Kings County kumbaya for Mamdani
THE UNI-TEA: Brooklyn Democrats can be a fractious, feuding bunch. Today, for a short while at least, they buried the hatchet.
Bitter rivals stood side by side in boisterous support of Zohran Mamdani at the Flatbush Gardens housing complex, the second stop of the Democratic mayoral nominee's 'Five Boroughs Against Trump' tour.
The group included the leader of the Kings County Democratic Party and members of the New Kings Democrats faction, which sprung up as the reformist response to county bosses. It featured moderate Democrats as well as progressives and democratic socialists.
'First of all, media, I need you to understand what's going on right now because I don't think this group of people agree about nothing,' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams observed to chuckles before he launched into his remarks.
Williams said New York Democrats more broadly should follow their example in supporting the party's nominee for mayor. Key party and Brooklyn leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Yvette Clarke, were not in attendance and have yet to endorse Mamdani.
Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary seven weeks ago, but many in his party say they still don't know the young Queens state assemblymember well enough to get behind him. Some say his proposals to freeze rent and make buses free are too unrealistic. Others cite his criticisms of Israel and his reluctance to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada' as reasons for concern. Mamdani has struggled to shore up support among politically moderate Black and Jewish voters.
For House Democrats focused on winning the majority next year, there's additionally the concern that having a democratic socialist as the face of the party could hurt moderate Democrats in suburban battlegrounds.
But their colleagues in state and city government said today in central Brooklyn that the party needs Mamdani to face President Donald Trump.
State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the county party, endorsed Eric Adams in 2021, Cuomo in this year's primary and Mamdani immediately after he trounced the former governor in June by nearly 13 points.
'People just don't understand that we all want the same thing,' Bichotte Hermelyn told Playbook, referring to Brooklyn Democrats. 'The little political fights, it's just surface. But we all want affordability. We're all fighting for a working class, we want equity, we want fairness.'
The vibe had enough kumbaya to it that Bichotte Hermelyn and City Council Member Justin Brannan stood next to each other. Yes, the same two Democrats who waged one of the nastiest intraparty clashes in recent memory during Brannan's 2023 campaign. (She revived bullying accusations against him, he won without party resources and concluded on election night that she's 'gotta go.')
Progressive New Kings members had praise for both Mamdani and Bichotte Hermelyn in explaining how a diverse cross-section of Democrats could get on the same page.
'It's indicative of his campaign and who he is,' Council Member Crystal Hudson said of Mamdani. 'If all of us can come together behind him, he's doing something.'
Council Member Chi Ossé told Playbook, 'I really do applaud Rodneyse on immediately getting into lockstep and showing that Democratic unity is important here. ... I think the entire party needs to continue doing what we're doing in there.' — Emily Ngo
From the Capitol
GOP SPLIT IN ASSEMBLY SPECIAL: Republicans are beginning to coalesce around a candidate for the looming special election to replace Democratic Assemblymember Billy Jones — but not the party leader with the most say in choosing a nominee.
Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas locked down support from Rep. Elise Stefanik last week. She was endorsed today by the Conservative Party and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay.
But Stefanik put out a lengthy statement this afternoon calling on Clinton County GOP Chair Jerika Manning to resign for 'threatening to tank' the special. 'I am not going to let her torpedo Republican candidates in the North Country,' Stefanik wrote.
Manning controls 53 percent of the vote as party leaders choose a nominee for the race that'll likely be held on Election Day.
Two individuals familiar with the situation said Stefanik's statement came about after the county chair declined to join other Republican leaders in endorsing Dumas and continued searching for a new candidate. Manning did not return a request for comment.
Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman has been widely seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Bridie Farrell, a Child Victims Act advocate and former speed-skater who briefly ran against Stefanik in 2022, formally joined the Democratic field today as well. — Bill Mahoney
NOT SWEATING: Gov. Kathy Hochul shrugged at a Siena University poll released this morning that found Stefanik, a potential gubernatorial rival, running competitively in the suburbs and among independent voters.
'I'll let you all figure it out,' she told reporters. 'I'm working hard every single day putting money back in peoples' pockets, making streets safer and fighting the damn Trump administration.'
The survey found Hochul with a 14-point lead over Stefanik, 45 percent to 31 percent. The gap between the Democratic governor and the House Republican, while comfortable, is smaller than the 23-point difference Hochul held in June.
'I've been through countless polls and, guess what, team, there's going to be a lot more between now and November,' she added. — Nick Reisman
ADULT LEARNERS EYE FREE TUITION: More than 16,500 New Yorkers applied to a free community college program for older students, Hochul announced this morning.
The City University of New York received about 7,000 of the applications from students seeking associate degrees in high-demand fields, CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said. The remainder went to the State University of New York. The initiative — aimed at adult learners between the ages of 25 and 55 — applies to the 37 community colleges run by SUNY and CUNY.
The program, set to begin this fall, is part of Hochul's affordability push, as she faces a tough reelection bid next year.
'I'm going to keep doing my part, focusing on families — my fight is for your family,' Hochul said during a press conference at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. 'Focusing on affordability — this is a major part of it, but also putting more money back in people's pockets.'
Hochul insisted the state 'has no limit' on the number of applicants because enrollment is still lower than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 4 million working-age adults in New York do not have a college degree or credential, according to the governor's office.
State lawmakers and higher education advocates told POLITICO earlier this year that community colleges don't have enough money to implement the plan. The governor allocated $47 million in the state budget for the upcoming school year.
