Our Team

Akash Mehta, Editor-in-Chief
akash@nysfocus.com

Akash’s reporting on New York politics has appeared in The Intercept, The Nation, THE CITY, Jacobin, City & State, and Gothamist.

Rebecca Klein, General Manager
rebecca@nysfocus.com

Rebecca was previously a senior reporter at HuffPost and teaches journalism at NYU. Her work has also appeared in outlets including NPR, The Guardian, and The Hechinger Report.

Maia Hibbett, Managing Editor
maia@nysfocus.com

Maia was previously the associate politics editor at The Intercept. She has also worked as a fact checker at New York magazine and has written for The Nation, The Baffler, and Lux magazine.

Lee Harris, Co-Founder and Contributing Editor
lee@nysfocus.com

Lee’s reporting has appeared in The American Prospect, The Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Chicago, where she was editor-in-chief of the independent student newspaper.

Sam Mellins, Senior Reporter
sam@nysfocus.com

Sam’s reporting on New York politics has appeared in The Appeal, THE CITY, The Intercept, The Nation, and City & State.

Chris Gelardi, Criminal Justice Investigative Reporter
chris@nysfocus.com

Chris covers the criminal-legal system in New York. His work has appeared in over a dozen other outlets, most frequently The Nation, The Intercept, and The Appeal.

Colin Kinniburgh, Climate and Environmental Politics Reporter
colin@nysfocus.com

Colin covers New York climate, energy, and environmental politics. His reporting has appeared in outlets including Grist, France 24, Dissent, and The Nation.

Ross Barkan, Andrew Hsiao, Alexander Kaufman, Sarah Leonard, Raina Lipsitz, and Joel Lovell sit on New York Focus’s Advisory Board.

Web design by Stephan Shaw. Logo by Eric Doctor.

Rats, Roaches, Leaks: Rent-Stabilized Building Owners Whose Bets Went Sour Delay Repairs
Housing, New York City, Reporting
Rats, Roaches, Leaks: Rent-Stabilized Building Owners Whose Bets Went Sour Delay Repairs
Crumbling conditions in two Bronx buildings show how tenants pay the price when real estate speculation doesn’t work out.

By

November 11
What’s the Plan, Kathy?
New York State, Reporting
What’s the Plan, Kathy?
New Yorkers picked Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. New York Focus staff picked ten questions we'll be watching for her tenure.

By

November 9
The ‘Red Wave’ Hit Southern Brooklyn. Some Blame the County Democrats.
Electoral Politics, New York City, New York State, Reporting
The ‘Red Wave’ Hit Southern Brooklyn. Some Blame the County Democrats.
After the Brooklyn Democratic Party did almost nothing to mobilize voters, Republicans swept the borough’s southern points.

By

November 9
Landfill Fight Illustrates New York’s Heaping Trash Problem
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Landfill Fight Illustrates New York’s Heaping Trash Problem
New York planned to slash its trash. Instead, we’re producing more garbage than ever.

By

November 8
Meet the Moguls Fueling Lee Zeldin’s Super PAC Boost
Electoral Politics, New York State
Meet the Moguls Fueling Lee Zeldin’s Super PAC Boost
New York Focus found six big spenders who have poured money into PACs backing Kathy Hochul’s Republican challenger.

By

November 4
Blind Spots: Sexual Assault Allegation Exposes Self-Policing Prison System
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Perspectives, Reporting
Blind Spots: Sexual Assault Allegation Exposes Self-Policing Prison System
Robert Adams alleges that a guard sodomized him with a baton. A year-long investigation into his story uncovered a system plagued by retaliation and primed for abuse.

By

November 3
Protected: New York’s Prison Chief Ordered Guards to Illegally Shackle People to Desks
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Protected: New York’s Prison Chief Ordered Guards to Illegally Shackle People to Desks
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

By

November 26
New York’s Prison Chief Ordered Guards to Illegally Shackle People to Desks
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
New York’s Prison Chief Ordered Guards to Illegally Shackle People to Desks
Anthony Annucci’s internal memo tells staff to restrain incarcerated people during any out-of-cell time, affecting at least 5,000.

By

November 7
‘Voters Are Lethargic’: Poll Suggests A Missing Economic Message In Governor’s Race
Electoral Politics, New York State, Reporting
‘Voters Are Lethargic’: Poll Suggests A Missing Economic Message In Governor’s Race
A new poll suggests a missing economic message is contributing to an unexpectedly close governor's race.

By

November 3
Has Anyone Told the Brooklyn Democratic Party There’s an Election Next Week?
Electoral Politics, New York City, New York State, Reporting
Has Anyone Told the Brooklyn Democratic Party There’s an Election Next Week?
Downstate turnout could decide the governor’s race. The Brooklyn Democratic Party is mounting almost no campaign effort.

