Good Morning, New York! AG James stands up to Trump on DEI, Adrienne Adams jumps into the mayoral race, prison strike enters 17th day, and 100 ‘power women’ host Cuomo fundraiser. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, March 6th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In NYC and Albany delivering remarks at the Citizens Budget Commission Gala.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule yet.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Mayor Adams faced bipartisan heat at a House hearing on sanctuary cities, defending NYC's welcoming policies while supporting deportation for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. Democrats like AOC grilled Adams about a possible quid-pro-quo with Trump for dropping corruption charges in exchange for immigration enforcement. Adams denied any impropriety, while Republicans largely praised his willingness to cooperate with ICE. (Gothamist)

— City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams just threw her hat in the mayoral ring, citing concerns about affordability and "chaos" at City Hall. This could complicate things for both Mayor Adams and former Gov. Cuomo, who are already battling for the support of moderate Black voters. However Adams’ name recognition is lower than those who are more politically involved would think, meaning it could be a tough battle to gain ground in the already competitive race. (NY Daily News)

— Pro-Palestinian protesters got a rude awakening at Barnard College when the NYPD stormed in. The move came after dozens of masked demonstrators took over the Milstein Center library, protesting the expulsion of three students and allegedly brandishing materials linked to Hamas. The library was evacuated because of a bomb threat. (NY Daily News)

Capitol Gains

— Thousands of New Yorkers could lose access to home care by March 28 if they don't register with the state's new management company. Despite the looming deadline, key lawmakers and stakeholders are warning that the current registration rate is far behind schedule. While state officials claim services won't be interrupted, others fear emergency room overcrowding and nursing home waitlists. (Times Union)

— Tensions are flaring as a wildcat strike by NYSCOPBA members enters its 17th day, exposing a deep rift between correctional officers and their union leadership. Union leaders admit members have lost faith in them, particularly over the HALT Act, while also claiming "outside influences" are meddling. The strike has also prompted a lawsuit alleging that incarcerated people are being denied access to legal representation. (State of Politics)

— Letitia James is ready to rumble with Trump over DEI in schools. The NY Attorney General issued guidance backing diversity programs and challenging the legality of Trump's attempts to ban them. James asserts that schools can continue building inclusive environments without fear of federal retribution, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown. (NY Daily News)

Trail Mix

— Over 100 'power women' are hosting a breakfast fundraiser for Andrew Cuomo's mayoral bid, with tickets ranging from $250 to $10,000. The event will also feature members of the Cuomo family, including his mother and daughters. (NY Post)

— Rep. John Mannion is rallying his constituents against what he calls President Trump's "reckless" agenda. During a telephone town hall with about 2,000 listeners, Mannion addressed concerns about potential federal cuts to programs like veterans' affairs and Social Security. He urged those on the call to join him in pressuring both Democrats and Republicans to resist Trump's proposed changes, especially regarding the CHIPS Act. (Syracuse.com)

— Things aren't looking good for Eric Adams; a new Quinnipiac poll shows his approval rating has plummeted to a record low of 20%. With 56% of voters saying Adams should resign amid federal corruption charges, even Democrats are largely in agreement that it's time for him to step down. Meanwhile, a potential Democratic primary shows Andrew Cuomo in the lead with 31%. Opponents numbers look far worse, with most being unknowns. (Adams: 11%, Mamdani: 8%, Williams: 7%, Lander 5%, etc.) (Quinnipiac)

— Despite calls for his resignation back in 2021, many Democrats are now hesitant to criticize Cuomo’s mayoral run. While some, like Assembly members Andrew Hevesi and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, are still speaking out against the Fmr. Gov, more high profile Dems, including Gov. Hochul and Sen. Gillibrand, are taking a more cautious approach, potentially signaling the former governor's surprising political comeback could be palatable to them. (State of Politics)