New York Focus
@nysfocus.bsky.social
New York Focus is a nonprofit newsroom investigating power in the Empire State.
Subscribe to our newsletter: http://nysfocus.com/newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter: http://nysfocus.com/newsletter
At Brooklyn Paramount, the moment AP called the race for mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social:
November 5, 2025 at 2:52 AM
At Brooklyn Paramount, the moment AP called the race for mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social:
After Rabbi Marc Schneier's 5-year-old son ostensibly donated $250, the Cuomo campaign sent him a verification document to sign.
Schneier told the Daily News that “we recognized a mistake was made," that Cuomo “is like family to us” and “our son wanted to help out like mommy and daddy.”
Schneier told the Daily News that “we recognized a mistake was made," that Cuomo “is like family to us” and “our son wanted to help out like mommy and daddy.”
November 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
After Rabbi Marc Schneier's 5-year-old son ostensibly donated $250, the Cuomo campaign sent him a verification document to sign.
Schneier told the Daily News that “we recognized a mistake was made," that Cuomo “is like family to us” and “our son wanted to help out like mommy and daddy.”
Schneier told the Daily News that “we recognized a mistake was made," that Cuomo “is like family to us” and “our son wanted to help out like mommy and daddy.”
While mayoral candidates break down their plan for the future of Rikers Island at their final debate - what's going on at Rikers and jails across the state?
After a strike led state prisons to stop accepting new prisoners, local jails have been left holding thousands of extra people.
After a strike led state prisons to stop accepting new prisoners, local jails have been left holding thousands of extra people.
October 23, 2025 at 12:31 AM
While mayoral candidates break down their plan for the future of Rikers Island at their final debate - what's going on at Rikers and jails across the state?
After a strike led state prisons to stop accepting new prisoners, local jails have been left holding thousands of extra people.
After a strike led state prisons to stop accepting new prisoners, local jails have been left holding thousands of extra people.
From 2020, as DSA's electoral efforts ramped up: NYC-DSA built an electoral powerhouse with no paid staff and just a few years of experience. Here’s how they pulled it off.
nysfocus.com/2020/10/12/n...
nysfocus.com/2020/10/12/n...
October 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
From 2020, as DSA's electoral efforts ramped up: NYC-DSA built an electoral powerhouse with no paid staff and just a few years of experience. Here’s how they pulled it off.
nysfocus.com/2020/10/12/n...
nysfocus.com/2020/10/12/n...
At the final mayoral debate, Zohran Mamdani shared his plan to build 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next decade as a solution to youth homelessness.
He'll need to get Albany on board. Details:
nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/z...
He'll need to get Albany on board. Details:
nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/z...
October 22, 2025 at 11:26 PM
At the final mayoral debate, Zohran Mamdani shared his plan to build 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next decade as a solution to youth homelessness.
He'll need to get Albany on board. Details:
nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/z...
He'll need to get Albany on board. Details:
nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/z...
Thank you for coming out to celebrate five years of New York Focus!
Be part of our future: nysfocus.com/donate
Be part of our future: nysfocus.com/donate
October 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Thank you for coming out to celebrate five years of New York Focus!
Be part of our future: nysfocus.com/donate
Be part of our future: nysfocus.com/donate
Join us at Crystal Lake to celebrate five years of independent, statewide, nonprofit journalism in New York — raising a glass to what the New York Focus community has accomplished together, and to all that’s ahead.
Get tickets at the link in our bio!
#brooklyn #newyork #party #journalism
Get tickets at the link in our bio!
#brooklyn #newyork #party #journalism
October 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Join us at Crystal Lake to celebrate five years of independent, statewide, nonprofit journalism in New York — raising a glass to what the New York Focus community has accomplished together, and to all that’s ahead.
Get tickets at the link in our bio!
#brooklyn #newyork #party #journalism
Get tickets at the link in our bio!
#brooklyn #newyork #party #journalism
When we conducted our statewide listening tour, we gleaned a sense of disempowerment from New Yorkers who felt they didn't have the information necessary to navigate the systems that dictate their lives.
We’re working to help rebuild a local news ecosystem that has faced years of relentless cuts.
We’re working to help rebuild a local news ecosystem that has faced years of relentless cuts.
October 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
When we conducted our statewide listening tour, we gleaned a sense of disempowerment from New Yorkers who felt they didn't have the information necessary to navigate the systems that dictate their lives.
We’re working to help rebuild a local news ecosystem that has faced years of relentless cuts.
We’re working to help rebuild a local news ecosystem that has faced years of relentless cuts.
Almost half of New York's newspapers have closed in the last 20 years. New York Focus launched in 2020 to fill those gaps.
