Good Morning, New York! More than 1/3 of Cuomo’s endorsements have come from people who once called for him to resign, a judge has blocked a controversial New York City pilot program policy, and a new bill wants to ban cops from making traffic stops for minor infractions. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Monday, April 7th, 2025.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— A new lawsuit is challenging NYC's expanded policy that allows officials to fund pilot programs with minimal oversight, now lasting up to three years. The Surveillance Resistance Lab argues these 'demonstration projects' benefit vendors more than New Yorkers, creating a 'sandbox' for untested tech with taxpayer money and data. While the city says the changes foster innovation, critics worry about decreased competition and transparency, citing ShotSpotter as an example of a pilot program that went awry. (Gothamist)

— Thousands of protesters hit the streets of Manhattan Saturday for a "Hands Off" march, part of a nationwide demonstration against President Trump and Elon Musk. Demonstrators are upset by Trump and Musk's gutting of federal agencies, along with the president's actions on immigration, trade, and voting rights. Marchers urged elected officials to stand up against Trump's agenda, with one protester saying, "This is ripping apart everything we worked for." (amNY)

— Eric Adams is calling foul on a NYC lawmaker who supported closing Rikers, but now gripes about jail construction in his own backyard. City Hall slammed Councilman Lincoln Restler as a "hypocrite" for complaining about the noise and management of the new Brooklyn jail. Restler fired back, saying he still supports closing Rikers but wants the city to be a better neighbor during construction. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

— A judge has extended a block on changes to CDPAP until April 14th. This pause allows state attorneys and home care agencies to find a solution for caregivers facing payment delays during the transition to Public Partnerships LLC. While the state says most users are unaffected, the court is working to ensure caregivers get paid during this bumpy switch. (Times Union)

— A controversial NY bill aims to ban cops from making traffic stops for minor infractions, sparking heated debate. Law enforcement officials are calling it "dangerous," saying it would hinder their ability to uncover more serious crimes, highlighting the Joel Rifkin serial killer case as an example. Supporters argue the bill promotes racial equity, citing data showing disproportionate stops and arrests of Black and Latino drivers in Nassau County. (NY Post)

— New York's correction officers union is sounding the alarm, saying unsafe prison conditions are ongoing and their concerns are being ignored by the governor and corrections department. Union President Chris Summers demands an immediate meeting with corrections officials to address the issues. The union also slammed the decision to let inmates out early to ease staffing shortages. (Times Union)

Trail Mix

— Thousands of Jewish voters are switching to the Democratic Party in NYC, potentially shaking up the upcoming mayoral primary. The Jewish Voters Action Network says nearly 7,000 voters have registered as Democrats since January, many switching from independent or Republican affiliations. The move is seen as a reaction to rising antisemitism and could impact candidates viewed as critical of Israel, especially DSA member Zohran Mamdani. (NY Post)

— Ten politicians who previously called for Andrew Cuomo to resign as governor are now backing his bid for NYC mayor. The reversal has many critics calling the endorsements completely politically motivated, and pushing back saying those endorsing him are betraying victims. Over one third of Cuomo's endorsements have come from people who called for him to step down. (NY Post)

— Two GOP Congress members are vouching for a former NYPD cop convicted of acting as an agent of China. Despite a federal jury finding Michael McMahon guilty in 2023, Reps Mike Lawler and Pete Sessions penned a letter to the judge, stating they believe in his innocence. McMahon, who faces over seven years in prison, was found to be part of a Chinese government scheme to pressure a dissident to return to China. (NY Daily News)