Latest news with #ResortsWorldNewYorkCity
Politico
4 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Ramos for… Cuomo?!
Presented by Resorts World New York City From ABC to ABZ: It was the political equivalent of a deathbed conversion, as state Sen. Jessica Ramos, in campaign debt with no path to victory, endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York City Friday, hoping to block Zohran Mamdani from winning. She's called the former governor 'a corrupt bully with a record of sexual misconduct,' 'the Democratic Party's Trump,' a 'corrupt egomaniac' whose 'mental acuity is in decline,' and on Wednesday said of Cuomo's front-runner position that she wished she 'lived in a city where voters cared about women getting harassed.' Her consistent, outspoken Cuomo criticisms date back at least eight years to her election. But today, she stood beside him at a lower Manhattan union hall and said endorsing him 'wasn't an easy decision, for all the reasons you already know. But it's a responsible decision.' 'We need much more than performative politics,' the Queens Democrat added. 'We need experience and someone who knows how to deliver under pressure.' Ramos has had an increasingly contentious relationship with the city's leftwing institutions and leaders — including Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — and failed to earn meaningful endorsements or support since launching her campaign last September. Crucially, Ramos' campaign owes tens of thousands of dollars to vendors in unpaid contracts that have not been reported to campaign finance regulators, according to five people familiar with her finances. Her latest filing showed her campaign had a balance of just $9,089, but that doesn't reflect the actual state of the books, her campaign has said. One of those people familiar with her finances told Playbook her campaign is over $250,000 in debt. A large chunk of that is in dispute with a single vendor who has retained a lawyer and is threatening to sue Ramos. A Ramos campaign spokesperson confirmed that not all the outstanding invoices had been reported — a violation of the rules that could result in thousands of dollars in fines — blaming the treasurer's pregnancy complications. 'We are grateful to our treasurer for her service and support her focusing on her personal health. Any records not filled will be amended in the June 13th filing,' the spokesperson said. Surprised insiders today began speculating that Ramos' endorsement may have been motivated by a desire to tap into Cuomo's deep-pocketed donor base. Her campaign spokesperson declined to comment, when asked. But it didn't seem like Cuomo himself was going to do what Mamdani did for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and ask his followers to donate to Ramos. 'She is endorsing me. I am not endorsing her,' Cuomo deadpanned after the rally. He brushed off her vicious criticisms and her questioning his mental acuity as 'the nature of the business' and getting 'caught up in rhetoric.' 'I question the mental acuity of the moderators at your debate,' he added with a chuckle, referring to the event co-hosted by POLITICO, WNBC and Telemundo. Ramos didn't deny that she talked with Cuomo about getting a job in City Hall. 'We have had conversations about what I expect from his administration, and I know that there are going to be people working there who will have the best interests of New York City at heart,' she said. The reaction to Ramos' defection from Cuomo opponents ranged from anger to disappointment. Former gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon even concluded her X post with a broken heart emoji. At least four endorsers yanked support Friday morning, City & State reported — though notably, none of them had ranked her first. Ana María Archila, co-head of the local Working Families Party — which ranked Ramos fifth after initially leaving her off its slate — simply said on X, 'Let's stay focused. Let's not let the petty drama distract us. Eyes on the prize!' State Sen. Gustavo Rivera — who endorsed Mamdani as his first choice — also told Playbook he would no longer rank Ramos, swapping her out for ex-Assemblymember Michael Blake. 'It's incredibly sad, disappointing,' he said. 'It's always been clear to me and it seemed to be clear to her that Cuomo's presence in government only hurts our communities.' Others in politics were simply amused, like Assemblymember Ron Kim, whose three popcorn emojis implied he was quietly watching and enjoying the show. And Ocasio-Cortez — who had just left Ramos over her five-member endorsement slate the day before — responded to Cuomo's pointed non-endorsement on X with an 'lol. lmao.' — Jeff Coltin, with reporting by Nick Reisman From the Capitol HOUSE GOP FRETS MEDICAID IMPACT: New York House Republicans — including two potential gubernatorial candidates — want to delay proposed changes to the GOP's megabill that stand to expand the state's Medicaid rolls. The concern stems from a proposed Senate amendment that changes the definition of 'lawfully present' immigrants. Five House Republicans — Mike Lawler, Elise Stefanik, Nick Langworthy, Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino — warned in a letter that the move would lead to 500,000 people being added onto state-only Medicaid coverage. 