Compiled by Eric Holmberg
Friday, January 30, 2026 |
|
|
Celebrating 30 years as NY’s leading government affairs firm |
Sunny in New York City and Albany, and cold in Buffalo. New York City, high 21; Albany, high 11; Buffalo, high 9. |
|
|
| Guide to the DSA
* Over the past 10 years, the socialist organization has had its ups and downs, but recently it has been on the ascent, particularly in New York City. Trailblazers in Health Care
* City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Health Care puts a spotlight on key figures in New York, including high-ranking elected officials, high-powered health care executives and highly effective advocates.
▶ Read This Week's Issue |
|
|
Uber in New York City: 2025 in review
Riders took nearly 180 million trips in New York City last year, traveling from every corner of all five boroughs. These trips supported the City and State government, contributing over $700 million taxes & fees.
Uber shows up for all New Yorkers - with more than 65 million trips serving low income neighborhoods all across the City. Learn More. |
|
|
* In this week’s Winners & Losers, former New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry lands a new job with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while Rep. Tom Suozzi regretted his vote to fund ICE. |
|
|
By Jeff Coltin
Progressive budget watchdogs at The People’s Plan praised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s order yesterday for “chief savings officers” to hunt for “efficiencies” – even after hammering former Mayor Eric Adams’ savings plans throughout his term.
Adams’ Program to Eliminate the Gap, or PEGs, were across-the-board percentage targets, while Mamdani’s – at this point – are looking more open-ended. Still, “if Mamdani touches what we deem core services without trying to bridge gaps and find cuts elsewhere, we will change our tune,” People’s Plan Executive Director Zara Nasir told City & State.
City Comptroller Mark Levine will be watching City Hall’s budgeting closely too. “Everything has to be on the table at this point” to close the multibillion-dollar budget gap, he told City & State. “But I don’t know yet where they’re headed on potential cuts.” Got tips? Email editor@cityandstateny.com. |
|
|
A message from City & State |
Tickets are now available for an exclusive reception honoring CSNY’s 2026 Trailblazers in Healthcare on 1/29. We can’t wait to celebrate the innovators shaping the future of healthcare. Our keynote speaker is Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Health! Interested? Register now!
Sponsored by: Healthcare Education Project; Wartburg; AHRC NYC; Elizabeth Seton Children's; EmblemHealth; Brown & Weinraub; Episcopal Health Services Inc.; Farrell Fritz; Greenberg Traurig, LLP; HealtheConnections; Healthix, Inc.; Hunger Solutions New York; Parker Jewish Institute; Phillips Lytle LLP; Riverspring Living |
|
|
* Since launching his campaign for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani has been calling for tax increases on the rich as well as an increase in the city’s corporate taxes, but is the city’s budget situation really the four-alarm fire Mamdani is making it out to be, Hell Gate reports.
* Some unsheltered homeless people who have remained outside this week said that they do so by choice, preferring the freedoms of the streets to the curfews and restrictions of the shelter system, while others said they’ve simply fallen through the gaps, The City reports.
* Even as Gov. Kathy Hochul says she has no interest in continuing reforms to the Foundation Aid formula during this year’s state budget process, key state lawmakers and education advocates are continuing to push for adjustments, State of Politics reports.
* State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa and New York City schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels raised serious doubts about whether New York City schools will be able to meet the mandates requiring them to reduce class sizes, Chalkbeat New York reports.
* Republican Michael Henry is dropping his bid to unseat state Attorney General Letitia James, with a source familiar with his thinking saying he did not see a path to victory, the New York Post reports. * More news below … |
|
|
A message from City & State |
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE STORM
A recently released report highlights that New York ranks 50th in business friendliness, 50th in both taxation and migration, and 49th in projected working-age population growth. It is the second most regulated state, with more than 17 million words of regulations in effect, and the most legislatively active, with over 24,000 bills introduced in the 2023–24 session. CSNY & The Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc. present, New York's Business Blueprint: Improving Economic Competitiveness and Creating a Roadmap for Change on February 5th in Albany. Register now to discuss NY’s long-term economic competitiveness!
|
|
|
* Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, both representing parts of Long Island, ended last week by backing more funding for the Department of Homeland Security, but they started this week with strong rebukes against the arm of the Trump administration, Gothamist reports.
* One influential planning group is trying to change Mamdani’s mind on funding free buses with an even bigger moonshot plan: to expand the city’s century-old subway system by instead funding the construction of 41 miles of subway extensions, The New York Times reports.
* State health officials announced they are rejecting federal recommendations to drop several vaccinations from the childhood immunization schedule, advising doctors to instead follow guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Newsday reports.
* Among the 17 Eric Adams-era vetoes the New York City Council overturned yesterday was the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act, which guarantees 60,000 private security officers citywide the pay, benefits and protections they’ve long been denied, amNewYork reports.
* Newly released bodycam footage captured the frantic minuteslong standoff at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where a bloodied, blade-wielding man barricaded himself in a room with an elderly patient and a staffer before rushing cops and being shot dead, the Post reports.
