New York Note: NYS Session and Mayoral Actions

Start of Session

Last Wednesday marked the beginning of the 2026 New York State legislative session. One recurring theme likely to have an ongoing effect throughout the session is fiscal insecurity caused by economic uncertainty and federal funding cuts, and grant terminations, which have already hindered programs in the arts and culture sector and are likely to affect healthcare  coverage and food assistance programs. A potential area of tension between Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani is their differing views on tax-related measures, specifically a rise in income taxes. Mamdani campaigned on plans to “tax the rich,” to fund his policy priorities such as free buses and universal childcare, while Hochul has previously opposed any increases on income tax. While state leaders have repeatedly said New York cannot fully replace all the lost federal funding, they will need to come to a consensus on how to both address these cuts and advance their new policy agendas. Immigration is also expected to remain a central policy issue, as the presence of federal immigration officials increases and the Trump administration continues its deportation agenda, with a stated focus on targeting undocumented New Yorkers. The legislature will also need to determine how to best advance their clean energy agenda amid federal pushback.

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Mayor’s Executive Orders

Last week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced several executive orders, including two emergency measures. In his first two weeks, Mamdani has taken significant steps to restructure operations within the Mayor’s Office, revitalize the Office to Protect Tenants, and launch two new task forces: the LIFT Task Force (Land Inventory Fast Track) and the SPEED Task Force (Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development). These initiatives aim to leverage city-owned land to accelerate housing development, increase supply, reduce costs, and make housing more affordable and accessible across New York City. Mamdani also established the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement (OME) to help New Yorkers engage more effectively with government, created a Citywide Junk Fee Task Force, and directed multiple agencies to collaboratively hold “Rental Ripoff” hearings. He further instructed DCWP to monitor, investigate, and enforce violations related to subscription “tricks and traps.” The two emergency executive orders require city agencies to develop plans to comply with the Board of Correction’s Minimum Standards and city shelter laws, and to work with the federal monitor and Nunez parties to implement Local Law 42, which bans solitary confinement.

Administrative and Judicial Appointments and Hires

Mayor Mamdani has made several key appointments over the past week. He announced that Christine Clarke, Chief of Litigation and Advocacy for Legal Services NYC, will serve as Chair of the Commission on Human Rights. Simonia Brown, formerly an Associate Director at the NYC Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw budgets for the Department of Education, CUNY investments, and the city’s 59 Community Boards, was appointed Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. Mayor Mamdani also named several new members of the City Hall communications team: Anna Bahr as Communications Director, Joe Calvello as Press Secretary, Monica Klein as Senior Advisor for Communications, Dora Pekec as Senior Spokesperson, and Lekha Sunder as Deputy Communications Director. In addition, the Mayor announced three new judicial appointments: Cary Fischer, Natalie Barros, and Andrés Casas. These appointments will be subject to a public hearing for official confirmation in January. He also announced six judicial reappointments to Criminal Court: Judges Steven Hornstein, Althea Drysdale, Joshua Glick, Jerry Iannece, Nancy Carrington, Michael Hartofilis, and David Goodwin, as well as two judicial reappointments to Family Court: Judges Gayle Roberts and Lauren Norton-Lerner.

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