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Good Morning, New York! Over 40% of NYC students in grades 3-8 still failed the state's reading and math exams, despite leaders celebrating minor improvements. Meanwhile, NY avoids a budget crisis for this year but will face one next without cutting services, and new Siena polling shows Mamdani up 19 points. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In NYC, making an education affordability announcement.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

Can Zohran Mamdani really shift NYPD duties to a new agency? Experts on his side are cautiously optimistic but stress it'll need 'enormous clout' to rival the NYPD's influence. While former NYPD officials say officers would welcome handing off social service calls, finding enough mental health pros willing to work in person could be tough. Even with support from police critics, Mamdani still faces attacks from Adams and Cuomo, who dismiss his plan as unrealistic. (Gothamist)

NYC students aren't exactly acing those standardized tests just yet, but there's some upward momentum this year. While over 40% of students in grades 3-8 still failed the state's reading and math exams, city officials are touting gains they attribute to new educational programs. Critics, however, point out that despite high spending per student, significant racial disparities persist. (NY Post)

Thousands of NYC renters are about to lose their housing aid as a federal voucher program expires, thanks to the Trump administration and Congress. To prevent homelessness, NYCHA will step in and provide rental assistance, but with a catch: it'll have to stop issuing Section 8 vouchers to thousands more on the waiting list. Advocates are calling the situation a "difficult tradeoff," as other local housing agencies scramble to find alternate funding or risk leaving families out on the street. (Gothamist)

Capitol Gains

New York dodged a budget crisis this year after Trump-era cuts only dinged the state $750 million, but future shortfalls could total over $34 billion. Comptroller DiNapoli warns that the state must prepare for serious decisions due to the full impact of federal cuts combined with an economic slowdown. The state may need to decide whether to provide healthcare to immigrants losing coverage or let them become uninsured and decide on whether they can continue funding schools or mental hygiene services. (The City)

Tensions flared between PSEG and LIPA when a PSEG executive advisor, Rodney Dickens, said PSEG management wanted him to "beat LIPA up" during a 2022 job interview. LIPA rejected Dickens' appointment, citing unsatisfactory answers and concerns about his commitment to resetting the relationship after criticism of PSEG's performance during Tropical Storm Isaias. Despite the clash, PSEG is now negotiating an extension to its contract with LIPA, even after a rival company scored higher in the bidding process. (Newsday)

New York families are apparently tossing $1,500 worth of perfectly good food each year, all thanks to confusing food labels. Environmental Advocates NY is backing a bill that would standardize date labels, using "best if used by" for quality and "use by" for safety. The goal is to cut down on food waste, reduce methane emissions, and ease food insecurity. (State of Politics)

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Trail Mix

Zohran Mamdani's got a solid lead over Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral race, boasting a 19-point advantage according to a new Siena poll. Meanwhile, up north, Elise Stefanik is gaining ground on Kathy Hochul in a hypothetical gubernatorial matchup, although voters are still split on whether she's ready for the job. And on the policy front, voters aren't loving Hochul's idea of mid-decade redistricting to 'counter gerrymandering' in other states, with just 35% approving it including just 45% of Democrats. (City & State NY)

Republicans are scrambling to find someone to challenge Rep. John Mannion after their top recruit, Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott, declined to run. Abbott cited family and a new real estate career as reasons for passing on the opportunity, leaving the GOP searching for a strong candidate in the 22nd Congressional District. (Syracuse)

Elise Stefanik is all in on Trump's plan to crack down on D.C. crime, even though stats show it's down. Never missing an opportunity, she's using the issue to blast Gov. Hochul, claiming NY's bail reform law is just as bad and fuels crime. All this while Stefanik teases a potential run for governor. (WCAX)