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Good Morning, New York! The NYC DOE is under fire for spending $745,000 at a single restaurant in Brooklyn, Columbia Sportswear is suing Columbia University over selling similarly branded merchandise, and the DSA has a solid list of primary targets for the 2026 cycle. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Monday, August 4th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany and Niagara County, meeting with Texas Democrats and then holding a rally against federal cuts.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

Columbia Sportswear is suing Columbia University, claiming the Ivy League school is selling merchandise too similar to its own, a move they say violates a 2023 agreement. The sportswear company alleges the university is selling garments without school logos, some in a 'confusingly similar' blue. Columbia Sportswear wants the sales stopped, products recalled, and is seeking significant damages. (NBC New York)

Why did NYC's Department of Education drop $745,000 at a single Brooklyn restaurant last year? Comptroller Brad Lander is raising concerns about the hefty catering expenditures at Fusion East, questioning mayoral oversight. While the DOE defends the spending as part of a citywide initiative to support minority-owned businesses, Lander's office worries standard procedures aren't keeping costs in check. (amNY)

Looks like NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has some explaining to do! Back in college, the "soft-on-crime" candidate confessed to stealing a table from a dorm in broad daylight, only to be caught red-handed by campus security. He wrote about the incident in the school paper but now isn't commenting on the story. His enemies are using the story to attack his policies on crime, calling him a criminal himself. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

A number of legislators haven't been making the trip to Albany for votes, missing substantial portions of the calendar. Some of these, like WNY's David DiPietro, have valid medical excuses. Others, including many for NYC mayor, missed weeks on end campaigning. Assembly Member David McDonough is the most egregious example, at age 88 he has not appeared in-person in the chamber since May 2023. (Buffalo News)

Micron is nearing the finish line for the initial permits needed to start building its massive chip plants in Clay. These permits would allow the company to start on the wetlands and bird habitat but require setting aside other similar land. While Micron races to meet its construction timeline, the public can weigh in on the applications. (Syracuse.com)

Over 30% of New York police misconduct cases stem from officers failing to properly perform their duties, like neglecting reports or ignoring protocol. This misconduct erodes public trust, as highlighted by one case where an officer failed to investigate a domestic violence report. While some attribute this to inexperienced officers or better record-keeping, the high rate raises questions about accountability and departmental effectiveness. (Democrat & Chronicle)

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Trail Mix

The DSA may be targeting a number of assembly, senate, and congressional races next year for primaries: AD24 (Weprin), AD54 (Dilan), AD56 (Zinerman), AD71 (Taylor), SD13 (Ramos, already happening), SD26 (Gounardes) , NY8 (Jeffries), NY10 (Goldman) (X/RossBarkan)

The Working Families Party is riding high after primary wins, including Zohran Mamdani's victory in NYC. Mamdani's now urging his party to focus on winning the general election in November. But he still needs to win over more moderate members like Gov. Hochul, while facing criticism from opponents like Andrew Cuomo, who calls his policies anti-business. (NY1)

Gov. Hochul is already on the offensive for 2026, calling potential rival Elise Stefanik "pathetic" and a Trump "lemming." Hochul warned that a Republican governor would give Trump too much power over New York, while Stefanik's camp blasted Hochul's "inept" leadership amid the Midtown massacre. Hochul also renewed her call for a federal ban on "weapons of mass destruction," even appealing to Trump. (NY Post)