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Jon Campbell

@joncampbellny.bsky.social

3.3K followers 300 following 200 posts

Reporter, WNYC / Gothamist. Covering Gov. Kathy Hochul and all things NY state government/politics. [email protected]

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Nov 22

Hi! I put together a fledgling starter pack of lawmakers, reporters and other denizens of the New York State Capitol in Albany.

What other accounts should be on this list? Send 'em my way. Particularly interested in adding lawmakers, reporters and other Albany officials.

go.bsky.app/82vouic

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 1d

The letter also tells you to keep the stub with your tax documents.

That's wise, because as my colleague Jimmy Vielkind points out: The refund checks are federally taxable.

gothamist.com/news/you-sho...

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 1d

Here's the letter that's going out with the NY "inflation refund" checks hitting mailboxes now.

It makes sure to tell you Gov. Hochul and state lawmakers are the ones who approved them. (They're all up for re-election next year.)

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 5d

From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/feds-ch...

Feds charge NY Attorney General Letitia James with fraud, per reports

James denied wrongdoing and her allies said the case is politically motivated.

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 13d

Those up-to-$400 checks coming from NY state? You'll have to pay federal tax on them.

"(T)he federal tax liability could have been avoided if the rebate program were structured differently."

From Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/you-sho...

You should report Gov. Hochul’s ‘inflation refund’ checks on your taxes

The program will send hundreds of millions of dollars to the administration of President Donald Trump.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 16d

NY AG Letitia James won't tap a $10M state fund (which Hochul and lawmakers approved in the budget) to pay her legal fees.

Instead, she's turning to the Democratic Attorneys General Association, which has set up a legal defense fund.

From Jimmy Vielkind:

gothamist.com/news/ny-ag-j...

NY AG James turns to legal defense fund amid scrutiny from Trump DOJ

The Democratic Attorneys General Association announced it was setting up a fund that James and other officials could tap.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 18d

NY is sending checks of up to $400 to more than 8 million tax filers starting today. Checks will hit mailboxes in batches starting next week (and through November.)

gothamist.com/news/inflati...

'Inflation refund' checks coming to New Yorkers' mailboxes as soon as next week

The checks range from $150 to $400 and will be sent to more than 8 million New Yorkers.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 19d

The fate of the Manhattan casino proposals may have been sealed three years ago and 150 miles north.

(Sign up for our weekly Politics Brief newsletter here: campaigns.gothamist.com/c/ht6tqwsrzikj…)gothamist.com/news/as-manh...it

As Manhattan casino projects fold, a New York lawmaker takes credit

The fate of three Manhattan casino proposals may have been sealed three years ago, 150 miles to the north.

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · 29d

Upload a selfie to verify your age for TikTok, Instagram, etc.?

That's a possible outcome of AG Letitia James' new proposed rules for the SAFE for Kids Act, which limits social-media companies from showing kids and teens addictive feeds. gothamist.com/news/tiktok-...

TikTok, Instagram may request selfie to verify age under proposed NY rules

Attorney General Letitia James’ office proposed rules to implement a state law restricting how social media platforms present content to kids and teens.

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 10

Babe, wake up: The new Ulster County "I voted" sticker (IYKYK) just dropped ... and it's a good one.

Shoutout to sixth-grader Ryker Darmanin for the winning design.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 10

"A top federal prosecutor had a message for upstate New York businesses days after immigration agents detained dozens of people at a food processing plant: There’s more to come."

From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/feds-ny...

Feds' NY raid nets 57 immigration arrests: 'Expect to see' more, official says

The raid last week is being touted by the government as the largest in New York state.

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 8

Yes it's another story about Frankie Focus, the new NY state phone ban mascot.

A casting call shows Gov. Hochul's admin is hiring performers to don the Frankie costume, at $300 a pop.

Gov's office says it's using volunteers more than paid talent. gothamist.com/news/how-ny-...

