Good Morning, New York! New York City is getting higher taxes and less money for schools in the new budget, AOC is considering Lander and Mamdani for her endorsement, NY Dems get a slew of self-serving benefits from new budget, and Cuomo may have some problems with some of his largest PAC donors. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Friday, May 9th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany, and Broome and Erie Counties, announcing a slew of FY26 budget investments in: distraction free schools, southern tier families, and general economic development.

WHERE’s ERIC: No public schedule available.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— New York's latest $254 billion budget really wants to get into New Yorkers' wallets. The MTA will be seeing green thanks to a business tax hike for companies with payrolls over $1.25 million. Plus, speed cameras are coming to MTA bridges and tunnels, so lead-footed drivers beware. (NY Post)

— NYC schools just got a curveball in the state budget. A new formula for distributing $26.4 billion in state education aid will actually give the city $350 million less than anticipated, despite earlier pushes for reform. While officials tout an overall funding increase, critics argue the change shortchanges city students. (NY Daily News)

— Columbia University is in chaos after 80 protesters were arrested for occupying the school's library, sparking a clash with police. Following the arrests, Secretary of State Rubio threatened to deport non-citizen protesters, labeling them "pro-Hamas thugs" and stating they're unwelcome in the U.S. Mayor Adams defended the right to peaceful protest but condemned lawlessness, while Gov. Hochul also rebuked violence and vandalism. (amNY)

Capitol Gains

— After weeks of drama, New York lawmakers finally approved the $254 billion state budget, 38 days past the deadline. Gov. Hochul touted wins on discovery reforms, cellphone bans in schools, and changes to involuntary commitment standards, but the process was full of tension with the legislature and even name-calling. (State of Politics)

— Letitia James is under the microscope. The FBI has launched a formal investigation, with the U.S. Attorney's Office also involved, into the NY Attorney General's real estate and mortgage dealings dating back decades. James is calling the probe "baseless" and has hired a criminal defense attorney, while critics question the source of funds for her legal defense, which may include taxpayer money. (Times Union)

— New York Democrats are catching heat for slipping some self-serving policies into the state budget. Changes like an expanded public campaign finance program, a unified ticket for governor and lieutenant governor, and a $10 million legal fund for state officials under federal investigation are raising eyebrows. Critics say it's a sneaky way for incumbents like Hochul and James to tilt the playing field in their favor. (Times Union)

Trail Mix

— AOC's mayoral endorsement could be a game-changer, and she's reportedly met with Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani. Sources say these sit-downs signal she's close to picking a candidate in the June 24 primary, but there's a chance she might not endorse anyone. Word is, she'll likely urge voters to leave Andrew Cuomo off their ranked-choice ballots. (NY Daily News)

— It's a bad look for Cuomo: real estate execs facing lawsuits from NYC for unsafe building conditions have donated over $400K to his mayoral campaign PAC. Critics are raising concerns about the potential for these donations to influence the city's housing agency if Cuomo is elected. While the PAC defends Cuomo's record on affordable housing, tenants living in the disrepaired buildings say they need a mayor who will prioritize accountability from landlords. (Gothamist)

— A Queens City Council candidate running as "100% a Democrat" has a not-so-Democratic past. Paul Pogozelski, hoping to replace term-limited Councilman Robert Holden, was a registered Republican until last fall, a detail he attributes to youthful disillusionment with politics. Despite his past, he insists he's now a changed man, while other candidates, including a Republican, are also vying for the seat. (NY Daily News)