ABOUT NEW YORK FOCUS

New York Focus is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom covering state and local politics in the Empire State.

Launched in October of 2020, New York Focus aims to help make government more transparent by publishing in-depth journalism that cuts through the noise to explain how the state really works.

New York State’s legislative process is notoriously opaque to outsiders and murky even to its own rank-and-file legislators. New York scores at the top of state corruption rankings. As the pandemic deals fresh blows to an already depleted local news landscape, New Yorkers increasingly lack the information and resources to hold their representatives accountable.

The lack of coverage is particularly dramatic at the state level. Power in New York is centralized in Albany, where the governor and legislature spend more money each year than 90 percent of the world’s countries. Yet most of New York’s accountability news focuses on New York City. New York Focus is the state’s only nonprofit news organization focused on state politics.

We investigate power and report stories that would otherwise go untold, 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.

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

We are particularly interested in pitches related to housing and homelessness,  climate and environment, criminal justice and labor, fiscal policy and economic development, and the administration of Governor Kathy Hochul. 

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.

We depend on our readers. Become a New York Focus member today.  Sign up for our newsletter.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Meet our team here
Ethics & Funders

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Eric Adams Wants Weapons Detectors in the Subway. Would That Bring Safety or “Absolute Chaos”?
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting, Transit
Eric Adams Wants Weapons Detectors in the Subway. Would That Bring Safety or “Absolute Chaos”?
"Expect delays, expect secondary screening, expect frustration and expect to miss your train from time to time."

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May 10
Perspective: It’s Time to Take a Clearer Look at Bail Reform
Criminal Justice, New York City, Perspectives
Perspective: It’s Time to Take a Clearer Look at Bail Reform
In the raucous debate over bail reform, simple facts have fallen out of sight.

By

May 9
Retired Judges and Advocates: Don’t Let Cops Interrogate Kids Without a Lawyer
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Retired Judges and Advocates: Don’t Let Cops Interrogate Kids Without a Lawyer
A bill in the state legislature would prohibit police from interrogating minors before they consulted with a lawyer.

By

May 6
Workers Accuse Ultra-Fast Delivery Startup of Wage Theft
Labor, New York City, Reporting
Workers Accuse Ultra-Fast Delivery Startup of Wage Theft
Before the Russian-funded delivery startup collapsed, Buyk sold itself as a way for workers to escape the gig economy. Former workers say it failed to deliver.

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May 5
Bill to Stop Foreclosures Heads to Hochul, Under Heavy Pushback from Banks
Housing, New York State, Reporting, Uncategorized
Bill to Stop Foreclosures Heads to Hochul, Under Heavy Pushback from Banks
The state legislature has passed a measure intended to counter a court ruling that made it easier for lenders to win cases against homeowners.

By

May 3
Environmental Hazard or Economic Boon? Legislators Spar on Bitcoin Mining in New York
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Environmental Hazard or Economic Boon? Legislators Spar on Bitcoin Mining in New York
Legislators opposed to a bill enacting a temporary moratorium on proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining are warning that it could harm New Yorkers often excluded from traditional financial markets, sourc

By

April 27
An Upper East Side Assembly Candidate Accepted Over $10,000 in Illegal Corporate Cash
Electoral Politics, New York City, New York State, Reporting
An Upper East Side Assembly Candidate Accepted Over $10,000 in Illegal Corporate Cash
After New York Focus reported on illegal contributions to candidate Russell Squire, his campaign announced it would return the money.

By

April 25
Zoning Laws Are Blocking the Conversion of Hotels into Affordable Housing
Budget, Housing, New York City, New York State, Reporting
Zoning Laws Are Blocking the Conversion of Hotels into Affordable Housing
The state’s grand plan to convert unused hotels into affordable housing hasn’t gotten off the ground. Lawmakers just boosted funding — but developers and housing advocates say that won’t help

By

April 19
Prison Officials Block Most Requests from Terminally Ill New Yorkers for Medical Release
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Reporting
Prison Officials Block Most Requests from Terminally Ill New Yorkers for Medical Release
Officials routinely refuse to send requests for medical release to the state parole board, frustrating advocates and raising questions about the murky criteria for medical release.

By

April 14
Labor Experts Dismissed the Quixotic Amazon Union Drive on Staten Island. Then They Won.
Labor, New York City, Reporting
Labor Experts Dismissed the Quixotic Amazon Union Drive on Staten Island. Then They Won.
“I told the workers beforehand that they would lose based on the ‘numbers.’ They said they knew the workers. They were right!”

By

April 13
What’s In New York’s $220 Billion State Budget?
Budget, New York State, Reporting
What’s In New York’s $220 Billion State Budget?
A comprehensive tracker of the issues at stake in New York's budget.

