Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Crystal Hudson

Crystal Hudson

  • 'Alarming to Not Have a Goal': City Council Pushes Adams Administration on Affordable Housing for Seniors

    A push for senior affordable housing (photo: John McCarten/City Council)


    Older New Yorkers, aged 65 and above, are the fastest growing age group in the city, currently numbering at about 1.24 million and expected to grow to as many as 1.4 million residents by 2040. They are also a population that experiences significant housing insecurity and other housing challenges, with more than half considered rent-burdened. As the city continues to grapple with a deepening affordable housing crisis, City Council members on Monday sought answers from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration about efforts to support and prioritize

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  • Majority of City Council Declares Opposition to Reauthorizing NYC Tax Lien Sale

    City Hall (photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office)


    New York City’s controversial tax lien sale program, which helps the city collect unpaid property debt, expired at the end of February and a majority of City Council members now say they will refuse to reauthorize it.

    The city government uses the tax lien sale program, created in 1996, to sell unpaid debts on property taxes and sewer and water bills to private entities, which pay the city about 75 cents on the dollar. Those private lien servicing companies then tack

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  • Max Politics Podcast: City Council Member Crystal Hudson on Supporting Aging New Yorkers, Budget Priorities, & More

    City Council Member Crystal Hudson (photo: John McCarten/NYC Council)


    April 25, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: City Council Member Crystal Hudson on Supporting Aging New Yorkers & More

    City Council Member Crystal Hudson, a Democrat representing parts of Brooklyn, joined the show to discuss her work chairing the Council's Committee on Aging, city budget priorities, housing policy, and more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Women Poised to Take Majority in the Next New York City Council

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    A 21 in '21 celebration of women heading to the City Council (photo: William Alatriste/NYC Council)


    July 14, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Women Poised to Take Majority in the Next New York City Council

    Jessica Haller of 21 in '21 and City Council candidate Crystal Hudson joined the show to discuss the successful efforts to elect more women to the City Council, where women are set to go from currently holding 14 seats in the 51-seat legislative chamber to a majority with at least 28 seats, surpassing the goal

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  • Competitive Central Brooklyn Council Race Splits City's Left

    Michael Hollingsworth & Crystal Hudson

    (l-r) Michael Hollingsworth & Crystal Hudson


    With City Council Member Laurie Cumbo among the three dozen members of the 51-seat Council facing term limits this year, there is a competitive Democratic primary unfolding to replace her in Brooklyn’s 35th District, which includes parts or all of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant. Cumbo, a Democrat, is also the Council majority leader and has held the seat for two terms. Given the district’s overwhelming Democratic voter

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  • A Black Agenda for New York City

    crystal hudson with voters

    Crystal Hudson, middle, with voters (photo: Crystal Hudson campaign)


    We’re nearing the end of Black History Month — a month of celebrating and honoring the Black people who have enriched and advanced our city. From Audre Lorde to Shirley Chisolm, we have no shortage of artists, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers to celebrate.

    We’re also nearing the end of another February in America. A month in which we continue to see Black people die at the hands of the police at alarming

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  • Wave of LGBT Candidates Eyes City Council Seats in 2021 Elections

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    City Council members at a Pride march (photo: Emil Cohen/City Council)


    The City Council’s LGBT Caucus could shrink after the 2021 elections, with all five current caucus members -- including Council Speaker Corey Johnson -- prevented by term limits from running for reelection next year, when all of city government will be on the ballot. However, there are more than a dozen openly LGBTQ candidates running throughout the city to replenish and perhaps grow the ranks of LGBTQ representation in city government, encouraged by advocates and current Council members who ...

  • GothamTalks: Fighting Alzheimer's Disease & Supporting Caregivers of Those Suffering

    GothamTalks commentary New Leaders Council


    Gotham Gazette and New Leaders Council -- a nonpartisan, nonprofit leadership institute -- have partnered with Manhattan Neighborhood Network to create a series of video commentaries by New York City civic activists. GothamTalks is short video essays submitted through the New Leaders Council alumni network, which consists of hundreds of New Yorkers working in advocacy,

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