New York City | Nicholas Wells

Real Estate PAC Gets Mixed Results in Elections

September 24, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

Originally published in Voices of New York Sept. 24, 2013. Jobs for New York spent $4.9 million in 22 City Council races, helping elect Paul Vallone (left) and Margaret Chin (right). But their money couldn’t sway voters in Brooklyn’s 38th District, where Carlos Menchaca (center) beat incumbent Sara Gonzalez. (Photos via candidates Facebook pages) by […]

Categories: New York, News, Politics, Print • Tags: 2013 elections, campaign finance, city council, New York City, politics, real estate

When Churches and Politics Mix

September 9, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

Originally published in the New York Times Sept. 9, 2013. Over the course of the primary campaign in New York City, mayoral candidates have regularly appeared at campaign forums and met voters at subway stops. But few destinations have been more popular than churches. Since April, the candidates have spoken at least 169 church services, […]

Categories: New York, News, Politics, Print • Tags: 2013 elections, mayor, New York City, politics

Transgender Harlem woman dies days after being assaulted in possible hate crime attack

August 23, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

Originally published in the New York Daily News Aug. 23, 2013. Delores Nettles, the mother of slain transgender woman Islan Nettles, holds up Nettles’ picture. (Photo: Nicholas Wells) Islan Nettles, 21, was brutally assaulted early Saturday morning on Frederick Douglass Blvd., cops said. By Nicholas Wells, Shayna Jacobs and Tina Moore / New York Daily […]

Categories: New York, News • Tags: crime, New York City

Mott Haven Talks Schools: Little Love for Mayor or Critics

June 4, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

Originally published in City Limits on June 4, 2013. Part of City & State’s Five Borough Ballot series. Patrons of Camaguey Restaurant hold nuanced views on mayoral control, charter schools and teacher evaluations—and feel the state of the schools is more important than who’s mayor. By Matthew J. Perlman and Nicholas Wells The business at […]

Categories: New York, News, Politics, Print • Tags: 2013 elections, bronx, city council, education, mayor, New York City, politics

Despite Criticism, Mayoral Board Grants Nearly All Appeals To Zoning Variances

May 23, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

By Jessica Glazer and Nicholas Wells The Board of Standards and Appeals. (Photo: Jessica Glazer) Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office in 2002, the Department of City Planning has rezoned more than a third of the city—over 11,000 blocks—in one of the greatest renovations in the city’s history. In this time, one board of five […]

Categories: Interactive, New York, News, Politics • Tags: bloomberg, city planning, New York City, office of circumlocution

Bundling up for the Campaign Season

May 20, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

by Jessica Glazer and Nicholas Wells You don’t have to be rich to win public office in New York City, but it doesn’t hurt to have rich friends. New York City’s strict public financing system limits donations to $4,950 for an individual, but critics claim that some donors take advantage of a loophole called campaign […]

Categories: Interactive, New York, News, Politics • Tags: 2013 elections, campaign finance, charts!, mayor, New York City, politics

Labor Support Comes To 35th Council District Race

May 1, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

Originally published May 1, 2013 in the New York Times Local Blog. City Council candidate Laurie Cumbo. (Photo: Nicholas Wells) City Council hopeful Laurie Cumbo scored two major labor endorsements recently in her bid to replace Council Member Letitia James in the 35th District, who is stepping down to run for Public Advocate. On April […]

Categories: New York, News, Politics • Tags: 2013 elections, Brooklyn, city council, New York City, politics

Starting Up In Gotham

April 26, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

March 17, 2013

Categories: Business, Interactive, New York • Tags: games, New York City, tech

Distributing Discretionary Funds

April 26, 2013 by Nicholas Wells

March 6, 2013 It’s time again for the annual “budget dance,” in which the mayor and the city council negotiate another year’s spending. The majority of the council’s role is in providing feedback to the mayor’s office on the overall budget, but it is also responsible for distributing about one percent of the city’s $65 […]

Categories: Interactive, New York • Tags: city council, maps!, New York City