Josefa Velasquez
THE CITY
Albany, NY, United States
Contact Josefa
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Josefa:
The Amazon Labor Union’s Fight With Amazon Is Far From Over
The retail giant is challenging NLRB certification, and a second vote at a nearby warehouse looms ahead. That’s all before anyone sits down at the bargaining table to discuss a contract. → Read More
Amazon Warehouse Workers Win Historic Union Vote on Staten Island
Members of the new Amazon Labor Union are on course to become the the nation’s first unionized workers at the online retail behemoth, thanks to a grassroots independent organizing campaign. → Read More
Why Is New York’s Bail Reform So Controversial?
Critics like Mayor Eric Adams say bail reform should be rolled back. Are they right? → Read More
Hochul’s $27M Ida-Relief Fund for Immigrants Has Doled Out Less Than $1M
The future of any leftover money is unclear but advocates and some lawmakers are pushing for the creation of a permanent relief fund for undocumented folks affected by disasters. → Read More
Cuomo Trying to Cut a Deal to Avoid Impeachment, Source Says
The governor is floating scuttling a fourth-term run — but top state officials aren’t biting, THE CITY has learned. Meanwhile, the Assembly moved toward impeachment as Cuomo’s top aide quit and an accuser detailed groping allegations on national TV. → Read More
Adams Declares Victory Over Garcia in Mayoral Primary That Went Down to the Wire
The Brooklyn borough president emerged one percentage point ahead of the former Sanitation Department commissioner, leading The Associated Press to call the race for him. But Garcia didn’t immediately concede in her bid to become the first woman to lead New York City. → Read More
Gig Workers Inch Toward Right to Unionize in New York — But There’s a Catch
Lawmakers, labor unions and tech companies are nearing a deal on a bill to allow workers for Uber, DoorDash and other app-based outfits to unionize. But they still wouldn’t be considered employees. → Read More
Corona, Queens, Still Staggers to Recover From Corona, the Virus
While much of New York City springs into hopeful reopening buoyed by widespread vaccination, survivors at the pandemic’s epicenter contend with ongoing economic and emotional traumas. Just ask the vendors in Corona Plaza. → Read More
Early Precautions Draw a Life-and-Death Divide Between Flushing and Corona
Two Queens neighborhoods share a park, poverty, immigration and active workers in common. But one is seeing far fewer COVID cases than the other. → Read More
City OKed Hotel Plan After Developer Hosted de Blasio Fundraiser
The hotel plan, which dates to 2017, was approved days after Michael Cheng and associates brought in big bucks for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Fairness PAC, records show. → Read More
Melissa Mark-Viverito Runs for Congress, Touting Progressive Cred
Former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito tells THE CITY she’s ready to join a crowded field vying to replace retiring Bronx Rep. José Serrano at a “critical moment.” → Read More
Bill de Blasio Tapped His State PAC for Presidential Hopes
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s team set up the NY Fairness PAC to help Democrats win election in New York. But it helped in the run-up to his campaign to win the Democratic nomination for president, records show. → Read More
What’s at Stake in New York’s Rent Wars
How landlords raise rents high enough to remove apartments from regulation — but not if tenant advocates get their way in Albany as New rent laws come up for renewal. → Read More
Legislature Rejects Cuomo's Proposal That Judges Certify They Work 8-Hour Days
State Sen. John Bonacic an Orange County Republican who chairs the chamber’s judiciary committee told the New York Law Journal that Cuomo’s proposal to have judges certify that their courtrooms stay open until 5 p.m. is a “diss” to all the judges. → Read More
NY Court's Annual Report Touts Backlog Reduction Efforts
The New York State Unified Court System released its 2017 annual report Thursday highlighting efforts to reduce felony and misdemeanor backlogs and the increasing use of technology to automate systems. → Read More
NY Court System Purchases $4.5M Software System
The state’s Unified Court System has announced the purchase of a $4.5 million software system that will bring savings to town and village courts Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks said. → Read More
Cuomo Offers Wish List of Criminal Justice Reforms in Annual Speech
Among the governor's proposals are the elimination of money bail in some cases reforms to the state's discovery statutes and proposals to move cases through the state court system faster. → Read More
Marks Names New Administrative Judges in New York City
Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks announced on Tuesday the appointments of four administrative judges in New York City. → Read More
NY Judiciary Seeks $44.4M Budget Increase
The state’s unified court system is asking the governor and Legislature for a budget increase of $44.4 million for the judiciary for the upcoming fiscal year according to the budgetary request released Friday. → Read More
Assemblyman Seeks to Expand Number of Judicial Departments
Brooklyn Assemblyman Joe Lentol introduced legislation Monday that would increase the state’s four departments to five by creating a Second Department North consisting of the counties in the 9th Judicial District immediately north of New York City. → Read More