Protecting the Bargaining Process. Mamdani's team argues that letting legislators set pay through one-off bills — rather than union negotiations — sets a dangerous precedent. If every union could lobby the Council for raises, it could make it nearly impossible for City Hall to manage labor costs.
This week's moments Thu August 20Live
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
TodayUnions
Mamdani Sues to Block $10K Bonus for NYC's Lowest-Paid School Workers
Mayor Zohran Mamdani let a City Council bill granting NYC paraprofessionals a $10,000 one-time bonus become law without his signature — then announced a lawsuit to block it, saying pay raises must go through collective bargaining, not legislation.
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NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
1 day agoTaxes & Budget
Mamdani's Team Skips Council Hearing on Pied-à-Terre Tax Rollout
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration refused to appear at a City Council oversight hearing on the rollout of New York City's new pied-à-terre tax — a surcharge on high-value second homes. Council members read 11 pages of questions aloud to empty chairs, intensifying tensions between City Hall and the Council.
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NY Governor Kathy Hochul
4 days agoNuclear Power
Hochul Bets Big on Nuclear Power to Fix New York's Energy Crisis
Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing an ambitious nuclear energy expansion for New York — more new capacity than the entire U.S. has built in roughly 30 years. The plan puts her at the center of a national Democratic shift toward nuclear, while also sparking a local political fight over who has the better energy vision for New York.
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President Donald Trump
1 day agoImmigration
Trump's Sweeping Crackdown Now Targets Legal Immigration Too
The Trump administration is restricting every major category of legal immigration — from family sponsorships to work visas to diversity lotteries. Analysts project a 33–50% drop in legal immigrants by the end of Trump's term, with major economic consequences on the horizon.
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NY Governor Kathy Hochul
4 days agoICE
Hochul Pledges $7.25M to Shield Migrant Children From Deportation
Governor Kathy Hochul, joined by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Attorney General Letitia James, announced $7.25 million in state legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children — stepping in after the Trump administration let a $356 million federal contract expire, leaving over 25,000 children without legal representation.
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NY Governor Kathy Hochul
7 days agoICE
Hochul Orders Sheriffs to Cut ICE Ties, Threatening Legal Action
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law limiting local police cooperation with ICE and gave county sheriffs a deadline of August 25 to terminate their agreements with the federal immigration agency — warning of legal consequences for those who refuse.
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President Donald Trump
TodayICE
Trump Picks Lance Schroyer Who Led One of America's Harshest ICE Crackdowns
President Trump has nominated Lance Schroyer, a figure tied to Oklahoma's sweeping immigration enforcement operation — one of the toughest crackdowns on unauthorized immigrants in U.S. history — to lead ICE, signaling how far the administration intends to push its deportation agenda.
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President Donald Trump
4 days agoTaxes & Budget
Trump Threatens Federal Action to Kill Mamdani's Pied-a-Terre Tax
President Trump is pushing to stop New York City's new pied-à-terre tax — a yearly levy on high-value second homes — calling it a "dangerous political experiment" and claiming it will drive wealthy residents out of the city. He's exploring whether the federal government can legally block it.
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Borough President Vito Fossella
1 day agoLocal
Fossella Calls Congestion Pricing Study 'Nonsense' as SI Traffic Worsens
A new NYC Health Department report found congestion pricing did not improve air quality in Manhattan despite an 11% drop in car trips. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, a lawsuit plaintiff against the toll, called the findings proof the program was always a "money grab."
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Council Member Julie Menin
3 days agoTransit
Menin Drops E-Bike Registration Push Amid PAC Money Scrutiny
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin reversed course on requiring e-bike registration just days after championing it, ditching the idea from a 17-bill safety package. Critics point to $170,000 in PAC money from Uber and DoorDash backing her reelection. A major oversight hearing is set for September 30.
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Assemblymember Emily Gallagher
4 days agoCrime & Safety
Gallagher Sparks Debate About Shoplifting With "Biological Need"
New York State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, a Democratic Socialist from Brooklyn, said at a Manhattan courthouse press conference that people stealing soap and toothpaste are driven by "biological need" — and that prosecuting them protects billion-dollar companies over struggling New Yorkers.
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Representative Hakeem Jeffries
4 days agoSupreme Court
Jeffries Vows Supreme Court Overhaul If Democrats Win the House
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats would pursue major changes to the Supreme Court if they win the House in November's midterms. The push reflects growing liberal frustration with the Court and puts Jeffries at the center of a heated national debate.
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Council Member Justin Sanchez
1 day agoUrban Planning
Sanchez Adds Cleanliness to Year-Round Outdoor Dining Bill
The NYC Council passed a package of bills to bring back year-round outdoor dining. Bronx Councilmember Justin Sanchez's bill within that package requires cafe operators to keep their sidewalk and roadway setups free of trash, pests, and graffiti — or face fines.
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Council Member Amanda Farías
1 day agoLocal
Farías Backs $25M Plan to Green and Open Hunts Point Fish Market
Councilmember Amanda Farías joined Speaker Julie Menin and fellow Bronx Councilmember Justin Sanchez to announce $25 million in city funding for the Fulton Fish Market in Hunts Point — targeting cleaner refrigeration, a public waterfront walkway, and new local economic opportunities.
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Council Member Susan Zhuang
3 days agoLocal
Zhuang Pushes to Fully Eliminate Property Taxes for NYC Seniors
Brooklyn Council Member Susan Zhuang introduced a resolution calling for full property tax relief for seniors who qualify for the existing Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption. Right now, even those who get the maximum benefit still owe half their property tax bill.
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Council Member Julie Menin
7 days agoPrediction Markets
NYC Council Speaker Menin Probes Prediction Markets Over Deceptive Marketing
NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin sent formal letters to Polymarket, Kalshi, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan demanding answers to over 60 questions about marketing tactics, fake trade videos, and whether ads are reaching minors. Companies have until August 25 to respond or face potential subpoenas.
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