Good Morning, New York! AG Pam Bondi is suing the State of New York, Eric Adams will meet with Border Czar Tom Homan again, and backlash to Hochul’s tax refund checks. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, February 13th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In NYC and Albany with no publicly scheduled events.

WHERE’s ERIC: In NYC meeting with Tom Homan, making a housing announcement, and speaking at the M/WBE Awards Celebration.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— The Trump administration has clawed back $80 million in FEMA funds from NYC that were meant to help shelter migrants. Comptroller Brad Lander said that he had never seen such a move before, which saw the money disappear from city accounts. (NY Daily News)

— Mayor Eric Adams will meet with Border Czar Tom Homan again today, where they are expected to reach an agreement on how ICE officers can operate in the city and what type of support they will receive from New York. Critics of the meeting have accused Eric Adams of making backroom deals with Trump in exchange for his case being dropped, and are concerned that he may make a deal that violates city law. (The City)

— The MTA has affixed metal shields to the top of turnstiles in their latest move against fare evasion. Unfortunately, the small piece of metal does not seem to be of concern to fare evaders, and numerous people made it past while reporters were at the scene. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

— Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed a lawsuit against the State of New York, accusing them of putting illegal immigrants over citizens. Specifically, the lawsuit seeks a ruling against the Green Light Law, which allows illegal immigrants to get drivers licenses. (ABC News)

— Kathy Hochul’s planned tax refund checks are facing backlash, as some Democrats hope to spend the $3 billion available on other priorities. Some have expressed how the timing of the checks, in the year Hochul is up for re-election, are self serving rather than in the best interests of New Yorkers. Some, like Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, pointed to paying off New York’s debts as a better option for the money. (NY Post)

— The state government will spend $150 million on a plan to connect the LIRR with MacArthur Airport in Islip. The project would better connect the transit hubs, allowing easy transfers to the rest of Long Island and to NYC. This could also be a signal that people are ready to move forward with a potential northern terminal. (Newsday)

Trail Mix

— Eric Adams reportedly considered running in the GOP primary for mayor as recently as Monday, with the mayor even considering seeking a waiver to run in both primaries. Adams reportedly spoke with both the Bronx and Manhattan party chairpeople. When asked for comment, Adams said he was running as a Democrat. (NY Times)

— The United Federation of Teachers has called Eric Adams a ‘hostage’ to President Trump. They also accused him of ignoring his responsibility to children and teachers in the city. You can read the full letter from UFT President Michael Mulgrew here.

— News has reappeared about Hochul’s previous comments on immigration, and how she once threatened to arrest illegal immigrants who applied for drivers licenses when she was Erie County Clerk. (X/GloriaPazmino)