A photo of Nick Garber.
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Nick Garber

Nick Garber covers politics for New York Focus. He previously worked for Crain’s New York Business, where he covered city and state government, housing and real estate, and money in politics. He also covered neighborhood news in Manhattan and Queens for Patch, and got his start at local newspapers in Vermont. He’s a New York City native and graduated from Middlebury College. 

A split-screen image showing a photo of New York state Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas speaking on the left and New York state Senator Jessica Ramos speaking on the right.
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.

June 18, 2026
Mamdani and Hochul at a rally together
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.

June 17, 2026
Rows of empty seats watch a horse racing track with a lone harness racer and horse.
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.

June 3, 2026
Photo of a casino floor with rows of brightly lit video lottery terminals and a single player sitting to the left in front of a terminal.
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.

June 1, 2026
A photo collage of Governor Kathy Hochul in front of a yellow-tinted photo of four smokestacks.
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.

May 27, 2026
Photo collage of Governor Kathy Hochul in front of a yellow-tinted photo of New York City.
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.

May 27, 2026
Photo of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries overlaid on top of a map of New York state congressional districts.
Cautious Maps in New York Haunt Democrats’ Redistricting War

Hakeem Jeffries urged Albany to avoid maps that aggressively boosted Democrats, sources told New York Focus.

May 20, 2026
A diptych of two photos: a DoorDash delivery worker and a photo of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
DoorDash Starts Super PAC to Repel Progressive Challengers to Assembly Incumbents

Also: Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to a pro-charter school group.

May 14, 2026
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in profile, looks at Governor Kathy Hochul, who looks outwards. The two stand close to each other behind a podium.
Mamdani Declares Victory As Hochul Helps City Close Budget Gap

New York City’s $125 billion executive budget hinges on taxes and cuts whose details are still being worked out in Albany.

May 12, 2026
Photo collage of Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Behind them, a huge clock nears midnight, and stacks of papers loom.
Critics Say Messy Budget ‘Deal’ Highlights Bigger Woes

Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that a deal had been reached led to a flurry of recriminations from lawmakers.

May 7, 2026
New York City’s Multibillion-Dollar Black Box Contracts Face Scrutiny

Master agreements let the city wildly exceed spending projections while avoiding typical oversight, the city’s comptroller found.

May 6, 2026
Hochul Avoids Campaign Matching Funds — and a Fundraiser Disclosure Rule

Also: A super PAC targets Democratic Socialists.

April 28, 2026
Cuomo Allies Pour Money Into Race Against Lindsey Boylan

A super PAC has spent six figures on the race over the last week — more than all the candidates had raised as of last month, combined.

April 27, 2026
The State Budget Is Late. Now Mamdani’s Might Be, Too

The mayor may delay his executive budget proposal while he awaits billions of dollars in potential Albany aid.

April 25, 2026
Hochul Pushes Mamdani to Slow Spending in Exchange for Aid

The governor has asked for cost-cutting plans on pricey housing vouchers and public school programs, sources say.

April 16, 2026
New York Is Funding Private Equity’s Real Estate Buying Spree

The Carlyle Group’s effort to buy up rental housing has gotten a $578 million boost from the city and state.

April 16, 2026
Harlem Assemblymember Gets a Super PAC to Fend Off DSA

Longtime Cuomo aide Charlie King has been involved in efforts to boost Assemblymember Jordan J.G. Wright.

April 3, 2026
Hochul’s Embrace of Trump’s ‘No Tax on Tips’ Will Cost NYC Millions

The city could lose $239 million from the policy, which is supported by business groups while unions remain on the sidelines.

March 30, 2026
Mamdani Stays Mum on Albany Climate Fight

Some climate activists want the mayor to take a stronger stance. He previously said the state’s climate law “is not a suggestion. It is a mandate.”

March 26, 2026
New York Gave These Broadway Shows Millions — And They Flopped Anyway

Sold as a pandemic-era emergency program, the state’s theater tax credit has quietly sent hundreds of millions to short-run flops and blockbuster hits.

March 19, 2026
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