'This would subsequently shift the costs onto New York taxpayers and our counties already struggling under the weight of our state's massive tax burden, and could promulgate unsustainable spikes in uncompensated costs for our healthcare system due to the destabilization of the state's Essential Plan,' the lawmakers wrote in the letter. Lawler, whose office released the letter, has already played a significant role in the shaping of the 'one big beautiful bill' as Trump has christened it. The Hudson Valley Republican pressed for the House to include a provision that would raise the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions to $40,000, which hits high-tax states like New York. — Nick Reisman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TORRES TALKS: Rep. Ritchie Torres is keeping a close eye on the mayor's race as he mulls a run for governor in 2026 and promotes an 'abundance' agenda. And while he remains a steadfast supporter of Cuomo, he criticized the ex-governor's decision to shutter a nuclear plant during his Albany tenure. 'If Zohran Mamdani becomes the mayor of New York, then that would so revolutionize the political landscape that I would be unlikely to run for governor under those circumstances,' Torres said in an interview today. Torres has backed Cuomo in the mayoral primary. After the mayor's race, the congress member said, he plans to conduct an 'individualized assessment' about a potential run for governor including polling and focus groups. 'If there's a clear path, I'll run. If there's no path, I'll remain in Congress,' he said. Cuomo has made combating antisemitism a major focus in his campaign, although it's not an issue voters rank as a leading local concern. Asked about whether Cuomo should be focused more on affordability or other top issues, Torres said it's an element of public safety, which is a priority for voters. 'Every Jewish New Yorker should have the right to wear a kippah and display a Star of David and be visibly Jewish without fear of harassment or intimidation or violence,' he said. 'For all New Yorkers, the freedom to be who we are is foundational to public safety.' While Torres praised Cuomo as an effective governor and 'one of the greatest builders of infrastructure in the 21st century,' there's one major decision he says was a mistake: shutting down the Indian Point nuclear plant, which he said led to more greenhouse gas emissions. 'I feel like there's a growing recognition in the Democratic Party that we undervalued the role of nuclear in decarbonizing,' Torres said. Cuomo defended his decision, pointing to the safety risks of a terrorist attack or earthquake to the plant located near a major population center. 'Do you understand the danger that Indian Point poses? It would be catastrophic if anything happened at Indian Point,' Cuomo told reporters today. Cuomo said he supported nuclear power upstate. The governor backed massive subsidies to keep those plants open. Torres said he had a 'bias' toward clean energy, although he didn't completely rule out gas power plants to maintain the reliability of the electric grid. Torres sees permitting as a major barrier for clean energy in New York. Earlier this week, he sent a letter to Hochul, Adams and Trump celebrating a Supreme Court decision limiting federal environmental reviews. 'As an abundance Democrat, there is a presumption against rules and regulations that inhibit the building of new clean energy, affordable housing and infrastructure,' Torres said. — Marie J. French FORGIVING CUOMO: Influential leaders of the Orthodox Jewish Bobov community endorsed Cuomo for mayor today, saying in a statement that he 'expressed deep regret for the distress caused' during the Covid-19 pandemic, 'when the community felt unfairly targeted.' The former governor has aggressively campaigned for support from pro-Israel Jews, and this is a key endorsement that could drive thousands of votes centered in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The Bobov leaders also ranked state Sen. Zellnor Myrie second and Adrienne Adams third. — Jeff Coltin RALLY GOES AWRY: What was supposed to be a housing rally hosted by Mamdani in lower Manhattan turned into a chaotic confrontation with a serial protester who was arrested and charged with assault for allegedly biting one of the candidate's volunteers. Mamdani showed up at the offices of the New York Apartment Association ready to denounce $2.5 million the landlord lobbyist's super PAC is spending to boost Cuomo's mayoral run, as POLITICO first reported. But shortly after the briefing began, a man brandishing a cowbell arrived and began loudly accusing Mamdani of antisemitism. What followed was an intense shouting match with supporters that spilled out onto William Street. At one point, according to the NYPD, 55 year-old Raul Rivera allegedly bit one of Mamdani's volunteers on the arm. Police cruisers and an ambulance soon arrived, blocking the street and prompting a cacophony of honking as Mamdani took questions from reporters amid the pandemonium. 'What we are seeing right now is a Trump supporter in a Make America Great Again hat assaulting individuals who are standing here alongside our campaign,' Mamdani said of Rivera. 