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Good Morning, New York! A judge has upheld New York's $35,000 cap on lawmakers' outside income, the federal government wants to withhold MTA funding until subway safety improves, and a union deal means city workers can continue working remotely up to 2 days per week. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Wednesday, March 19th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany, delivering a press conference on the statewide response to measles.

WHERE’s ERIC: In NYC with no publicly released schedule yet.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— The feds are threatening to cut billions in funding to the MTA unless it cleans up its act. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is demanding a detailed plan to reduce crime, stop assaults on transit workers, combat fare evasion, and improve safety in the subways, citing unacceptable levels of violence and disorder. In response, the MTA says crime is down compared to pre-pandemic levels and fare evasion decreased in the latter half of last year but faces an uphill battle to avoid funding cuts. (CBS News)

— Federal investigators are digging into Mayor Adams' associates over potential ties to a Chinese government scheme to influence his election. The probe, led by the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York, involved searches of homes and offices linked to Winnie Greco, a close collaborator with people and groups tied to Beijing, and Lian Wu Shao, a wealthy Chinese businessman. So far, neither Greco nor Shao have been accused of any wrongdoing. (NY Times)

— Good news for city workers resisting the return to office: Over 20,000 NYC employees will get to continue working remotely two days a week, thanks to a deal between Mayor Adams and District Council 37. The agreement extends a pilot program until May 2026, acknowledging the need for flexibility in a post-pandemic world. Union head Henry Garrido praised the move, pointing out that alternative work schedules boost retention and make the city a more attractive employer. (SILive)

Capitol Gains

— New York lawmakers are in a frenzy after a judge upheld a law limiting their outside income to $35,000 a year. Republicans are appealing the decision, arguing that roughly 38 lawmakers will have to give up their private-sector jobs or resign. However, the judge did strike down the provision that would revoke a lawmaker's voting privileges for violating the law. (Times Union)

— Gov. Hochul's push for a 'bell-to-bell' smartphone ban in NY schools is running into resistance. School administrators are advocating for local control over phone policies, favoring a more flexible approach than the governor's all-day prohibition. This puts them at odds with teachers' unions, who support Hochul's plan for a distraction-free learning environment. (Gothamist)

— Gov. Hochul just announced that $270 million will be invested in 28 projects statewide. The money will come from a mix of state and federal low-income housing tax credits, ultimately creating about 1,800 affordable homes. (News10)

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Trail Mix

— Eric Adams' reelection bid might be in trouble. The mayor's campaign raked in just $36,000 in the latest period, his lowest haul yet, and far behind competitors like Andrew Cuomo. Adding to the drama, Adams' campaign is still paying a consultant whose home was raided as part of the probe into his Turkish government ties. (NY Daily News)

— Jessica Ramos' mayoral campaign is in dire straits, but she's hoping a new hire can turn things around. Trivette Knowles, recently fired from rival Whitney Tilson's campaign, is now managing Ramos's campaign despite her low fundraising numbers and polling results. Knowles' departure from the Tilson campaign reportedly stemmed from disagreements over policy and influence from finance insiders. (NY Daily News)

— Nancy Pelosi is throwing shade at Chuck Schumer, saying he gave away leverage by allowing a vote on the GOP's government funding bill. Pelosi thinks Schumer could have forced Republicans to compromise on proposed Medicaid cuts if he hadn't cleared the way for the vote. While she still supports Schumer, she's not holding back on her critique of his negotiating tactics. (Politico)