Today's sponsor

Good Morning, New York! Eric Adams asks for trust as he mulls switching to the GOP, state lawmakers act to block local law enforcement from working with ICE, the DSA races to register voters ahead of the deadline, and results in Westchester. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Wednesday, February 12th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Suffolk County making an infrastructure announcement, then in NYC.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Eric Adams gave a speech yesterday asking for trust, and saying he would not put his own interests above the city. He insisted that he never broke the law, and called the prosecution an “unnecessary ordeal.” (NY Times)

Meanwhile, rumors were flying about how he might switch to the GOP, with friends saying he is “keeping options open.” (NY Post)

Surprisingly, Republicans have not dismissed this out of hand. Instead Minority Leader Joann Ariola said that Adams needed to “prove himself,” and called for him to act more like a Republican in terms of policy before the party would accept him. (NY1)

— Eric Adams has released new guidelines on how city workers should interact with ICE, giving up the old ‘fear’ based language in favor of more legalese. Due to sanctuary city laws employees cannot invite ICE in, but they cannot block officers if they have a judicial warrant. (POLITICO)

Sponsored Message

Cut Through Noise with The Flyover!

The Flyover offers a refreshing alternative to traditional news.

We deliver quick-to-read, informative content across sports, business, tech, science, and more that cuts through the noise of mainstream media.

The Flyover's talented team of editors meticulously collects the day's most important news, ensuring you stay informed on top stories and equipped to win your day.

Join over 950,000 savvy readers and leaders who trust The Flyover to provide unbiased insights, sourced from hundreds of outlets!

Subscribe with One Click!

Capitol Gains

— On a state level, lawmakers continue to try to work against ICE. A new bill, the ‘New York For All Act,’ would block ICE from using local resources without first going through a judge. It also lays out clearer rules of engagement. (Rochester First)

— Albany is looking to add Zyn pouches to a ban on flavored nicotine products. This is despite the fact that Zyn is FDA-approved, the first such nicotine pouches to receive the classification. Critics of the ban say that it would remove a crucial tool for people to quit cigarettes. A ban could also create a black market, which would make it impossible to regulate and keep away from those under 18. (Times Union)

— Gov. Hochul has asked the state government to investigate $10 million in ads against her controversial changes to the CDPAP program. Alliance to Protect Home Care, which is responsible for the ads, is not transparent with its funding. The state believes that they are trying to scare consumers away from a policy that would benefit them. (Gothamist)

Trail Mix

— Ken Jenkins won the special election for Westchester County Executive last night with a dominant 22-point margin. Jenkins will likely face off against his opponent, Christine Sculti, again in November when he must run for a full term. (Lohud)

— The Democratic Socialists are racing to meet their voter registration targets ahead of the deadline on Friday, as their candidate Zohran Mamdani will be running as a Democrat in the primary. The Jewish Voters Action Network has come out on the opposite side, trying to get Republicans and Independents to switch their registration to the Democrats in order to vote against anti-Israel candidates like Mamdani. (The City)

— Andrew Cuomo could be the biggest loser of the DOJ’s move to drop charges against Eric Adams, as it may end his mayoral ambitions. Cuomo and Adams would likely be fighting over the same sort of moderate voters. On the other hand, cozying up to Trump could make Adams less popular with rank-and-file Democrats, therefore opening up a lane for Cuomo. Cuomo still has months until the April 3rd deadline to enter the race. (Crains)