Opinion

Nelson Mandela would walk into a room, and it would light up immediately. He had an eye-catching smile and a compelling, captivating personality. He exemplified charisma. In meetings and discussions, he would insist on shaking hands with everyone before starting business. He was one of the most remarkable figures I met in public life, and […]

The Assembly majority conference in late May] blocked a package of bills designed to, among other things, curb rampant criminal recidivism, hold child murderers accountable, stop hate crimes against law enforcement and reduce gun crime. The proposals were summarily dismissed in committee meetings, and as such will not even be afforded consideration by the Assembly

Before the memory of the recent debt-ceiling negotiations disappears and we confront the next new drama in Washington, D.C., let’s pause a moment to acknowledge what just happened. You can debate from here to eternity whether the American people were winners or losers in the deal … but what’s not debatable is one key point:

One of the most important jobs we have as lawmakers is protecting the interests of those in danger. This is something nearly all legislators can agree on regardless of their political background or what region they represent. We must protect those who need it most.  Recently, the Assembly minority conference has advocated alongside our majority

All eyes have been on the U.S. Mexico border in recent weeks as politicians and pundits assess the impact of changing rules for who can enter the United States. But the fixation on the border can distract from a bigger problem: America’s immigration system hasn’t kept up with the times. We need an immigration policy

As legislators, Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day gives us a chance to pause and take stock of the ways we can better support New Yorkers with different levels of ability. Every New Yorker deserves an opportunity to grow and thrive, and for this reason it is critical we continue to advocate for the disability community and

There are so many things I worry about these days. Are we going to default on our debts? Can we adapt to the accumulating impact of climate change? How are we going to handle the dangers posed by China and Russia?  But bigger than all of those worries is this: Can we as a nation

Tim Stewart, president of the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, says it wasn’t long ago that America had “global dominance” of the world’s energy economy. As he explained it in an interview with Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens, on her “Better For America” podcast, up until January 2021, when Joe

India is surpassing China to become the world’s most populous nation, according to data from the United Nations. This is a significant development with more than symbolic importance. India, with its huge, diverse population and its growing economy, is poised to play a leading role in global affairs. It’s also a key U.S. ally, but

After a month-long delay that featured six emergency extenders, secretive meetings, and several backdoor deals, the recently passed New York State budget amounted to another missed opportunity. At a time when inflation remains problematic and the state’s sky-high cost of living has driven hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers away, we needed a budget focused