Are your workplace rights protected, and is the city running out of money? This week on Politics Unusual, Morgan McKay dives deep into the financial realities facing both everyday New Yorkers and the city at large.

First, Morgan sits down with Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Sam Levine. They break down a massive recent settlement with Dunkin' and Taco Bell franchisees that is finally putting hard-earned money back into workers' pockets. Commissioner Levine also pulls back the curtain on ongoing investigations into worker violations, explains how new proposed funding cuts to the DCWP could put future investigations at risk, and unpacks what the city’s brand-new rules around debt collection mean for you.

Then, we shift focus to the city's wallet. Sarita Subramanian, Senior Research and Strategy Officer at the Independent Budget Office (IBO), joins the show to discuss a staggering new report. With New York City staring down a projected $7 billion budget gap over the next two years, Sarita explains exactly how we got here—and more importantly, the tough choices and strategic ways the city can close that massive gap.

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