'It's disgusting to see what politics has become in this moment. It's part of the reason why we so desperately need a politics of the future.' In 2023, Rivera was arrested and ordered by a judge to avoid city Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez after another heated confrontation. Today, he was charged with assault and given a desk appearance ticket, police said. Ritti Singh, a spokesperson with the New York State Tenant Bloc, cast Rivera as a Cuomo supporter and called on the former governor to condemn the alleged bite. 'We are asking Andrew Cuomo to denounce this act of political violence,' she said. Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi countered that the campaign has zero ties to Rivera. 'I have no idea who that is. Violence is bad,' he said, adding that 'there's more to running for mayor than cutting videos and making ridiculous, unfounded allegations.' — Joe Anuta THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: Adrienne Adams released an ad Thursday that appeared to be in violation of the city's many Campaign Finance Board rules. At the end of her 30-second ad, 'Rise Above,' a written message appears on screen that says 'Paid for by Adrienne for the People.' All city candidates are required to include a written and spoken 'paid for by' message in TV ads — and the board specifically requires the message be 'contained in a box within the borders of the communication.' Adams' 'paid for by' message is box-less. Her team declined to comment on the item. — Jason Beeferman IN OTHER NEWS — SCHENECTADY FOR HOCHUL: Three Democrats from Hochul-challenger Antonio Delgado's hometown are endorsing the governor's reelection bid. (Daily Gazette) — CUOMO ALLEGATIONS: A timeline of the sexual harassment complaints against Cuomo and his ranging responses. (The New York Times) — CAP AND INVEST PURGATORY: Hochul paused the rollout of a key climate policy in January to 'continue the robust stakeholder engagement,' but activists say they haven't heard a peep from her administration. (New York Focus) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
6 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Lawler fires back at Stefanik
Presented by Resorts World New York City MAGA WARS: Hudson Valley GOP Rep. Mike Lawler is firing back today at fellow Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik's not-so-subtle dig at him yesterday as the two duke it out while eyeing the GOP nomination for governor. 'You can't win a statewide election in New York just by pounding your chest and saying that you're the most MAGA candidate,' Lawler said this morning during an appearance on conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg's show. The remark was a reference to Stefanik telling Rosenberg a day earlier that the GOP's gubernatorial candidate should be someone who can energize President Donald Trump's base — a thinly veiled attack against Lawler. Rosenberg brought Lawler on his show this morning to respond to Stefanik's potential run for governor — a post Lawler has had his eye on since last spring. Lawler has argued New York Republicans need to win over voters opposed to Trump to be viable statewide. Stefanik has a different perspective. 'I have the strongest relationship with President Trump in the delegation,' she said Tuesday. 'We are going to need those Trump voters, and it needs to be a candidate who excites those voters and is a close ally of President Trump.' Rosenberg appeared to reference Tuesday's New York Playbook PM — which dove into Stefanik's jab at Lawler — before bringing Lawler onto his show. 'I think Mike Lawler is mad at me because I sent him the POLITICO story yesterday, and all he sent me back was, 'I heard you endorsed her today,' which is not entirely true,' the conservative host said. Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is another potential candidate for governor, also hopped onto Rosenberg's show this morning, where he said Trump will be directly involved in the GOP nomination. 'Donald Trump will have a big, big say as to who is the nominee,' said Blakeman, who's also closely aligned with Trump. 'Because this party, just like the national party, they are Trump. They love Trump. He is the backbone of our base. He will be courted by anybody running for statewide office in New York State.' 'I know personally that President Trump has taken a keen interest in the gubernatorial election,' the county executive added. Trump having major sway in handpicking the GOP gubernatorial nominee could be bad news for Lawler if he wants to run for governor. Last month, Trump endorsed Lawler for reelection to Congress, pouring cold water on his gubernatorial bid. Lawler has also made it a point to stand up to the president — which helps him build his desired brand as the Republican who can win over Democrats and independents. 'I stood up against my own party on numerous occasions because it's what's right for New York,' Lawler said this morning. 'Just two weeks ago I stood up — despite being called out by the president in conference on the issue of SALT — and fought back. You have to be able to focus not just on what is right for the base, but what is right for the state.' POLITICO reported this morning that Stefanik is launching a political action committee that will raise money for local GOP candidates — another indication she's serious about running for governor. The PAC's efforts will help strengthen her standing with Republican leaders influential in determining their party's nominee. She's also contributing to Blakeman's county executive reelection. 