After eight years in office, Mayor de Blasio is getting ready to say goodbye to City Hall in just a few days. NY1’s Zack Fink, Gloria Pazmino and Juan Manuel Benítez spend some time evaluating the legacy of a man who was often much less popular than his policies. They also look ahead to the incoming Eric Adams administration. Before even taking office, the soon-to-be mayor is already clashing with many of the members of the City Council over his support for punitive segregation. Is this an early indication of how he will lead the city?

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How will Bill de Blasio go down in history?

Keechant Sewell will soon become the first woman — and only the third Black person — in history to lead the NYPD. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez dive into the significance of this appointment, and explain why this job is as much about politics as it is about public safety. They also weigh in on the contentious race for City Council speaker. The two finalists have both declared victory. So what is happening behind the scenes? And, as a bonus segment, they also evaluate Mayor de Blasio’s environmental record. Making the city more resilient and adaptable to the climate crisis was a pillar of his campaign for mayor. But now that he’s getting ready to leave office, his results on this issue are getting mixed reviews.

The NYPD’s first woman commissioner will be walking a delicate line

Just weeks away from leaving office, Mayor Bill de Blasio is announcing new vaccine mandates for all private sector employees, in a move that seems to have taken business leaders by surprise. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez comment on the new measures and the mayor’s intentions behind them. Is he doing this to reactivate the city’s economy and get employees back to the office? Or is he gearing up for a potential run for governor? They also weigh in on a controversial proposal approved by the City Council that would allow some noncitizen New Yorkers to vote in local elections. The bill would benefit about 800,000 Green Card holders and other immigrants with work authorization. Even though noncitizen voting already exists in other parts of the country and is not entirely unprecedented here in New York, some questions remain about its legality and implementation.

Why is de Blasio announcing new vaccine mandates?

The race for governor is already in full swing, with candidates picking up endorsements and laying out their vision for New York. NY1’s Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Emily Ngo look at the growing field of candidates, which now includes Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island. He’s pitching himself as a “common sense Democrat” who cares less about ideology and more about delivering results. Can his message resonate with New Yorkers? They also weigh in on Mayor de Blasio’s controversial decision to open two supervised injection sites in East Harlem and Washington Heights. It’s an ambitious initiative being implemented for the first time in the United States. The goal is to curb a surge in overdose deaths, which have reached record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic. But only time will tell if this is the right bet.

Tom Suozzi tries to thread the needle to the Governor’s Mansion

Fresh off his reelection victory to be New York City’s Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams is jumping into the crowded Democratic race for governor. Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio continues to flirt with a possible candidacy, launching a new statewide education plan. NY1’s Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Courtney Gross explain why many are interpreting this move as the unofficial launch of de Blasio’s gubernatorial campaign. They also discuss what Williams’s announcement means for the other two Democratic candidates in the race: Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James. And now that Democrat Justin Brannan has retained his Brooklyn City Council seat, they also weigh in on the state of the race for City Council speaker and the role Mayor-elect Eric Adams is likely to play in the decision.

Could Jumaane Williams be New York’s next governor?

Following a months-long investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York Attorney General Letitia James released hundreds of pages of transcripts from the inquiry that culminated in his resignation. NY1’s Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Courtney Gross discuss the details of the transcripts and explain why they’re significant. They also comment on Eric Adams’s first week as mayor-elect. Besides traveling to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the soon-to-be mayor also announced the co-chairs of his transition team. Plus, during an exclusive interview with NY1 in Santo Domingo, Adams weighed in on the state’s bail reform laws, saying he would like to see some changes.

Explaining the Cuomo transcripts and why they were released

It’s been a pivotal week for the city. New Yorkers elected their second Black mayor in history and for the first time ever, women will make up the majority in the City Council – and a super majority at that. But, as Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Courtney Gross explain, this week’s election was also significant because Republicans gained ground in certain parts of the city and completely dominated on Staten Island. And, now that top Democrats are gathering in Puerto Rico for the annual “Somos el Futuro” conference, Zack, Juan and Courtney weigh in on the significance of the event and talk about the impact it might have on the race for City Council speaker. If you’re looking for more in-depth analysis of Tuesday’s election, be sure to check out this week’s episode of “You Decide with Errol Louis.” He hosted a live event on Twitter Spaces. You can find the full conversation here: Live Show: Election breakdown with Errol Louis. We want to hear from you, especially what you think about the election results. Leave a message: 212-379-3440 Email: yourstoryny1@charter.com

What happened on election night in New York City

With early voting now underway, NY1's Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez hosted a live edition of the "Off Topic/On Politics" podcast on Twitter Spaces. They commented on the state of the mayor's race, and invited Fordham University Professor Christina Greer for more in-depth analysis. The event also featured live questions from members of the audience, as well as special live appearances from NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis and other political insiders. Additionally, Zack, Juan Manuel and Courtney touched on some major developments related to a different race altogether: the race for governor. According to sources, New York Attorney General is poised to announce a bid for that office in the coming days.

