Amudalat Ajasa covers climate for New York Focus. Amudalat comes to Focus from The Washington Post, where she wrote about the effects of air, water and chemical pollution on human health. Prior to that, she worked at The New York Times, where she investigated the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in public housing.
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.
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.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that a deal had been reached led to a flurry of recriminations from lawmakers.