'Elise has the capabilities to deliver a message like few can, but you have to be able to pull this together,' Lawler said this morning. 'She said the lines of communications will be open, and interestingly I had an emissary sent to speak to me last night. I'm happy to sit down with any of my colleagues. One thing about me: I'm blunt and direct and I don't mince words.' — Jason Beeferman NEW YORK MINUTE: It's debate night, and nine Democratic candidates for mayor of New York City will stand on stage together for the first time tonight. The two-hour debate kicks off at 7 p.m., and POLITICO will be streaming the debate online, side-by-side with a liveblog where our team of expert reporters will provide analysis, background — and maybe some jokes. POLITICO is co-hosting the debate with NBC New York and Telemundo, and our own Sally Goldenberg is serving as one of the moderators. — Jeff Coltin From the Capitol JAMES TRIES TO DEFEAT ERA SUIT: An upstate court heard oral arguments this morning in the first significant lawsuit invoking New York's new Equal Rights Amendment. The person attempting to block the suit? One of the ERA's loudest champions last year — Attorney General Letitia James, whose office told a judge the amendment isn't as impactful as other supporters believe. Voters approved the ERA in November, adding a list of protected classes such as 'sexual orientation' and 'age' to constitutional language dating back to 1938 that banned discrimination based on 'race, color, creed or religion.' A pair of Wayne County judges who'll soon be forced to leave office thanks to New York's mandatory retirement age of 70 pointed to the ERA's new language in a suit that challenges these retirement rules. The state is 'discriminating against [the judges] based solely on their age,' they argued in their lawsuit. That's now constitutionally prohibited, due to the ERA. James' office is defending the mandatory retirement. The attorney general's legal brief contends the challenge should be tossed because the courts had found the 1938 language couldn't be used as the sole basis of a lawsuit, and that the new additions to the ERA have not changed that. Her legal gambit, if successful, could also mean it would be much tougher to use the ERA to challenge laws passed by the Legislature in the future — which was the main reason lawmakers rushed to approve it in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision on abortion. Other supporters of the ERA disagree with James' take, pointing to a general reworking of the constitutional section that was designed to make it more impactful. The amendment should be interpreted to 'guarantee New Yorkers a legally enforceable cause of action to challenge discrimination,' the NYCLU argued in an amicus brief. If not, the much-hyped proposal would be 'an unenforced nullity.' Critics of the ERA say James' attempt to downplay the new amendment bolsters their arguments that 'it would go places the state could never imagine.' 'This was an amendment with consequences the state never contemplated, and now the state is trying to come up with arguments against it,' Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said. 'It was poorly constructed, and senior government officials like the governor and attorney general just wanted to use it as a political argument.' — Bill Mahoney From the dairy farms REVENGE OF THE COWS: Republican lawmakers and dairy farmers are slamming what they call a 'crazy' idea to cap the number of cows allowed on dairy farms. The proposal, advanced by New York City Democrats and environmental groups, would prohibit new permits for dairy farms with more than 700 cows. 'We're going to force these folks out and force those cows to be relocated to other states,' said Republican state Sen. George Borrello, referring to the measure's potential fallout. Milk is big business in New York, which ranks fifth in the U.S. in production. Dairy is the largest part of the state's agricultural industry too, and the state is supporting new dairy processing facilities. But dairies have also been going out of business over the past decade, facing rising costs and thin margins. The number of cows in the state, meanwhile, hasn't dropped. Lawmakers and environmental groups supporting the bill, including Food and Water Watch and Third Act, say they want to protect family farms and the environment. 'These farms, known as CAFOs, prioritize profit over the wellbeing of animals and the health of our environment, cramming thousands of animals into confined spaces,' said Democratic Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, who's sponsoring the bill. CAFO stands for concentrated animal feeding operation. Assemblymember Chris Tague, a Republican from Schoharie, called it the 'most ridiculous bill' he's ever seen. Expanding dairy operations is often the only way for families to keep their operations financially viable, he said. The measure is also a non-starter for key upstate Democratic lawmakers. 