When a member of State Senator Luis Sepúlveda’s staff faced eviction in 2023, the staffer had good reason to be hopeful: Sepúlveda, a practicing attorney, agreed to be his lawyer. Sepúlveda, who chairs the Senate’s powerful Judiciary Committee, then failed to show up to court twice, causing his staffer to lose by default and ultimately leave his home with an eviction on his record.

This wasn’t unusual behavior for Sepúlveda, who for years has maintained a private law practice marked by skipped court appearances, faulty paperwork, and missed deadlines, New York Focus has found.

His legal missteps stretch back to at least 2017, when a judge rejected his request for a default judgment after he failed to appear at a hearing and submitted a legal filing improperly.

A prominent business group is stepping up its efforts to stop tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy in this year’s state budget — while keeping key information about its funding secret.

The Partnership for New York City raised $10 million in “seed” money last year for its political arm, its new president and CEO, Steven Fulop, said on X earlier this year. Fulop told the Wall Street Journal last week that the political arm plans to run ads opposing tax increases. “If you believe that something is detrimental to the economic well-being of New York City, you need to be vocal about it,” Fulop said.

The state budget was due at midnight on Tuesday, but Albany leaders have so far been unable to strike an agreement, and taxes are among the biggest sticking points. The legislature and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have pushed for billions of dollars in tax hikes. Governor Kathy Hochul has ruled out an income tax hike on high-earners, though she has left the door more open to raising corporate taxes.

State lawmakers are announcing legislation this week to ensure health care coverage for nearly half a million New Yorkers set to lose their insurance in July as a result of federal cuts.

The bills, sponsored by Assemblymember Amy Paulin and Senator Gustavo Rivera, would direct the state to use its own funds to continue Essential Plan access for moderate-income New Yorkers. The flagship program provides free or low-cost healthcare to 1.7 million residents and has been instrumental in helping the state achieve near-universal insurance coverage.