Good Morning, New York! Hochul invests big in revamping Albany, crime rates are way down in the city, and the Cuomo campaign builds its team. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany for a roundtable with farmers and agriculture leaders over tariffs.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule yet

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Section 8 landlords are experiencing payment delays, and NYC representatives are pointing fingers at federal instability. Congress members Torres and Velázquez are blaming staff cuts at HUD and the threat of funding freezes for the disruption. Landlords are worried about the ripple effect, fearing that payment uncertainty could make the program less appealing. (Gothamist)

— Good news for the Big Apple: Crime rates are down significantly in February, with major felonies dropping 14.5% across the five boroughs for the third straight month, according to NYPD data. Shootings also saw a historic drop, reaching the lowest levels for January and February since 1993, which Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credits to comprehensive crime-fighting strategies. However, rape is the only major crime that continues to rise, attributed to legislative changes broadening the definition of the crime. (amNY)

— After some social media slip-ups, Mayor Adams is tightening the reins with new guidelines for his staffers. The memo urges employees to make it clear they're speaking for themselves, not the city, and bans posting anything discriminatory or obscene. This comes after a wave of controversial posts, from supporting Trump's trans sports ban to accusations of genocide that have caused headaches for the administration. (Gothamist)

Capitol Gains

— Another New York inmate is dead after allegedly being beaten by corrections officers, sparking outrage and an investigation. After 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi's death at Mid-State Correctional Facility, 11 staff members have been placed on leave. With reports of brutality and calls for transparency, Gov. Hochul has labeled the situation 'deeply troubling' as officials scramble to investigate the cause. (CNN)

— After Hurricane Ida exposed coordination gaps, New York Democrats are pushing for a new 'Office of Resilience' to streamline the state's response to climate disasters. The proposed office would be headed by a "chief resilience officer" and would cost an estimated $6-7 million. Advocates argue that the office would save money in the long run and fill a void left by federal funding cuts to agencies like the National Weather Service. (Times Union)

— Albany's getting a potential $400 million makeover thanks to Gov. Hochul, aiming to ditch its "Smallbany" nickname. Key plans include a New York State Museum renovation, downtown projects, and even a revamp of the much-maligned Interstate 787. While some are skeptical, local officials seem excited about the possibility of much-needed change for the state's capital. (City & State)

Trail Mix

— Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign is shaping up with some familiar faces. Neal Kwatra, formerly of the Hotel Trades Council union and past Cuomo campaigns, returns. As does former aide Ramon Contreras, executive director of the BPRHALC Joshua Joseph, and HRC campaign staffer Prisca Salazar-Rodriguez. Mercury Public Affairs will also play a key role, with partners Charlie King and Jake Dilemani playing a key role in the campaign. (NY Post)

— Mayor Adams just took a hit: Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs, a key Adams ally, is backing Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 mayoral race. Gibbs praised Cuomo's commitment to communities and second chances in a statement. This endorsement comes as Adams faces political challenges, including a federal corruption indictment. (NY Daily News)

— Eric Adams said that the city needed to be saved from Andrew Cuomo during a press conference, his first public criticism of the former Governor. While appearing to criticize Cuomo's past policies, Adams also held back on some opportunities to hit at Cuomo, keeping the door open for future collaboration. (AP)