruling that made it easier for lenders to win cases against homeowners. Sponsors say industry warnings about unintended consequences are overblown.
The move comes after New York Focus reported on widespread violations of campaign finance law and the Board’s lack of enforcement.
Court rules retirees can keep current insurance free of charge, as alternative to a planned cost-cutting transfer to Medicare Advantage.
Circumventing a law designed to close a so-called LLC loophole, donors to candidates across the state are using multiple companies to give far over the $5,000 cap.
A 2019 reform following corruption scandals was supposed to cap political donations and unveil the people behind companies giving cash. Records show it hasn’t.
Retired city employees will be able to opt out of their newly privatized health insurance until June 30, State Supreme Court judge Lyle Frank ruled.Retired city employees will be able to opt out of their newly privatized health insurance until June 30, State Supreme Court judge Lyle Frank ruled.
The Court of Appeals found in favor of banks that complained cases were dropped on technicalities. Now homeowners across the state are bracing for new attempts to take away their homes.
A judge’s decision delays the Oct. 31 deadline for former city employees to decide whether they want to move to private Medicare Advantage or pay for alternatives.