By

November 2
‘They Lied to All of Us’: Ten Years After Hurricane Sandy, Construction Begins on Staten Island’s Promised Wetland
Climate and Environment, Housing, New York City, New York State, Reporting
‘They Lied to All of Us’: Ten Years After Hurricane Sandy, Construction Begins on Staten Island’s Promised Wetland
Staten Island residents who sold their homes to the state as part of one of the country’s first major “managed retreats” were promised the land would be returned to nature. I

By

October 29
Mayor Issues Ultimatum on Retiree Health Care, Seeking End to Standoff
Budget, Health, Labor, New York City, Reporting
Mayor Issues Ultimatum on Retiree Health Care, Seeking End to Standoff
The City Council must enable budget-cutting new health insurance options for retirees, warns Eric Adams’s chief labor negotiator — or City Hall will eliminate existing insurance plans.

By

October 31
City Council Moves Forward With Gowanus Rezoning After Slashing Affordable Housing
Housing, New York City, Reporting
City Council Moves Forward With Gowanus Rezoning After Slashing Affordable Housing
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.

By and

October 27
Most of New York Gas Tax Holiday Savings Don’t Go to New Yorkers, Analysis Finds
Budget, Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting, Transit
Most of New York Gas Tax Holiday Savings Don’t Go to New Yorkers, Analysis Finds
Out of every dollar the gas tax suspension costs the state, less than 50 cents are going into New Yorkers’ pockets.

By

October 26
Some Suburbs Are Actually Trying to Solve the Housing Shortage
Housing, New York State, Reporting
Some Suburbs Are Actually Trying to Solve the Housing Shortage
New York suburbs have long lagged their peers in building new housing. A few towns are eyeing a different approach.

By

October 25
New York May Drop JPay, The Scandal-Plagued Prison Banking Company
Criminal Justice, New York City, New York State, Reporting
New York May Drop JPay, The Scandal-Plagued Prison Banking Company
A one-year extension could be the prison contractor’s last, ending a 15-year run.

By

October 21
New York’s Crypto Moratorium Would Leave Most Mining Untouched. There’s Another Reason the Industry Is Up in Arms.
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
New York’s Crypto Moratorium Would Leave Most Mining Untouched. There’s Another Reason the Industry Is Up in Arms.
A much-debated moratorium wouldn’t affect any crypto mining projects under development, but an accompanying environmental study could bring unwelcome scrutiny.

By

October 20
Rikers Staff Tampered With Records, Hiding Intake Rule Violations, Documents Show
Criminal Justice, New York City, Reporting
Rikers Staff Tampered With Records, Hiding Intake Rule Violations, Documents Show
Rikers staff repeatedly altered records to extend the clock on a 24-hour time limit for holding people in notorious intake cells.

By

October 17
New York Courts Are Ghosting Disabled New Yorkers
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
New York Courts Are Ghosting Disabled New Yorkers
When disabled litigants who can’t to come to court in person request virtual appearances, they often don’t hear back.

By

October 13
New York Banned Plastic Bags Two Years Ago. Why Are They Still Everywhere?
Climate and Environment, New York City, New York State, Reporting
New York Banned Plastic Bags Two Years Ago. Why Are They Still Everywhere?
Two years after the state banned plastic bags, many New York City businesses are still distributing them with little fear of consequences.

By

October 12
Adams Takes First Big Step on Climate Law, Yet Bigger Questions Loom
Climate and Environment, New York City, Perspectives
Adams Takes First Big Step on Climate Law, Yet Bigger Questions Loom
The city announced key proposed rules, making progress but also leaving a massive loophole unaddressed, our columnist writes.

By

October 7
The Rent Is Too Damn High. Blame the Suburbs.
Housing, New York City, New York State, Reporting
The Rent Is Too Damn High. Blame the Suburbs.
Long Island and Westchester build housing at some of the lowest rates of any suburban area in the country, fueling high rents and home prices across the region.

By

October 6
Solitary by Another Name: How State Prisons Are Using ‘Therapeutic’ Units to Evade Reforms
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Solitary by Another Name: How State Prisons Are Using ‘Therapeutic’ Units to Evade Reforms
A landmark solitary confinement reform law created a new, “rehabilitative” type of isolation unit. In practice, they're often little different from the solitary units they were meant to replace.

By

October 5
Community Health Clinics Set to Lose Critical $100 Million Funding Stream
Budget, Health, New York State, Reporting
Community Health Clinics Set to Lose Critical $100 Million Funding Stream
A little-known federal initiative, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, supports services that wouldn’t otherwise get reimbursed.

By

October 4
Understaffing Threatens to Slow New York Climate Plans
Budget, Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
Understaffing Threatens to Slow New York Climate Plans
Renewable energy developers are hungry to build in New York, but staffing at the bodies charged with managing the process hasn’t kept up.

