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Inside Upstate New York’s Lead Poisoning Crisis

Many upstate cities don’t test old houses for lead poisoning until after children have already tested positive. A new bill would change that.

Morley Musick   ·   December 11, 2020
Life and death in a New York prison

As New York prisons face a second wave of COVID-19 cases, one incarcerated person tells New York Focus they haven’t fixed the problems that led to the first.

Gautama Mehta   ·   December 10, 2020
“We’re in a Tsunami”: Legislators Urge State Spending on Food Assistance

As food pantries struggle to meet surging demand with declining funds, legislators and providers say the state must offer more assistance.

Ari Dubow   ·   December 4, 2020
A Million Unemployed New Yorkers are About to Fall Off a Fiscal Cliff

Federal unemployment benefits expire at the end of the month. With no relief in sight from Washington or Albany, many New Yorkers are desperate.

Daniel Moritz-Rabson   ·   December 3, 2020
Methadone patients routinely denied take-home treatment throughout pandemic, despite health guidance

New York isn’t following through on guidance expanding take-home treatment to reduce Covid-19 spread, advocates say. Many patients must wait in line for treatment as many as six times a week.

Lee Harris   ·   November 29, 2020
Republicans Routed from Legislature, but Keep One Last Stronghold: Governor Cuomo’s Office

“Are you going to hire every single able-bodied Republican political operative?” Cuomo’s senior staff filled with top Republicans, to Democrats’ frustration

Akash Mehta   ·   November 25, 2020
Here’s What Governor Cuomo Could Do Today to Really Tackle Climate Change

New York needs to transition its electric grid off fossil fuels. That means Cuomo must create a schedule to shut down polluting power plants—and stop approving new ones.

Pete Sikora   ·   November 21, 2020
Cuomo Pushes to Weaken Ban on Toxic Foam Burning

Behind the scenes, Cuomo is pushing amendments to unanimously passed legislation that would allow the executive branch to lift the ban.

Lee Harris   ·   November 9, 2020
It was Cuomo’s “biggest environmental initiative.” Then he slashed it from the ballot.

A $3 billion green bond was set to be on New Yorker’s ballots this week, before Governor Cuomo’s budget office cancelled the vote.

Atman Mehta   ·   November 3, 2020
Even During Pandemic, Hospitals Collect on Medical Debt

“We get hit with this pandemic and then like, here you go, pay $2,400 by the end of the month.”

Ari Dubow   ·   October 29, 2020
Incarcerated People Have One Week to Get Stimulus Checks. Prisons Stand in the Way, Many Say

Incarcerated people have one week left to claim their stimulus checks. But many say their prisons aren’t providing the paperwork.

Akash Mehta and Sophie Walker   ·   October 28, 2020
New York State Is Lagging Far Behind on Its Climate Commitments

New York has a long history of setting climate goals to great fanfare—and then missing them. A new climate law makes more promises, but will Governor Cuomo deliver?

Pete Sikora   ·   October 17, 2020
New York Taxes Shoes and Soda. Why Not Stocks?

A stock transfer tax could bring in billions in new revenue. Wall Street threatens to pick up and leave—but tax experts say it’s probably bluffing.

Lee Harris   ·   October 13, 2020
Can New York Pass Single-Payer in 2021?

As New York recovers from a pandemic and an economic crisis that threw millions off their employer-based health insurance, proponents of the New York Health Act see a unique opportunity to make single-payer a reality.

Ross Barkan   ·   October 12, 2020
A Broken Bond: How New York Judges are Getting Around Bail Reform

Defendants awaiting trial were supposed to be offered a more affordable form of bail. But some judges have set the price sky-high on bonds, leaving many behind bars.

Akash Mehta   ·   October 12, 2020
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