Here in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul extended the state’s overdue budget deadline by one week to April 10 as negotiations with lawmakers continue. In recent weeks, housing activists have ramped up calls to include a provision for “good cause” evictions in New York state’s budget, which would protect tenants from massive rent hikes and being kicked out of their homes. Activists staged protests at the state Capitol last week, leading to dozens of arrests. National data show evictions increased by more than 50% in 2022.

Meanwhile, climate activists say Governor Hochul is trying to gut New York’s law aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions by including a proposal in the budget that allows for more emissions, disguised as a cost-saving measure for customers. The move downplays the effects of methane emissions by viewing its damage over a longer period of time. The Lever is reporting Hochul received donations of nearly half-a-million dollars in the last election cycle from CEOs of energy companies that would benefit from the change, including Hess Corporation and United Metro Energy.