Akash Mehta
@akashvmehta
Editor in chief, @nysfocus. Reach out: akash(at)http://nysfocus.com
So proud of what we’re building, and grateful for all the people who have helped us build it! Also, we have a new mascot to announce. nytimes.com/2023/06/09/nyr…
Spot-on piece in @VitalCityNYC about a critical factor in making government work better, relevant for all cities, not just NYC: tapping and retaining talent. vitalcitynyc.org/articles/mamda…
New for @nysfocus: Two companies managing NY's home health program could pocket millions 💰💰💰 meant for low-wage care aides every year. That's because they're offering "benefits" that many workers can't actually use, but are forced to pay for. nysfocus.com/2025/07/21/new…
If Chicago's pension funds were passively managed in 2024 (instead of spread across 80+ management firms), the city would have saved ~$40,000,000 in management fees. And returns would have been about 25% better.
Kyra is one of dozens of constituents my office has helped to get UI benefits this year. The single most common reason people call me is that they qualified for UI but can't get through to a human at @NYSLabor. Something has to change! @jul1arock nysfocus.com/2025/07/14/new…
NEW: Eric Adams was slated to be the guest of honor at an event with a speaker who has called for violence against Muslims and boycotts of non-Hindu businesses. He withdrew yesterday, following inquiries from New York Focus. nysfocus.com/2025/07/10/eri…
NEW: NYC Mayor Eric Adams was slated to attend an event next week featuring a Hindu nationalist whose speeches frequently include calls for violence against Muslims in India. He withdrew yesterday after New York Focus sent inquiries about his attendance. nysfocus.com/2025/07/10/eri…
As Eric Adams's chief challenger faces an onslaught of Islamophobia, his team told organizers of an event celebrating a far-right Hindu nationalist who has called for economic boycotts of Muslims that he would be their guest of honor.
NEW: NYC Mayor Eric Adams was slated to attend an event next week featuring a Hindu nationalist whose speeches frequently include calls for violence against Muslims in India. He withdrew yesterday after New York Focus sent inquiries about his attendance. nysfocus.com/2025/07/10/eri…
Super solid reporting week from @nysfocus covering the gamut: NYC mayoral election, how Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will affect New Yorkers, prison system updates, homeless hotels, and more. Take a look .... 🧵
Andrew Cuomo won 11 out of 13 majority-homeowner districts — but Mamdani swept the floor in renter-heavy areas, where turnout surged. Story below.
The @TWULocal100 has quietly championed legislation that would require two workers operate a train. The bill, if signed into law by Gov. Hochul, would be a big setback to the MTA's efforts to reduce labor costs: crainsnewyork.com/transportation…
Four New York farms are refusing to follow union contracts newly awarded by state-appointed arbitrators -- the first to be reached through that process since New York legalized farmworker collective bargaining in 2019. Remains to be seen how state labor board will respond...
Insanely grateful for the year I've had. Warmest regards to my friends at @nysfocus and @propublica for shepherding me through the biggest project I've ever taken on. With love to y'all. Anyways I'm freelance as of Tues! Open for any data, reporting or research work. - Spencer
New York Focus celebrated @norris_report for his work with us and @propublica. This week we published his investigation on how hotels have become the state’s default answer to homelessness.
.@colinreads on the New York State Assembly, where climate bills go to die: nysfocus.com/2025/06/27/pac…
NEW: To make buses free, childcare universal, and deliver on building 200,000 units of affordable housing, Zohran Mamdani will need to get the governor and state legislature on board. Can his agenda get through Albany? nysfocus.com/2025/06/26/zoh…