Reinvent Albany
@reinventalbany.bsky.social
Advocates for transparent, accountable, ethical New York government, voting, fair elections. (Best contacted via info at reinventalbany.org or DM)
Micron says Onondaga chip fab delayed to late 2030. They want $1.7b more state/local subsidies on top of current $21b taxpayer handouts. Read about it here:
buff.ly/WQ0uHvn
buff.ly/WQ0uHvn
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Micron says Onondaga chip fab delayed to late 2030. They want $1.7b more state/local subsidies on top of current $21b taxpayer handouts. Read about it here:
buff.ly/WQ0uHvn
buff.ly/WQ0uHvn
Our testimony to Onondaga IDA: No to Micron Getting $880m in New Onondaga County Sales Tax Breaks. Micron is already getting more than $21.4 billion in government subsidies for Fabs 1 and 2 in Onondaga.
Check it out ⤵️
Check it out ⤵️
Testimony: No to Micron Getting $880m in New Onondaga County Sales Tax Breaks - Reinvent Albany
Reinvent Albany Testimony to Onondaga County Industrial Development AgencyWe Oppose Micron’s Request for $880 Million in Onondaga County Sales Tax Breaks Micron already getting more than $21.4…
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Our testimony to Onondaga IDA: No to Micron Getting $880m in New Onondaga County Sales Tax Breaks. Micron is already getting more than $21.4 billion in government subsidies for Fabs 1 and 2 in Onondaga.
Check it out ⤵️
Check it out ⤵️
Our friends at @citizensunionny.bsky.social are hosting a public Q&A on NYC ballot question 6 (even-year elections) this Thurs, 10/30, from 6-7pm. Register for their webinar!
Early voting is on! 🗳️
What is NYC Ballot Question 6 & how could it change local elections?
Join our webinar: Understanding Ballot Q6
Thu, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
#NYC #NYCVotes #BallotQuestion6 #CivicEngagement
What is NYC Ballot Question 6 & how could it change local elections?
Join our webinar: Understanding Ballot Q6
Thu, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
#NYC #NYCVotes #BallotQuestion6 #CivicEngagement
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Citizens Union Webinar: Understanding NYC Ballot Question 6 - Moving Local Elections to Presidential Election Years. After registering, you will receive a c...
This November, New York City voters will vote on whether to move City elections to coincide with a presidential election year. What does that mean, and how would the change look? What impact would it ...
us02web.zoom.us
October 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Our friends at @citizensunionny.bsky.social are hosting a public Q&A on NYC ballot question 6 (even-year elections) this Thurs, 10/30, from 6-7pm. Register for their webinar!
Film/TV “tax credits” are taxpayer-funded giveaways. 38 states now pay producers to film locally—even though independent studies find NO economic benefit. Economist J.C. Bradbury thinks they're one of the biggest wastes of state tax money.
Plus, $2b in Micron tax breaks. buff.ly/DfJzI8x
Plus, $2b in Micron tax breaks. buff.ly/DfJzI8x
October 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Film/TV “tax credits” are taxpayer-funded giveaways. 38 states now pay producers to film locally—even though independent studies find NO economic benefit. Economist J.C. Bradbury thinks they're one of the biggest wastes of state tax money.
Plus, $2b in Micron tax breaks. buff.ly/DfJzI8x
Plus, $2b in Micron tax breaks. buff.ly/DfJzI8x
Reposted by Reinvent Albany
New York can’t fix one problem by creating another. When IDAs hand out tax breaks without creating jobs, they drain the revenue that keeps our schools strong. We need affordable housing and well-funded schools — not one at the expense of the other.
Our new report with students in the State Policy Advocacy Clinic, Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell shows how IDA housing tax breaks are constitutionally questionable with little oversight—diverting revenue from schools and local services.
buff.ly/5ha43mX
buff.ly/5ha43mX
October 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
New York can’t fix one problem by creating another. When IDAs hand out tax breaks without creating jobs, they drain the revenue that keeps our schools strong. We need affordable housing and well-funded schools — not one at the expense of the other.
