The city’s COVID-19 response suffered from incomplete, outdated disaster plans and a lack of critical supplies, according to an interim report released Wednesday by Comptroller Scott Stringer, who accused Mayor Bill de Blasio of stonewalling his investigation. The probe was launched more than a year ago, but Stringer said de Blasio’s office has not released […]
Scott Stringer
Posted inPolitics
Cuomo’s Exit Could Kick Off Game of Political Musical Chairs for Governor’s Seat and More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation is expected to lead to a statewide scramble for power among Democrats and Republicans in New York as politicians seek to capitalize on the unexpected opening of potentially multiple seats. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who in two weeks is slated to take over as governor to serve the remainder of Cuomo’ […]
Posted inCampaign 2021
How Garcia, Wiley and Morales Gave Their Male Mayoral Rivals a Run for Their Money
Mayoral candidate Eric Adams notched another $1.3 million in taxpayer-footed public matching funds Thursday — but the latest campaign finance numbers show how his top female primary rivals gave him a run for his money. The five men among the top eight Democratic candidates outpaced the women in garnering the support of super PACs — […]
Posted inJails
Hundreds of New City Jail Officers for Rikers Put Detainee Advocates on Guard
This story is the product of a collaboration between New York Focus and THE CITY. This story has been updated to reflect the current number detainees held in city jails. In March, Greg Williams testified before the City Council about his experience being incarcerated on Rikers Island. He recalled observing groups of correction officers hanging […]
Posted inBudget
NYC’s $100 Billion Budget Deal May Leave Whopping Deficits for New Mayor, Critics Say
Unprecedented federal aid and better-than-expected tax revenue restored cuts and boosted education funding. But experts and advocates call de Blasio’s proposed spending plan a “missed opportunity” for stabilizing city finances.
Posted inCampaign 2021
Adams Ahead in Mayoral Race, But Wiley and Garcia Count on Ranked Choice Tally
The Democratic primary ended in a rush of activity, with Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia joining Eric Adams at the initial head of the pack. Now New Yorkers are in for a big wait with absentee ballots needed to begin the full ranked choice voting count.
Posted inCampaign 2021
NYC Mayoral Primary Arrives Tuesday — Here’s What You Need to Know
Voters are set to hit the polls and use the new ranked choice voting system to pick who’s going to lead the post-pandemic city. But it could be weeks before New Yorkers know who won the mayoral race and contests from comptroller to City Council.
Posted inCampaign 2021
Where to Watch the First Official NYC Comptroller Debate on June 10
The eight Democratic candidates for city comptroller will face off at 7 p.m. Thursday during the first city Campaign Finance Board-sanctioned broadcast debate for that office. Brian Benjamin, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Zach Iscol, Corey Johnson, Brad Lander, Kevin Parker, Reshma Patel and David Weprin are each expected to make their pitch on why they should become […]
Posted inCampaign 2021
Small Donors Shine in Record-Breaking NYC Mayoral Election Year
Whichever candidate prevails once every last vote for mayor gets counted, small campaign donors and the champions of a ramped-up public matching funds program can claim a win. The number of people donating less than $100 to a campaign has tripled since the last time the top job in New York City was open in […]
Posted inCampaign 2021
Who’s the NYC Business Community’s Choice for Mayor?
Just this week, Brooklyn businessperson Gil Cygler launched a PAC called Better NY for All to raise $500,000 to fund ads in support of Eric Adams’ campaign for mayor as well as a few other select candidates in the borough. “A lot of small business people are being hurt by the leftward shift in the […]