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Good Morning, New York! Cuomo’s campaign is trying to distance themselves from the posts of Jason Levin, a self-proclaimed ‘memelord’ who claimed to make memes for the campaign. Meanwhile, state and city officials are blasting the deportation of a 6 year old girl and her mother from NYC public schools, and US Attny for the Northern District John Sarcone is facing an ethics complaint for allegedly retaliating against a Times Union employee. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Wednesday, August 20th, 2025.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

ICE has deported a 6-year-old NYC public school student and her mother to Ecuador, despite pleas for intervention from state officials. The pair were separated from the girl's 19-year-old brother during an immigration check-in. Gov. Hochul condemned the move as "cruel," while school officials reassured immigrant families that schools remain safe spaces. (NY Daily News)

Even with more city and state funding, about 3,000 NYC kids remain waitlisted for child care vouchers, highlighting an affordability crisis for parents. Advocates warn that families unable to afford childcare may be forced to leave the workforce or reduce their hours. City officials are pushing for more state funding to eliminate the waitlist. (Gothamist)

The deadly Legionnaires' outbreak in NYC might have been caused by neglected cooling towers at Harlem Hospital. Rainwater that was left untreated fostered bacteria growth. Rev. Al Sharpton says a lawsuit will be filed against a construction company, claiming negligence in the deaths of at least five people. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

John Sarcone, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, is facing an ethics complaint after he allegedly retaliated against the Times Union for reporting he used a false address. Good government groups claim Sarcone removed the paper's reporters from press lists and may have misrepresented an incident where he was threatened. This is the second ethics complaint filed against Sarcone, who is accused of abusing his power. (City & State NY)

Schenectady is getting a jolt of energy, as GE Vernova plans to pump $41 million into its steam and generator hub. Gov. Hochul is touting the investment, which she says will create 50 high-tech jobs and address the booming global electricity demand. The expansion is supported by state tax credits and will focus on manufacturing advanced generators. (CBS6 Albany)

Donald Trump's 'weaponization' czar, Ed Martin, took some wild steps to target NY AG Letitia James. Just four days after starting a mortgage fraud investigation against her, he sent a letter urging her to resign. Things got weirder when he showed up outside her Brooklyn home, trench coat and all, prompting her lawyer to accuse him of a 'made-for-media stunt' and weaponizing the Justice Department to carry out the president's threats. (State of Politics)

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Trail Mix

Andrew Cuomo's campaign is distancing itself from a self-proclaimed "memelord" after he boasted online about helping Cuomo with his social media strategy. Turns out, this memelord's online history is full of what critics claim right-wing, pro-Trump content that clashes with Cuomo's supposed values. (Further research would show that Jason Levin was likely joking in many of these posts, but that will do little to quiet critics of his strategies.) Now, Cuomo's spokesperson is saying the campaign only used one meme from the guy and that any engagement was just a coincidence, even deleting some replies. (City & State NY)

From foe to friend: Rep. Ritchie Torres is now endorsing Gov. Kathy Hochul after months of criticizing her. Torres, who previously called Hochul "fundamentally ineffective," now says she's "the kind of leadership we need." This comes as Hochul faces a primary challenge and potential GOP rivals eye the governor's seat. (NY Post)

Ritchie Torres is singing a different tune about Gov. Hochul, backing her reelection bid after previously blasting her as an 'electoral train wreck'. Despite past criticisms on issues like open-air drug use and antisemitism, Torres now claims she provides 'the kind of leadership we need'. Hochul welcomed the endorsement, saying they can put their differences aside to fight Trump. (NY Post)