The Capital Examiner

Will Mamdani ‘stop the chop?’ Helicopter foes look to mayor to quiet the skies.

A helicopter tour in Manhattan in 2025. Helicopter foes cast the aircraft as vehicles of the elite. [ more › ]

2 dead people found in Queens home where man emerged with shotgun after blast, NYPD says

NYPD officers hold a press conference after Kegan Thomas allegedly wielded a shotgun and was shot and critically wounded by NYPD officers outside his home. The NYPD says it shot Kegan Thomas after he came out of the home with a tactical vest and wouldn't put down his weapon. [ more › ]

Dozens of people hurt, trapped resident rescued in five-alarm Flushing fire

Most of the injured were firefighters. [ more › ]

29-year-old man dies in city custody after arraignment at Bronx courthouse

The Bronx Hall of Justice at 265 East 161st Street. Julian Pagan is at least the fifth person to die in, or shortly after leaving, Department of Correction custody this year. [ more › ]

'Love of my life': How Paisley the goldendoodle mellowed NY Assembly Speaker Heastie

The assembly speaker has a soft spot for his doodle. Can't blame him! Lawmakers said the dog helped mellow Heastie, a skilled backroom operator. [ more › ]

Advocates call for stricter safety measures after 2 cabbie shootings in Brooklyn

Fernando Mateo, the founder and spokesperson of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said drivers put themselves at risk on the job daily. The most recent shooting involving a cab driver took place in Fort Greene early Friday morning. [ more › ]

Co-op and condo group makes affordability pitch to NYC’s affordability mayor

Morningside Gardens, a six-building coop complex in Northern Manhattan. A report by the Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums recommends ways to help reduce costs for what it says is one of the last strongholds of affordable homeownership. [ more › ]

Jewish elected leaders criticize Mamdani’s rhetoric after Upper West Side stabbings

Comptroller Mark Levine, presumptive Rep. Micah Lasher and Speaker Julie Menin were among the attendees at a press conference in the aftermath of a stabbing attack in the Upper West Side. Authorities charged the suspect, Raul Morales, with hate crimes on Friday. [ more › ]

Man accused of stabbing 2 on Upper West Side charged with hate crimes, police say

Officials said Morales apparently yelled “Allahu Akbar” before stabbing an Asian man with a knife and a Jewish man with a screwdriver. Raul Morales, 51, was arrested Thursday after the stabbings, which took place several blocks apart, according to police. [ more › ]

Partisan rift deepens over NY immigration law

As Hochul moves to enact a law limiting local cooperation with ICE, her opponent Blakeman said he’d end “sanctuary state” policies.

The People's Forum, NYC-based activist group, hit with House subpoena

Immigrant rights activist hold signs as they protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on July 16, 2026, in New York City. A Republican-controlled House committee is looking into the funding and activities of a New York City-based group that has helped organize such protests against Trump administration policies. A Republican-controlled panel is looking into Chinese "influence operations" in the United States. [ more › ]

5 people beat the odds and now have their very own NYC Knicks trash bins

Daniel LeVert picked up his Knicks trash bin. And they didn't even have to steal them. [ more › ]

NYC property manager agrees to pay after AG says it illegally locked tenants out

Spigro Management must also reimburse the tenants at least $1,000 each. [ more › ]

Former NJ governor claims 'no knowledge' of glitch that let noncitizens vote

Former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy A spokesperson for Phil Murphy says he learned of the erroneous voting activity on Tuesday like the rest of us. [ more › ]

Repairs complete on new $6 billion power line bringing NYC energy from Canada

The Champlain Hudson Power Express is one of the state's largest transmission infrastructure projects in 50 years. The damaged cable that caused the 339-mile subterranean power line to shut down has been repaired and tested. [ more › ]

Western New York School District Hits Pause on Robot Teacher Amid Scrutiny

The district announced the pause hours after the State Education Department sent it a letter expressing concerns about the plan, which New York Focus first reported on last week.

