According to the latest census figures, there are approximately 3.87 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin living in New York state. They constitute about 19 to 20% of the state's total population, and the majority of this population, which is about 2.5 million, live in New York City, making up 28 or 29% of the city's population. And yet, New York has never elected a Latino to a statewide office or a citywide office.

Scholar, activist, political adviser and ordained minister Eliezer "Eli" Valentine has some theories as to why. Valentin joined Errol Louis to talk about this, as well as his book, "Politicking in the Barrio: Essays on Latino Politics in New York." The conversation also reviewed Latino political history and figures, including Fernando Ferrer's mayoral run, former Rep. Herman Badillo's shift from progressive reformer to later alliances with Republicans, former Rep. Nydia Velázquez's coalition-building support across Latino groups, and the careers of Nelson Denis and Adam Clayton Powell IV.

Editor's Note: This episode of "You Decide with Errol Louis" originally aired in 2019. We are re-releasing it after Jesse Jackson's death Tuesday at the age of 84.

Jesse Jackson joins Errol to look back on how he got his start in the civil rights movement, his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and his time in the ministry.

He also shares his experiences of running for the White House, counseling Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings, and weighs in on the current race for the White House. A former college football player, Jackson also shares his thoughts about the NFL.

Join the conversation using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message.

On Dec. 22, 1984, a loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teenagers on a New York City subway, saying they were trying to mug him. The incident sparked an international debate about crime, fear, race and justice, which persists to this day. This year, two new books about the shootings and its impact on America are getting a lot of attention: "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Getz Shootings, and The Rebirth of White Rage" by Heather Ann Thompson, and "Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive Eighties, and The Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation" by Elliot Williams.

Thompson and Williams joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis to discuss their books and why they felt compelled to write them more than 40 years after the shootings. Thompson examines the historical context of the Reagan era and the rise of white rage, while Williams offers a legal analysis and chronicles the case's broader implications, including codified racial biases and the evolution of self-defense laws.

Brooklyn Councilman Chi Ossé has introduced a new initiative aimed at ending deed theft, a growing problem in neighborhoods like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, where criminals have disproportionately targeted homeowners to steal property deeds.

Ossé joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss his efforts to combat deed theft, including a proposed temporary eviction moratorium and increased legal transparency for homeowners. They also talked about his use of social media as a tool for political engagement and the broader need to address housing issues. The conversation also touched on why Ossé ultimately abandoned his bid to unseat House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and his current relationship with Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

In an exclusive, in-depth interview, Mayor Zohran Mamdani sat down with NY1's Errol Louis as his first month in office came to a close. The mayor addressed the city's $12 billion budget gap, his proposal to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations and his relationship with President Donald Trump.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is talking tough when it comes to President Donald Trump, but also pushing back against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who wants Hochul and the legislature to raise taxes on the wealthy.

Joining NY1's Errol Louis to discuss where New York state is headed in 2026 is Susan Arbetter, the host of Spectrum News' nightly upstate political program "Capital Tonight."

They talked about Hochul and Mamdani's push for universal child care, a possible nuclear power plant expansion, and the repurposing of closed prisons in the Adirondack Park.

This week, Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her fifth State of the State address, highlighting her accomplishments and laying out her plans for this election year. Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was on hand for her address as he begins working to fulfill his campaign promises, many of which will require support from Albany.

Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at City Journal, joined NY1's Errol Louis to analyze Hochul's address and assess Mamdani's first few weeks in office. They also discussed what to expect from both elected officials in 2026, the political position Hochul occupies as she tries to get reelected and where Mamdani's focus should be in the year ahead.

One of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first appointments after being sworn in was Cea Weaver, the director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants. Weaver is a longtime tenant organizer and the executive director of Housing Justice for All, an organization that works to strengthen tenant organizing, advance pro-tenant legislation, and elect tenants and their allies to public office. She also served as a policy adviser to Mamdani's mayoral campaign and is a frequent spokesperson in local, state and national media. But the appointment has drawn criticism after past tweets by Weaver about homeownership and white supremacy resurfaced.

Weaver joined Errol Louis to discuss her new role and her plans to advocate for renters amid what the administration has declared a housing emergency. She outlined two early priorities for the office: intervening in court proceedings to protect rent-stabilized tenants affected by the bankrupt landlord Pinnacle Realty Group, and addressing non-rent fees that she says place an additional financial burden on tenants. She also responded to the backlash over her past remarks describing homeownership as "a weapon of white supremacy."

In a day of firsts at City Hall, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor in front of a large crowd of supporters. Now officially holding what's often called "the second toughest job in America," Mamdani faces a daunting set of challenges. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and political anchor Errol Louis look back on a monumental New Year's Day and what this new era could mean for New York City.

Editor's note: We misattributed Eric Adams' elevator comments to a lightning-round question from a mayoral debate. It actually came from Nayeema Raza's "Smart Girl Dumb Questions" podcast episode featuring Adams.

Almost 55 years ago, Bella Abzug entered Congress, quickly emerging as a fierce champion of women's and minority rights and forging powerful alliances with fellow New York trailblazers like Shirley Chisholm and Elizabeth Holtzman.

In part two of this Spectrum News NY1 series, Errol Louis examines Abzug's relentless work ethic and major legislative achievements, including the Child Care Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as her early and outspoken support for gay rights. The episode also explores her toughest political battles—from her failed U.S. Senate run and mayoral campaign to her central role in the movement to impeach President Richard Nixon. Finally, the series traces Abzug's enduring influence on modern progressive politics and her global advocacy for women's rights.