Good Morning, New York! The WFP is considering running their own candidate in the mayoral election if Cuomo gets the Democratic line, AOC polls ahead of Schumer in latest Senate poll, and the state lays off over 200 people in the Department of Health. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Friday, April 4th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Erie County attending the topping out of the new Buffalo Bills stadium, then in Albany.

WHERE’s ERIC: In NYC with no publicly scheduled events yet.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Good news for subway riders: crime in the NYC transit system has dropped below pre-pandemic levels, thanks to a boost in police presence. Riders are noticing the difference, reporting feeling safer, despite the fact that some crimes like felony assaults remain higher than in 2019. (NY Post)

— Middle Village residents are up in arms over a proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility, fearing it's too close to schools and homes. A rally led by Council Member Robert Holden drew a crowd chanting, 'Protect our kids!' and calling for the facility to be moved to an industrial area. (QNS)

— NYC might need to cough up $175 million annually to replace a soon-to-expire federal rental aid program. With federal funds drying up sooner than expected due to inflation, 7,600 NYC households could face potential eviction. While officials scramble to find a solution, recipients fear losing their housing assistance. (Gothamist)

Capitol Gains

— Looks like the NY state budget is going to be delayed. Again. Gov. Hochul says she's not sweating the deadline, digging in her heels on policy proposals like a face mask ban. Meanwhile, lawmakers are heading home for the weekend, as discovery continues to be the major sticking point in negotiations. (State of Politics)

— The New York Conservative Party has some explaining to do. Jason McGuire, a bigwig in the party, just pleaded guilty to swiping over $16,000 from the Livingston County chapter for personal splurges like clothes and beauty treatments. While the Attorney General's office is calling it theft, the State Conservative Party Chairman's office hasn't commented. (Times Union)

— The Trump administration's cutting over $11 billion in public health funds has hit New York hard. The state's Department of Health is axing over 200 jobs, including layoffs and the early termination of public health fellowships. While NY is suing to block the cuts, Gov. Hochul says the state can't afford to backfill the massive funding gap. (Gothamist)

Trail Mix

— The Working Families Party is considering running a mayoral candidate in the general election, signaling a potential challenge to the current political landscape. This move suggests the party aims to influence the mayoral race by offering an alternative to Andrew Cuomo, who is now even more likely to be the Democratic nominee. Zohran Mamdani currently leads the WFP slate, making him the most likely candidate to win their line if he wants it. (The City)

— Elise Stefanik's UN ambassadorship fell through, but Republicans want to bring her back into House leadership. One idea? Give her a souped-up version of the Elected Leadership Committee chair position, a role that's been largely dormant. But even with more 'heft,' this position might still be a step down for the New York rep. (Semafor)

— AOC is already pulling ahead of Chuck Schumer in a hypothetical 2028 primary matchup, according to a new poll that shows her leading by double digits. Conducted by the liberal group Data for Progress, the poll signals growing dissatisfaction with Schumer among the Democratic base, especially after his vote to advance a GOP funding bill, but it's also worth noting that AOC hasn't committed to a Senate run. Despite calls for Schumer to take a tougher stance against Trump, he maintains his strategy was the best option to avoid a government shutdown. (Politico)