By

April 11
How New York State Just Rolled Back Criminal Justice Reforms
Budget, Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
How New York State Just Rolled Back Criminal Justice Reforms
The final budget made changes to bail law, discovery law, pre-arraignment detention, involuntary commitment and more.

By

April 9
Hochul Opposes Rental Voucher Program On Basis of Inflated Cost Estimate, Sources Say
Budget, Housing, New York State, Reporting
Hochul Opposes Rental Voucher Program On Basis of Inflated Cost Estimate, Sources Say
The legislature wants to spend $250 million to combat homelessness. Hochul says it’ll actually cost $6 billion.

By

April 6
Hochul, Plastics Industry and Green Groups Battle Over Recycling Proposal
Budget, Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Hochul, Plastics Industry and Green Groups Battle Over Recycling Proposal
Rather than try to improve Hochul’s proposal, some environmentalists want to scrap it and instead concentrate on a forthcoming bill from Assemblymember Steve Englebright.

By

April 4
Bitcoin Mining Gets Three Month Reprieve From Hochul’s Regulators
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Bitcoin Mining Gets Three Month Reprieve From Hochul’s Regulators
Green groups charged that Kathy Hochul is punting the issue until after the primary.

By

April 1
Judge Rules New York’s District Maps Unconstitutional, Orders Legislature to Draw New Ones
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
Judge Rules New York’s District Maps Unconstitutional, Orders Legislature to Draw New Ones
Democrats immediately said they would appeal the decision.

By

April 1
Read the Senate’s Draft Compromise on Bail Reform
Budget, Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
Read the Senate’s Draft Compromise on Bail Reform
New York Focus obtained and analyzed a proposal presented by Senate leadership to the chamber’s Democratic caucus.

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March 30
Will New York Tackle its Largest Source of Emissions?
Budget, Climate and Environment, Health, Housing, New York State, Reporting
Will New York Tackle its Largest Source of Emissions?
Experts say the state needs to spend at least $1 billion a year to cut pollution from buildings. Legislators are trying to get the governor closer to that figure.

By

March 30
As Albany Debates Health Coverage for Undocumented New Yorkers, Lawmakers Say Hochul is Inflating Costs
Budget, Health, Immigration, New York State, Reporting
As Albany Debates Health Coverage for Undocumented New Yorkers, Lawmakers Say Hochul is Inflating Costs
The governor’s projected price tag is five times higher than estimates by the legislature and outside researchers—but she hasn’t said how she arrived at her figure.

By

March 29
Kathy Hochul Is Ready to Spend Millions on New Police Surveillance
Budget, Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Kathy Hochul Is Ready to Spend Millions on New Police Surveillance
New York state legislators have just days to question phone hacking, forensics, and fusion centers before the budget passes.

By

March 29
Striking Workers Say Brooklyn Oil Terminal Is ‘Playing Russian Roulette’ with Safety
Climate and Environment, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Striking Workers Say Brooklyn Oil Terminal Is ‘Playing Russian Roulette’ with Safety
Striking employees of United Metro Energy say management replaced them with workers who weren’t certified to operate the Brooklyn oil terminal, increasing the risk of an oil spill.

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March 28
Hochul Wants to Save for a Rainy Day. Lawmakers Say It’s Already Pouring.
Budget, New York State, Reporting
Hochul Wants to Save for a Rainy Day. Lawmakers Say It’s Already Pouring.
Budget negotiations center on one crucial question: should New York save or spend?

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March 24
Loopholes Hobble Hochul’s Proposal on Conviction-Based Housing Discrimination, Critics Charge
Budget, Criminal Justice, Housing, New York State, Reporting
Loopholes Hobble Hochul’s Proposal on Conviction-Based Housing Discrimination, Critics Charge
Advocates organizing for similar laws say loopholes in Hochul’s proposal make it “virtually meaningless,” and are encouraging the governor to withdraw the measure.

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March 22
Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2022 State Budget
Budget, New York State, Reporting
Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2022 State Budget
How the three budget proposals from the governor, Assembly and Senate stack up.

By

March 21
Republicans Take Democrats to Court Over Allegedly Gerrymandered Map
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
Republicans Take Democrats to Court Over Allegedly Gerrymandered Map
A group of 14 citizens, organized by Republican politicians, argue that the new district maps approved by the state legislature and Gov. Hochul violate the state constitution.

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March 18
Delayed Treatment and Denied Services: Health Care In New York Prisons Is A “Joke”
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Reporting
Delayed Treatment and Denied Services: Health Care In New York Prisons Is A “Joke”
Cuomo vetoed a bill to expand oversight of the prison medical system. Will Hochul take a different tack?