When asked by Playbook about those concerns, Hochul pointed to record investments in SUNY and CUNY. — Madina Touré
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
TAKEOVER TAKES: Trump's unprecedented effort to take over law enforcement in Washington drew a reaction from Mayor Eric Adams today.
Asked about Trump's actions, Adams touted recent decreases in major crime categories to make the case that New York City does not need the type of federal intervention playing out in the nation's capital.
'I'm not part of the group that says we don't want to work with the federal government, but we don't need anyone to come in and take over our law enforcement apparatus,' Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent, said during an unrelated news conference. 'We've got this under control.'
Rival independent candidate Andrew Cuomo claimed the turn of events in Washington is 'exactly what will happen' if Mamdani wins the general election this fall, though Trump would be more limited in the control he could exert over the NYPD.
'Trump will flatten him like a pancake,' Cuomo posted Monday on X. 'In 2020, Trump sent the National Guard into other states. Not New York. There's only one person in this race who can stand up to Trump: the one who already has, successfully and effectively.'
Mamdani warned Trump against trying a similar militarization in New York City, as the president has repeatedly floated, while chiding Cuomo for comments he made during a June CBS interview where he warned federal immigration officers are 'going to do things that are illegal and unconstitutional' but cautioned New Yorkers not to overreact.
'Donald Trump is not above the law and if he comes for New York City, he will have to go through me,' Mamdani said in a statement today. 'As Mayor, I will not downplay or enable his authoritarianism — and I certainly will not tell New Yorkers not to 'overreact' as Andrew Cuomo did when Trump's militia tried to bulldoze Los Angeles.' — Maya Kaufman and Joe Anuta
ENDORSEMENT WATCH: Former Gov. David Paterson is set to endorse Adams' reelection bid during a Wednesday event at City Hall, according to a person with direct knowledge of the gathering.
The nod comes a month after Paterson held a press conference that called for a united front to defeat Mamdani in the general election.
So far, the former elected's wishes are not playing out.
Neither Cuomo, Adams nor GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa have expressed any intention of dropping out of the race. Paterson backed Cuomo in the primary, but his support has waned after Cuomo's decisive loss to Mamdani in the June 24 primary. — Joe Anuta
FROM CITY HALL
GUILTY PLEA: A former Adams aide pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting to organizing a fundraiser for the mayor at which he knew money would be raised by illegal straw donations.
Bahi's plea in Manhattan federal court comes four months after Judge Dale Ho dismissed the related charges against Adams after Trump's Department of Justice sought to drop the case.
Bahi said that an unnamed 'volunteer of the campaign' had told him Adams' political operation would raise money by straw donations at a December 2020 fundraiser with Uzbek-American business leader Tolib Mansurov and would then seek to match the contributions with public funds.
It wasn't clear which volunteer Bahi was referring to, though Adams' indictment suggests it was Ahsan Chugtai, another man who was later hired by Adams' City Hall as a Muslim community liaison. Adams adviser Frank Carone did not respond when asked about it, saying the case has 'no connection at all or relevance' to the Adams campaign. Adams' lawyers have maintained that he was not aware of any of the numerous confirmed illegal contributions to his 2021 campaign.
Bahi did not respond when reporters asked how he felt about pleading guilty when Adams got off. Turkish-American developer Erden Arkan also pleaded guilty to making straw donations in January, and his sentencing is scheduled for this Friday.
Bahi was hired as a Muslim liaison in the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit after Adams won. He resigned last October, the day before he was arrested and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence. He's been in plea discussions with the government since at least February. Bahi agreed to pay $32,000 restitution, Ho said, and could face up to six months in prison and a $20,000 fine at sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov.ember 18. — Jeff Coltin
AROUND NEW YORK
— SPY-FI: The Adams administration is using its flagship broadband program to give police real-time access to NYCHA camera feeds — without telling anyone. (New York Focus)
— AI, ESQ.: A Queens judge is fining a landlord's attorney for using fake, AI-generated court cases to support his argument. (Hell Gate)
— TEAM ZOHRAN: Mamdani is growing his inner circle, a group of trusted advisers that lean younger and farther left than that of his rivals. (New York Times)
Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
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According to an attendee, who was granted anonymity to discuss a private event, Martin expressed support for Newsom's redistricting effort and 'emphasized a need for active resistance and to cast out the consideration of compromise or following the 'old rules.'' MEDIA MOVES — California's capital city has a new local news source! The digital outlet 'Abridged' will launch Sept. 16, publishing daily newsletters and posts on its new website. The Sacramento nonprofit will be supported by local PBS station KVIE and run by a staff dominated by local media alumni. Former Bee reporter and editor Ryan Lillis helped found the venture and will serve as associate general manager, news at the station. Longtime Bee Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Smith will serve as news editor and will be joined by food and drink writer Benjy Egel, who is rebooting his popular newsletter on the local restaurant scene and assuming the role of senior food editor. Contributors will include Bee alums Chris Macias, Phillip Reese and Brianna Taylor as well as ex Bloomberg California tax whiz Laura Mahoney. PEOPLE MOVES — The Plastics Industry Association is adding Hodayah Finman as senior director of regulatory affairs. Finman previously was acting director of the EPA's Office of International Affairs. BIRTHDAYS — former Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Calif.) … Darren Goode … Tiffany Stecker-Gustavson … Spike Whitney … Sara Sadhwani at Pomona College … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Tuesday): Jorge De La Cruz at First 5 California WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.