* New York City workers are still working to clear snow and ice from bus stops, where a full day of plowing left walls of snow and created challenges for commuters trying to get from the sidewalk to the bus, the Daily News reports. |
|
|
A message from City & State |
|
|
* U.S. Senate leaders were scrambling to save a bipartisan spending deal and avert a partial government shutdown at midnight, as Democrats have demanded new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country, The Associated Press reports.
* President Donald Trump is expected to select Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve official, to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the country’s independent monetary policy board, according to multiple people familiar with his plans, the Times reports.
* Trump sued the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service for at least $10 billion over an unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns to the press during his first term in office, potentially putting American taxpayers on the hook for a massive payout, Bloomberg reports. |
|
|
A message from City & State
|
City & State at Caucus Weekend for the Black Trailblazers!
City & State is excited to partner with the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, Inc. (NYSABPRHAL) on opening night of Caucus Weekend in Albany to recognize our 2026 Black Trailblazers list! Join us on Friday, February 13th for a night of celebration, networking and more, as we shine a light on these groundbreaking individuals. Interested in getting involved? Contact us about how to support and sponsor this event celebrating the Black Trailblazers and Caucus weekend. And don’t forget your dancing shoes! There will be a DJ.
|
|
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Lee Zeldin, administrator, Environmental Protection Agency … to publicist Lizzie Grubman … to the Rev. Floyd Flake … to Eric Silverman, senior communications associate at Cahill Strategies … to , political consultant Lenny Markh … to Ronald A. Gregg, retired New York state judge and senior partner at Gregg & Associates PC … and to Kate Powers, acting executive deputy superintendent for insurance, state Department of Financial Services.
MOVING ON: Brad Weekes has been promoted to assistant commissioner of public information at the New York City Police Department.
Have a birthday, career change, birth, death or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstateny.com. |
| |
To advertise your 2025 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.
Special Assistant to Chief of Staff - Office of the New York State Attorney General, NYC.
The Executive Division in the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) is seeking an experienced professional to serve as Special Assistant to the Attorney General’s Chief of Staff. The ideal candidate is someone who is energized by the opportunity to work at the heart of a dynamic, high-impact government office providing direct, day-to-day support to the Chief of Staff. Director of Financial Plan Evaluation, The Office of the NYS Comptroller, New York City
Incumbent will supervise a unit of analysts that produces written reports which analyze the uses of government funds by NYC and City-related public authorities and corporations. Includes identifying trends in planned and actual spending, grant-funded revenues, and the impact of spending on service outputs and performance.
Senior Lobbyist - Constantinople & Vallone Consulting – Albany and NYC
Constantinople & Vallone Consulting is seeking a senior lobbyist with New York State-level legislative experience to join our government affairs team. Candidates should have passion for navigating government and problem solving. The most qualified candidate will have experience working with New York State government in the legislative or executive branches, or with State agencies. |
|
|
A message from City & State
|
Join us February 19th in Manhattan for our reception honoring our Fifty Over 50 list. We’re thrilled to announce that Rick Cotton, of the Port Authority of NY & NJ, will receive our Lifetime Achievement Award. Our ICONS this year are Majority Whip Rodneyse Bichotte, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Mitchell Katz of NYC Health + Hospitals, and John B. King, Jr of SUNY. Help us celebrate this group and their fellow honorees by placing a congratulatory ad in City & State Magazine or becoming an event sponsor! Contact us to learn how to get involved.
Sponsored by: AARP; IUOE Local 15; Grand Street Settlement; BronxWorks; Hatch; Hudson Yard's Hell's Kitchen Alliance (HYHK); Student Sponsor Partners |
|
|
9:20 a.m. – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a press conference to make a worker protection-related announcement alongside Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine, LIC Food Hall, 27-17 42nd Road, Suite C3, Queens.
10 a.m. – Gov. Kathy Hochul makes a public safety announcement, New York City. 10 a.m. – Rep. John Mannion makes a funding announcement, Oneida Health, 321 Genesee St., Oneida. 10 a.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure meets, Hearing Room 1, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan.
10 a.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation meets, Hearing Room 2, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan.
10 a.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Education meets, Hearing Room 3, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan.
11:05 a.m. – Mamdani visits a home-based child care provider to encourage families to apply for 3-K and Pre-K, no location provided.
1 p.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management meets, Hearing Room 1, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan.
1 p.m. – The New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth meets, Hearing Room 2, eighth floor, 250 Broadway, Manhattan. |
|
|
“Right now, it’s survive or die. And I’m just not the type to sit and die.” – An unsheltered homeless man who asked to be identified as John Lancaster, on the dangers of being homeless during this frigid stretch, via The City |
|
|
Copyright © 2026 City & State NY LLC, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to First Read Emails from City & State.
Our mailing address is: City & State NY LLC
44 Wall Street, Suite 702
New York, NY 10005
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. |
|
|
|
