Michael Gareth Johnson
City & State
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Michael Schnall from New York Road Runners
Michael Schnall from New York Road Runners By Michael Gareth Johnson | November 16, 2015 02:07pm Michael Schnall, Vice President of Community Engagement Initiatives at New York Road Runners talks about what made the 2015 TCS Marathon different, discuss the ways New York Road Runners is trying to better engage the community and his hopes for a more festive atmosphere at this year’s Staten Island… → Read More
Exclusive: New York City unemployment rate plummets to lowest rate since 2008
New York City’s unemployment rate dropped dramatically to 5.4 percent in the third quarter of 2015, down from 6.3 percent in the second quarter of the year, according to city Comptroller Scott Stringer’s Quarterly Economic Update set to be released later today. The report also shows a slowdown in the economy nationally with New York City outpacing the rest of the nation. “The City added 24,700… → Read More
Cuomo announces national summit, office of New York in Puerto Rico
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new New York trade and tourism office in Puerto Rico, which will be aimed at promoting tourism and boosting economic ties between the state and the beleaguered island territory. The governor, who is in San Juan for a health care rally and an appearance at the annual fall Somos el Futuro conference, also announced plans for an upcoming national summit to address the… → Read More
Espaillat: I am the frontrunner
The crowded field to replace Rep. Charles Rangel is only growing larger, but state Sen. Adriano Espaillat is feeling confident about his chances. Speaking to City & State at the Somos fall conference, Espaillat said he considers himself the favorite in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, which is up for grabs with Rangel set to retire. “I think I come into this race as… → Read More
Exclusive: Cuomo to establish office of New York in Puerto Rico
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce the opening of the office of New York in Puerto Rico, according to Dennis Rivera, the former head of SEIU 1199 who was the lead organizer of the coalition that is sponsoring the health rally in San Juan. Rivera made the comments to City & State as part of our livestream coverage from the Caribe Hilton where the Somos Fall conference. “He is also going to… → Read More
Exclusive: Cuomo to establish office of New York in Puerto Rico
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce the opening of the office of New York in Puerto Rico, according to Dennis Rivera, the former head of SEIU 1199 who was the lead organizer of the coalition that is sponsoring the health rally in San Juan. Rivera made the comments to City & State as part of our livestream coverage from the Caribe Hilton where the Somos Fall conference. “He is also going to… → Read More
Cuomo announces national summit, office of New York in Puerto Rico
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new New York trade and tourism office in Puerto Rico, which will be aimed at promoting tourism and boosting economic ties between the state and the beleaguered island territory. The governor, who is in San Juan for a health care rally and an appearance at the annual fall Somos el Futuro conference, also announced plans for an upcoming national summit to address the… → Read More
Espaillat: I am the frontrunner
The crowded field to replace Rep. Charles Rangel is only growing larger, but state Sen. Adriano Espaillat is feeling confident about his chances. Speaking to City & State at the Somos fall conference, Espaillat said he considers himself the favorite in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, which is up for grabs with Rangel set to retire. “I think I come into this race as… → Read More
Cuomo announces national summit, office of New York in Puerto Rico
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new New York trade and tourism office in Puerto Rico, which will be aimed at promoting tourism and boosting economic ties between the state and the beleaguered island territory. The governor, who is in San Juan for a health care rally and an appearance at the annual fall Somos el Futuro conference, also announced plans for an upcoming national summit to address the… → Read More
Switching Leads: Lawmakers call on state to return NYRA to private control
As a horse runs around the turn heading into the final stretch of a race, part of a jockey’s job is to urge the animal to switch its “lead.” A horse usually kicks its left front leg out first as it arcs left around a turn, because it is more efficient. But if it continues to run with its left leg as the lead, it will get tired in the straightaway, so a good jockey will flip his or her wrist or… → Read More
Developing: Firefighters Reach Deal with New York City, Includes Pension Disability Agreement
The Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York has reached an agreement with the city of New York on a new contract. As part of the agreement the city has agreed to pay new fighters the full 75 percent disability pension that was eliminated by a veto from Gov. David Paterson in 2009. Since then, new first-year firefighters would only collect $27 a day if they were permanently injured… → Read More
Bratton Says He won't be around for 2nd Term
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said he will not be sticking around as commissioner for a second term, even if New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is re-elected for another four years. "I will not be commissioner for six and a half years, that is the reality of it," Bratton said at City & State's exclusive Newsmaker event this morning at the State Grill and Bar. "I would be 75-odd years old by… → Read More
Lander Raises Concerns That Uber Could Kill Green Taxi Industry
Speaking at City & State's NYMoves event, New York City Councilman Brad Lander said he likes using Uber, but raised several concerns about the impact of allowing the company to continue to grow without some regulation. Specifically, Lander raised concerns that Uber could significantly hinder the green taxi service in the outer boroughs, which would eliminate the only handicap-accessible… → Read More
Police and Fire Frustrated By Failure Of Pension Disability Bill
One issue left unresolved by state lawmakers in Albany this session is an update to disability pensions for newer police officers and firefighters. The two groups have been pushing for a fix to the current law that stems from a 2009 veto by then-Gov. David Paterson, which significantly cut disability payments for officers and firefighters injured in their first year on the job. Currently, a… → Read More
New York City Reaches $78.5 Billion Budget Deal
Late Monday night New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced they had reached a budget deal with more than a week to go before the July 1 deadline. The spending plan is $78.5 billion—up slightly from the $77.7 billion plan proposed by the mayor in February—and includes many of the priorities pushed by the City Council. “This budget is a reflection… → Read More
Prison Experts: It's Possible Skelos and Silver Could Serve Time Together
All Americans are innocent until proven guilty. But considering the charges against Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, and the case against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, it's not a huge leap to consider that all three could land in federal prison in coming years. And experts of the federal prison system tell City & State it’s very possible they could end up serving time… → Read More
AG: Met Council case “completely different” from Puerto Rican Day Parade
Wayne Barrett, reporting for City & State, attempted for weeks to get answers from the state Attorney General’s office before publishing a story examining Eric Schneiderman’s decision not to take action against the board of the Met Council on Jewish Poverty following the criminal prosecution of longtime CEO William Rapfogel. One specific question Barrett sought clarification on was why the AG… → Read More
SOMOS El Futuro: Weekend In Review
At the 28th Annual SOMOS El Futuro Spring Conference in Albany, City & State TV conducted two livestream programs—one on Friday night and another on Saturday—interviewing dozens of elected officials, government leaders and advocates. The topics of conversation ranged from education funding, to the potential passage of the DREAM Act, criminal justice reform and the importance of the SOMOS… → Read More
Hotel Trades Endorses Gentile In NY-11
The powerful Hotel and Motel Trades Council (HTC) has endorsed Democratic candidate Vincent Gentile in his bid for the open seat in New York's 11th Congressional District, left vacant by Michael Grimm's resignation following a guilty plea on tax evasion charges. "Vinnie has a proven record, not only of standing up and fighting for the issues that are important to our members, but of delivering… → Read More
Sigmund To Head Up High Achievement New York
High Achievement New York, a coalition of parents, teachers and business leaders who support Common Core standards, has named Stephen Sigmund as its new Executive Director. In his new role at HANY, Sigmund will oversee communications, public policy and government outreach efforts for the organization which represents Association for a Better New York, Business Council of New York State, New York… → Read More