ABOUT NEW YORK FOCUS

New York Focus is an independent newsroom covering state and local politics in the Empire State.

Launched in October of 2020, New York Focus aims to help make state politics more democratic by publishing adversarial, in-depth reporting that cuts through the noise to explain how the Empire State really works.

New York State’s legislative process is notoriously conducted by ‘three men in a room,’ opaque to outsiders and murky even to its own rank-and-file legislators. New York consistently scores at or near the top of state corruption rankings. On many issues, New Yorkers lack the information and resources to hold their representatives accountable.

We publish stories that shed light on New York’s political process, broadly understood: from political fixers and lobbyists, to the inherited wisdom of legislative aides in Albany, to the institutional knowledge of advocates and the organizing strategies of popular movements.

We are guided by the belief that politics is not a sport. Decisions made in New York’s executive mansions, legislative chambers, state administrative offices, courts, nonprofits, union halls, and campaign headquarters don’t stay there. They determine how many New Yorkers sleep on the street each night; how large public college classes are; how many hospital beds are available during a pandemic.

We are particularly interested in pitches related to housing and homelessness, energy and climate, criminal justice and health, tax and budget, and the administration of Governor Kathy Hochul. 

To pitch New York Focus, send a story tip, or get in touch, please see editors’ contact information on our masthead. Editorial leadership can also be reached at editor@nysfocus.com.

We invite New Yorkers with original views on state politics—especially with insights underrepresented in legacy media—to contribute to our Perspectives section. Please send submissions to editor@nysfocus.com.

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Ethics & Funders

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Will ‘Blue Collar Mayor’ Adams Give City Unions What They Want?
Budget, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Will ‘Blue Collar Mayor’ Adams Give City Unions What They Want?
With deep ties to both organized labor and the city’s business elite, Mayor Eric Adams will face tough tradeoffs on union contracts....

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September 21
Senate #2 Joins Mounting Opposition to Hochul’s Pick for Top Financial Regulator
New York State, Reporting
Senate #2 Joins Mounting Opposition to Hochul’s Pick for Top Financial Regulator
Adrienne Harris has worked for over a dozen financial technology firms that Hochul would put her in charge of regulating....

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September 14
Inside New York’s Messy Push to Clean Up Concrete
Climate, New York State, Reporting
Inside New York’s Messy Push to Clean Up Concrete
If concrete production were a country, it would be the world’s third largest carbon emitter. New York legislators want to clean it up....

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September 9
Governor Hochul Promised a “New Era of Transparency.” So Far, Details are Scarce.
New York State, Reporting
Governor Hochul Promised a “New Era of Transparency.” So Far, Details are Scarce.
New York’s new leader has pledged to improve access to public records – but hasn’t yet committed to the policy reforms transparency experts say are needed....

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September 8
Why Isn’t New York Offering Paper Applications for COVID Rent Relief?
Budget, Housing, New York State, Reporting
Why Isn’t New York Offering Paper Applications for COVID Rent Relief?
The $115 million state contract for administering the program required a paper application. Without it, tenants who can’t access technology may be getting left behind....

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September 2
How New York Lets Prosecutors Off The Hook for Misconduct
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
How New York Lets Prosecutors Off The Hook for Misconduct
Not a single prosecutor appeared to have been disciplined for on-the-job misconduct in 2019. Even the state prosecutors association supports reforms....

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September 1
Lessons to be learned from New York’s climate policy laboratory
Climate, New York State, Reporting
Lessons to be learned from New York’s climate policy laboratory
New York is seen as a model - but it also shows the challenges of green public-private partnerships ...

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September 1
Nobody knows it, but Bill de Blasio is America’s best climate mayor
Climate, New York City, Perspectives
Nobody knows it, but Bill de Blasio is America’s best climate mayor
And that’s still vastly short of what’s needed....

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August 31
Rikers Staffing Crisis Limits Access to Medical Care
Criminal Justice, Health, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Rikers Staffing Crisis Limits Access to Medical Care
With thousands of officers not coming into work, incarcerated people aren’t getting escorted to their medical appointments, a New York Focus investigation finds....

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August 26
Retired City Workers Brace for Shift to Privatized Health Care
Health, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Retired City Workers Brace for Shift to Privatized Health Care
City leaders have awarded a contract to provide city retirees private Medicare-like insurance to a corporate coalition termed “The Alliance.” Former public workers worry their coverage may change....