'I am disappointed that a bill like this was introduced without consulting anyone involved in the dairy industry,' said Democratic Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, chair of the agriculture committee. 'These hard-working men and women are some of the best stewards of the land I know.' — Marie J. French FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS IMPACT RACE: Two violent anti-Israel attacks — one in Boulder, Colorado and another in Washington — have further inflamed public debate in New York City around antisemitism and have lent urgency to an issue that mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo has made a cornerstone of his campaign. Cuomo, the Democratic primary frontrunner in the race, has presented pro-Palestinian demonstrations as a symbol of disorder in the city that he can fix. And the recent attacks gave the former governor a chance to take an indirect swipe at his opponent Zohran MamdanI and his use of the term 'genocide.' 'The anti-Israel rhetoric of 'genocide,' 'war criminals,' and 'murderers' must stop,' Cuomo posted on X Sunday night, responding to the firebomb attack in Colorado that hospitalized 12 demonstrators who were pushing for the release of Israeli hostages. 'It is spreading like a cancer through the body politic.' Read more from POLITICO's Jeff Coltin on the attacks highlighting a political vulnerability for Mamdani — who sees his pro-Palestinian positioning as an asset. DELGADO CAMPAIGN STARTS SPENDIN': Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado may only be two days into his primary run against Gov. Kathy Hochul, but he's already dropping money on digital ads. A Playbook tipster spotted an ad Tuesday from the Delgado campaign on Facebook, and his campaign confirmed it's part of a digital-only spend. '70+ town halls, New York, I'm listening to you,' the ad reads in all caps, with a link to Delgado's campaign website. A Delgado spokesperson refused to say how much money his camp is spending on the ad. — Jason Beeferman IN OTHER NEWS — JUMAANE STAFFER'S RESIGNATION: A staffer in the Public Advocate's office alleges a member of Jumaane William's NYPD security detail sprayed her with a dizzying substance at a December office party. (NY1) — CONEY ISLAND CASINO PICKLE: A Coney Island casino bidder's donation to a pro-Justin Brannan PAC is putting the City Comptroller candidate in hot water. Brannan received support from the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, but could face casino pushback locally. (Crain's New York Business) — RANKLY MISLEADING: A top aide on Scott Stringer's campaign sent out misleading text messages to voters instructing them it's 'prohibited' to put 'multiple selections' on their Democratic mayoral primary ballots. (Daily News) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
7 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Stefanik's run for governor gets serious
Presented by Resorts World New York City THE NEXT GOV? IT COULD BE ELISE… CAPEESH?: She's serious about running. Upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said today she's 'criss-crossing the state' and 'putting the pieces together' to launch a run for governor — and she took a thinly veiled swing at Rep. Mike Lawler while doing it. 'We need to save New York, and I'm taking a very strong look,' she said in a conversation about a potential run with conservative talk radio host Sid Rosenberg. 'I'm going to make a decision in the coming months.' Stefanik is the longest serving member of New York's Republican congressional delegation, and one of the most pro-Trump representatives out there. But her once-soaring celebrity in Washington became the stuff of tragicomedy after she gave up a top House leadership post to become President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations — only to have Trump crush her hopes and tell her he changed his mind. Fearing Stefanik's ascent to the U.N. would put the House GOP's razor-thin majority at risk by forcing a special election for her seat, Trump decided to hand the U.N. role to a dude who got canned after he shared war secrets on Signal to a magazine journalist. So she started teasing a run for governor instead. And today, it got serious. She noted Republicans need a staunchly pro-Trump candidate to run for the statehouse this year — an implicit shot at Lawler, who represents the Hudson Valley and has stood up to Trump over his proposed cap on SALT in the tax bill and plans to gut Planned Parenthood's funding. 'I have the strongest relationship with President Trump in the delegation,' she said in the radio interview this morning. 'He was able to surge New York turnout. We are going to need those Trump voters, and it needs to be a candidate who excites those voters and is a close ally of President Trump.' Lawler's team declined to comment on Stefanik's remarks. He has said he will decide if he is running for governor sometime in June. The state's Democratic Party is capitalizing off the remark. 