A New York reporter's notebook: America is beautiful from a train car

"On The Way" reporter Ramsey Khalifeh traveled from Los Angeles to New York City by train. He fell in love with the country along the way. [ more › ]

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

As the neighborhood changes, so does its cuisine [ more › ]

NYC movie buffs' plea: Tell me, O muse, how to get tickets for 'The Odyssey' in IMAX 70mm?

"The honeyed milk and the sweet red wine I brought, and the song I sang, which makes men die of desire, so sweet it is." A guide to scoring the hottest ticket of the summer in New York City. [ more › ]

NYC immigration courts are ground-zero for a new deportation tool: Mass hearings

A federal officer stands by in a hallway at New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in Manhattan on Oct. 1, 2025. Deportation orders issued in absentia are spiking, fueled by mass immigration hearings. [ more › ]

Police investigating suspected LGBTQ+ hate crime in the Bronx

A stock photo of an NYPD cruiser NYPD data shows hate-crime incidents were up about 15% for the year through March, compared to 2025. [ more › ]

Police probe stabbing of 2 men on Manhattan's Upper West Side as potential hate crimes

Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit investigate the scene of a stabbing attack at the intersection of West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Police said detectives are investigating whether the attacks near Central Park constitute a hate crime after police arrested a suspect. [ more › ]

Early Addition: The SoHo REI closed, it's now the OpenAI building

Because times have changed, here are your early links: Rare sea turtle released off Coney Island, Drake is in New Jersey, killer whales play with their food and more. [ more › ]

First NYPD officer charged under George Floyd-inspired chokehold law set to stand trial

An NYPD patrol car. Prosecutors say Omar Habib placed a man in a chokehold so tight that he temporarily lost consciousness. [ more › ]

NYC's first dry weekend in weeks? Here are 5 ways to enjoy it.

Two men play street football and juggle a ball over a barricade in Central Park on a sunny afternoon. Forecasts call for sunshine and seasonable temperatures after weeks of rainy weekends. [ more › ]

New York Focus Adds Events Manager and Managing Editor

New York Focus is growing bigger and better with its first-ever events manager and a permanent hire for its managing editor role.

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Who’s up and who’s down this week?

Is New York adequately serving immigrants? It’s hard to say.

The state comptroller’s audit of the Office for New Americans found the agency is missing key data metrics to help evaluate need.

NJ Republicans say noncitizen voter problem is larger than governor disclosed

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill New Jersey Republicans say they’ve found evidence of illegal voting activity outside the time period Sherrill discussed this week. [ more › ]

Amazon Quietly Bankrolled $5 Million Campaign Against NYC Delivery Bill

The delivery giant supplied almost all the funding for a campaign presented as a coalition of workers, small businesses, and national carriers.

Federal employees say they’ll quit if they have to move to New Jersey

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to reconsider the planned move of local offices of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

NJ Republicans plan legislation to end automatic voter registration

Capitol dome in Trenton, New Jersey The bill would also implement voter ID requirements and regular audits of the voter rolls, Gothamist has learned. [ more › ]

Blakeman reports extra $1.6 million raised in amended campaign filing

The Republican gubernatorial candidate’s initial July disclosure fell far short of his fundraising claims

New York’s organized labor looks to regroup after string of political defeats

Alexander Kemp, TWU Local 100's administrative vice president, leads a demonstration in Albany. Canvassers talking to union members this year will be taking an extra beat when they knock on doors. [ more › ]

NYC's car-free Summer Streets 2026 begins Saturday. First up: Queens and Staten Island.

A music group plays on a temporarily car-free street Queens in 2023, the first year Summer Streets expanded to all five boroughs. This year, they're celebrating the Knicks. [ more › ]

Trump Station? Feds ask to rename Penn Station as Amtrak pushes ahead with rebuild.

