Sam Mellins

Senior reporter @nysfocus

Tips/pitches: sam(at)

[Sam Mellins @SamMellins]

New for @nysfocus.bsky.social

NY home health aides are now covered by insurance that slashes payments to doctors and leaves patients with debt.

One woman on the plan is skipping MRIs for a brain tumor — she just can’t afford more uncovered bills.

https://t.co/FrhFG8PazV

[Sam Mellins @SamMellins]

Last year, I broke the news that $400,000 raised for the survivors of a fatal 2022 fire in the Bronx had never been spent.

All the money has now reached the survivors. My story: https://t.co/a8Two65oHf

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

Thanks to the support of our readers, New York Focus is growing!

We're thrilled to welcome Kyle Constable as director of growth and Amudalat Ajasa as a climate reporter.
https://t.co/BjJNmhl4YJ

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

New York Focus is honored to have three finalists for Livingston Awards in the local reporting category. Congrats to all the finalists!

[Sam Mellins @SamMellins]

Last week, we reported that state Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, who chairs the judiciary committee, has repeatedly botched clients cases in his work as a private lawyer.

Yesterday, the top Senate Dem told us she sees "no reason" to remove him as judiciary chair:

https://t.co/teJvpzKc8m

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

Exclusive @TheAthleticFC :

Current NJ Transit plans for return train from NY Penn Station to MetLife Stadium during World Cup are for tickets to be priced at over $100.

Usual price is $12.90, making it more than a 7-fold increase for World Cup fans.

https://t.co/iYESwgfuwY

[Chris Bragg @ChrisBragg1]

The Bronx Democratic Party recently smashed campaign fundraising records — fueled by huge gifts from Airbnb and Uber — while party operatives lobby Bronx lawmakers for some of the major donors https://t.co/EFxcuMSHre

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: Senator Luis Sepúlveda has maintained a private law practice marked by skipped court appearances, faulty paperwork, and missed deadlines, New York Focus has found.
https://t.co/pbxJCNFBS1

[Christopher Robbins @ChristRobbins]

@CityLimitsNews And @nysfocus with the brutal one-two combo of this lede and the financial disclosures showing how much money the senator is making via his law practice (a lot!)

https://t.co/bKbYwrpcBn

[Christopher Robbins @ChristRobbins]

👀👀👀

https://t.co/Avlfv33B8h

[patrick spauster @patrickspauster]

The tenants Sepúlveda failed to show up for in court include his own staffer, an older man with cancer for whom it was difficult to attend court himself, a rent stabilized mother of two, and a local business.

[patrick spauster @patrickspauster]

State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda-who chairs the NY Sen. judiciary committee-has no-showed court appearances in 4/5 recent eviction defense cases he's argued, frustrating judges and risking his client's eviction.

My scoop in @citylimitsnews ⤵️

[patrick spauster @patrickspauster]

More good details about Sen. Sepúlvedas legal failings from @sammellins @nysfocus—which extend beyond the no-shows in housing court I covered—plus he made at least $345,000 on his legal services since 2017
https://t.co/HsllistW3A

[Sam Mellins @SamMellins]

NEW: State Senator and lawyer Luis Sepúlveda has repeatedly messed up clients' cases, leading to consequences including evictions.

One expert called his record of missed deadlines, incorrect paperwork, and no-shows “professional negligence.”

https://t.co/jk4eaDl1pB

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

Unions want state leaders to sweeten their retirement packages. What would it cost, and what would it achieve?
https://t.co/38TR5zx3ll

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: The Assembly wants to freeze your energy bills, the Senate wants to stop police from working with ICE, and the governor wants to slash auto insurance premiums.

We’ve been working around the clock to break down the governor’s, Senate’s, and Assembly’s budget proposals.

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: Measures to speed up housing construction and incentivize the repair of affordable housing are gaining momentum in the state budget process, but the state Assembly could be the holdout.
https://t.co/zUM0jx9t0N

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: In their budget proposals released Monday night, the state Senate and Assembly both included tax increases for high earners and corporations.

They’re both similar in scope to the legislature’s proposals last year.
https://t.co/lJlR7QtGN4

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a bold pledge last month: Within weeks, he would send state lawmakers a plan to fix the city’s broken property tax system.

A failed attempt by his predecessor, Eric Adams, shows why that won’t be easy. https://t.co/6XImJSz124

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

NEW: An anti-development NYC Councilmember approved a project in her district rather than risk being overruled by a new appeals board — the first sign of a potential sea change in the city’s housing landscape caused by the ballot questions that voters approved in November.

[New York Focus @nysfocus]

@NY1 @SamMellins Read the full story here: https://t.co/DCBfO1aKE8