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Compiled by Sahalie Donaldson

Thursday, March 05, 2026

Weather

Rain across the state. New York City, high 42; Albany, high 38; Buffalo, high 42.

This week's magazine

The detention of a City Council staffer

* Rafael Rubio was detained by ICE in January and remains behind bars. Writer Mark Chiusano talked with Rubio’s lawyer, family and roommates to tell the story of the New York City Council employee stuck for weeks at Metropolitan Detention Center.

Trailblazers in Law

* City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Law list features exceptional leaders in the legal field who are carrying out their mission, standing up for their profession and maintaining the rule of law in an era of uncertainty.

 ▶ Read This Week's Issue

The Sports Betting Alliance and its member companies provide legal platforms that offer:

- Age/identity verification requirements that prohibit minors

- In-app, customer-controls that can limit bets, deposits, and time on app

- Problem gambling resources and information 

And each year, mobile sports betting delivers $1 billion for New York schools.

Learn more: BetOnNY.com

From City & State

* The One Fair Price Act would ban surveillance pricing and establish a simple, commonsense principle: The same product or service should have the same price for everyone, writes Assembly Member Emérita Torres.

Heard around town

By Sahalie Donaldson

Shekar Krishnan wants to monitor landlords, big corporations and city agencies as the newly appointed chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Oversight and Investigations. And he’s keen to use the committee’s subpoena power – including on private companies. 

The powerful committee has its first hearing this morning, examining agency compliance with the city’s raft of sanctuary laws that protect immigrant New Yorkers. 

The joint hearing, held in conjunction with the council’s Committee on Criminal Justice, is expected to center on a bombshell report published by the Department of Investigation late last year which found that several city officials within the NYPD and Department of Correction violated the city’s sanctuary laws by sharing information or providing assistance to federal immigration authorities.

These incidents occurred under the Adams administration, but many questions remain around the extent of the information that was shared. However, the NYPD isn’t expected to testify today. Read more here.

Got tips? Email editor@cityandstateny.com.

New York’s insurance costs are sky high; support Gov. Hochul’s proposal 

Onerous and outdated laws in New York State have led to rampant fraud and legal abuse, which are driving up the costs for everyone. With commonsense reform, auto insurance, goods, and more will become more affordable, while still giving adequate protection to victims of accidents.

Learn more

New this morning

* President Donald Trump’s administration is expanding its crackdown on state Medicaid programs to New York, launching a fraud probe in the state a week after it said it was freezing nearly $260 million in Medicaid funding in Minnesota over similar accusations, The Associated Press reports.

* Two high-ranking New York City education officials stepped down in quick succession, paving the way for schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels to name his top deputy and make other cabinet-level appointments, the Daily News reports.

* Less than one month from the state budget deadline, a handful of issues continue to dominate the discussion: potential tax hikes and revenue-raising options, rolling back the state’s 2019 climate law and immigration – Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing lawmakers to make the latter two happen, State of Politics reports.

* New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that “time will tell” if right-wing radio commentator Sid Rosenberg was sincere after the WABC host apologized on-air for calling the mayor a “cockroach” earlier in the week, amNewYork reports.

* New York City Council members clashed with the Mamdani administration over the limited scope of information released on mental health emergencies at an oversight hearing, with lawmakers demanding more transparent reporting from City Hall, the New York Post reports.

* More news below …

Red tape is slowing New Yorkers down. It's time to fix it.
Unnecessary delays are leading to fewer new homes, higher rents, and inflated costs for critical infrastructure statewide. All of that means a less affordable New York for you. Common-sense Let Them Build reforms streamline review processes so housing and infrastructure can get built faster and cheaper–without compromising environmental safeguards. Learn more.

* Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she wants an explanation for Hochul's controversial scheme to cut auto insurance premiums as legislative leaders head into budget negotiations, Streetsblog reports.

* For homeless parents, the lack of access to affordable, convenient child care is often a main barrier to transitioning into stable housing, according to a new report by Win, New York City’s largest family shelter provider, The City reports.

* After weeks of collective silence, Bard College faculty issued a letter urging the board of trustees to create a fund for “community initiatives concerning sexual violence” using money donated to the college by Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime associate, billionaire Leon Black, the Times Union reports.

* Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander is calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to be expanded and term limits for justices, saying the conservative judges “are putting partisan politics ahead of impartial justice,” the Daily News reports.

* A legal dispute between the nonprofit Housing Works and Leeann Mata, the owner of a cannabis dispensary, shows the risks for businesses in an industry that is locked out of traditional financing and resources, The New York Times reports.

Editorial pages

* Even if City Hall gets all the support from President Donald Trump and the federal government that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is seeking, the Sunnyside project will be, at best, a long shot, columnist Errol Louis writes for New York magazine.

* Congress should require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to model its reporting of immigration enforcement after New York City’s Open Data Law, which requires agencies to publish detailed datasets publicly online in machine-readable form, New York City Council Member Gale Brewer and public policy and relations consultant Michael Oliva write for amNewYork.

* For Republicans, the race to replace Elise Stefanik in the 21st Congressional District is not going well. That’s putting it mildly, columnist Chris Churchill writes for the Times Union.

National politics

* Republicans blocked a measure that would limit President Donald Trump’s power to continue waging war against Iran without congressional authorization, turning back a bid by Democrats to insist that Congress weigh in on a sweeping and open-ended military campaign, the Times reports.

* Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes today on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, the AP reports.

* The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, setting up yet another clash between House Republicans and the White House over convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Washington Post reports.

Tickets are now available for the March Political Madness basketball tournament!

