With the start of every new year comes a slew of new laws that come into effect. Here are four that are the most impactful and significant within New York. Minimum wage will increase in 2026, from $16.50 to $17 an hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, and from $15.50 to $16 for other places in the state. Future increases will begin in 2027, annually increasing based on inflation. This comes amid widespread attention to New York’s affordability crisis, particula

New York City is widely known as one of the most expensive cities to shop, work, commute, and most of all, live in. Even those who don’t live remotely close to New York seem to have a basic sense that it’s a pricey place. Of course, everyone in the city knows it. It’s been a major point within the city’s politics and elections in the past and present. All of this is backed up by statistics, not just reputation. Compared to the national average, New York’s numbers remain highe

Tuesday’s mayoral election was called quickly after polls closed, with a decisive win for the democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani. This year’s election was shaped by a much higher turnout with the potential to display the city’s changing concerns and shifting political landscape. In order to see how much actually changed, here’s a look into some statistics and polling following the election results. Since before the election, the importance of the younger voter bloc has been

The first debate for the upcoming New York City’s mayoral election was held last week on October 16th, 2025. Here is a short recap of what I thought was important, or particularly interesting: The “Winner”- Debates are subjective, so it is hard to really declare one candidate’s victory, despite all three declaring so. However, the general consensus has been that Zohran Mamdani, the democratic nominee, was able to emerge on top. He began the debate as the frontrunner for the r

After a short break from campaigning frenzy and rushed election activity, New Yorkers may have forgotten about the city’s upcoming mayoral election. Just in case, here is an update: important endorsements — or lack of , what they might mean in a changing political landscape, and changes in candidates. As governor of New York, Kathy Hochul is a prominent state democrat who recently wrote a NYT opinion guest essay endorsing Zohran Mamdani, the democratic, socialist candidate wh

Historically, protests have been wielded as a powerful tool of the people, playing an important part in the United States’ past. They drive political participation while unifying different groups under one cause, offering attention and voice to many. Within New York, this is especially so. New York City’s size and economy gives it media importance, meaning events like protests can have outward ripple effects throughout the nation. In light of this, here are some recent and n

Many New Yorkers– including those around me– seem to know enough about the country's political system, but much less about local politics. A recent discussion with my mom made me remember this gap in knowledge, which I’ve known of for a while, but never really made an effort to address. In order to boost general awareness of inner-state politics for New Yorkers, I wanted to write a quick overview as an introduction to the state government below. Like at the federal level, New

New York City’s mayoral election is set to take place on November 4th, around 10 weeks from now. After the high-stakes primaries a month ago, this year’s election has shaped up to be an unusually contentious race due to several high-profile candidates. The Democratic primaries resulted in a resounding victory for Zohran Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist”– a political ideology rooted in opposition to capitalism and the prioritization of workers over corporations.