The winning plan to rebuild Penn Station features a presidential seal with President Trump's name etched into the wall by an entrance. In a request to members of Congress, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he wanted them to "direct Amtrak to rename New York Penn Station." [ more › ]

Fallen soldier from Ozone Park always wanted to serve, family says

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad's aunt, Judy Rackal, speaks while Rampersad's mother, Carol Acevedo looks on. Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad was a calming and determined presence who was proud to serve the country she came to as a child, her family says. [ more › ]

Subway riders on 1, 2 and 3 trains should brace for headaches over next 5 weekends

Riders who use the 1, 2 and 3 trains should plan to take other routes every weekend through late August. The MTA said they're planning to replace aging switches on the Seventh Avenue Line. [ more › ]

$4,300 in missing rugs, online shame, 7 hours in NYPD custody: A stooping story

Rugs outside Chyelle, before Jocelyn Ullman took them in what she says was a misunderstanding, thinking they were up for grabs. The woman who took the rugs says it was all a misunderstanding. The woman who owns them regrets the whole mess. [ more › ]

Battle of the beaches: The Jersey Shore vs. Long Island

The party-friendly beach in Wildwood, New Jersey We went to Penn Station to ask which direction offers the better beach. [ more › ]

Early Addition: Got $10? Anything at the newsstand could be yours!

Because there's a price limit on what most New York City newsstands can sell, here are your early links: Killer whale in Montauk, old soccer field in Queens, a whole new way to wear your pants and more. [ more › ]

Did you know you can row for free on the Harlem River?

Row a very expensive boat for nothing this weekend on City of Water Day, [ more › ]

Teen girl hospitalized after subway surfing in Queens, NYPD says

The girl got hurt on top of a southbound A train as it pulled into the Broad Channel subway station, police said. [ more › ]

Medical examiner lists acute drug intoxication in all 3 NYPD booking deaths this year

The medical examiner classified each death as an accident, but the findings do not establish when the drugs were consumed. [ more › ]

The Fight for Control Over New York’s Charter Schools Is Escalating

A governor-appointed board has approved dozens of charter schools over objections from state education officials. Proponents say that’s a good thing.

The Affordability Crisis is Reshaping Homeownership in New York. Here's What Buyers Should Know.

Whether searching for a rental, a co-op, a condo, or a first home, many residents face limited inventory and rising costs, and feel as though they have few options left. [ more › ]

Tornadoes confirmed in Westchester and New Jersey after severe storms

Damage surveys found tornadoes touched down in parts of New York and New Jersey during Tuesday's storms. [ more › ]

Who’s who in Zohran Mamdani’s administration?

Meet the folks who are running New York City.

NBA championship trophy to be displayed at the American Museum of Natural History

The 30-pound trophy, which is made of sterling silver and gold vermeil, depicts a life-sized basketball entering a hoop and features the names of every winning team since 1947. The trophy will be on display from July 27 through Jan. 3 as part of the museum's "For the Win" exhibit. [ more › ]

5 things to know about Anthony Shorris

Mamdani’s new economic development head may be able to please business leaders without backtracking on his policy agenda.

MTA wraps up $106M renovation of Borough Hall subway where ceiling collapsed in 2018

Brooklyn's Borough Hall station fell into disrepair before the MTA began an extensive renovation project five years ago. The station is one of the oldest in the system and MTA officials said it was long overdue for an overhaul. [ more › ]

Mamdani encouraged protests of Netanyahu’s visit. His NYPD will respond to them.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said New York City can’t act independently to arrest the Israeli prime minister, but said those who wish to protest his planned visit should.

Episode 3: AI Adoption and Training the Next Generation of Tech Workers

Opinion Poll – Energy

Executive Summary New York voters prioritize affordable energy and show limited support for energy and climate policies that could increase.... The post Opinion Poll – Energy appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

Empire Center Poll: New Yorkers Prioritize Low Energy Prices and Have Little Appetite for Radical Climate Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALBANY, N.Y. — New Yorkers across political, geographic, age, and income groups oppose energy and climate policies.... The post Empire Center Poll: New Yorkers Prioritize Low Energy Prices and Have Little Appetite for Radical Climate Policies appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

Woman Robbed By Her Lawyer Gets $70K+ Back After New York Focus Investigation

Larger questions remain about New York’s cash-strapped fund for compensating victims of attorney theft.