By

September 29
Home Care Workers Battle Their Own Union on 24-Hour Shifts
Budget, Health, Labor, New York City, New York State, Reporting
Home Care Workers Battle Their Own Union on 24-Hour Shifts
1199 SIEU says it wants to end 24-hour shifts - but it has opposed city and state bills that would do so, and some question the sincerity of its objections.

By

September 28
Prisons Are Illegally Throwing People With Disabilities Into Solitary Confinement
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Prisons Are Illegally Throwing People With Disabilities Into Solitary Confinement
Lawmakers banned solitary confinement for people with disabilities. But the state prison agency has crafted its own policies.

By

September 26
Judge Frees Man From Rikers in Exceptional Decision Citing Bail and Jail Conditions
Criminal Justice, New York City, New York State, Reporting
Judge Frees Man From Rikers in Exceptional Decision Citing Bail and Jail Conditions
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 that judges consider defendants’ ability to afford bail.

By

September 21
Tiffany Cabán Approves Major Astoria Housing Development, Bucking Trend Among Progressives
Housing, New York City, Reporting
Tiffany Cabán Approves Major Astoria Housing Development, Bucking Trend Among Progressives
The approval will create hundreds of units of both affordable and market rate housing and has sparked debate in progressive circles over how to approach private development.

By

September 14
The Price of Private Equity’s New York Power Plant Grab
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
The Price of Private Equity’s New York Power Plant Grab
After a private equity firm purchased an upstate power plant, thousands of gallons of oil spilled into Lake Ontario. It’s part of a troubling pattern.

By

September 13
State Prisons Are Routinely Violating New York’s Landmark Solitary Confinement Law
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
State Prisons Are Routinely Violating New York’s Landmark Solitary Confinement Law
Five months after a law to scale back solitary confinement went into effect, a majority of the New York prison system’s solitary population had been held there for longer than the law permits.

By and

September 12
Adams and Unions Strike Deal on Shift to Cost-Cutting Medicare Plan
Health, Labor, New York City
Adams and Unions Strike Deal on Shift to Cost-Cutting Medicare Plan
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.

By

September 8
Lawmakers, Judge Seek Evidence Behind Prison Package Ban
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Lawmakers, Judge Seek Evidence Behind Prison Package Ban
The prison agency has stonewalled lawmakers' requests for information justifying the policy.

By

September 8
‘Heatflation’ Hits the Farmers Market
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting
‘Heatflation’ Hits the Farmers Market
This summer’s heat and drought have driven New York farmers’ input costs up and their yields down, straining their finances and further pushing up food prices.

By

September 6
A Prison Used Solitary Confinement to Force a Trans Man to Undergo a Genital Exam, Lawsuit Alleges
Criminal Justice, Health, New York State, Reporting
A Prison Used Solitary Confinement to Force a Trans Man to Undergo a Genital Exam, Lawsuit Alleges
Prison officials had already seen his genitals three times. But the superintendent ordered a more invasive exam, the lawsuit alleges. (Note: detailed descriptions.)

By

August 31
New York Lawmakers Look to Boost E-Bikes After Federal Snub
Climate and Environment, New York State, Reporting, Transit
New York Lawmakers Look to Boost E-Bikes After Federal Snub
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act turbocharges the market for electric cars at the expense of other forms of transit. A New York bill aims to help e-bikes catch up.

By

August 30
Did New York’s Chief Judge Break the Law to Pick Her Interim Successor?
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Did New York’s Chief Judge Break the Law to Pick Her Interim Successor?
Janet DiFiore may have gotten a say in picking her interim successor, boosting a judge who has never once voted against her.

By

August 29
New York’s High Court Tried to Protect Parents’ Rights. Lower Courts are Ignoring It.
New York State, Reporting
New York’s High Court Tried to Protect Parents’ Rights. Lower Courts are Ignoring It.
Many judges have ignored a 2016 mandate from New York’s top court that parents must be allowed to present evidence in their defense before they lose custody of their kids.

By

August 24
Distrust, Power Wrangling, and the Battle Over Rochester’s Next Public Defender
Criminal Justice, Electoral Politics, Reporting
Distrust, Power Wrangling, and the Battle Over Rochester’s Next Public Defender
The Monroe County legislature’s president, Sabrina LaMar, has denigrated public defenders and shut them out of the now-eight-month-long process to appoint the next head of their office.

By

August 23
Judge Strikes Down New York Jail’s Prolonged COVID Visitation Ban
Criminal Justice, New York State, Reporting
Judge Strikes Down New York Jail’s Prolonged COVID Visitation Ban
The ban had helped the local sheriff rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit from detainee video and phone call fees.

By

August 18
MORE STORIES