New York City

Subterms

    Latest story

    More stories

    • 163 Shares27 Views

      in Elections

      When Taxpayers Fund Shows Like ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘S.N.L.,’ Does It Pay Off?

      by

      Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has proposed an increase in the film tax credit to stay competitive with New Jersey and other states.New Yorkers — and residents of many other states — have paid more for entertainment in recent years than just their Netflix or Hulu subscriptions.Each New York household has also contributed about $16 in taxes, on average, toward producing the drama series “Billions” since 2017. Over that period, each household has also paid roughly $14.50 in production incentives for “Saturday Night Live” and $4.60 for “The Irishman,” among many other shows and movies.Add it all up, and New York has spent more than $5.5 billion in incentives since 2017, the earliest year for which data is readily available. Now, as a new state budget agreement nears, Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she wants to add $100 million in credits for independent productions that would bring total film subsidies to $800 million a year, almost double the amount from 2022.Other states also pay out tens or hundreds of millions each year in a bidding war for Hollywood productions, under the theory that these tax credits spur the economy. One question for voters and lawmakers is whether a state recoups more than its investment in these movies and shows — or gets back only pennies on the dollar.New York has one of the largest tax credit programs and makes most of its data public, so we totaled its spending to see which productions benefited the most. More

    • 163 Shares40 Views

      in Elections

      U.N. Orders Agencies to Find Budget Cuts, Including via Staff Moves From N.Y.

      by

      The instructions from the office of Secretary General António Guterres were reviewed by The New York Times and came after President Trump ordered a review of U.S. funding to the agency.The United Nations, anticipating that President Trump will slash U.S. contributions to the global body, has told its departments to draw up plans for budget cuts, including through staff relocations from New York and Geneva to less-expensive cities.The instructions — outlined in a two-page memo dated April 25 that was reviewed by The New York Times — were sent from Secretary General António Guterres’s office to the heads of all agencies that report directly to him. The memo set a May 15 deadline for all proposals so that they could be added to the 2026 budget.“Your objective is to identify as many functions as possible that could be relocated to existing lower-cost locations,” the memo reads, “or otherwise reduced or abolished if they are duplicative or no longer viable.”In February, President Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of the overall U.S. funding and ties to the U.N. He withdrew the United States from several U.N. organizations, including those dealing with human rights, women’s reproductive rights, climate change, Palestinian aid and global health. In his first term, he also reduced U.S. contributions to peacekeeping efforts.Three senior U.N. officials said on Tuesday that the drastic, cost-cutting measures laid out in the memo had caught the agency’s departments by surprise and went beyond what they had expected. The officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the directive was largely viewed as a way for the U.N. to brace for potential additional cuts by Mr. Trump and to proactively insulate it from the financial blow.But the U.N. officials said the budget cuts were ordered only partly in response to Mr. Trump’s moves. The directive comes as the U.N. is adjusting to a host of financial problems, they said, from the withdrawal and reduction in financial contributions by major donors like the United States and Europe to a cash-flow crisis caused by member states’ not paying their annual dues on time and in full.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

    • 113 Shares67 Views

      in Elections

      Tell Us Your Wild New York City Roommate Stories

      by

      When the rent is high and the vacancy rates are low, sharing your space with others becomes a must.As summer arrives in New York City, so does the seasonal influx of interns and new graduates, eager to make their way in the metropolis of dreams. But with the city in the midst of a housing crisis — where the median rent recently hit a record high — where will young people on entry-level salaries live? Most likely: with each other. It’s roommate time.Having a New York City roommate (or several) is a rite of passage, and for some it is the only way to make the city affordable. For every New York City roommate situation, there is a wild New York City roommate story. Whether your roommate story happened 10 years ago or 10 days ago, we want to hear it.Did your roommate eat the cake you baked for your mother’s birthday? Leave dirty underwear in the bathroom? Perform the Heimlich maneuver and save your life? Become a famous actor? Break your favorite drinking glass? Disappear without paying rent? Tell us!We will read all of the responses to this questionnaire and reach out to you if we are interested in learning more about your story.We will not publish any part of your submission without contacting you first. We won’t share your contact information outside the Times newsroom or use it for any reason other than to get in touch with you.Tell Us Your Wild New York City Roommate Stories More

    • 125 Shares60 Views

      in Elections

      U.S. Says Tren de Aragua Charges Will ‘Devastate’ Its Infrastructure

      by

      Federal prosecutors charged six members of the Venezuelan gang and 21 members of a violent splinter group.New York City’s mayor and police commissioner and a top White House immigration official announced on Tuesday two indictments charging 27 people they said were linked to Tren de Aragua, a gang that the Trump administration has said poses a unique threat to America.“Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang — it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a news release touting the charges, adding that the arrests “will devastate TdA’s infrastructure” in three states.Six defendants were named as members or associates of Tren, which the Trump administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The other 21 people, prosecutors said, had broken away to join a violent splinter group called anti-Tren.Still, officials argued, in displaying dozens of seized handguns and rifles, the existence of both groups showed Tren de Aragua’s singular harm. Members of the gangs had engaged in murders and assaults, sex trafficking and human smuggling, according to the indictments.At a news conference, Thomas D. Homan, whom President Trump appointed as “border czar,” said the indictments showed the necessity of his immigration policies.“New York City — you’re a sanctuary city, you’re sanctuary for criminals,” said Mr. Homan, the so-called border czar.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

    • 125 Shares112 Views

      in Elections

      Bunnies, Bonnets, Brights and Blooms at New York’s Easter Parade

      by

      The hats were back out at the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York City on Sunday. Up and down Fifth Avenue in Midtown, spectators and Easter revelers alike were treated to a crowd wearing the most colorful costumes, and Sunday best, imaginable. The notable looks were plenty, from many variations of bunny to botanical confections and great sartorial tailoring harking back to the Jazz Age. And though there were also some elements of steam punk here and there, this year’s edition of the parade was light on genre concepts such as science fiction and fantasy. Overall, the day was a perfect bookend to a weekend of some incredible weather and summerlike vibes that permeated throughout the city.Bunny, in pink, with provisions.Beads and a bowtie to accompany blossoms.Bonnet, basket, shades, stripes — all set for the season.Butterflies made an appearance too.Not every blossom was strictly botanical.Lace and full-length florals.Riding high for the festivities.Mushrooms, moss and a big smile.Easter fashion on display in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.Have hats, and a takeout container, will travelClassy blues for all ages.Amid a sea of bright colors, a neutral moment.Even unadorned headwear made a statement.The perfect occasion for boutonniere-and-pocket-square coordination.Ready for an Easter fairy tale.The milliners guild, representing.Quite a floral trio.A bonnet dream house.A perfect day for peacocking.A flock of feathered friends.Polka dots, creating a perpetual confetti effect.Eggs abound, of both the deviled and golden variety.Who can say no to macaroni?An ode to New York City.A bunny and spring greens for the wrist.When the parade ends, these two know what time it is. More