On 3/6, NY’s political leaders will face each other & other NY leaders in advocacy, business and beyond on The John Thompson, Jr. Court @ Nike. Participants so far include: Sen. Bailey, Sen. Myrie, AM Anderson, AM Zinerman, AM Pretlow, AM Kim, AM Taylor, CM Epstein, CM Riley and more! Get your tickets now. Interested in playing, coaching or sponsoring? Contact us. 

A portion of the proceeds is going to Laureus Sport for Good so you have to support this game with us…

Sponsored by: Stubhub; SOMOS Community Care; Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages

Announcements

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Frank G. Runyeon, New York Courts senior reporter with Law360 … to Bryant Daniels, assistant vice president, communications and government affairs for Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. … to Gregory Floyd, president of Teamsters Local 237 … to Ilana Maier, assistant commissioner for communications at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development … to Michael Nitzky, managing director at Mercury Public Affairs … to Josh Robin, NY1 chief national political reporter … to Cathy Giuliani, partner at RG Group … to Justin Backal Balik, vice president, states at Evergreen Action … to Kenneth Lerer, former chair at Buzzfeed and co-founder of the Huffington Post … to Gregory Rose, press secretary at New York City Department for the Aging … to Ellen Gustafson, of counsel at Greenberg Traurig … and to Danielle Porcaro, director of community engagement division for the New York City Council.

MOVING ON: Margaret (Meg) Egan has been appointed first deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. 

Have a birthday, career change, birth, death or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstateny.com.

City & State NY Jobs

To advertise your 2026 employment opportunities here with City & State, email jobs@cityandstateny.com or call (212) 894-5417 ext. 520. To view more jobs, please visit jobs.cityandstateny.com.

Vice President, Community Development - Anat Gerstein Inc, NYC
Anat Gerstein, Inc. is a full-service communications firm that exclusively works with nonprofit and government organizations that support and enrich the lives of people and communities. We are seeking a vice president for our Community Development practice area who is a seasoned creative strategist, high-energy and deeply driven to help nonprofits achieve organizational goals. 

A Pivotal Forum on Aging Legislation — join from your desk!

There are over 3.5 million New Yorkers age 65+ and more than 4 million family caregivers who support them every day. As state leaders finalize this year’s budget, NYS legislators, service providers, and advocates will come together to discuss actionable steps to support older adults at Live From the Well: We Have the Master Plan for Aging: Now What?on 3/10 at noon. The roundtable discussion will feature Sen. Cordell Cleare, AM Rebecca Seawright and more! This virtual forum is complimentary, but you must RSVP to join: Sign up for the livestream NOW!

Sponsored by: AARP New York

Today's sked

The state Legislature is in session.

8:30 a.m. – New York City First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan delivers remarks at the 202nd CityLaw Breakfast, 185 W. Broadway, Manhattan.

8:45 a.m. – New York City Comptroller Mark Levine delivers remarks at the New York State Association for Affordable Housing Semi-Annual Networking Breakfast, Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Ave., Manhattan. 

9 a.m. – New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams joins a rally with Council Members Shekar Krishnan and Selvena Brooks-Powers to stand up for the city’s sanctuary status and oppose collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, steps of City Hall, Manhattan.

9 a.m. – The state Senate Finance Committee meets, Room 124, state Capitol, Albany.

9:30 a.m. – The state Senate Judiciary Committee meets, Room 124, state Capitol, Albany.

9:30 a.m. – The state Senate Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Committee meets, Room 813, Legislative Office Building, Albany.

10 a.m. – Gov. Kathy Hochul is joined by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to highlight new data supporting her universal child care investment, 325 E 104th St., Manhattan.

10 a.m. – New York City schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels makes an announcement. View here.

10 a.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Oversight and Investigations and Committee on Criminal Justice holds a joint oversight hearing to review the Department of Investigation’s reports on agency compliance with sanctuary-related local laws, Council chamber, City Hall, Manhattan.

10 a.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Health holds an oversight hearing on access to childhood vaccines in New York City, Hearing Room 1, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan.

10 a.m. – State Sen. Patricia Fahy, Assembly Member Karina Reyes and the Spina Bifida Association of New York State host a press conference tomorrow to call for $250,000 in funding for the Spina Bifida Association of New York State in this year’s state budget, fourth floor Senate Gallery, state Capitol, Albany.

10 a.m. – New York City Council Member Pierina Sanchez joins the Community Service Society of New York’s panel to discuss social housing in New York, Community Service Society, 10th floor, 633 Third Ave., Manhattan.

11 a.m. – The state Senate is in session, Senate chamber, state Capitol, Albany.

12:30 p.m. – Mamdani calls tenants to remind them about tonight’s Rental Ripoff Hearing in Queens.

1:15 p.m. – State Attorney General Letitia James joins the attorneys general of Arizona, California and Oregon to hold a virtual press conference to announce a new lawsuit against the Trump administration. Register here. View here.

4 p.m. – New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin joins a roundtable with Nonprofit Leaders hosted by Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee, no location provided.

6:45 p.m. – Hochul, Mamdani, Levine and Menin deliver remarks at the 94th Annual Citizens Budget Commission Gala, Cipriani Wall Street, 55 Wall St., Manhattan.

7 p.m. – Williams speaks at the Muslim Community Network's Annual Iftar Celebration Dinner, 55 Washington Square South, Manhattan.

7 p.m. – Mamdani and Menin deliver remarks and Levine presents an award at the Chinese-American Planning Council Lunar New Year Gala, Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, Manhattan.

Kicker

“I’m anxious to get it done. More time has passed than I would like.” – Gov. Kathy Hochul on her desire to get a deal bolstering protections for immigrants before the rest of the state budget is passed, via State of Politics

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