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August 19
Renters Powered India Walton’s Upset Win
Electoral Politics, Housing, New York State, Perspectives
Renters Powered India Walton’s Upset Win
Renters broke decisively for India Walton in Buffalo's June Democratic primary, favoring an affordable housing advocate with a tenant-centered housing platform over a developer-friendly incumbent....

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August 17
Cuomo Leaves, But a Corrupt Political Culture Remains in New York
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
Cuomo Leaves, But a Corrupt Political Culture Remains in New York
The structure of state government, with its centralized power and few ethical checks, invites scandal after scandal....

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August 11
New York Dairy Farms Skirt Clean Water Act Requirements
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
New York Dairy Farms Skirt Clean Water Act Requirements
Farms in New York have used a form of legal arbitrage to shield their manure management practices from scrutiny....

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August 11
Who is Kathy Hochul? An Introduction to New York’s Next Governor
New York State, Reporting
Who is Kathy Hochul? An Introduction to New York’s Next Governor
A political moderate and former Congressperson and bank executive, Hochul stands to make history as New York’s first woman governor, but may face fierce challengers in next year’s election....

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August 11
Andrew Cuomo Picked His Own Impeachment Jury
New York State, Reporting
Andrew Cuomo Picked His Own Impeachment Jury
The New York Court of Appeals participates in impeachment trials. Cuomo has appointed all seven members, including two of them in June...

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August 6
Amid Intraparty Conflict, Brooklyn Democrats Issue Judgeship Recommendations
Electoral Politics, New York City, Reporting
Amid Intraparty Conflict, Brooklyn Democrats Issue Judgeship Recommendations
At a meeting that included an attempt by party leadership to prevent several district leaders from voting, the party made seven picks - six of whom were donors to the party and its leaders....

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August 5
The Promises and Failures of the “Cancel Rent” Movement
Housing, New York State, Perspectives, Uncategorized
The Promises and Failures of the “Cancel Rent” Movement
Where does the housing justice movement go from here?...

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July 30
New York Judges Lock the Accused Out of Their Homes, Skirting Review Required by Landmark Ruling, Critics Charge
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
New York Judges Lock the Accused Out of Their Homes, Skirting Review Required by Landmark Ruling, Critics Charge
An appellate court ordered hearings for defendants facing orders of protection that could separate them from their homes and families. But some judges — following a memo from state court officials ...

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July 23
Unlicensed Street Vendors Fear Steep Fines as Enforcement Escalates
New York City, Reporting
Unlicensed Street Vendors Fear Steep Fines as Enforcement Escalates
More than a year after fines for unlicensed street vending were largely suspended when the pandemic struck, enforcement has begun again. Many street vendors say it threatens their only means of econom...

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July 21
Albany Passes ‘Good Cause Eviction,’ In a First for New York
Housing, New York State, Reporting
Albany Passes ‘Good Cause Eviction,’ In a First for New York
Tenant groups are already turning to other upstate cities that could pass good cause this summer—and that could pave the way for statewide legislation....

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July 21
Up and Down The Ballot, Progressives Score Wins in Western New York
Electoral Politics, New York State
Up and Down The Ballot, Progressives Score Wins in Western New York
In Buffalo, socialist India Walton scored a landmark win against a four-term incumbent mayor. In nearby Rochester, shakeups on the city council and county legislature could chart a new course for loca...

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July 19
A Wave of Upstate Cities Could Ban Eviction Without “Good Cause”
Housing, New York State, Reporting
A Wave of Upstate Cities Could Ban Eviction Without “Good Cause”
Blocked at the state level, the campaign for “good cause eviction” is going local....

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July 16
In 2021 Legislative Session, a New Approach to Drug Policy
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Reporting
In 2021 Legislative Session, a New Approach to Drug Policy
This year, state legislators passed major bills in response to the overdose crisis. Will Cuomo sign them?...

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July 13
Schumer Joins Fight Against Astoria Power Plant Proposal
Climate and Environment, Health, New York City, Reporting
Schumer Joins Fight Against Astoria Power Plant Proposal
DSA organized against a fracked-gas plant in Astoria. Now Schumer is getting involved....

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July 12
NYC Jails Have Far More Correction Officers Than Any Other City. Why Are They Hiring 400 More?
Budget, Criminal Justice, New York City
NYC Jails Have Far More Correction Officers Than Any Other City. Why Are They Hiring 400 More?
Rikers Island and other city lockups employ five officers for every three incarcerated people. As some call for a reduction in officers, the City Council okays a budget plan that boosts the ranks by 4...