"Reinvent Albany, a good government group, had described it as the "most significant improvement" to the state’s public records law that the legislature had agreed upon in years.'
buff.ly/TiWAojO
buff.ly/TiWAojO
Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoes measure that set deadline for agencies to comply with public information requests
The governor said the bill "establishes arbitrary deadlines" that would apply "regardless of the complexity or length of any given request."
www.newsday.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
"Reinvent Albany, a good government group, had described it as the "most significant improvement" to the state’s public records law that the legislature had agreed upon in years.'
buff.ly/TiWAojO
buff.ly/TiWAojO
Our new report with students in the State Policy Advocacy Clinic, Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell shows how IDA housing tax breaks are constitutionally questionable with little oversight—diverting revenue from schools and local services.
buff.ly/5ha43mX
buff.ly/5ha43mX
October 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Our new report with students in the State Policy Advocacy Clinic, Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell shows how IDA housing tax breaks are constitutionally questionable with little oversight—diverting revenue from schools and local services.
buff.ly/5ha43mX
buff.ly/5ha43mX
An Illinois legislator proposed a bill to guarantee independent analysis and public hearings for all publicly funded sports projects — could NY do the same?
We could use it — see our list of NY sports subsidies rushed through with minimal public review in this week's Subsidy Sheet.
We could use it — see our list of NY sports subsidies rushed through with minimal public review in this week's Subsidy Sheet.
buff.ly
October 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
An Illinois legislator proposed a bill to guarantee independent analysis and public hearings for all publicly funded sports projects — could NY do the same?
We could use it — see our list of NY sports subsidies rushed through with minimal public review in this week's Subsidy Sheet.
We could use it — see our list of NY sports subsidies rushed through with minimal public review in this week's Subsidy Sheet.
NEW report with scrutinize, "Backdoor to the Bench", finds NY’s constitutional cap on the number of Supreme Court judges spawns double dysfunction
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Backdoor to the Bench — Scrutinize
Scrutinize Launches Judicial Profiles to Enhance Transparency in New York Courts
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 1:19 PM
NEW report with scrutinize, "Backdoor to the Bench", finds NY’s constitutional cap on the number of Supreme Court judges spawns double dysfunction
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Statement: Hochul Vetoes Transparency Bill Backed by Press Freedom and Watchdog Groups
Governor Fixes Nothing, Offers Nothing in Response to Persistent Public Concerns About Deeply Dysfunctional Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Process
Read it here:
Governor Fixes Nothing, Offers Nothing in Response to Persistent Public Concerns About Deeply Dysfunctional Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Process
Read it here:
Hochul Vetoes Transparency Bill Backed by Press Freedom and Watchdog Groups - Reinvent Albany
Governor Fixes Nothing, Offers Nothing in Response to Persistent Public Concerns About Deeply Dysfunctional Freedom of Information Process New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) process is…
buff.ly
October 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Statement: Hochul Vetoes Transparency Bill Backed by Press Freedom and Watchdog Groups
Governor Fixes Nothing, Offers Nothing in Response to Persistent Public Concerns About Deeply Dysfunctional Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Process
Read it here:
Governor Fixes Nothing, Offers Nothing in Response to Persistent Public Concerns About Deeply Dysfunctional Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Process
Read it here:
🚨Transparency Boosting Bill on Hochul's Desk🚨
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
October 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
🚨Transparency Boosting Bill on Hochul's Desk🚨
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
Our report, Investing in the MTA is Investing in America: October 2025 Update, looked at MTA spending across 47 states.
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
New Report: Investing in the MTA Is Investing in America - Reinvent Albany
New York’s MTA Paid Companies in Other States $19B Over 14 Years, Supporting up to 247,000 Jobs in Blue, Red, and Purple States Alike
reinventalbany.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Our report, Investing in the MTA is Investing in America: October 2025 Update, looked at MTA spending across 47 states.
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Hidden in plain sight: a little-known US Dept of Energy tool shows data center electricity demands across the US. Here’s the stats for NY’s top 5 counties — crucial for understanding the state’s data center boom.
buff.ly/S27vTnF
buff.ly/S27vTnF
October 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Hidden in plain sight: a little-known US Dept of Energy tool shows data center electricity demands across the US. Here’s the stats for NY’s top 5 counties — crucial for understanding the state’s data center boom.
buff.ly/S27vTnF
buff.ly/S27vTnF
The Sabres will stay put at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center through 2031, while waiting for NY taxpayers to forget they recently gave the Pegulas — who also own the Buffalo Bills — $1 billion for a new NFL stadium.
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/BMfsqFr
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/BMfsqFr
October 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The Sabres will stay put at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center through 2031, while waiting for NY taxpayers to forget they recently gave the Pegulas — who also own the Buffalo Bills — $1 billion for a new NFL stadium.
