Good Morning, New York! Hochul faces political heat over Medicare cuts, Amtrack is slowing services to Albany for three years of tunnel repairs, and Cuomo gets ambused by Crackhead Barney. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Monday, April 28th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: Hochul is in Albany with no publicly scheduled events yet. (Check for updates here.)

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Amtrak is cutting some train service between Albany and NYC starting Monday due to a three-year East River Tunnel repair project. Two trains are suspended, and others will run on adjusted schedules, potentially leading to fewer options and busier rides. Passenger advocates are worried about overcrowding and long layovers, urging Amtrak to consider alternatives. (Gothamist)

— Upper West Siders are fuming over the installation of a 'monstrous' 5G cell tower, with some calling it an eyesore that belongs in Dubai. While the city touts the towers as necessary for future tech and connectivity, some residents fear government surveillance or simply find them ugly. Others welcome the modern addition, but similar towers have sparked outrage in wealthy neighborhoods before. (NY Post)

— A 40-year veteran of the Manhattan DA's office says she was mistreated after taking leave to care for her dying parents. In a lawsuit, Joan Davila claims she endured harassment, demotion, and even a temporary health insurance cancellation after filing complaints against her supervisor. Davila says her pleas to DA Alvin Bragg were ignored. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

— Gov. Hochul could face major political heat if looming federal Medicaid cuts hit New York hard. As Republicans eye $880 billion in savings, Hochul's blaming the state's GOP representatives while scrambling for ways to offset potential hits to the state's massive $124 billion Medicaid budget. Experts warn Hochul will likely face backlash regardless of how the state reacts to the cuts, with some suggesting contingency funds in her budget. (Politico)

— New York lawmakers are trying to shut down Tesla's dealerships after Musk teamed up with Trump. State Senator Patricia Fahy, once a Tesla supporter, is leading the charge, arguing that Musk's political alignment goes against New York's environmental goals. (The Daily Beast)

— Get ready for a high school sports showdown! A proposed New York bill could split public and private schools into separate playoff brackets, reigniting a long-standing debate about fairness. Public school advocates argue that private schools have an unfair advantage due to their recruitment abilities and financial resources, while others believe separate brackets aren't necessary. (Times Union)

Trail Mix

— Things got heated for Andrew Cuomo on the campaign trail after he got ambushed by Crackhead Barney outside a Brooklyn church. The performance artist screamed sexually explicit and harassing comments at the former governor, referencing the allegations that led to his resignation. Cuomo ignored the outburst as church members intervened. (NY Post)

— A recent poll is stirring the pot in Buffalo's mayoral race, focusing on Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and State Senator Sean Ryan. The survey, reportedly commissioned by Scanlon's camp, tests voter reactions to both candidates' strengths and weaknesses, even throwing in some spicy accusations. Meanwhile, Poloncarz and Ryan are trying to come up with a solution to the city's financial woes. (Investigative Post)

— Jessica Ramos wants to run NYC's $112 billion budget, but she's got some financial baggage of her own. Court documents show Ramos defaulted on nearly $80,000 in student loans, a fact that even some fellow Democrats say hurts her mayoral bid. Ramos says the debt reflects the struggles of many New Yorkers and strengthens her commitment to fighting for a fairer economy. (NY Post)

— A Nassau County Democratic candidate has gone missing, and police are asking for the public's help in finding him. Petros Krommidas, 29, was last seen on Wednesday night in Baldwin, and is believed to be in the Long Beach area, according to authorities. The Nassau County Democratic Committee has also posted about the candidate's disappearance on Facebook, urging people to share information with the police. (Greater Long Island)