Benjamin Oreskes

New York

NY Statehouse Correspondent at The New York Times

NY Statehouse Correspondent @nytimes. @latimes alum.

Featured in: Favicon

latimes.com Favicon

msn.com

scribd.com Favicon

yahoo.com (+15) Favicon

aol.com

sfgate.com Favicon

chicagotribune.com Favicon

politico.com Favicon

thestar.com Favicon

politico.eu + 93 more

Articles

Could Branding Herself as a 'Mom Governor' Help Hochul Win Re-election?

3 days ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, a moderate Democrat, used Fox News to amplify a message that her policies are "giving kids their childhoods back."When Gov. Kathy Hochul first took office in 2021, she was a relative unknown. Few New Yorkers knew how to pronounce her name, let alone what Ms. Hochul, Andrew M. Cuomo's seldom-seen lieutenant governor, stood for. Since then, she has honed an executive style that is equal parts practical and protective.
Hochul, Looking to 2026, Pushed to Weaken Oversight of Religious Schools

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Benjamin Oreskes |Eliza Shapiro |Grace Ashford

Changing a law that chiefly affects all-boys Hasidic Jewish schools, known as yeshivas, has been a top priority among leaders of New York's Hasidic communities, which tend to vote as a bloc. As Gov. Kathy Hochul prepares for what is likely to be a tough re-election fight next year, she is promoting a state budget deal stuffed with politically popular initiatives aimed at making life in New York more affordable.
How a $254 Billion Budget Deal Might Become a Battle Plan for Democrats

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York insisted that the state budget, now a month overdue, include measures to increase public safety and lower taxes for all but the wealthy. The day after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the framework for a $254 billion budget for New York State, she sought to deliver a celebratory message in two parts. She visited a preschool and then dropped by the Albany County district attorney's office, with each stop on Tuesday serving a distinct purpose.
New York May Weaken Its Oversight Over Religious Schools

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Eliza Shapiro |Benjamin Oreskes

A potential last-minute addition to the state budget would amount to a major victory for Hasidic Jewish leaders. New York lawmakers are considering a deal that would dramatically weaken their oversight over religious schools, potentially a major victory for the state's Hasidic Jewish community.
Taking on Musk, New York Considers Move to Close Tesla Dealerships

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Benjamin Oreskes

Elon Musk's alliance with President Trump has prompted Democratic lawmakers to propose stripping Tesla of its ability to sell its cars directly to consumers. In her 12 years in the State Capitol, Senator Patricia Fahy has consistently supported the carmaker Tesla's complicated fight to open dealerships in New York, framing her position as a way of advancing the state's green energy transition. Things have changed.
In Face of Trump's Hostility, Hochul Responds With Barbed Gratitude

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

President Trump said he was taking over the Penn Station project. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has at times aggressively criticized Mr. Trump, went a different route. When President Trump extended his reach into New York's affairs with a promise to "kill" the state's congestion pricing plan, Gov. Kathy Hochul drew her sword. "We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington," Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters, vowing to preserve the program.
Stefanik, a Trump Ally, Might Run Against Gov. Hochul Next Year

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Nicholas Fandos |Benjamin Oreskes

Ms. Stefanik is not the only Republican considering running against Ms. Hochul. Representative Mike Lawler, a Hudson Valley congressman who represents a Democratic-leaning district, and Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, have also teased potential runs. If she ran, though, Ms. Stefanik would most likely become the front-runner, with national name recognition, a close relationship with Mr. Trump and a track record of outperforming him in her sprawling North Country district.
New York Lawmakers Want to Get Paid, Even if the Budget Is Late

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

While late budgets are nothing new in New York, one thing has always kept talks moving forward: Until a deal is reached, state lawmakers go without pay. Carl E. Heastie, the speaker of the State Assembly, wants to change that. With this year's budget talks now a week past the April 1 deadline, Mr. Heastie has introduced a bill to reduce a governor's leverage to force legislative leaders to come to a budget agreement by essentially withholding their pay.
FEMA Cuts More Than $300 Million in Disaster Aid to New York

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Benjamin Oreskes |Dana Rubinstein |Grace Ashford

Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokeswoman for Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, said the funding reductions "pose serious risks to multiple communities across the five boroughs."Ms. Mamelak Altus noted that the program was designed to protect communities from natural disasters and to save the federal government money it might otherwise spend on disaster relief. "Multiple studies have shown that $1 spent in advance saves $6 in response and recovery costs down the line," she said.
When It Comes to D.E.I. and ICE, Trump Is Using Federal Grants as Leverage

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Benjamin Oreskes |Zolan Kanno-Youngs |Hamed Aleaziz

"The open borders gravy train is over, and there will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people," Ms. McLaughlin added. Another program under review involves nearly $2 billion in grants to law enforcement agencies, cities and states to help themselves prepare and respond to terrorist attacks. In the fiscal year ending in October, entities in New York received close to $320 million from this program. Avi Small, the press secretary for Gov.