
Why are we talking about sweatpants when our neighbors can’t afford food?
The response to my column about rising food pantry use revealed how quickly we turn someone’s appearance into a verdict on their character.
Read the essayEssays, columns, and conversations about the choices shaping the places we call home.


The response to my column about rising food pantry use revealed how quickly we turn someone’s appearance into a verdict on their character.
Read the essay
Wayne County school leaders are planning together as enrollment falls. The test is whether students get more choices, not whether the adults produce a new map.
Read essayLet’s talk about the conversation I had with United Way New York CEO Therese Daly. We talked about ALICE and how $102,000 is now the ‘survival budget’ for a family of four.
Read essay
Upstate’s enrollment decline demands a growth strategy. The students already in its classrooms need an education strategy, too.
Read essay
In Focus goes beyond the page with discussions about housing, local decisions, and the future of Upstate communities.
Explore the showGet new In Focus writing and conversations in your inbox. The newsletter is published on Substack.
Subscribe on Substack