By

March 17
Power Industry Quietly Pushes New York to Endorse Non-Renewable Energy
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Power Industry Quietly Pushes New York to Endorse Non-Renewable Energy
The power industry is pushing a pair of little-noticed proposals that could shift the course of the state's climate action.

By

March 15
Legislature Likely to Propose Health Coverage But Not Cash Relief for Undocumented New Yorkers, Sources Say
Budget, Health, New York State, Reporting
Legislature Likely to Propose Health Coverage But Not Cash Relief for Undocumented New Yorkers, Sources Say
Both chambers are set to release budget proposals that will represent a mixed bag for New York's undocumented population.

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March 11
State Board of Elections Begins Enforcing Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
State Board of Elections Begins Enforcing Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws
The move comes after New York Focus reported on widespread violations of campaign finance law and the Board's lack of enforcement.

By

March 11
Parole Reform Squabble Has Left Hundreds Sitting in New York Jails
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Parole Reform Squabble Has Left Hundreds Sitting in New York Jails
New York’s prison agency is interpreting key provisions of a landmark parole reform law to keep more people locked up. A lead sponsor of the legislation calls it “appalling.”

By

March 10
Senate Holds First-Ever Hearing On Rape in Prison and Jails
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Senate Holds First-Ever Hearing On Rape in Prison and Jails
Incarcerated survivors face a broken system for reporting abuse, frequent retaliation, and little accountability for staff perpetrators.

By

March 9
Retired NYC Workers Celebrate Medicare Switch Court Win
Budget, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Retired NYC Workers Celebrate Medicare Switch Court Win
The court ruled retirees who opt-out of the switch to Medicare Advantage plans can keep their current insurance free of charge. The Adams administration is appealing the ruling.

By

March 3
Eric Adams Is Bringing Back the NYPD’s Anti-Crime Unit. Do They Commit More Crimes Than They Solve?
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
Eric Adams Is Bringing Back the NYPD’s Anti-Crime Unit. Do They Commit More Crimes Than They Solve?
“I don’t want the ‘jump-out boys’ back out on the street,” said retired NYPD commander Corey Pegues, who disagrees with the mayor’s plan to bring back the controversial NYPD units.

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March 3
Hochul Campaign Donors Blow Past Corporate Contribution Limits
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
Hochul Campaign Donors Blow Past Corporate Contribution Limits
Circumventing a law designed to close the so-called LLC loophole, donors to campaigns across the state are using multiple companies to give far over the $5,000 cap.

By

March 2
Two Years Into Pandemic, Basic Critiques of Prison Covid Policies Remain Unaddressed
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Reporting
Two Years Into Pandemic, Basic Critiques of Prison Covid Policies Remain Unaddressed
The prison agency has done little to update policies on transparency, masks, social distancing, or vaccination.

By

March 1
Perspective: Joe Biden, Eric Adams and the Myth of Policing Our Way to Safety
Criminal Justice, New York City, Perspectives
Perspective: Joe Biden, Eric Adams and the Myth of Policing Our Way to Safety
In 2016, the NYPD and federal prosecutors staged a massive "gang bust" that derailed the lives of dozens of young people — including me — while failing to improve public safety. Why is Eric Adams

By

February 28
Rural Counties See Dramatic Declines in Family Lawyers, Costing Poor Parents their Kids
Criminal Justice, Labor, New York State, Reporting
Rural Counties See Dramatic Declines in Family Lawyers, Costing Poor Parents their Kids
In six of eight rural counties, panels of children's attorneys have lost more than half their lawyers over the past decade.

By

February 28
More Than Three Thousand Campaigns Violated Campaign Finance Law. The State Board of Elections Brought Enforcement Actions Against Zero.
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
More Than Three Thousand Campaigns Violated Campaign Finance Law. The State Board of Elections Brought Enforcement Actions Against Zero.
Since taking office last July, enforcement counsel Michael Johnson has not taken action against any campaigns that failed to file required campaign finance reports.

By

February 25
Is There Anything New in Eric Adams’s Gun Violence Plan?
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
Is There Anything New in Eric Adams’s Gun Violence Plan?
Many have described the New York City mayor’s “blueprint” to address gun crime as occupying a novel middle ground. But it mostly copies the policies of his predecessor and relies heavily on toug

By

February 24
Hochul Proposes Bringing Back Private Prison Labor
Criminal Justice, Labor, New York State, Reporting
Hochul Proposes Bringing Back Private Prison Labor
Banned for a century, contract labor could return to New York’s prisons.

By

February 23
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