'Elise Stefanik is making it crystal clear: the GOP primary is about Donald Trump, not New York,' party spokesperson Addison Dick said. The comments from Stefanik came after she gave a rousing speech Monday night to the Staten Island GOP, where Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis signaled she would endorse Stefanik for the post: 'I believe that Elise Stefanik would make a great governor because she would reinstate common sense, put public safety first and make New York affordable once again,' Malliotakis said during the event. Unlike MAGA-star Stefanik, Lawler has tried to build his brand as the Republican who can win over the swing votersand suburbanites needed to secure victory in a governor's race in deep-blue New York. Last year, he handily won reelection in a district that voted decisively for Biden. Leading up to the presidential election, he was lurching at every opportunity to criticize Gov. Kathy Hochul as he teased a run for governor, even buying the website to take a swing at her decision to unpause the controversial Manhattan toll program. But Trump poured cold water on a potential gubernatorial run after he endorsed Lawler for reelection to Congress — instead of governor. During her radio interview, Stefanik also highlighted a new problem for Gov. Kathy Hochul as she wades closer to the 2026 campaign trail: her Lieutenant Governor's decision to run against her will be used against her. 'That is supposed to be her closest political ally,' Stefanik said of Antonio Delgado, who announced a primary run Monday, during the radio interview. 'That is how much she has failed the state of New York. She is a feckless, failed leader … So we are putting the pieces together. If we do this, this will be the most well-funded, the most well-organized statewide campaign since when we last won with George Pataki.' Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a staunchly pro-Trump Republican who's also close to Trump, is a potential Republican nominee for governor as well. Don't bet on a GOP primary showdown, though. State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox has made it clear he doesn't want one. And Stefanik said this morning she has a good relationship with both Blakeman and Lawler. 'It is going to be a little bit more difficult than in 2022 than Lee Zeldin had,' Cox said in April, referring to former Rep. Lee Zeldin's failed 2022 gubernatorial run. 'On the other hand, he had a very difficult primary that got in his way. This time, we are not going to have a primary.' — Jason Beeferman DEBATE TOMORROW NIGHT: POLITICO is proud to co-host the live mayoral debate with WNBC and Telemundo on TV and online Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Andrew Cuomo will be smack dab in the middle of the nine candidates on stage after positioning was set for the first official debate of the Democratic primary. The spots were randomly selected, but center stage makes sense for the ex-governor — who has skipped every previous forum where candidates appeared side-by-side. — Jeff Coltin FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL NY-17 ROCKLAND COUNTY DINER BEEF: A planned meeting of Rockland County's top party leaders in a New City diner is rankling local Democrats and a primary candidate poised to compete for Lawler's Hudson Valley seat. Rockland County Democratic Committee Chair Laurence Toole sent out an invitation last week to fellow Democrats for a Wednesday meeting in New City's CityLine Family Restaurant, where party leaders were expected to discuss who they plan to support for Congress. But some local party officials, like Orangetown Democratic Committee Chair Liza Barrie, were left off the list. Now Barrie and one primary candidate are making noise, arguing the closed-door convention was a premature ploy to endorse Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson — an early favorite to win the party's endorsement in the six-person primary in Lawler's district — without the inclusion of the full county party. 'Let's be clear: an insider endorsement this far out, absent any public deliberation or voter engagement, is an affront to the democratic process,' Barrie said in an email she circulated widely, attempting to get ahead of the meeting. 'It sidelines voters. It shuts out committee members. It hollows out trust in our institutions at the exact moment we need to be building it.' Barrie leads one of the five Democratic Committees that make up the Rockland Democratic Party. Rockland County makes up a large portion of Lawler's district. Former FBI analyst John Sullivan, who is running against Davidson in the primary, also criticized the gathering: 'With nearly 17 years of service keeping our country safe at the FBI, John Sullivan knows a lot about keeping secrets, but it seems strange for a local party committee to be running a top secret endorsement process,' his campaign manager, Nick Mattes, said in a statement. 'Regardless, when John meets with voters, they aren't asking him what political insiders think about candidates.' Davidson and Toole did not respond to requests for comment. — Jason Beeferman From City Hall ICED OUT AGAIN: A state judge extended a ban on federal immigration officials at Rikers Island today. The ruling deals another blow to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and top officials working for President Donald Trump, who hoped to collaborate on immigration enforcement at the city's notorious jail complex but have been stymied by the courts. 