How big money scrambled to support Espaillat in the final weeks

Dark money donors to super PACs supporting Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Antonio Reynoso were revealed in post-election filings.

GOP council members distance themselves from Young Republicans after antisemitism claims

Inna Vernikov had her name pulled from the NYYRC website months ago, while Vickie Paladino’s considering skipping the next event.

Editor’s note: Anti-Mamdani forces want open primaries

Bringing independents into the mix could harm democratic socialists.

Voters may have been caught on camera for years in Fulton County town

The BOE’s investigating courtroom cameras in Broadalbin left on during the June 23 primary.

Eric Adams’ retirement hobbies include travel, crypto and woodworking

He has also spent time hanging out on the Fox & Friends couch.

David Siffert talks nonbinary identity and bill drafting

Siffert won their Assembly race last week by just 15 votes – but they’d be “a real idiot” to not work closely with their former opponent.

Mamdani’s government has started to embrace AI. Will he?

The personally AI-avoidant mayor faces calls to both expand use of cutting-edge technologies and put in guardrails to curb their usage.

How NYC government is using AI

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani may not use ChatGPT, but his agencies have adopted chatbots and other artificial intelligence.

The 2026 Top Workplaces

Leading employers in New York’s public, private and nonprofit spheres.

The Herbicide Haunting a New York Farm Town

Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries. In a small town that one resident calls “Parkinson’s Valley,” farmers and their families are demanding that New York follow suit.

Lasher is keeping Katz

“Anyone focused on blacklisting consultants four months before the most important midterm election of my lifetime should reexamine their priorities.”

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Who’s up and who’s down this week?

Opinion: NYC’s proposed horse-carriage ban is driven by emotion and propaganda

“Romanch’s Law” would kill horses and immigrants’ jobs.

‘There’s an Urgency to It’: Eli Northrup Has a Plan to Push Criminal Justice Reform in Albany

Northrup, a public defender and Democratic nominee for state Assembly, says it's time to move toward more humane and effective policies.

The NYC Council passed a $10k bonus for paraprofessionals. Will the mayor sign it?

Even if he doesn’t, the council has the votes needed to override the mayor’s veto.

New York City Council votes to give themselves and other electeds an 18% raise

The City Council, citywide officials and borough presidents will receive their first pay increase since 2016.

Cait Conley fears Trump’s cartel focus could create a national security blind spot

The NY-17 Democratic nominee questioned the administration’s planning for Iran and said she would seek a seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, if elected.

Union and Troubled Home Care Company Maintained Close Partnership, Records Show

Health care union 1199SEIU helped Public Partnerships LLC take over the state's home care program, even as it warned some workers could see wage cuts.

Albany Has Let Disability and Mental Health Oversight Boards Wither Away

Boards of Visitors are supposed to oversee state-run disability and psychiatric programs. Almost none of them have enough members.

Rural NY School District Will Be One of First to Bring Humanoid Robot Into Classroom

Starting this fall, Salamanca High School will deploy a humanoid robot and avatar teaching assistant.

New York’s Prisons Are Stuck in Their Brutal Past, Independent Review Finds

A sweeping report excoriates the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for failing to protect prisoners and staff.

New York Hasn’t Raised Housing Allowances for Needy Residents in Decades. That’s Unconstitutional, a Lawsuit Says.

New York's housing aid can't cover rent anywhere in the state. A new lawsuit says that violates the state's constitution.

ICE Is Building a ‘Hard-Sided’ Detention Facility Near Buffalo. What Does That Mean?

The agency is adding 100 beds to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility.