How NY hired its 'chaotic' new phone ban mascot, Frankie Focus

A talent agency posted a casting call to become the state’s new neon-green, shaggy-haired mascot that pays $300 per event.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 8

Gov. Hochul, who wields major control over the MTA, could have to choose between the authority’s push for change and the influential union that could help her as she seeks reelection next year.

gothamist.com/news/no-huma...

No human staff on MTA trains? Bill on Hochul’s desk would halt that vision in its tracks

Gov. Kathy Hochul is suddenly thrown into a six-decade-long NYC transit battle

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 5

“New York will give pharmacists cover to dispense COVID-19 vaccines this fall in the wake of uncertainty over federal immunization policy, a state official said.”

From Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/hochul-...

Hochul to let pharmacists prescribe COVID vaccines amid federal policy shift

An executive order comes as access tightens and lawmakers eye state-level solutions.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 4

I couldn't resist.

gothamist.com/news/meet-fr...

Meet Frankie Focus, Gov. Hochul’s freaky phone ban mascot

The shaggy monster is touting New York state’s new school smartphone ban.

gothamist.com

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Sep 4

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Reposted by Jon Campbell

The Brian Lehrer Show @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social · Sep 3

ICYMI, @elizabethkim.bsky.social &
@joncampbellny.bsky.social on the NYC mayor's race and Rep. Nadler's decision not to run again:

www.wnyc.org/story/city-p...

City Politics: Nadler's Retirement; Hochul and Trump; Charter Schools in the Mayoral Campaign | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC

More on the news that longtime Manhattan Congressman Jerry Nadler will retire next year, paving the way for generational change for the coveted seat plus more city political news.

www.wnyc.org

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 24

DeWitt Clinton surely dreamed of the day the New York Lottery would hold a giant raffle to commemorate 200 years of the Erie Canal.

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 19

Greetings from Albany’s greatest eyesore — the Central Warehouse — where Gov. Hochul is on hand for the start of demolition.

Sure looks like we’re going to see that wrecking ball go into the wall in a second.

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 18

A look at the differences in the ways Gov. Hochul and Leader Jeffries speak about Zohran Mamdani, their party's nominee for NYC mayor.

From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind:

gothamist.com/news/rep-jef...

Rep. Jeffries and Gov. Hochul's differing views on Mamdani highlight Democratic divide

The difference in rhetoric reflects each official’s political calculus, political operatives and analysts said.

gothamist.com

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 18

And if reading's more your style, here's our Peanut the Squirrel deep dive on Gothamist: gothamist.com/news/the-pea...

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 18

ICYMI: We did a deep dive on the Peanut the Squirrel saga and its ongoing ramifications, where the DEC is still feeling the effects of a viral mob that took up the cause.

I hope it's worth a half hour of your time. Listen here: www.wnyc.org/story/a-squi...

A Squirrel Named Peanut, a Viral Backlash, and the Culture War That Followed | NYC NOW | WNYC

A beloved squirrel named Peanut, a raid by New York environmental officers, and a maelstrom of online outrage. What began as a wildlife seizure turned into a viral flashpoint in the c...

www.wnyc.org

Reposted by Jon Campbell

The Brian Lehrer Show @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social · Aug 18

Today:
- @usatoday.com's Susan Page with Monday Morning Politics,
- @joncampbellny.bsky.social with the latest from Albany
- @williamdcohan.bsky.social on Trump's influence on big business

Live at 10 on 93.9 FM, AM820 or @wnyc.org

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 16

The way it was explained to me: You need to get a look at the brain tissue to test for rabies, so a blood sample wouldn’t do.

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Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 16

Thank you for reading!

Jon Campbell @joncampbellny.bsky.social · Aug 16

Listen to Peanut the squirrel’s story — as well as some of the threatening voicemails that followed — in this special episode of NYC Now, from @wnyc.org.

www.wnyc.org/story/a-squi...

A Squirrel Named Peanut, a Viral Backlash, and the Culture War That Followed | NYC NOW | WNYC

A beloved squirrel named Peanut, a raid by New York environmental officers, and a maelstrom of online outrage. What began as a wildlife seizure turned into a viral flashpoint in the c...

www.wnyc.org

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