'The restraining order is extended until I issue my decision on the application,' Judge Mary Rosado said during a state Supreme Court hearing in Manhattan. The judge is currently mulling a request from the New York City Council to forbid the city from working with the Trump administration for the duration of the court case. She said today she expects to reach a decision on that matter within roughly a week. Ultimately, the Council is seeking to prevent the joint effort altogether. In April, lawmakers filed a lawsuit arguing City Hall's directive allowing federal immigration authorities onto Rikers was part of a corrupt quid pro quo between the mayor and the Trump administration. Attorneys retained by the city disputed that notion and said the executive order was above board. — Joe Anuta IN OTHER NEWS NADLER WRITES TO JORDAN: Top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are calling on chair Jim Jordan to condemn the detainment of a Congressional aide by Department of Homeland Security authorities. A staffer for Rep. Jerry Nadler — the former senior Democrat on the Judiciary panel — was handcuffed in the member's district office last week amid protests outside the building, which is also home to an immigration courthouse. DHS claimed the aide, who was never arrested, was briefly detained as part of a larger security check to protect federal employees. But in their letter to Jordan today, Nadler and Rep. Jamie Raskin — the current ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee — argued the staffer's detainment followed a pattern of threatening actions by the Trump administration. They urged Jordan to call DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to testify before the committee regarding her agency's posture. 'These types of intimidation tactics are completely unwarranted and cannot be tolerated,' the lawmakers wrote to Jordan. Spokespeople for Jordan and Noem did not return requests for comment. — Hailey Fuchs — WE STAND WITH YOU, GOV: A trove of electeds raced to endorse Hochul after Delgado announced a primary challenge. (City & State) — BUFFALO MAYOR RACE: State Sen. Sean Ryan nabbed the endorsement of Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz in his bid to be the mayor of the state's second biggest city. (WIVB) — CUOMO COORDINATION: A watchdog group is pressing regulators to investigate Cuomo over alleged illegal coordination with a lobbying firm. (POLITICO) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Pro-Israel pol endorses Zohran, with reservations
Presented by Resorts World New York City YES, RESERVATIONS: Surging mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has sewn up the support of state Sen. John Liu, who made history as the first Asian American elected to both the City Council and citywide office as comptroller. But Liu's endorsement also acknowledges a 'disagreement' with Mamdani — and an issue for moderates reluctant to support the frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, who the state senator has found fault with in the past. Any moderate thinking of endorsing Mamdani will have to grapple with his record on the Israel-Hamas war. 'He and I have a big disagreement, which is the issue of Israel and how the Jewish community needs to be viewed in the city,' Liu said of Mamdani, unprompted, during his speech announcing his support outside City Hall today. 'And though I differ from him, we have had honest conversations, and he's never lost his integrity in the process.' Liu's support for Israel runs deep. While Mamdani has accused Israel of perpetrating a genocide and declared he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his alleged war crimes if elected mayor, Liu has traveled to the Mediterranean nation — even once declaring, 'Long live Israel! Am Yisrael Chai!' back when he was running to be the city's chief executive. The boost for Mamdani comes as anti-Cuomo forces are beginning to coalesce around him. The left-leaning Working Families Party, which had endorsed a four-person slate for mayor without picking favorites in late March, announced Friday that Mamdani would be their No. 1 pick for mayor. Liu's support for him is also likely to boost the DSA-backed assemblymember as he attempts to build support from Asian-Americans, including in Liu's Flushing, Queens district. 'I endorse Zohran for his integrity,' Liu said today. 'He is a public official with no scars, no marks. People may disagree with him on issues, but he has held himself to the utmost integrity.' Mamdani said he was honored to receive his endorsement. 'This is the state senator who has fought time and again to ensure inclusion in our schools' curricula so that Asian Americans can see ourselves in the studies that students go through,' said Mamdani, the first South Asian man to serve in the state Legislature. The democratic socialist also told reporters there was another issue he and Liu don't see eye-to-eye on: Billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen's push for a casino next to Citi Field. Liu's bill to allow Cohen's casino plan to move forward passed the Senate last week and is now on the way to the governor's desk. It faced pushback from state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who is also a candidate for mayor and represents the site of the would-be casino. 