The Attorney General’s MFCU SNAFU

Attorney General Letitia James’ latest fight with the Trump administration focuses on New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, a federally.... The post The Attorney General’s MFCU SNAFU appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

New York’s Electricity Prices Fourth Highest in the Country

New York households are paying the fourth-highest electricity prices in the country, according to the Empire Center’s Energy Data Bulletin..... The post New York’s Electricity Prices Fourth Highest in the Country appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

$170 Million in State Pre-K Funds Went Unused by New York School Districts

Amid growing spending on universal pre-K, school districts failed to spend millions earmarked for the 2024-25 school year.

Hochul Extends Program to Hire Government Workers Faster. Mamdani Opts Out.

New York City has no plans to opt into NY HELPS, which has been extended to 2028 after filling 60,000 government jobs.

Extreme Heat Is Rising. New York’s Cooling Aid Isn’t.

New York’s free air conditioner program ran out of funding before summer, even as extreme heat becomes a deadlier threat.

Budget Allows Hochul to Spend $1.5 Billion Without Normal Review

Fiscal watchdog says independent oversight is needed to avoid waste and fraud.

Home Health Aides Win $162 Million in Wage Theft Settlement

The deal could benefit 200,000 aides, and includes at least $25 million to compensate for wage deductions that New York Focus extensively reported on.

Could Hydropower Credits Undermine New York City’s Climate Law?

Mayor Mamdani is facing pressure to limit an avenue for large building owners to buy credits instead of cutting emissions.

Fourteen NYC Educators Receive Over Half a Million Dollars in Pensions

Fourteen retired New York City educators received more than $500,000 in pension benefits in 2025, according to data released by.... The post Fourteen NYC Educators Receive Over Half a Million Dollars in Pensions appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

A Union for Home Care Workers? Many Are Wary.

New York’s biggest health care union wants 200,000 home health aides to join up.

Healthcare Revelations in the Enacted Budget Financial Plan

The state financial plan published on June 10 disclosed key information about healthcare revenue and spending that lawmakers had not.... The post Healthcare Revelations in the Enacted Budget Financial Plan appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

‘A Family Trying to Survive’: Six Die at Motel Used to House Broome County’s Homeless

The Knights Inn, profiled by New York Focus and ProPublica last year, had received health and safety complaints for years.

New York Essential Plan Users Worry: Am I Losing Coverage?

Unclear notices have left participants unsure about the status of their insurance and what steps to take next.

‘Math Wars’: New York Wants to Reform Math Instruction, but Experts Disagree on How

On the heels of a “Back to Basics” reading effort, New York is launching a similar initiative for math.

Hammond Submits CDPAP Testimony to Congress

The Empire Center’s Bill Hammond today submitted written testimony for a congressional hearing on healthcare fraud. Hammond’s testimony to the.... The post Hammond Submits CDPAP Testimony to Congress appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

Testimony of Bill Hammond on Medicaid’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program

Testimony of Bill Hammond Senior Fellow, Empire Center for Public Policy Before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee June 24,.... The post Testimony of Bill Hammond on Medicaid’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program appeared first on Empire Center for Public Policy.

DSA Dominates Albany Elections Despite Super PAC Deluge

The DSA made gains in New York despite super PACs spending $9.6 million in state legislative races — nearly five times the total from 2024.

These Young New Yorkers Thought Their Future Was Secure. They’re Facing Deportation Instead.

Under Trump, a status for young immigrants who have experienced abuse or neglect no longer offers much protection.

New York City’s Most Serious Housing Violations Stay Open for Months or Even Years

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development has vowed to go after negligent landlords, but it’s wrestling with a huge backlog of complaints.

New York High Schoolers Might Be Getting a New Diploma. Here’s What to Know.

At a Board of Regents meeting Monday, state officials proposed eliminating credit-based diploma requirements.

