Max Politics

State Housing Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas discusses the recent major housing policy deal in New York, covering tax incentives, rent regulations, and the goal of creating 100,000 affordable homes. They explore the balance between tenant rights and property owner interests, emphasizing the significance of compromise in housing legislation for effective solutions.

NYC Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer discusses the Adams Administration's housing agenda, focusing on strategies for tackling housing supply, affordability, and homelessness. The conversation highlights urgent housing policy agendas, balancing power dynamics for tenant protection, and deliberation on F.A.R. cap liberalization. The guest emphasizes the need for comprehensive housing reforms and community engagement to address the critical housing crisis in NYC.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat and chair of the Senate health committee, joined the show to discuss the status of state budget negotiations, including around major health issues, housing policy, and more. (Ep 442)

New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, an Upstate Republican, joined the show to discuss state budget negotiations, the GOP's priorities and warning, housing policy, and more. (Episode 441)

Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC, joined the show to discuss Governor Hochul's 'Empire AI' proposal to create a new artificial intelligence hub in Buffalo and related policies.

Gersh Kuntzman, editor in chief of Streetsblog NYC and longtime city journalist, joined the show to discuss the long arc of congestion pricing approval, the 3/27/24 final MTA Board passage of the program, its planned June implementation, potential benefits, pitfalls, and unknowns — and more. (Episode 439)

Assembly Members Catalina Cruz of Queens and Brian Cunningham of Brooklyn joined the show to discuss their top legislative and budget priorities and the status of state budget negotiations with a deal due by April 1, including on the major issue of housing policy. Cruz also discussed her focus on immigrant communities and the asylum-seeker crisis, while Cunningham discussed the controversy over the future of SUNY Downstate medical center, among other topics they each addressed. (Ep 438)

News of the Week: Jeff Coltin of Politico joins the show to discuss City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams' 2024 State of the City address and policy agenda, and the relationship between the Speaker and Mayor Eric Adams; then Emma Whitford of City Limits joins to discuss the three housing policy plans at the state level from Governor Kathy Hochul and the two majority conferences of the State Legislature. (Ep 437)

State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, joined the show to discuss what comes next in New York's redistricting saga, the development of the Senate Democratic majority's one-house state budget resolution, housing policy negotiations, and more. (Ep 436)

Grace Rauh, executive director of the 5Boro Institute, joined the show to discuss the think tank's new child care policy report and key steps to ensure affordable child care for all New Yorkers, as well as other issues the Institute has been working on including city government staffing challenges, and more. (Ep 435)