Masters of Disasters? Commentary and Useful Links Relating to State and Local Government in the Empire State

Available from

SUNY PRESS

NYS Legislature
NYS Legislature, view from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza

Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza

“Here in the state of New York we are masters of disasters,”Governor Kathy Hochul said, referring to the strongest earthquake felt in the State since 2011. “We are always ready. We have planning in place, all of our teams activate instantaneously.”

Modern governance at the state and local level is to confront a series of never-ending challenges.

Our blog focuses on commentary, articles, and events that illuminate the trials and tribulations of governing a state as large, central, and complex as New York State.


  • Universal Pre-K in New York: Hochul’s 2026–2027 Budget Proposal – Frederick G. Floss

    New York State’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program traces its origins to federal War on Poverty initiatives of 1965 and the landmark 1998 Pataki budget and today serves more than 190,000 children annually through approximately $1.2 billion in combined state and federal funding. Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026–2027 executive budget proposes achieving universal full-day pre-K for all…

    Municipal Aid in the New York State Budget: Cities in Crisis

    In Governing New York State Through Crisis, we addressed the fiscal stress facing the state’s local governments. Among the municipalities most in need are cities, particularly mid-sized, Upstate cities suffering from declining population, aging infrastructure, and deindustrialization. With its focus on affordability, the NYS Enacted Budget Financial Plan for FY 2027, provides additional assistance to…

    New York State Joins other Blue States in Banning 287(g) MOAs: The 2026-27 FY Budget Negotiations – Laurie Buonanno

    posted 22 May 2026, updated 26 June 2026 The NYS Legislature and the Governor have reached an agreement on a sweeping package of bills limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies as part of the 2026-2027 FY budget negotiations.  The NYS Assembly and Senate passed these laws on 21 May 2026. Governor Hochul signed them…



  • The Federal Shutdown

    The Federal Shutdown: The Broader State and Local View – Lisa K. Parshall (Rockefeller Institute of Government)