Mystery Donor Spends Record-Breaking $850K on Jessica Ramos’s Senate Challenger

The last-minute influx, the biggest ever for a legislative primary, is boosting her opponent, Jessica González-Rojas.

Immigration Authorities Kept an 8-Year-Old US Citizen in a Brooklyn Shelter for Nearly Seven Months

A lawsuit accuses federal officials of ignoring evidence that the boy, born in Mexico, held US citizenship through his mother.

Mamdani World Readies for Next Year’s Tax-the-Rich Push

City budget gaps and an ambitious affordability agenda may require pressing Albany again for taxes and aid.

New York May End Blame Game When Deciding Which Crime Survivors Get State Aid

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would relax restrictions on who can qualify for victim compensation.

What To Do If You’re Impacted By Changes to the Essential Plan

We’ve compiled information for the 450,000 New Yorkers who will lose health care coverage on July 1.

At Hunter College, Students Tackle Garbage — And a New Way of Shaping Policy

The citizens assembly model, used for public decision-making around the world, is gaining traction in New York.

Plastics Bill Died in Assembly After Blitz By Lobbyists With Ties to Heastie

A lobbyist who has been romantically linked to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie led a rally opposing the legislation a week before the speaker declined to bring it to a vote.

The Haggle

In May, state lawmakers passed a $269 billion budget after haggling for months over thousands of line items and policies affecting New Yorkers.

Super PAC Forms to Boost Bruce Blakeman, Hochul’s Republican Challenger

Millions in outside spending was a boon to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2022 opponent, Lee Zeldin, and influenced down-ballot races.

Bill Stalled in Assembly Could Determine Fate of Hundreds of Sexual Assault Cases

The legislation would make it easier for currently and formerly incarcerated people and child victims to sue the state over allegations of past abuse.

Hochul Moves to Protect Horseracing From Casino’s Tax Fight

State leaders are expected to pass a bill that avoids resolving how much Resorts World New York City needs to pay.

Rochester’s Anti-Poverty Portal Struggles to Meet Promise

New York state has pumped millions of taxpayer dollars into an online portal that vowed to make life easier for Rochester’s neediest, but critics say it’s fallen short.

New SNAP Rules in NY: What To Know If You Lost Benefits

We’ve compiled information for SNAP recipients in New York on the changing work requirements.

New York’s Brand-New Casino Is in a $500M+ Fight With the State

Resorts World is floating legislation to avert more than $500 million in payments to the horseracing industry.

What’s in the 2026 State Budget? Here’s What To Know.

Our searchable database breaks down the most consequential decisions Albany politicians made on climate, immigration, housing, schools, taxes, and more.

State Budget Gives Prisons Half-Billion-Dollar Boost While Threatening Oversight Programs

It’s unclear whether the Correctional Association of New York will have to scale back its nascent reform initiatives.

NY Budget Brings Historic Child Care Investments — But Not for Its Workforce

Advocates welcomed the additional funding but said it falls short of need and doesn't do enough to support workers.

No Solution to Health Coverage Cliff in Delayed State Budget

Despite last-ditch efforts by a coalition of lawmakers, the state failed to avert a health coverage cliff coming this summer.

State Budget Thrashes Landmark Climate Law

Governor Kathy Hochul was successful in her bid to upend the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act after legislators caved to finalize an overall budget deal.

Mamdani Gets a New York City Bailout, but Not the One He Wanted

Some of the city’s new aid will be canceled out by pension boosts.

New York State Budget Set to Remove Major Barrier to New Housing

A law designed to protect the environment will be partially rolled back to pave the way for much-needed homes.

Trump Administration Fires Two More New York City Immigration Judges as New Hires Take the Bench

The Department of Justice has terminated more than 100 immigration judges since last year as it has pressured courts to order more deportations.

Albany Reins in Police Collaboration With ICE but Doesn’t Ban Informal Cooperation

The legislation comes after months of haggling over how best to protect New Yorkers from President Trump’s immigration crackdown.