Political luminaries covered in City & State New York turned out Tuesday night to celebrate the political magazine\u2019s 20th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The event, held at Dramma in Midtown Manhattan, featured speeches from Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, along with a special video message from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to thank (City & State founder) Tom Allon for having the vision many years ago. A journalist to his core, he understands that free press is a sacred, sacred mission, and informing the public and holding the powerful accountable \u2013 which I guess means me,\u201d Hochul said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The governor also joked about poaching City & State\u2019s own reporters. \u201cI’m tonight offering jobs to Kate Lisa and Rebecca Lewis in the administration, so you can stop harassing me at press conferences,\u201d the governor said. \u201cCome on in, come on in. I’m sure it pays better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hochul touted her support for a $90 million payroll tax credit for local newsrooms<\/a> and spoke about the challenges facing journalists, including hostility from the White House. \u201cIt is deeply shocking that the president of the United States would literally ban news outlets<\/a> because of their coverage, he just disagrees with them,\u201d she said. \u201cBanning news outlets because they’re too negative. I didn’t really know that was an option!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a joke,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Menin continued the roast in her own speech, joking that \u201cthe Fourth Estate is much more than what sounds like the target of a new pied-\u00e0-terre tax.\u201d<\/p>\n She also took aim at City & State\u2019s new premium newsletter, Heard Around Town<\/a>, and its editor. \u201cYou continue to provide absolutely essential information, like what’s going on in Peter Sterne’s group chats, or who might run for governor in 2034<\/a>. \u2026 Like the New Yorker magazine, City & State now features some very good fiction in its new section, Heard Around Town,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In her own speech, James highlighted the breadth of City & State\u2019s coverage: \u201cCity & State knows that good journalism still requires what it always has: knowing your subject, knowing New York, knowing our history, knowing our birth dates, knowing our partners, knowing when we got married, knowing when we got divorced, knowing who doesn’t like one another, and knowing when an elected official or the comms team is trying to spin you around.\u201d<\/p>\n Mamdani zeroed in on the magazine\u2019s (in)famous power lists. \u201cYou shine a light on stories that too often go untold. So even though you ranked me number 51<\/a> on the list of most powerful New Yorkers the year I was elected mayor, outlets like yours are essential for public trust,\u201d he said in a pre-recorded video. \u201cTo be fair, no one was expecting Jim Walden to topple a political dynasty either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd a special congrats to Editor-in-Chief Jeff Coltin,\u201d he added. \u201cI can\u2019t walk down the street without people saying how much I look like you.\u201d<\/p>\n .@NYCMayor wishes City & State a happy 20th Anniversary, but not without reminding us we ranked him #51 in the 2025 NYC Power 100 https:\/\/t.co\/joWDXWtbvl<\/p>\n