Off Topic/On Politics

It was a dominant election night for New York Democrats, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul's roughly 20-point victory over Republican Bruce Blakeman. Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli also easily won their respective races, while Democrats flipped New York's 17th Congressional District as incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler conceded to Kate Conley despite a major ballot-printing error in W...

Election Day is almost upon us — and will Bruce Blakeman be able to break the 20-year hold Democrats have on the governor's mansion in Albany? NY1 political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan take a look at the closing arguments being made in New York's three statewide races. Then, Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn't on the ballot, but he has been on the campaign t...

Early voting kicks off this weekend. Could two politicians from Brooklyn soon lead the House and Senate? If Democrats flip the House, Hakeem Jeffries could become the country's first Black speaker. Retaking the Senate could put Chuck Schumer back in charge of that chamber. Key House races in the Hudson Valley, on Long Island and in Queens could help determine whether Democrats regain control. Poli...

Early voting kicks off this weekend. Could two politicians from Brooklyn soon lead the House and Senate? If Democrats flip the House, Hakeem Jeffries could become the country's first Black speaker. Retaking the Senate could put Chuck Schumer back in charge of that chamber. Key House races in the Hudson Valley, on Long Island and in Queens could help determine whether Democrats regain control. Poli...

This week, Spectrum News NY1 hosted the first and only debate for governor in New York, live from its Chelsea studios. Incumbent Kathy Hochul faced off against her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Who had the most to gain from the matchup, and whose approach proved most effective? Political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli and political director Bob Hardt broke dow...

As the race for governor heats up, Gov. Kathy Hochul teamed up with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the campaign trail in the Hudson Valley. The politicians found common ground by fighting data center construction, despite sometimes being on different ends of the Democratic spectrum. With less than one month until Election Day, Hochul appears to be looking to boost her polling numbers by appealin...

This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a 33-page plan to combat antisemitism, including increasing funding for synagogue security, public awareness campaigns, and museum trips. But the plan drew criticism from some Jewish groups that wanted a concrete definition of antisemitism to be included in the blueprint, which also largely omitted issues surrounding Israel-related protests. Also, a Staten...

Continuing their surprising political bromance, President Donald Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani met at Gracie Mansion this week ahead of the president's speech at the United Nations. It was the first visit to the mayoral residence by a sitting president since Ronald Reagan met with then-Mayor Ed Koch in 1981. The U.N. gathering also brought renewed tension between Mamdani and Israeli Prime Ministe...

Starting later this month, over 8 million New York households can expect to receive an energy rebate check worth up to $200 — courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature. But the governor's critics are questioning why the checks are arriving so close to Election Day. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Dan Rivoli and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan weigh...

Just before the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the city released more than 170,000 pages of records detailing its response to the terror attacks, including documents related to air quality following the collapse of the World Trade Center. After years of court battles and advocacy over what officials knew about the toxic conditions in Lower Manhattan, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the records could provide...

This week, two Trump administration officials came to New York to take aim at the city and state's top Democrats, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler criticized Hochul and Mamdani on issues ranging from crime and immigration to Mamdani's plan for city-owned grocery stores. NY1 invest...

This week, progressive challengers seeking to take control of the Brooklyn Democratic Party suffered a setback after embattled party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn won enough votes to change the organization's rules. Reformers say the changes stack the vote to keep Bichotte Hermelyn in power despite widespread criticism from prominent Democrats. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, politic...

This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani took a weeklong vacation with his family in upstate New York, though City Hall didn't specify the area. The mayor leaving town hasn't always gone smoothly, but so far there has been little drama. First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan is overseeing daily operations until Mamdani returns. There were, however, a couple of potential headaches back at City Hall, including a l...

This week, a new Siena poll of likely New York voters found Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a 10-point lead over her Republican challenger, Bruce Blakeman. In 2022, Hochul won her first full term as governor, defeating then-Republican candidate Lee Zeldin by just over six points. So, should the incumbent governor be worried? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and stat...

This week, city leaders are cracking down on illegal e-bikes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued cease-and-desist letters to online retailers accused of selling illegal models while New York City responds to a rise in fatalities involving e-bikes and e-scooters, including the death of a 17-year-old boy who crashed after leaving the Brooklyn Bridge last week. Investigative reporter Courtney Gross and poli...

This week, New York City sent letters to 17,000 homeowners who may have to pay a non-primary residence tax, or pied-à-terre tax, starting next year. The tax played a role in closing the city's budget deficit earlier this year and helped Mayor Zohran Mamdani deliver on his campaign promise of taxing the rich. But some city homeowners are blasting this week's notification rollout, calling it "sloppy...

Last year on the campaign trail, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that as mayor, he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York City. This week, he told The New York Times he was in "active conversation" with the city's Law Department about whether he could direct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu. He later walked back those comments, saying the city does not have "ind...

This week, the City Council moved to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. The catalyst is the death of an 18-year-old tourist who was thrown from a driverless carriage, adding to a series of recent horse-related incidents. With City Council Speaker Julie Menin backing the effort, a majority of the City Council members support phasing out horse-drawn carriages by June 2028. NY1 investigative...

This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber unveiled a new plan aimed at speeding up bus commutes by an estimated six minutes. The "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service" initiative includes prioritized bus corridors, including major changes along Flatbush Avenue, such as center-running bus lanes and island boarding. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gro...

Tuesday's Democratic primary election demonstrated the power of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's endorsement. Every candidate backed by the mayor emerged victorious, underscoring his growing influence within New York Democratic politics. As the results become clear, NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political anchor Errol Louis break down the key races, the biggest...

This week, Spectrum News NY1 hosted a congressional debate in New York's 13th District, which includes Harlem, Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. The candidates are incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat and his much younger opponent, Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has been endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, politica...

While New York is celebrating the Knicks' return to the finals for the first time in decades, controversy over canceled watch parties near Madison Square Garden has sparked a public feud. Knicks owner James Dolan criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on WFAN, saying they're party poopers and not real fans. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross joins political re...

New York passed a constitutional amendment in 2014 that expressly prohibits drawing congressional maps "for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties." More than a decade later, Democrats in Albany are switching course and throwing their hat in the nationwide redistricting battle. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political re...

This week Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his "Block by Block" housing initiative, a sweeping plan to build 200,000 new affordable, rent-stabilized units and preserve another 200,000 existing units over the next decade. How does the proposal differ from the housing plans rolled out by previous mayors? NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena break...

Several closely contested congressional races are developing across New York before next month's primaries. District 7 in Brooklyn and Queens has emerged as a focal point following Nydia Velázquez's announcement that she will retire, while District 10 in Brooklyn and Manhattan features a prominent challenge by Brad Lander against Dan Goldman. Manhattan's NY-12 is also attracting significant attent...