Kelly Mena

New York

Political Reporter at Spectrum News NY1

Political Reporter @NY1| Previously @CNNPolitics. Send tips to [email protected]

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Articles

Castro announces city’s support for birthright citizenship

1 week ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Mayor Eric Adams may be refusing to speak out about President Donald Trump, but his administration is not. “One of the biggest concerns we have in New York City is our immigrant communities going further into the shadows because they are afraid of their government, their local government, and they will not come forward if they believe they're going to be deported," Manny Castro, commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, said.
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro marks one month on the job

1 week ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

It’s been over a month since Randy Mastro made his return to City Hall as Eric Adams’ first deputy mayor. “It’s been one of the most productive and rewarding months of my entire career,” Mastro said.
City freezes childcare voucher program amid funding fight

1 week ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Lacking state funding, city officials announced that they will be closing enrollment and wait listing families for a childcare voucher program. “Sadly, the state’s proposed budget provides insufficient funding for its own program. So we are unable to enroll any new applicants seeking such vouchers beginning today,” First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro said Monday morning.
City’s parks commissioner to resign at the end of the month

1 week ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Sue Donoghue, the city’s parks commissioner, will resign at the end of the month, NY1 has learned. Donoghue has held the post since February of 2022. “It has really been an enormous privilege for me to come back be the parks commissioner,” Donoghue said in an interview with NY1. “Just really felt like we accomplished an awful lot and time for me to move on and do something different,” she added. The commissioner’s last day is May 30.
Mayor Adams unveils $115B executive budget

1 week ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Mayor Eric Adams was celebrating and reminiscing as he delivered his fourth and potentially final executive budget proposal on Thursday. “Leaving here as a student that was dyslexic and now, I’m returning as a mayor that is elected,” he said.
Charter Revision Commission eyes housing, primary election changes

2 weeks ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

After months of meetings and hearing from the public, the mayor’s Charter Revision Commission has come up with ideas for improving the city, including housing. “Today, we’re able to share with the city some of the preliminary thoughts that came out of what we heard from New Yorkers about what mattered to them,” Richard Buery Jr, chair for the Charter Revision Commission, said.
Mayor, candidates weigh in on future of rent stabilized units

2 weeks ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Mayor Eric Adams said he is not in favor of a complete rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments. “When we start talking about just across the board rent freeze, we need to talk to those small property owners. How does it impact them? Gas doesn’t freeze, electricity doesn’t freeze, insurance doesn’t freeze, the cost to run a building doesn’t freeze," he said on Monday.
Judge extends block on ICE opening office on Rikers Island

2 weeks ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Despite being dealt a blow in state court on Friday, Randy Mastro, the city’s first deputy mayor, remained confident about the city’s position on bringing immigration authorities back onto Rikers Island. “At the end of the day, we will prevail,” he said.
Council speaker denounces mayor-border czar collaboration

2 weeks ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams didn’t hold back on Thursday in criticizing the mayor’s blossoming relationship with the White House. “We’ll continue to stand firm to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against the Trump Administration even if our mayor will not,” she said.
Homan, Adams applaud Tren de Aragua gang takedown

3 weeks ago | ny1.com | Kelly Mena

With a focus on the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, President Donald Trump’s "border czar" Tom Homan was back in the city on Tuesday. “Every member of TDA should be on the run because the Trump administration is committed to removing every single member of TDA and MS-13," Homan said.