A photo of Sam Mellins.
Authors
Sam Mellins

Sam Mellins is senior reporter at New York Focus, which he has been a part of since launch day. His reporting has also appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Intercept, THE CITY, and The Nation. Reach him on Signal: mellins.613



A photo collage of Governor Kathy Hochul in front of a yellow-tinted photo of three new apartment buildings under construction.
New York State Budget Set to Remove Major Barrier to New Housing

A law designed to protect the environment will be partially rolled back to pave the way for much-needed homes.

May 27, 2026
Close-up photo of a man from behind wearing a suit, kufi, and mask. In the background, many other people attending a funeral.
Bronx Fire Relief Funds Finally Reach Families, Four Years After Catastrophic Blaze

After a New York Focus investigation, a Bronx charity distributed nearly $400,000 to survivors of a deadly 2022 fire.

May 15, 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
John Kaehny stands on a stage with a folder in his hands.
$77 Million for a Single Job: A Q&A with Subsidies Expert John Kaehny

The leader of Reinvent Albany discusses a data center subsidy in Rockland County that flew under the radar for years.

April 21, 2026
Senate Dems’ Leader Defends Judiciary Chair, Despite Long Record of Botched Cases

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says she sees “no reason” to remove Senator Luis Sepúlveda as judiciary chair.

April 16, 2026
How the New York State Budget Works

We answer your questions on the state’s notoriously opaque budget process.

April 15, 2026
State Senator Luis Sepúlveda
State Senator Repeatedly Failed Clients in Court, Leading to Evictions and Lost Cases

One expert called Senator Luis Sepúlveda’s record of missed deadlines, incorrect paperwork, and no-shows “professional negligence.”

April 9, 2026
A Pension Battle Is Heating Up in Albany. Here’s What to Know.

Unions want state leaders to sweeten their retirement packages. What would it cost, and what would it achieve?

March 23, 2026
State Senate Joins Hochul in Trying to Speed Up New Housing

It remains to be seen whether the Assembly will get on board.

March 10, 2026
Top Horse Racing Investigator Resigns After New York Focus Investigation

The investigator was initially placed on leave after New York Focus revealed that state gaming regulators ignored evidence of a massive horse doping ring.

February 20, 2026
Red states and blue states superimposed over housing.
New York Could Lose Seats in Congress Because It Won’t Build Housing

As housing construction booms in red states, blue states are falling behind. That will likely boost Republicans in federal politics.

February 12, 2026
‘What Stood Out Was What Wasn’t Said’: Antonio Delgado on Hochul’s Speech

New York Focus interviewed Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado as he challenges his boss for the Democratic nomination for governor.

January 16, 2026
Photo of Carrie Woerner
After New York Focus Investigation, Governor and Lawmakers Call for Consequences in Horse Doping Case

State regulators ignored FBI evidence of horse drug purchases for years. That was a “huge failing,” a key assemblymember said.

January 16, 2026
Mamdani and Hochul are Looking Cozy. Can it Last?

A sweeping child care expansion and opposition to President Trump have united them, but significant divisions remain.

January 15, 2026
5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Horse Drugging

New York racing regulators have failed to take action against drug buyers for years, even after federal law enforcement gave them clear evidence of illegal activity.

January 8, 2026
FBI Wiretaps, Illegal Drugs, and Dead Horses

The feds gave New York key evidence on horse racing’s largest doping ring. State regulators have done nothing with it for years.

January 7, 2026
AmeriCorps Cuts Leave New York Trails in Trouble

Some of downstate New York’s most used hiking trails are badly eroding. President Trump’s cuts have slashed the crews working to save them.

December 11, 2025
Following New York Focus Investigation, Home Health Aides Will Get New Insurance

A health insurer offering shoddy coverage to low-wage workers at taxpayer expense will be replaced next year. But will what comes next be any better?

December 9, 2025
A photo collage of Zohran Mamdani in front of the New York state Capital.
Zohran Mamdani’s Next Big Battle is in Albany

Mamdani convinced New York City voters to back his agenda. Now he needs to convince Albany politicians.

November 5, 2025
The main building of the Mt Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex near Lake Placid, NY.
What Is Ballot Proposal 1?

Voters across the state are scratching their chins about a question on their ballots concerning an Adirondacks winter sports facility. Here’s what’s going on.

November 3, 2025
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