You Decide with Errol Louis

Whitney Tilson, a newcomer to politics, is trying to make a splash in the crowded Democratic race for mayor. A successful investor, civic activist and lifelong Democrat, Tilson sat down with NY1's Errol Louis to discuss his decision to run for mayor and try to shake up the political establishment. The episode marks the fourth installment of the "You Decide" mayoral candidate interview series.

Tilson highlighted his plans to improve city safety, affordability, education, housing and homelessness. He also discussed his background in education reform and hedge fund management, detailing his influence on charter schools and political activism. Tilson also provided insights into tackling New York City's housing crisis and effective investment strategies. The episode concludes with a discussion of Tilson's upbringing and his parents' dedication to public service.

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With the June primary approaching, plenty of attention has been focused on the race for mayor. But there's an important and highly competitive contest on the undercard: the race for City Comptroller. What does the comptroller do and why should New Yorkers care?

NY1's Errol Louis decided to talk more about the job with two former comptrollers who were major players in New York's political arena — Liz Holtzman and Bill Thompson.

A former congresswoman and district attorney, Holtzman served as a city comptroller from 1990 to 1993, while Thompson held the job from 2002 to 2009. They discussed the qualities voters should look for in the next comptroller, emphasizing the need for intelligence, honesty, experience and innovation. Both guests also reflected on their biggest achievements.

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With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, Scott Stringer — the former state assemblyman, comptroller and Manhattan borough president — sat down with NY1's Errol Louis to discuss his second bid for mayor. The episode marks the third installment of the "You Decide" mayoral candidate interview series. Stringer highlighted his extensive political experience and discussed his campaign platform, focusing on criminal justice, hunger, housing and homelessness. He also spoke about the importance of experience and collaboration in handling New York City's challenges.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message, or send an email to [email protected].

With the June primary quickly approaching, Michael Blake, the former assemblyman and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, sat down with NY1's Errol Louis for the second installment of his mayoral candidate interview series.

Blake highlighted his multifaceted governmental experience and emphasized the need for a mayor with managerial skills and empathy, particularly in the current political climate. He also shared personal insights on his family, background and faith, and explained how these elements shape his vision for the five boroughs. He also talked about his views on managing immigration enforcement in the city, ensuring timely reimbursements to nonprofits, and the importance of addressing poverty as a moral issue.

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With the June 24 Democratic primary fast approaching, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos sat down with NY1's Errol Louis for the first installment of a series of interviews with the mayoral candidates.

Ramos, who hopes to become the city's first woman and Latina mayor, focused on key issues such as affordability, housing and mental health. She reflected on her journey from growing up in a working-class Colombian family in Queens to her accomplishments in the state Senate, including helping raise the minimum wage and securing relief funds for excluded workers. Throughout the conversation, Ramos highlighted how her Queens upbringing continues to shape her approach to public service and leadership.

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A combination of economic stagnation, disinvestment and mismanagement of the city's budget brought New York into a fiscal crisis in 1975 — unlike any it had seen up to that point. The result was shuttered schools and firehouses, mountains of garbage on the streets, and cops being laid off by the thousands. But what happened next is perhaps even more important: the city somehow united to pull itself out of financial and cultural ruin.

The story is told in a new documentary called "Drop Dead City." The film's co-directors, Michael Rohatyn and Peter Yost, joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the movie and this infamous moment in our city's history. The conversation touched on the film's construction, its soundtrack, and the broader themes of governmental responsibilities and the impact on New Yorkers living through the crisis. They also talked about the co-director's father, Felix Rohatyn, who was a pivotal figure in the financial recovery.

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The Trump administration is continuing its efforts to claw back $20 billion worth of Biden-era climate funding for low-income communities — part of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. For now, the $20 billion remains frozen in a Citibank account, preventing eight organizations from distributing the money that would finance tens of thousands of projects across the country to fight climate change. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has accused the recipients of the program of misconduct and waste.

Cathie Mahon is the president and CEO of Inclusiv, one of the groups in charge of disbursing the now-frozen funds. She joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the latest in this financial battle with the Trump administration. They also touched on the group's ongoing efforts to defend the program and demonstrate its benefits for low-income communities.

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There probably wouldn't be enough room in a three-ring circus for all the candidates and all the drama in the race for mayor in New York City. In the wake of federal corruption charges that have been dropped against him, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is struggling in the polls. Rather than run in a crowded Democratic primary, Adams announced this month that he's skipping that race in June and will run as an independent candidate in the general election in November.

Meanwhile, despite major controversies in his past, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the early frontrunner in the crowded primary race that also includes the City Council speaker, the city comptroller and several state lawmakers. One of the early surprises in the race has been the strong showing of little-known Queens state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

Joining NY1's Errol Louis to size up the field is Jeff Coltin, a reporter at Politico, who is an expert in local politics. Their conversation delved into the complexities of ranked-choice voting and the strategies of various candidates, including former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, current City Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. They also touched on the unpredictability of the race and the calculations candidates are making leading up to the primary and the general election.

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There's an ongoing debate in Washington over whether the federal government should continue funding public news organizations like National Public Radio. President Donald Trump says he would like to strip federal funding from the outlets, calling it a waste of money.

Joining NY1's Errol Louis to discuss NPR and public broadcasting is journalist and author Steve Oney, the author of a new book: "On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR."

Together, they looked back on NPR's history, including its origins as part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society program. They also touched on the many star reporters who helped bring NPR to the masses and how Ira Glass' "This American Life" transformed audio storytelling.

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Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Columbia University has found itself at the center of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Columbia is no stranger to anti-war protests. In the spring of 1968, a student uprising against the Vietnam War saw students occupy five buildings on campus and hold the acting dean of Columbia College hostage. Most recently, the arrest of Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil and the university's response to policy demands from the Trump administration have found the college making national headlines again.

Shea Vance is the editor-in-chief of the university's student newspaper, the "Columbia Spectator." Vance joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss the most recent events on campus. The conversation covered the disciplinary actions against students protesting the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the ongoing atmosphere of fear among some Jewish students due to antisemitic incidents, and the impact of federal threats on withholding university funding. The discussion also included reflections on the past and future of Columbia's student activism and Vance's personal aspirations.

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