'If I was present, I would have voted in the negative,' Mamdani said of Liu's bill, adding that he is 'generally in opposition to' all casinos. When Cuomo was in Albany, Liu occasionally sparred with the then-governor, likening him to Ebenezer Scrooge while criticizing his education funding proposals and pandemic-era nursing home policies. Liu loudly called on Cuomo to resign following a slew of sexual harassment allegations, which Cuomo denies. But in late March, Liu had kind things to say about the former gov. 'Andrew never lets us forget that he's a Queens guy, and he remains liked in much of Queens,' Liu told the New York Post. Liu told reporters today he had no plans to rank anyone besides Mamdani. — Jason Beeferman From the Capitol HOCHUL AND TRUMP: One of the more productive working relationships in politics is taking shape between Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Donald Trump. She acknowledged in a 'Morning Joe' appearance today that dealing with Trump has been 'very complicated.' Hochul has negotiated with Trump over the congestion pricing toll program, and the president has allowed a major offshore wind project to move forward. The governor was also appreciative of the Trump administration's move to take over a massive Penn Station overhaul. Just last week, two interstate pipeline projects were resurrected. The development came after Hochul signaled openness to pipelines and following talks with Trump. 'As I said to the president in my first conversation, 'I'm willing to find common ground with you,'' she said during the MSNBC appearance. 'I worked for Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the time that Joe refers to often when Tip O'Neill could work with Ronald Reagan and there was a collaborative spirit. I was willing to go down that path and that's why we are actually moving ahead with Penn Station.' New York's Democratic governor has performed a balancing act with a mercurial Republican president whose return to office is abhorred by much of her party. Hochul has vowed to oppose Trump when necessary — especially on issues like abortion rights and protections for undocumented people who have not been accused of a crime. 'I want to make sure we get rid of people who are seriously committing crimes, but leave the rest alone,' she said. 'They already made it here.' — Nick Reisman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ADRIENNE PROJECTS CONFIDENCE: Mayoral contender Adrienne Adams waved off a Working Families Party poll that, according to POLITICO's reporting today, showed she — and not its No. 1 ranked primary candidate, Zohran Mamdani — is the left-leaning party's best shot against Cuomo in the general election. 'We know that, we've known that since Day One,' Adams said on Fox 5 New York earlier today while adding that she's not looking past this month's primary yet. 'I didn't get in it to lose. I'm in it to win this, this primary race, and that's where I'm focused on right now.' The City Council speaker, a reluctant late entry into the race with the backing of Attorney General Letitia James, would be in fifth place in the first round of ranked-choice voting, according to a recent Emerson College poll. She qualified for matching public campaign funds only last week, but pushed back on the notion that her late start will mean a poor finish. 'New Yorkers get into this mayoral thing a little bit later,' she told Fox. 'My timing is perfect.' — Emily Ngo FROM THE DELEGATION NADLER SEEKS PROBE: Rep. Jerry Nadler is urging a congressional investigation after a Department of Homeland Security agent handcuffed and detained an aide in his office last week, telling CNN today that he's writing to GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the Judiciary Committee. The confrontation was caught on video and played out as federal immigration officers detained migrants after their court hearings in the building that also houses Nadler's district office. 'She was obviously traumatized,' the Manhattan Democrat said of his young staffer. 'The tactics were totally unacceptable, and they needed a warrant. And my office is a congressional office. It's a completely separate branch of government, a co-equal branch of government.' In the video, one officer was heard saying that members of Nadler's staff were 'harboring rioters' while another cuffs the crying staffer. But the agency said in a statement Saturday that Federal Protective Service officers were at Nadler's office to 'conduct a security check' after reports of 'incidents' nearby and did not mention the rioters that the agent referred to in the video. Nadler has said DHS is lying about the incident. — Emily Ngo IN OTHER NEWS — CUOMO'S LEGAL WAR ON ACCUSERS: A review of thousands of pages of court documents shows how Cuomo's legal team has come after those who accused him of sexual harassment, all on the taxpayer's dime. (THE CITY) — JUDGES AGAINST FUTURE JUDGES: A group representing judges is fighting against a proposal that would make it easier to add more judges in an effort to address criminal case backlogs. (Gothamist) — DON'T DROP THE CHARGES: New York City Mayor Eric Adams called on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg not to drop prosecutions against students arrested for storming Columbia University's library in an anti-Israel demonstration. (Washington Free Beacon) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
