Zohran Mamdani now faces tremendous pressure to deliver on his agenda. To do it, he’ll need Governor Kathy Hochul and the leaders of the Democratic majorities in the legislature to get on board.

Strained social service departments across the state are scrambling to implement new work rules that suddenly went into effect this month for New Yorkers who rely on food assistance. That undertaking is magnified in NYC, where an estimated 230,000 residents could be subject to the requirements.

Strained social service departments across the state are scrambling to implement new work rules that suddenly went into effect this month for New Yorkers who rely on food assistance. The rushed rollout comes at a chaotic time for food assistance. nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

Almost half of New York's newspapers have closed in the last 20 years. New York Focus launched in 2020 to fill those gaps. We can't do it without you. Right now, your donation will be tripled. Visit nysfocus.com/donate.

Whether intentionally or not, Zohran Mamdani's approach on climate reflects a view that is going mainstream in climate circles: To succeed, climate policies need to lose the label. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Strained social service departments across the state are scrambling to implement new work rules that suddenly went into effect this month for New Yorkers who rely on food assistance. nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose their food benefits due to new SNAP work requirements, after the Trump administration phased them in months earlier than expected. nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

The board overseeing opioid lawsuit settlements is raising the alarm that New York could use the funds, which are meant to expand substance abuse initiatives, to backfill federal cuts. nysfocus.com/2025/11/07/h...

In case you missed it:

It got overshadowed by the pipeline news, but NYS’s deal to allow Greenidge Generation to keep operating an upstate gas plant *for the sole purpose of mining bitcoin* might be almost as big of a reversal gothamist.com/news/upstate...

NEW: Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose their food benefits due to new SNAP work requirements, after the Trump administration phased in months earlier than expected. nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

NEW: Strained social service departments across the state are scrambling to implement new work rules that suddenly went into effect this month for New Yorkers who rely on food assistance. nysfocus.com/2025/11/10/t...

The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline had been rejected by environmental regulators three times but was revived this spring after talks between Hochul and Trump. nysfocus.com/2025/11/07/n...

The board overseeing opioid lawsuit settlements is raising the alarm that New York could use the funds, which are meant to expand substance abuse initiatives, to backfill federal cuts.

New York environmental regulators on Friday approved a major Trump-backed underwater gas pipeline in a U-turn for state energy policy. nysfocus.com/2025/11/07/n...

Mamdani convinced New York City voters to back his agenda. Now he needs to convince Albany politicians. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Unions hold significant sway in Albany. Many shifted in support of Mamdani in the general election. “Labor unions want Mayor Mamdani to be successful, because the central message of the campaign is affordability," James Davis, president of the union representing CUNY employees, said.

The mayor-elect’s approach reflects a view that is going mainstream: To succeed, climate policies may need to lose the label. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Working Families Party–backed candidates flipped county legislatures, won big-city mayoralties, and secured an Assembly seat in Elise Stefanik’s backyard. nysfocus.com/2025/11/06/n...

BREAKING: New York environmental regulators on Friday approved a major Trump-backed gas pipeline. The Northeast Supply Enhancement project would be the state’s largest expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure since passing its flagship climate law in 2019. nysfocus.com/2025/11/07/n...

NEW: The board overseeing opioid lawsuit settlements is raising the alarm that New York could use the funds, which are meant to expand substance abuse initiatives, to backfill federal cuts. nysfocus.com/2025/11/07/h...

Buildings remain by far New York City’s largest source of climate-heating pollution. Mamdani says he wants to help middle-income co-op and condo owners come into compliance with a law requiring large buildings to start meeting emissions limits. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

The story I've been wanting to read is about the actual obstacles in Albany to Mayor-elect Mamdani's agenda, what the political dynamics are, and what might be the competition for any revenue increases. Our friends at @nysfocus.bsky.social told that story and we're proud to elevate it.

NEW: The board advising New York on how to spend over $500 million from opioid lawsuit settlements pressed Governor Kathy Hochul for greater transparency. Board members are concerned the state could use the funds — meant for substance abuse initiatives — to offset federal cuts.

thread:

Perhaps the most striking upsets outside New York City on Tuesday came at the little-watched county level, where Democrats flipped two legislatures long held by Republicans and picked up seats in other red-leaning areas.