Live show: A closer look at the NYC race for mayor

This week, Mayor de Blasio announced a new COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all public employees. NY1’s Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Gloria Pazmino weigh in on his decision and the ripple effects it might have on the city. And with the general election around the corner, they take a closer look at the race for Public Advocate. The Democratic incumbent, Jumaane Williams, is highly favored to win, but he has also publicly said he’s seriously considering a run for governor. So is it wise for New Yorkers to reelect him? SPECIAL EPISODE ALERT: If you’re looking for more in-depth analysis about the upcoming election, be sure to join us next Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 8:30 p.m. on Twitter Spaces. The “Off Topic/On Politics” team will talk about the New York City race for mayor, and take your questions live on the virtual stage.

Navigating the new vaccine mandate

As Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa hit the campaign trail in the final weeks before Election Day, NY1’s Zack Fink, Juan Manuel Benítez and Bob Hardt analyze the state of the race and weigh in on what Sliwa, the Republican nominee, needs to do to improve his chances in a heavily Democratic city. They also spend some time talking about Latino politics. The community now represents almost 30% of the city’s population, but a Latino candidate has never been elected to citywide office. Is it just a matter of time? Or is ideology more important than ethnic identity when it comes to such a diverse community?

Where the NYC mayoral election stands

He hasn’t explicitly said that he wants to run for governor, but Mayor de Blasio keeps hinting at it. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez weigh in on his potential candidacy and discuss what it could mean for the race, which is already starting to heat up. They also comment on Courtney’s months-long investigation into the New York City Board of Elections — following the now-infamous ballot blunder during the June primaries. In a three-part series, Courtney explains why the administrative body faces accusations of nepotism, patronage, incompetence and a lack of accountability. You can watch the full series at NY1.com/ballotblunders

Will Mayor de Blasio run for governor?

Gov. Hochul took office five weeks ago, but she’s already having to fend off potential challengers from her own party. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Bob Hardt take a look at the state of the governor’s race, now that Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is eyeing a run and other prominent figures, including state Attorney General Letitia James, are flirting with the idea. They also weigh in on the ongoing debate around the recent COVID-19 vaccine mandates implemented at the state and local level.

The 2022 governor’s race is already heating up

As the situation at Rikers Island takes a turn for the worse, the city is taking measures to address the severe staffing shortages at the Department of Correction. But as NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Bob Hardt explain, the city's efforts to make sure correction officers show up to work have turned into a nasty fight with the union. They also weigh in on possible solutions to fix the humanitarian crisis unfolding inside the city’s largest jail complex. And in the middle of this crisis, Mayor de Blasio has officially entered his final 100 days in office. Zack, Courtney and Bob reflect on his legacy and break down his latest management report, which shows that his administration has failed to deliver on some of his key policy priorities.

Is Rikers Island beyond fixing?

As the crisis on Rikers Island intensifies, politicians at the state and local level are looking for solutions. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez weigh in on the chaotic situation inside the city’s largest jail complex and discuss some of the obstacles blocking reform. They also talk about the reopening of public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s push to get New Yorkers back to the office. If you are looking for more in-depth content about the unsafe conditions inside the Rikers facilities, we recommend a special episode from April 2020. Search “Voices from Rikers: Behind Bars as Coronavirus Spreads” wherever you listen to podcasts, or tap here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-from-rikers-behind-bars-as-coronavirus-spreads/id1415190317?i=1000472712408 We want to hear from you: Twitter: #NY1OffTopic or @ZackFinkNews, @Courtneycgross, and @JuanMaBenitez Leave a message: 212-379-3440 Email: yourstoryny1@charter.com For more information: ny1.com/offtopic For more information on the new coronavirus, head to ny1.com/coronavirus

Why is Rikers Island in a state of emergency?

This week, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, which forever changed our lives and our city. NY1’s Zack Fink, Courtney Gross and Juan Manuel Benítez reflect on the many ways our perception of public safety has changed, and analyze how the threat of terrorism has morphed since 2001. They also weigh in on President Biden’s visit to our area, following last week’s catastrophic storm. After assessing the scope of the damage in Queens, the president issued a dire call for action on climate change, but is his own administration doing enough to tackle the crisis? We want to hear from you, especially what you think about the local and federal response to Ida: Twitter: #NY1OffTopic or @ZackFinkNews, @Courtneycgross, and @JuanMaBenitez Leave a message: 212-379-3440 Email: yourstoryny1@charter.com For more information: www.ny1.com/offtopic For more information on the new coronavirus, head to www.ny1.com/coronavirus

20 years later: The legacy of 9/11

What happens when three New York reporters sit in a (small) room and talk politics? Join host Zack Fink and the NY1 political team each week for a conversation where no topic is off limits and everything is on the record.​

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