Max & Murphy

In part one of a two-part interview, City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, a Staten Island Republican, joined the show to discuss major issues facing the city, how Mayor Adams is doing, and more. (And stay tuned for part two on races to watch in the fall City Council general election and more.) (Ep 411)

The new leaders of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) - CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Board Chair Jamie Rubin - joined the show to discuss the present and future of public housing in New York City. Home to more than 500,000 New Yorkers, many NYCHA properties are in deep disrepair, but there are a number of efforts in motion to address at least some of the $78 billion in physical needs at the authority.

City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., a Bronx Democrat who chairs the Council's powerful land use committee, joined the show to discuss how he approaches committee leadership, the push for more housing in New York City, zoning changes afoot, public safety and the new NYPD commissioner, the new city budget, and more. (Ep 409)

City Council Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Shahana Hanif & Lincoln Restler, both Brooklyn Democrats, joined the show to discuss the Caucus' top priorities, their votes against the new city budget, their criticisms of Mayor Adams, and more. (Ep 408)

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams on the New City Budget, Longstanding Crises, & His Political Future (Episode 407)

Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat, joined the show to discuss what's happening in his county, suburban politics north of New York City, differences between Westchester and Long Island, and more.

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander joined the show to discuss city budget negotiations, the items he's most focused on as Mayor Adams and the City Council craft the new budget, the city's economic and fiscal health, and more.

State Senator Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat and democratic socialist, joined the show to discuss state housing policy negotiations, the Legislature's failure to pass a housing plan, and her ongoing push for Good Cause Eviction legislation.

State Senator Brian Kavanagh, a Manhattan Democrat and chair of the Senate housing committee, joined the show to discuss the lack of a state housing policy deal during the 2023 legislative session and what comes next. (Episode 403)

City Council Member Justin Brannan, a Brooklyn Democrat and chair of the Council's Finance Committee, joined the show to discuss city budget negotiations with under a month until a new spending plan is due. (Episode 402)

Pete Sikora, climate campaigns director for New York Communities for Change, joined the show to discuss implementation of New York City's "Green New Deal" — particularly Local Law 97 that deals with building emissions — and more. (Episode 400)

At the annual NYSAFAH affordable housing conference in Manhattan, host Ben Max moderated a discussion with New York City Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz and New York State Housing Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas about the state budget failure on housing and what comes next at the state and city levels. (Episode 401)

Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, joined the show to discuss the group's vision for a more livable New York City, including specific programs, like Open Streets and Open Restaurants, state and city legislative and budget priorities, and more. (Episode 399)

Basha Gerhards, senior vice president of planning at REBNY, joined the show to discuss housing policy at the city and state levels, disappointment in the recent state budget agreement, and more. (Episode 398)

City Council Member Linda Lee, a Queens Democrat and chair of the Council's mental health committee, joined the show to discuss the CIty Council's mental health roadmap, specific legislation that's part of it, a recent Council hearing on the package, and more.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat and chair of the Senate health committee, joined the show to discuss the newly-passed $229 billion state budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which began April 1. (Episode 396)

Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator for Housing Justice for All, joined the show to discuss state budget negotiations, the apparent demise of negotiations over housing policy, and the left-wing perspective on the issue and key components of the debate, including Good Cause Eviction, the governor's Housing Compact, and more.

State Senator Leroy Comrie, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Senate's committee with MTA oversight, joined the show to discuss how the MTA is factoring into state budget negotiations, his preferred plan for funding the transit authority, whether the state budget will advantage subway and bus riders, the future of Penn Station area redevelopment plans, and more.

As New York state budget negotiations continue, there are major transit and climate issues being decided. Betsy Plum of Riders Alliance and Julie Tighe of League of Conservation Voters joined the show to break down the most pressing topics on transit and climate and what to watch for as a state budget deal is finalized by Albany leaders.

Liz Benjamin & Ken Lovett, two veteran Albany journalists now in public affairs consulting, joined the show to discuss New York state budget negotiations, the power dynamics at play in the capital, key issues being negotiated among Governor Hochul and the Legislature, and more.