How Mamdani’s Budget Announcement Went Viral Far Beyond New York

By: Emma Goldberg — 21 May 2026 at 14:22

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s executive budget was met with hero worship online. What did the social media chatter miss about the messy reality of municipal policymaking?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s executive budget release earlier this month was given the star treatment by some of his followers on social media.

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Mamdani’s First Big Move to Help Renters Is Dealt a Blow by Court

By: Mihir Zaveri — 9 January 2026 at 22:50

Summit Properties USA won an auction on Friday to buy more than 5,000 apartments out of bankruptcy from the Pinnacle Group despite City Hall’s efforts to intervene.

The Union of Pinnacle Tenants protested Summit Properties USA’s effort to buy Pinnacle Group properties on Thursday. Both companies appear to have many reported housing violations.

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140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?

By: Troy Closson — 3 October 2025 at 07:00

The city’s housing crisis has contributed to an education crisis, with more children than ever living in temporary housing. They face dismal outcomes.

More than 1.3 million students in the United States have been identified as homeless, according to the most recent data. That is widely considered to be a significant undercount.

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China Uses Public Shaming to Motivate State Workers

By: Vivian Wang — 20 February 2025 at 05:01

Local governments are handing out “snail awards” to underperforming employees. But, for many, doing as little as possible seems like the safest bet.

Crowds lining up for a civil service exam in Nanjing, China, in December.

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An Autistic School Board Member Sued for Discrimination. She Won $10.

By: Claire Fahy — 1 February 2024 at 08:00

Sarah Hernandez said her school board colleagues discriminated against her by failing to accommodate her disability. She hopes her victory, despite the small payout, leads to change.

A jury sided with Sarah Hernandez, but the damages she received were nominal. She hopes to run for office again.

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NYPD Upgrades Radios and Adds Encryption, Blocking Public Access

By: Chelsia Rose Marcius — 19 November 2023 at 08:00

The New York Police Department is spending $500 million on a new radio system it calls more reliable and secure. But the public will no longer be able to monitor what officers are doing minute to minute.

John Roca cruises the streets of New York with his ears tuned to the crackle of the police radio.

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Republicans in Wyoming See Clearly What’s Happening

By: Stephanie Muravchik and Jon A. Shields — 7 September 2023 at 15:39

Wyoming’s conservative establishment has been working to keep national issues out of state politics.