Unions hold significant sway in Albany. Cuomo racked up more union endorsements in the Democratic primary than Mamdani did, but many shifted to Mamdani’s camp in the general election. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Whether Mamdani can convince Hochul to see things his way — on taxes, child care, buses, and other issues — may depend on how much pressure his allies can bring to bear. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

NEW: Democrats resurged across the country on Tuesday, and New York was no exception. Zohran Mamdani wasn't the only victor. Here’s a look at how some of New York’s most important local races played out:

Even if Hochul does agree to income tax increases, the additional revenue may be spent filling holes left by the Trump administration’s deep funding cuts to New York. The money Mamdani needs to fund his priorities will not be won without a fight. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

The governor and state lawmakers — not the mayor or the New York City Council — are the ones who decide whether to give the Mamdani administration the billions of dollars it’ll need to realize his signature proposals of free buses and universal child care. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Zohran Mamdani barely campaigned on climate. So what is his climate agenda, and can he demonstrate a way to drive down emissions and costs at the same time? nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Mamdani's approach on climate is a sharp contrast to that of other New York politicians, like Governor Kathy Hochul, who’ve framed green goals as clashing with cost-of-living issues. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

NEW: Voters didn’t just elect a socialist mayor in New York City. They also voted in progressive candidates in several of the state’s largest cities, flipped county legislatures blue, and chose a new Democratic assemblymember in US Representative Elise Stefanik’s backyard.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will need Governor Kathy Hochul and the leaders of the Democratic majorities in the legislature to get on board to deliver on his agenda. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

Zohran Mamdani now faces tremendous pressure to deliver on his agenda. “When we enter City Hall in 58 days, expectations will be high,” he said in his victory speech. “We will meet them.” nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

If President Donald Trump makes good on his threats, Zohran Mamdani may become the first New York City mayor forced to navigate an uninvited federal deployment of the National Guard. What can he do as mayor? nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/d...

Zohran Mamdani won over a million votes — the first candidate to do so since John Lindsay in 1969. He now faces tremendous pressure to deliver on his agenda. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

The mayor’s formal power to constrain federal troops and agents is limited: Experts say that state-level action and grassroots organizing offer the most promising avenues to stymie federal incursions. Yet as the city’s top official, Mamdani could bolster those efforts. Via @nysfocus.bsky.social

NEW: Zohran Mamdani barely campaigned on climate. His approach reflects a view that is going mainstream in climate circles: To succeed, climate policies need to lose the label. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

NEW: Zohran Mamdani may become the first New York City mayor forced to navigate an uninvited federal deployment of the National Guard. “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.

NEW: Zohran Mamdani barely campaigned on climate — but some say that might improve his chances of getting green policies passed. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

NEW: Last month, Trump insinuated that he’d send troops to “clean up” the country’s biggest city if Mamdani won the election. “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said during his victory speech.

Zohran Mamdani’s Next Big Battle is in Albany: nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

NEW: If President Donald Trump makes good on his threats, Zohran Mamdani may become the first New York City mayor forced to navigate an uninvited federal deployment of the National Guard. What can he do as mayor?

NEW: Zohran Mamdani made history last night, romping to a decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral election. In January, he will become New York’s first Muslim mayor, first immigrant mayor in 50 years, and youngest mayor in a century.

Zohran Mamdani made history last night, romping to a decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral election. via @nysfocus.bsky.social

NEW: Mamdani convinced New York City voters to back his agenda. Now he needs to convince Albany politicians. nysfocus.com/2025/11/05/z...

In his victory speech, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani gave a shoutout to the taxi cab drivers he fought alongside for in a historic debt relief deal in a hunger strike. nysfocus.com/2024/09/03/t...

It’s been a century since a sitting state legislator was last elected to be mayor of New York City. Zohran Mamdani's five years in the legislature may serve him well in navigating Albany politics. nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/z...