In partnership with

Good Morning, New York! Jumaane Williams lost his house, Hochul is expanding the taxpayer funded contribution matching program, and Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter steps in to the mayoral race. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Monday, May 5th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: in Suffolk County, New York City and Albany, visiting middle class homeowners to announce FY26 budget investments in families.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams lost his Brooklyn home to Bank of America after allegedly racking up nearly $1 million in mortgage debt. Williams reportedly stopped making payments in 2010 after taking out a loan to finance a now-defunct vegan sandwich shop. Critics are already calling out the self-proclaimed tenant advocate for hypocrisy, especially since his office regularly publishes a list of the city's worst landlords. (NY Post)

— NYC's congestion pricing is off to a strong start, raking in $159 million for the MTA in the first quarter of 2025. While just shy of projections, Gov. Hochul is celebrating reduced traffic and congestion. The revenue is earmarked for crucial public transportation upgrades, but the program still faces federal challenges from the Trump administration. (amNY)

— NYC's child services are under fire after a review reveals multiple kids died under the agency's watch amid allegations of neglect and a reluctance to remove children from troubled homes. One particularly grim case involves a 4-year-old who starved to death because his parents locked away food, despite the family having a history with ACS. Critics say the agency prioritizes keeping families together over child safety, leading to tragic outcomes. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

— Get ready for more taxpayer money in politics. Democrats in the state legislature and Gov. Hochul are reportedly planning to tweak the public campaign finance system, potentially increasing costs. Changes include allowing larger contributions to be matched with public funds and letting candidates roll over up to $50,000 in unused funds for future campaigns, which Republicans worry will benefit incumbents and those with wealthy donors. (Times Union)

— Albany's budget process is under fire for being secretive, with critics saying details of the $254 billion plan weren't revealed until shortly before lawmakers will vote. Both Democrats and Republicans are blasting the lack of transparency, where major decisions get made behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul defends the lengthy negotiations, saying they're necessary to push through important policies and that "good things take time." (Newsday)

— May the Fourth be with you, drivers! The New York State DOT celebrated Star Wars Day this year by posting road safety messages written in Yoda-speak on digital highway signs. While some found the signs distracting, others were amused by the unusual effort to promote safe driving. (NY Daily News)

Sponsored Message

Brought To You By…

A News Source That Brings Everyone to the Table

America’s growing divisions are hard to ignore — and we have all felt the deeply personal rifts, especially when politics enters the conversation at the family dinner table. But what if there was a news source that everyone, from progressives to conservatives and everyone in between, could read without all that partisan spin?

Introducing Tangle: a free, independent newsletter that covers one major news story per day from all perspectives. In just 10 minutes, you get a fact-based summary and seven different points of view, so you can form your own opinion. In a world of extreme divides, Tangle helps dial down the heat. Join 375,000 readers and sign up below. It’s free.

Start reading.

Trail Mix

— Kamala Harris's stepdaughter is making waves in NYC politics after publicly endorsing socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor, sharing a video of support before Mamdani's rally. Hundreds of young voters flocked to the Brooklyn Steel event for a party-like atmosphere, where volunteers were given free bandanas. Although Mamdani didn't acknowledge the endorsement during his speech, he tweeted his appreciation later, emphasizing a shared goal to make New York City more affordable. (NY Post)

— Rashida Tlaib is also stumping for Zohran Mamdani, sending out fundraising texts for his mayoral campaign. While Mamdani has already maxed out on campaign funds, Tlaib is hoping to boost a pro-Mamdani super PAC to counter the millions pouring in for Andrew Cuomo. The move is sparking controversy, with critics calling Mamdani the 'most antisemitic candidate New York has ever seen.' Tlaib, who represents Michigan, has been known for taking anti-Israel stances. (NY Post)

— George Gresham is out as president of health care workers union 1199 after a landslide vote fueled by accusations of mismanagement and misuse of funds. Yvonne Armstrong, the new president-elect, won by a wide margin, signaling major changes ahead. Gresham, who's been president since 2007, claims he'll remain active as a retiree, while also battling allegations of using union funds as a "piggy bank." (NY Post)