5 years later, we’ve grown into a statewide newsroom making real impact:
✨ Nearly 1 million annual readers
✨ 15 full-time staff
✨ Investigations that sparked real change
5 years later, we’ve grown into a statewide newsroom making real impact:
✨ Nearly 1 million annual readers
✨ 15 full-time staff
✨ Investigations that sparked real change
October 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Almost half of New York's newspapers have closed in the last 20 years. New York Focus launched in 2020 to fill those gaps.
5 years later, we’ve grown into a statewide newsroom making real impact:
✨ Nearly 1 million annual readers
✨ 15 full-time staff
✨ Investigations that sparked real change
5 years later, we’ve grown into a statewide newsroom making real impact:
✨ Nearly 1 million annual readers
✨ 15 full-time staff
✨ Investigations that sparked real change
We have a new merch shop! 🥁
Support local investigative journalism with New York Focus swag.
www.rayguncustom.com/collections/...
Support local investigative journalism with New York Focus swag.
www.rayguncustom.com/collections/...
October 2, 2025 at 6:12 PM
We have a new merch shop! 🥁
Support local investigative journalism with New York Focus swag.
www.rayguncustom.com/collections/...
Support local investigative journalism with New York Focus swag.
www.rayguncustom.com/collections/...
Sullivan County is asking investors to lend more than half a billion dollars to rescue the struggling Resorts World Catskills, even though studies predict that three new downstate casinos will draw customers away. nysfocus.com/2025/09/25/r...
September 26, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Sullivan County is asking investors to lend more than half a billion dollars to rescue the struggling Resorts World Catskills, even though studies predict that three new downstate casinos will draw customers away. nysfocus.com/2025/09/25/r...
Sullivan County is asking investors to lend more than half a billion dollars to rescue the struggling Resorts World Catskills, even though studies predict that three new downstate casinos will draw customers away. nysfocus.com/2025/09/25/r...
September 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Sullivan County is asking investors to lend more than half a billion dollars to rescue the struggling Resorts World Catskills, even though studies predict that three new downstate casinos will draw customers away. nysfocus.com/2025/09/25/r...
That’s before Trump. Now, renewables are losing subsidies and facing a ton of new red tape. The projects that survive will be more expensive — but a lot won’t, which will make New York even more dependent on gas, which the US is preparing to export a lot more of, which means... higher prices.
September 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
That’s before Trump. Now, renewables are losing subsidies and facing a ton of new red tape. The projects that survive will be more expensive — but a lot won’t, which will make New York even more dependent on gas, which the US is preparing to export a lot more of, which means... higher prices.
Many are blaming clean energy for out-of-control bills. But new official estimates suggest they’re still a pretty small factor — no more than 10% of the average electric bill, or $12 on a $150 bill. documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Commo...
September 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Many are blaming clean energy for out-of-control bills. But new official estimates suggest they’re still a pretty small factor — no more than 10% of the average electric bill, or $12 on a $150 bill. documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Commo...
Now bills are set to spike even higher. Why?
Tl;dr; It mostly has to do with state-regulated utility spending — the “delivery” side of the bill — which has exploded since the pandemic.
But now the supply side is set to jump as well, as the US exports more gas and renewables get harder to build.
Tl;dr; It mostly has to do with state-regulated utility spending — the “delivery” side of the bill — which has exploded since the pandemic.
But now the supply side is set to jump as well, as the US exports more gas and renewables get harder to build.
![Chart: Electric Bills Hit New Heights
With delivery charges surging and supply costs up, too, bills have climbed sharply in the last five years — and show no sign of slowing down.
[Electric bill breakdown 2014-2024, showing a general increase]
Source: Utilities via Department of Public Service](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:htnh75yxvugm7c54squy5jrr/bafkreifsmbtgf2g3z6w5mthkirb7crsesgerihavhroehas3fqshk6kzva@jpeg)
![CHART: Gas Bills Also Climbing
Even as gas prices have swung up and down in recent years, the trend is clear.
[Gas bill breakdown 2014-2024, showing a steady increase on the delivery side while supply costs go up and down. Highlight text reads: At last count, delivery costs made up two-thirds of the average New Yorker’s gas bill.]
Source: Utilities via Department of Public Service
CHART: Gas Bills Also Climbing
Even as gas prices have swung up and down in recent years, the trend is clear.
[Gas bill breakdown 2014-2024, showing a steady increase on the delivery side while supply costs go up and down. Highlight text reads: At last count, delivery costs made up two-thirds of the average New Yorker’s gas bill.]
