NYC Politics News

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NYC Artists Can Now Apply for Grants Up to $10,000

New York City is doubling the maximum amount available through city-funded grants for individual artists and small nonprofits, increasing awards from $5,000 to as much as $10,000 for the first time in nearly two decades. The Department of Cultural Affairs provides the funding through local partners in each borough, supporting filmmakers, musicians, dancers, writers, painters and other creative professionals. Applications are currently open in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens, while Staten Island's application cycle will begin in November. The city is also expanding support through Materials for the Arts, giving current artist grantees dedicated opportunities to obtain free supplies. Eligibility requirements and application deadlines vary by borough.

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NY Secures $400M Sandoz Generic Drug Settlement

New York has joined a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals stemming from multistate litigation over generic drug pricing. Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 47 other attorneys general alleged that pharmaceutical companies coordinated the supply and sale of generic drugs to inflate prices and reduce competition. Sandoz will pay approximately $320.6 million plus interest over seven years, bringing the total to $400 million, with funds designated for impacted consumers across participating states and territories. New Yorkers who purchased certain generic prescription drugs between May 2009 and December 2019 may qualify for compensation. The broader litigation against other generic drug manufacturers remains ongoing.

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NYU Launches NYC Center to Study Microplastics and Health

NYU has launched a new research center bringing engineers and medical researchers together to study the health and environmental effects of plastics and develop safer materials. The NYC Center for Healthier Plastic Solutions is a joint initiative of NYU Tandon School of Engineering and NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is described by NYU as the first U.S. research center dedicated to addressing the full range of health and environmental threats posed by plastics. Researchers will develop and test hundreds of new plastic formulations, including non-petroleum materials, while using artificial intelligence to analyze results and identify promising alternatives. The initiative is supported by more than a dozen active NYU Grossman research projects and nearly $20 million in funding underway in 2026.

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900,000 NYC Medicaid Enrollees Could Risk Coverage

The New York City Health Department is expanding outreach to help Medicaid recipients prepare for new federal requirements taking effect in 2027. Of nearly 3.6 million Medicaid enrollees in the city, the department estimates that up to 900,000 could be at risk of coverage termination under the new requirements. Certain adults ages 19 to 64 will be required to document at least 80 hours per month of work, school, job training or community service, meet an income threshold, or qualify for an exemption. The requirements begin January 1 for new applicants and apply to existing Medicaid recipients beginning with March 2027 renewals. NYC Health has launched resources to help New Yorkers understand the changes and maintain coverage.

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NYC Click-to-Cancel Rule Takes Effect With $525 Fines

New York City's Click-to-Cancel rule is now in effect, giving consumers new protections against businesses that make subscriptions difficult to cancel. The rule requires businesses offering qualifying automatic-renewal or continuous-service subscriptions to provide straightforward cancellation methods and clearly disclose subscription terms and consumer rights. Businesses that violate the requirements can face restitution and civil penalties starting at $525 per violation. The city has also launched an online portal where New Yorkers can report problems including difficult cancellations, undisclosed automatic renewals and subscription terms that were not clearly explained. City officials say New York City is the first municipality in the country to implement a Click-to-Cancel rule.

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Crowell & Moring Names NY’s Glen McGorty Next Chair

Crowell & Moring has elected New York managing partner Glen McGorty as the next chair of the firm's Management Board, with his three-year term beginning March 1, 2027. McGorty will become the first chair in the firm's history to be based outside Washington, D.C. He currently serves on Crowell's Management Board and Executive Committee and chairs its Litigation and Trial Department. McGorty joined the firm in 2012 following nearly 15 years as a federal prosecutor and has led the expansion of Crowell's New York office. According to the firm, attorney headcount in the New York office has increased by nearly 50% during the past six years.

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NYC Begins $40M Box Street Park in Greenpoint

Construction has begun on the $40 million Box Street Park in Greenpoint, advancing a project envisioned for the North Brooklyn waterfront more than two decades ago. The 2.5-acre park will transform a former MTA facility along Newtown Creek into public green space featuring an elevated esplanade, ADA-accessible pathways, gardens, a lawn, basketball court, picnic area, dog runs and public restroom. The project will also connect with waterfront esplanades on either side of the site, helping close a gap along the northern Greenpoint waterfront. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2028. The park is planned to eventually expand by another half-acre following the relocation of an MTA facility.

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Bronx Recreation Center Reopens After $20.7M Upgrade

St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Bronx has reopened following a $20.7 million renovation that upgraded the historic facility and expanded accessibility. Improvements include a reconstructed façade, entrance and lobby, a new elevator, widened doorways, updated mechanical and electrical systems and repairs to the center’s indoor swimming pool. The facility also received new fitness equipment, upgraded flooring and improved lighting. The city says 33 new staff positions have been funded to support programming, operations and maintenance at the center. St. Mary’s has served the South Bronx for generations and includes the only indoor public swimming pool operated by NYC Parks in the borough.

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NYC Says 2026 World Cup Generated $2B Economic Impact

The 2026 FIFA World Cup generated an estimated $2 billion in economic impact for New York City, according to a preliminary analysis released by the city. The estimate includes $1.2 billion in direct visitor spending and $162 million in operational spending, while tournament-related activity supported an estimated 12,100 jobs. New York City accounted for 56% of the estimated $3.5 billion economic impact across the New York-New Jersey region and 70% of regional visitor spending. The city also reported a 16% year-over-year increase in foot traffic at sports bars during the tournament, while international Visa card spending increased in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.