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July 11
The World’s Most Important Local Climate and Jobs Law is in Eric Adams’ Hands
Climate, Housing, New York City, Perspectives
The World’s Most Important Local Climate and Jobs Law is in Eric Adams’ Hands
Elected with real estate industry support, soon-to-be Mayor Adams faces a critical choice on New York’s landmark buildings emissions law....

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July 9
New York Regulations Allow Cops Stripped of Training Credentials to Be Rehired
Criminal Justice, New York City, New York State, Reporting
New York Regulations Allow Cops Stripped of Training Credentials to Be Rehired
Police officers who were decertified by state regulators went on to find work at other departments and public safety agencies, records show....

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July 8
“I watch the roaches and I envy them.” After 34 years, Billy Blake leaves solitary confinement
Criminal Justice, New York State, Perspectives
“I watch the roaches and I envy them.” After 34 years, Billy Blake leaves solitary confinement
As New York turns the page on solitary confinement, a reflection on what three decades in solitary cost one man....

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July 7
The Council Implementing New York’s Climate Law Is Stacked With Industry Executives
Climate, New York State, Reporting
The Council Implementing New York’s Climate Law Is Stacked With Industry Executives
A top energy executive, whose firm is designing pro-gas talking points, has a seat at the table charting the state’s path to decarbonization....

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July 6
Democratic Party Boss Obstructed India Walton’s Underdog Candidacy, Walton Says
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
Democratic Party Boss Obstructed India Walton’s Underdog Candidacy, Walton Says
Jeremy Zellner uses his dual role as Erie County’s chief election administrator and Democratic Party chair to create obstacles for outsider candidates, critics charge....

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June 28
Abolish the EDC
Housing, Labor, New York City, Perspectives
Abolish the EDC
The Economic Development Corporation manages city land in the service of private profit. We need a new approach....

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June 28
How the Manhattan DA’s Race Could Upend New York’s Criminal Justice System
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
How the Manhattan DA’s Race Could Upend New York’s Criminal Justice System
A roundup of a five-part series on the Manhattan DA Democratic primary, focusing on contrasts on key issues between the eight contenders....

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June 21
How Progressives Could Lose New York’s Mayor’s Race—But Win the City
Electoral Politics, New York City, Reporting
How Progressives Could Lose New York’s Mayor’s Race—But Win the City
“The whole city is up for grabs”: from office of the comptroller to the city council, progressives could pull off a wave of critical victories....

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June 21
How Manhattan DA Candidates Plan to Rein in Police Misconduct
Criminal Justice, Electoral Politics, New York City, Reporting
How Manhattan DA Candidates Plan to Rein in Police Misconduct
“The police can only go as far as the DA lets them,” one defense attorney said....

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June 17
What Shaun Donovan’s Record Reveals about His Approach to Housing Crises
Electoral Politics, Housing, New York City, Perspectives
What Shaun Donovan’s Record Reveals about His Approach to Housing Crises
Donovan has a progressive housing platform. But does it match his record?...

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June 15
How a Democratic Supermajority Confirmed a Tough-On-Crime Prosecutor to New York’s Top Court
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
How a Democratic Supermajority Confirmed a Tough-On-Crime Prosecutor to New York’s Top Court
A progressive campaign to block the confirmation of Governor Cuomo’s nominee to the New York Court of Appeals failed by just a few votes...

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June 15
Manhattan DA Candidate Tali Farhadian Weinstein Skipped Years of Voting in Local Elections, Records Show
Criminal Justice, Electoral Politics, New York City, Reporting
Manhattan DA Candidate Tali Farhadian Weinstein Skipped Years of Voting in Local Elections, Records Show
The former federal prosecutor joined the Democratic Party in 2017, after registering with no party and casting ballots only in presidential-year contests....

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June 14
Albany Just Blew it on Climate, Again
Climate, Housing, New York State, Perspectives
Albany Just Blew it on Climate, Again
Only big, strong, mean grassroots campaigns can turn this around ...

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June 12
Wage Theft Got Worse During Covid. A Stalled Bill Could Give Workers Leverage To Fight Back
Budget, Labor, New York State, Reporting
Wage Theft Got Worse During Covid. A Stalled Bill Could Give Workers Leverage To Fight Back
Cuomo pledged to deal with rampant wage theft this year, then failed to deliver. Now, a bill to recover stolen wages is unlikely to pass the legislature....

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June 10
Inside New York’s Grueling Parole Application Process
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Inside New York’s Grueling Parole Application Process
As legislators consider reforms to New York’s parole system, former prison officials and incarcerated people describe the barriers to parole release....

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June 7
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