Good Morning, New York! The teachers union for NYC is attacking new curriculum mandates, New York State Police gave a gang database to ICE, and a potential campaign finance violation in Buffalo. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, April 24th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany with no publicly scheduled events. (Check for updates later here)

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— NYC's teachers union is criticizing the city's expanding curriculum mandates, with the UFT President suggesting that anyone forcing teachers to stick rigidly to the plans should lose their job. While the union initially supported the literacy and math overhauls, they're now saying the 'fidelity' approach doesn't work for the city's diverse classrooms. The union's frustration boils down to a lack of flexibility and mixed messages from the Department of Education, even as the new schools chancellor makes some tweaks. (NY Daily News)

— The MTA has a new top cop. Thomas Taffe, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, has officially been promoted to Chief of the MTA Police Department, after serving as acting chief for four months. Taffe, formerly the MTAPD’s chief of operations, aims to keep the transportation system safe. (amNY)

— A Harlem community leader's good intentions turned deadly after she was fatally struck by a stray bullet while checking on her grandson amidst a street brawl. Excenia Mette, 61, was caught in the crossfire as two men exchanged gunfire outside a salon, where police later arrested one suspect while the other remains at large. Mayor Adams mourned the senseless loss, while a heartbroken relative was seen pleading to retrieve Mette's glasses from the crime scene. (NY Daily News)

Capitol Gains

— New York is joining a multi-state lawsuit to block Trump's latest tariffs, branding them the 'largest federal tax hike in history.' AG Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul argue that Trump's use of emergency powers to impose these tariffs is unconstitutional and will hurt New York's economy, potentially costing state agencies over $100 million. The lawsuit alleges that the tariffs will drive up consumer prices, increase unemployment, and destabilize financial markets. (amNY)

— New York's budget is over three weeks late, and lawmakers are balancing negotiations and family life. With schools on spring break, several legislators brought their kids to Albany, turning the Capitol into a family affair. They say Speaker Heastie has fostered a culture that is more open to parents in the Legislature. (State of Politics)

— New York State Police are feeding ICE a gang database with information on over 5,100 alleged gang members, despite Gov. Hochul's promise to combat Trump's deportation campaign. The database uses speculative criteria like tattoos and clothing to designate people as gang members, raising concerns about racial profiling and over-policing. Critics argue that this collaboration undermines the state's supposed commitment to protecting immigrants. (NYS Focus)

Trail Mix

— Did NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani use AI to fake Spanish fluency? A Republican assemblyman thinks so, filing complaints over Mamdani's Spanish-language campaign ad and claiming an analysis found 'digital alteration'. Mamdani is brushing off the accusations as "loco," releasing a blooper reel of his attempts to nail the language. If AI was used, Mamdani says, that's news to him. (NY Post)

— Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon is challenging the legality of his opponent Sen. Sean Ryan's campaign finances, asking the Board of Elections to weigh in on whether Ryan can transfer funds from his senate campaign to his mayoral run. Ryan's camp is firing back, accusing Scanlon of trying to distract from his own ethics violations. (State of Politics)

— Protesters chanting "Cuomo lies, people die" stormed the stage during his appearance at a NYC mayoral forum, briefly disrupting the event before being escorted out by police. Despite the chaos and criticism over his past scandals, Cuomo brushed off the incident and insisted on the importance of substantive discussions over political games. (NY Post)