Samantha Simmons

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Samantha Simmons I was on the council, and it's a given. I think our relationship, obviously a majority, a minority.

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Samantha Simmons Troy's City Council held its final meetings of the year Monday night to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funding before the December 31st deadline.

Late last month, we sat down with Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello as she marked a year in office. Now, the Republican has checked off a major item on her to-do list: after roughly five months, the city has a new comptroller. Mantello announced this week that Jack Krokos (Krow-kiss) will serves as comptroller. In July, the former comptroller, Dylan Spring, resigned after mounting pressure from the Republican-controlled city council to deliver quarterly financial reports. Since then, the administration has worked with several outside accounting firms to deliver those reports to the council, spending more than $260,000 on the services. An incomplete report was delivered to the council in October with Mayor Mantello's budget proposal. The Republican says Krokos’ “knowledge, experience, and deep commitment to the public” will be invaluable to the city. However, minority Democrats have issued a statement expressing their concern over Krokos' lack of municipal experience. I spoke with Mantello about the decision to hire Krokos.

A day after her State of the State address focused on affordability, New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in Troy today/Wednesday to promote increases in childcare subsidies.

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin delivered his State of the County address in Troy Thursday, amid reports he could be seeking another role.

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Samantha Simmons Wildfires burn along the New York and New Jersey border in Greenwood Lake, New York, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Samantha Simmons FILE - David Slater, right, clears the driveway from his home, spared from the Eaton Fire, Jan. 12, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)

Following Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget address this week, New York state Senator Jake Ashby says he’s unsure where the funding is coming from for the $252 billion budget.

Minority Democrats on the Troy City Council are criticizing the mayor over late payments and audit submission, but the Republican mayor says it’s unjustified.

Earlier this week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a $252 billion budget with plans to provide free schools meals for schoolchildren, ban the use of cellphones in school, and distribute tax relief checks. However, some Republican legislators are concerned by the size of the budget. State Assemblyman Scott Bendett of the 107th District says it doesn’t address the state’s largest problem: lagging population growth. WAMC spoke with the Republican, whose district includes parts of Albany, Rensselaer, Washington and Columbia counties, in North Greenbush on Thursday about the proposed budget.