For years, a sign above the West 231st Street headquarters of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club has featured the name of elected officials representing the Bronx. It includes names like borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and even at the lowest elected levels, Eric Dinowitz and Randi Martos as Democratic district leaders. more

Eight Bronx state lawmakers — including state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz — have pledged to block any state budget cuts without first raising the tax burden on the wealthy. more

In the primary race set to determine if U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel will get that two-year “contract renewal” he’s hoping for from voters, it’s come down to not money, but endorsements. more

Since before the Obama administration ended, unemployment has been so low, at below 4 percent, it seemed anyone who wanted a job could get one. The coronavirus changed that, however, with figures jumping to more than 14 percent in April — its highest since the Great Depression. Millions are out of work, and even with financial help from the federal government, many still can’t pay bills — like rent. more

The hole in New York's state budget might be measured in billions, but lawmakers are hoping Gov. Andrew Cuomo will find a spare $100 million in Albany's couch cushions to cover late and missed rent payments by many low-income tenants since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. more

Upstate New York is enjoying what Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls the first phase of an extended statewide stay-at-home order — one that continues full force downstate until at least June 13. But New York City — and the Bronx, in particular — might not have to wait that long if it can meet the criteria of seven different metrics established by the state health department. more

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi has worked her way through a second state budget. And while acknowledging this year was much different than any year in the state’s history because of the coronavirus pandemic, the senator is not happy with how the whole process works. more