Nearly 40 years before reporting in 2011 by the New York Times prompted a re-examination of the care for people with special needs, the state underwent a similar phase of introspection and reform.

On the first installment of the "Justice for All" series, we highlight this four decades of history, including New York's response to the failings at the Willowbrook school, the creation of an advocate, and a report intended to transform care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

June 28, 2023 - This summer marks 10 years since the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs took over as the state entity responsible for the safety of around 1 million vulnerable New Yorkers, who receive care from state-run or state-overseen facilities and programs.

In light of this milestone, The Capitol Pressroom is examining the work of the Justice Center and its record of addressing abuse and neglect over the last decade. Along this journey, we'll hear from key policymakers and lawmakers, invested stakeholders, and the journalist whose reporting shaped this slice of history in the Empire State.

Our investigation into justice for New Yorkers with special needs will debut on July 5th and new episodes will be released every Wednesday.

Shontell Smith, the co-head of the New York practice for Tusk Strategies, analyzes the recently concluded legislative session and looks ahead at what's next for Planet Albany, including closing a $9 billion budget gap, addressing housing creation and appointments from the governor.

This episode marks the end of the first season of Dispatches from Planet Albany, but we'll be back with a second season in 2024 and might drop into your podcast feed with bonus episodes later this year.

The scheduled legislative session came to an end in June, with Governor Kathy Hochul and the legislative leaders unable to agree on substantive policies that would increase the supply of new homes in New York or make housing more affordable in the near future.

But why?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

We answer that looming question with Rebecca Garrard, the deputy director of campaigns and movement politics for Citizen Action of New York, and Luis Ferré-Sadurní, the Capitol bureau chief for the New York Times.

With time running out on the legislative session, we convened a live recording of the show at the Bull Moose Club in Albany, with podcast regulars Shontell Smith, of Tusk Strategies, and Rebecca Garrard, from Citizen Action of New York.

The event consisted of a fantasy elected official draft and closed with rapid fire debates on the state of two-way deals and what 2024 could look like at the Capitol.

The power of state lawmakers from the New York City suburbs has ebbed and flowed at the Capitol in recent decades, but it peaked recently during the budget process when members from the Hudson Valley and Long Island were able to hold significant sway.

We put this latest power play into context, examine its origins and consider what the future of the suburban power could look like with Yancey Roy, Albany bureau chief for Newsday, and former state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, a Rockland County Democrat.

P.S. Don't forget about the free, live recording of Dispatches from Planet Albany that is scheduled for June 5 at the Bull Moose Club.

Two things seem to be missing from the Capitol these days: Any sense of ambition from the Democratic majorities in the state Legislature and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.

On this week's episode, with Times Union reporter Josh Solomon and Politico New York reporter Bill Mahoney, we consider the role that Gov. Kathy Hochul's #2 has assumed after a year in Albany and what - if any - big ticket policy items will get approved by state lawmakers before the end of the legislative session.

P.S. Don't forget about the free, live recording of Dispatches from Planet Albany that is scheduled for June 5 at the Bull Moose Club.

For months, Gov. Kathy Hochul was largely able to avoid addressing the influx of asylum seekers in New York City, deferring authority to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. That dynamic is changing, with New York City needing state funds, the expiration of Title 42 and efforts to move asylum seekers - at least temporarily - outside of the five boroughs.

To understand the politics driving resettlement decisions in New York, we spoke with Luis Ferré-Sadurní, the Capitol bureau chief for the New York Times, and Joe Anuta, a City Hall reporter for Politico New York.

P.S. Don't forget about the free, live recording of Dispatches from Planet Albany that is scheduled for June 5 at the Bull Moose Club.

To explain what state policymakers are doing to prevent unlicensed marijuana sales and promote a legal recreational marketplace, we spoke with New York Cannabis Insider Editor & Publisher Brad Racino and Cannabis Association of New York Director of Government Relations Hal McCabe.

The conversation addresses a contentious meeting of state regulators, negotiations over a crackdown on illegal sales and a lack of urgency from state lawmakers to fix problems with the MRTA implementation.

If you want additional marijuana content after you hear the podcast, check out the Cannabis Insider Conference scheduled for May 18 in Albany. But if that's not your thing, check out the free, live recording of Dispatches from Planet Albany that is scheduled for June 5 at the Bull Moose Club.

With the budget finally in our rear view mirror, we debate whether the final plan is a victory for progressives or moderates in the state legislature, look ahead at the remainder of the legislative session and wrap our heads around who has been quietly advising Gov. Kathy Hochul for the last two years.

Our guests are Shontell Smith, co-head of the New York practice for Tusk Strategies, and Josh Solomon, reporter for the Times Union.