Manhattan’s Upper West Side has become a flashpoint in efforts to help homeless New Yorkers, with some residents pushing back against a new facility that’s dedicated to being a “safe haven” for people who were living on the streets.

Corinne Low, the executive director of the Open Hearts Initiative, is the woman behind the project that has sparked a fight. Low joined Errol Louis to explain the philosophy behind her project, where people can have either private or semi-private rooms, and why she considers that approach more effective at connecting homeless New Yorkers with services and permanent housing than traditional shelters.

Low also discussed how she thinks people’s perception of safety is often much different from the reality, and why she was driven to start the Open Hearts Initiative in the middle of a pandemic.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com

The Democratic National Committee has chosen Chicago over New York to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Errol spoke about the decision with Jay Jacobs, the New York State Democratic Party chairman.

And as New York Democrats look ahead to 2024, they discussed efforts by Governor Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James to redraw congressional and state legislative districts. This comes after Republicans flipped several seats in last year’s midterm elections, which led the GOP to take control of the House. Jacobs also weighed in on whether former Rep. Tom Suozzi will run to take back his former congressional seat, which is now held by Rep. George Santos.

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ABOUT THE SHOW

NY1’s Errol Louis has been interviewing powerful politicians and cultural icons for years, but it’s when the TV cameras are turned off that things really get interesting. From career highlights, to personal moments, to stories that have never been told, join Errol each week for intimate conversations with the people who are shaping the future of New York and beyond. Listen to "You Decide with Errol Louis" every Wednesday, wherever you listen to podcasts.

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This week, former President Donald Trump surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, related to alleged hush money payments made to two women during his 2016 presidential campaign. It marks the first time in U.S. history that a current or former president has ever faced criminal charges.

Zachary Carter, who previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, joined Errol Louis to discuss the unprecedented event, as they focused on how the unsealed indictment appears to be much broader than just the Stormy Daniels case. They also discussed the intense pressure and scrutiny being placed on acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, as he presides over this monumental case. And they got into Carter’s time as a U.S. Attorney.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

Doug Muzzio, one of the most colorful and most-quoted commentators and pollsters on the New York political scene, is hanging up his hat. 

Muzzio, the chief pollster at Baruch College where he worked for the last 43 years, joined Errol Louis for a conversation touching on everything from polling techniques, diversification in the city and the changes that have occurred in the CUNY classrooms. 

They also discussed Kathy Hochul’s tenure as governor, as well as some nonpolitical projects, including Muzzio’s book about silent movies.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

There are over 71,000 people in New York City’s shelter system, including more than 13,000 families with children, a number that continues to climb as more migrants arrive in the five boroughs. Many in the system are escaping trauma, and they would benefit from mental health treatment.

The former speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn, joined Errol to discuss the nonprofit entitled WIN, which she heads. WIN, which stands for Women in Need, is the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families in NYC, and Quinn is currently spearheading a proposal to require the Department of Homeless Services to offer mental health services at the 30 largest shelter systems in the city by 2024. 

Their conversation also went on to cover the status of the New York Democratic Party since the gubernatorial election, as well as Quinn’s recent bout with cancer, and the importance of cancer awareness and early detection.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

With hip hop celebrating its 50th birthday and getting a museum in its Bronx birthplace, Errol sat down with one of the leading scholars and critics of the genre: Nelson George.

George has spent the last four decades chronicling hip-hop's rise. His coverage in the Village Voice and the many books he has written are all important pieces in understanding a cultural movement he calls “post soul." Their conversation covered everything from the music's origins, the music and film scene that exploded in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, and how the blackout of 1977 may have been a more pivotal cultural event than most people realize. 

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com

Bob McCarthy was at the Buffalo News for 41 years, spending much of it covering New York politics. He retired this February, leaving behind an award-winning career and a deep understanding of all things related to the so-called Queen City, including the lengthy political life of Buffalo-native Kathy Hochul.

Bob McCarthy joined Errol to talk about the challenges Hochul faces as a governor from Upstate New York, what the battle over her chief judge nomination may mean for Democrats, and why she should not be underestimated as a politician. They also looked back on his long career in journalism and discussed what Buffalonians should be paying attention to.

Finally, they weighed in on how the Christmas blizzard in Buffalo was handled and whether some of the 47 deaths that occurred could have been prevented.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com

North Carolina and New York could not be more different: culturally, socially,  economically, historically and — most relevant to us — politically. This week on “You Decide,” Spectrum’s North Carolina Politics Anchor Tim Boyum joined Errol to discuss how that, while they both essentially do the same jobs, their respective regions couldn’t be more different.

The conversation touched on the changing face of North Carolina politics, how Democrats there have struggled to find a new identity and what issues may hold them back. They also weighed in on New York’s relationship with urban and rural areas and how it differs from the Tarheel State. Last, they looked ahead to the 2024 elections and revealed why their podcasts give them the opportunity to cover politics in a manner that’s quite unlike their nightly television shows.

Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message.