Good Morning, New York! Bill de Blasio is paying back NYC for NYPD expenses on his ill-fated presidential campaign, the SALT negotiations continue in Congress, and Cuomo has the most supporters who will leave the rest of their ballot blank, only ranking him, in a new poll. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, May 15th, 2025.

WHERE’s KATHY: In New York City, delivering remarks at the New York State Affordable Housing Conference and then visiting an affordable housing unit in Brooklyn and making an announcement.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— NYC is making it easier for nonprofits to own and operate homeless shelters, ditching the old model of relying on private landlords. This new approach lets nonprofits develop nicer, more welcoming shelters designed to reduce trauma, like Win's new Ruby Dee facility in the Bronx. City officials say it's also a money-saver, offering a fixed-rate mortgage alternative to unpredictable rent hikes. (Gothamist)

— Remember when Bill de Blasio ran for president? Well, he's now repaying nearly $330,000 to NYC for allegedly misusing his NYPD security detail during that short-lived campaign. The settlement includes an apology from de Blasio, who had previously insisted he needed the security for safety reasons. The deal reduces his fine significantly but threatens a much larger penalty if he defaults on payments. (NY Post)

— More of those 'walk-through' subway cars could be rolling into NYC. The MTA is considering buying another set of 'open gangway' trains, letting riders move freely between cars. This comes after positive feedback on the existing trains, but no word yet on which lines might get the new cars. (The City)

Capitol Gains

— House Republicans are at each other's throats over the SALT tax deduction as they try to pass a massive bill for Trump. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was even asked to leave a strategy meeting with other pro-SALT Republicans, sparking accusations that she's a mole for the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. With a razor-thin majority in the House, Speaker Johnson now has to play peacemaker between warring factions to avoid sinking the entire bill. (NBC News)

— Drug tests during and after pregnancy in NY could soon require full consent. The Maternal Health, Dignity, and Consent Act, which is gaining traction in the state legislature, would mandate informed consent before drug testing pregnant individuals, new parents, and newborns. Supporters say the bill aims to reduce racial disparities in maternal deaths by building trust between patients and healthcare providers. (Rochester First)

— With the legislative session winding down, New York lawmakers are feeling the time crunch to pass key bills after a late budget. Advocates are being urged to 'be vocal' to push for priorities like prison reform, affordable housing, and immigrant protections. But it's unclear what Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders will prioritize in the final weeks. (State of Politics)

Trail Mix

— Some of Andrew Cuomo's supporters aren't interested in any other candidates. A new poll reveals that a large portion of Cuomo's voters plan to leave the rest of their ballots blank in the ranked-choice election. While Cuomo leads in initial rankings, it's unclear if this 'Cuomo or bust' strategy will hurt or help his chances in later rounds. (NBC 4 NY)

— Key endorsements are coming out in the Albany mayoral race. Dorcey Applyrs snagged an endorsement from Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero, highlighting her experience. Meanwhile, Dan Cerutti rolled out support from former Mayor Gerald Jennings, several unions, and even a pastor, emphasizing a focus on public safety. (State of Politics)

— James Dolan and his MSG-backed PAC are throwing $99,000 behind three NYC Council candidates in hotly contested Democratic primaries. Darlene Mealy, Dermot Smyth, and Maya Kornberg are getting a boost from the Coalition to Restore New York because it's looking for allies in the City Council as MSG's operating permit renewal looms. While Smyth seems stoked about the support, saying, 'Isn’t everybody in New York a Knicks fan?', the other campaigns are staying quiet. (City & State)