Source: Utilities via Department of Public Service](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:htnh75yxvugm7c54squy5jrr/bafkreig3jupuvfxvifbyawv6j63azxybgkfeptcd67vwk5iivzftnbnae4@jpeg)
September 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Now bills are set to spike even higher. Why?
Tl;dr; It mostly has to do with state-regulated utility spending — the “delivery” side of the bill — which has exploded since the pandemic.
But now the supply side is set to jump as well, as the US exports more gas and renewables get harder to build.
Tl;dr; It mostly has to do with state-regulated utility spending — the “delivery” side of the bill — which has exploded since the pandemic.
But now the supply side is set to jump as well, as the US exports more gas and renewables get harder to build.
⚠️ New York is already tipping into an energy affordability crisis.
More than a million households are behind on their energy bills, and record numbers had their electricity or gas shut off this spring. That’s even though the state distributed over $1 billion in relief during the pandemic.
More than a million households are behind on their energy bills, and record numbers had their electricity or gas shut off this spring. That’s even though the state distributed over $1 billion in relief during the pandemic.
September 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
⚠️ New York is already tipping into an energy affordability crisis.
More than a million households are behind on their energy bills, and record numbers had their electricity or gas shut off this spring. That’s even though the state distributed over $1 billion in relief during the pandemic.
More than a million households are behind on their energy bills, and record numbers had their electricity or gas shut off this spring. That’s even though the state distributed over $1 billion in relief during the pandemic.
Grid upgrades, gas exports, and the war over renewable energy are all sending bills in one direction: up.
nysfocus.com/2025/09/18/n...
nysfocus.com/2025/09/18/n...
September 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Grid upgrades, gas exports, and the war over renewable energy are all sending bills in one direction: up.
nysfocus.com/2025/09/18/n...
nysfocus.com/2025/09/18/n...
Across New York State, police officers have driven drunk. And sometimes, they avoided criminal punishment.
An investigation with @nytimes.com.
An investigation with @nytimes.com.
September 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Across New York State, police officers have driven drunk. And sometimes, they avoided criminal punishment.
An investigation with @nytimes.com.
An investigation with @nytimes.com.
The AG bureau doesn’t have jurisdiction over county-level criminal cases, so it must seek permission from the DA’s office that prosecuted the case. It almost always refuses to investigate without a DA’s permission.
September 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The AG bureau doesn’t have jurisdiction over county-level criminal cases, so it must seek permission from the DA’s office that prosecuted the case. It almost always refuses to investigate without a DA’s permission.
A late-night debut!
New York Focus was featured on @lastweektonight.com's episode on gang databases.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR8...
New York Focus was featured on @lastweektonight.com's episode on gang databases.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR8...
July 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A late-night debut!
New York Focus was featured on @lastweektonight.com's episode on gang databases.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR8...
New York Focus was featured on @lastweektonight.com's episode on gang databases.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlR8...
CLAIM: We've partnered with Gigafact to produce weekly “fact briefs” verifying or debunking claims relevant to New Yorkers.
VERDICT: True.
SOURCE: nysfocus.com/2025/07/29/n...
VERDICT: True.
SOURCE: nysfocus.com/2025/07/29/n...
July 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
CLAIM: We've partnered with Gigafact to produce weekly “fact briefs” verifying or debunking claims relevant to New Yorkers.
VERDICT: True.
SOURCE: nysfocus.com/2025/07/29/n...
VERDICT: True.
SOURCE: nysfocus.com/2025/07/29/n...
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
Assemblymember Grace Lee:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
Assemblymember Grace Lee:
July 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
Assemblymember Grace Lee:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
Assemblymember Grace Lee:
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@votejgr.bsky.social:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@votejgr.bsky.social:
July 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@votejgr.bsky.social:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@votejgr.bsky.social:
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@jessicaramosqns.bsky.social:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@jessicaramosqns.bsky.social:
July 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
New York has become one of the slowest states in the country to pay unemployment benefits.
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@jessicaramosqns.bsky.social:
Several state lawmakers told New York Focus that constituents frequently call their offices because they need help with their claim or to complain about delays.
@jessicaramosqns.bsky.social:
Arren is nonverbal and has autism, but the benefits he gets from Medicaid and SNAP allow him to live independently in South Brooklyn.
He is one of the New Yorkers whose lives could be derailed by sweeping federal cuts as a result of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
He is one of the New Yorkers whose lives could be derailed by sweeping federal cuts as a result of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
July 18, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Arren is nonverbal and has autism, but the benefits he gets from Medicaid and SNAP allow him to live independently in South Brooklyn.
He is one of the New Yorkers whose lives could be derailed by sweeping federal cuts as a result of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
He is one of the New Yorkers whose lives could be derailed by sweeping federal cuts as a result of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”