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/BMfsqFr
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/BMfsqFr
ICYMI: Our new report shows that Investing in the MTA is Investing in America
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Watchdog Report: States that Voted for Trump Get Billions from MTA Spending - Reinvent Albany
New York’s MTA Paid Companies in Other States $19B Over 14 Years, Supporting up to 247,000 Jobs in Blue, Red, and Purple States Alike Introduction: Analysis of MTA Spending on Vendors 2011-2024 The ...
reinventalbany.org
October 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
ICYMI: Our new report shows that Investing in the MTA is Investing in America
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Reposted by Reinvent Albany
Trump admin attempts to cut transit funding for NY hurt biz in ”red” states as well
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Trump admin attempts to cut transit funding for NY hurt biz in ”red” states as well
Reposted by Reinvent Albany
You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
October 2, 2025 at 12:26 PM
You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
October 2, 2025 at 12:01 PM
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
ICYMI: our Legislative Director, Tom Speaker, penned an important op-ed calling on the City Council to use the time it has left this session to overhaul the city's Freedom of Information Law.
buff.ly/rMqHTZE
buff.ly/rMqHTZE
September 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
ICYMI: our Legislative Director, Tom Speaker, penned an important op-ed calling on the City Council to use the time it has left this session to overhaul the city's Freedom of Information Law.
buff.ly/rMqHTZE
buff.ly/rMqHTZE
"It would be a good election year strategy for [Hochul], from our perspective, to promote some reform and show that she is willing to change the culture and the laws in Albany to make it a more ethical place," our @rachaelfauss.bsky.social
buff.ly/gZgxDMQ
buff.ly/gZgxDMQ
Good gov't groups: Lobbyists must be mandated to report campaign contributions
The state ethics commission held its third annual public hearing Thursday.
spectrumlocalnews.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"It would be a good election year strategy for [Hochul], from our perspective, to promote some reform and show that she is willing to change the culture and the laws in Albany to make it a more ethical place," our @rachaelfauss.bsky.social
buff.ly/gZgxDMQ
buff.ly/gZgxDMQ
Stronger Ethics Commission and Laws, Stronger Public Trust. Our testimony for COELIG's annual hearing today lays out Reinvent Albany's top 5 proposals for COELIG to support, along with our comments on dozens of their other proposals (plus a nifty chart!). Read it here:
buff.ly
September 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Stronger Ethics Commission and Laws, Stronger Public Trust. Our testimony for COELIG's annual hearing today lays out Reinvent Albany's top 5 proposals for COELIG to support, along with our comments on dozens of their other proposals (plus a nifty chart!). Read it here:
"The speaker should not sully further the past four years by jamming through some changes...What this Council and this speaker can, and should, do is pass a worthy transparency improvement to how the city handles Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests for public records."
Speaker Adams’ 11th hour rules: City Council rules should not be changed in waning days
The City Council Rules Committee is set to have a hearing this morning on what they are calling “the most comprehensive revision of the Rules of the Council since 2014.” With only 100 d…
buff.ly
September 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"The speaker should not sully further the past four years by jamming through some changes...What this Council and this speaker can, and should, do is pass a worthy transparency improvement to how the city handles Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests for public records."
The Broadway tax credit was meant as COVID relief. Now it’s a $3M-per-show subsidy draining state funds—even while Broadway thrives. ESD's deadline extension hints more giveaways may come.
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/hATzTsG
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/hATzTsG
Subsidy Sheet: ESD Hints at Expanded Broadway Subsidies With Deadline Extension - Reinvent Albany
Tax credit to reimburse theaters for production costs was set to run out, state now seeks additional applicants amid heavy lobbyist pressure
reinventalbany.org
September 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The Broadway tax credit was meant as COVID relief. Now it’s a $3M-per-show subsidy draining state funds—even while Broadway thrives. ESD's deadline extension hints more giveaways may come.
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/hATzTsG
Check out Subsidy Sheet: buff.ly/hATzTsG
Watchdog to NYC Conflicts of Interest Board: Yes to Stronger Travel Disclosures🛫 , No to Weakening Fundraising Transparency💰
Read our public comments here:
Read our public comments here:
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Watchdog to NYC Conflicts of Interest Board: Yes to Stronger Travel Disclosures🛫 , No to Weakening Fundraising Transparency💰
Read our public comments here:
Read our public comments here:
18 Groups and Unions to Gov Hochul: Sign Bill Defending NY’s Landmark LLC Transparency Act (LLCTA) from Trump Administration. It protects NY’s LLCTA from being undermined by the weakening of the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
buff.ly/QuXrWap
buff.ly/QuXrWap
September 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
18 Groups and Unions to Gov Hochul: Sign Bill Defending NY’s Landmark LLC Transparency Act (LLCTA) from Trump Administration. It protects NY’s LLCTA from being undermined by the weakening of the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
buff.ly/QuXrWap
buff.ly/QuXrWap