Ho ho ho, WFP endorsements are here! But there are only 4? You could always rank Glen Coco 5th. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

Sorry readers, First Read was late this morning due to technical difficulties with our newsletter distributor. Fortunately it's a slow news day. 🙃

The New York City mayor says he will run in the Democratic primary for reelection. He’s also aggressively cozying up to President Donald Trump and the GOP. Can he do both?

On the heels of a presidential election where economic messaging played a crucial role in Donald Trump’s victory, Hochul pitched a $1 billion tax cut for the middle class, increased tax credits for families, direct rebate checks to most taxpayers in the state and free school meals for all students.

Here are some of the policy proposals Hochul is proposing in her State of the State

This week's magazine: bit.ly/3uj44Ul

Trump who? If you didn’t know a highly controversial, immigration-hostile, locally indicted Republican president was about to be sworn into office in 11 days, you certainly wouldn’t find that out from the Mayor’s State of the City speech.

@rebeccaclewis.bsky.social joined a group of public transit enthusiasts who borrowed one of their parents' cars to try to become the first people tolled when congestion pricing started at midnight. Read about it on @cityandstateny.bsky.social: www.cityandstateny.com/personality/...

At @cityandstateny.bsky.social, publisher Tom Allon argues that our clear and consistent economic message is making this campaign the "breakout success" of 2025. And we're just getting started.

My brilliant colleagues at @cityandstateny.bsky.social have produced a helpful guide to the major candidates running in this year's NYC mayoral election: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

“In political campaigning, as in life, the best communicators are those who keep their message simple and consistent.” 🏡 Freeze the rent 🚌 Free & faster buses 👶 Childcare for all 🛒 Municipal grocery stores & baby baskets www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2025...

The ‘Weinstein’ bill is back on legislative agenda for 2025. The controversial piece of legislation, which failed to pass last year, would allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of prior sexual offenses in legal proceedings.

State Sen. Kevin Thomas told @cityandstateny.bsky.social the chair of the state Democratic Party promised him something in exchange for dropping out of a congressional primary – which could be a crime. (The state party chair denies making him any promises.) @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social reports:

Pretty telling that the CRC announcement came out both a) so soon after @cityandstateny.bsky.social wrote about it last night / Playbook story on the CRC chair that came out T-30 mins prior, AND b) the same day as Adams' highly anticipated border czar meeting

A new poll from Siena College found a majority of New York voters want ‘someone else’ as governor

Today, I joined state leaders and policymakers on @cityandstateny.bsky.social Legislators’ Retreat education panel to discuss what New York’s students truly need. The bottom line: we must update outdated school funding formulas and recognize the realities of today’s classrooms.

Glad to take part in @cityandstateny.bsky.social panel on 🏠 earlier at the @MJHnews. There’s no doubt about it — we must build more housing, preserve our existing affordable housing stock + keep NYers in their homes.

Will Hochul veto the Grieving Families Act for a third time?

What makes a state legislator run for City Council? It’s not just about the two-and-a-half hour commute to Albany – though that’s definitely a factor.

City & State's Annie McDonough takes a look those pols who've made the move and why. Definitely a must-read. @cityandstateny.bsky.social @anniemcdonough.bsky.social

A tiny battle is brewing to be the next NYC Council minority leader

New Opinion from Lincoln Restler and Bob Holden : While the CFB and federal prosecutors investigate allegations of illegal contributions to Mayor Eric Adams, his reelection campaign must be denied public matching funds. www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2024...

Today is intrepid intern @richmen.bsky.social’s last day at @cityandstateny.bsky.social. Make sure you follow him so you can continue to read his reporting! www.cityandstateny.com/voices/rich-...

The NYC mayoral field is growing. The number of prominent women in the race is not. bit.ly/3Vou9eV

Sen. Simcha Felder will run in the special election for Kalman Yeger's Council seat, his spox confirms. Brooklyn Dems told us back in November they would support Felder, though he wasn't publicly running at the time. BoroPark24 reported Felder filed yesterday www.boropark24.com/news/simcha-...

Staffers at 32BJ SEIU are trying to form a union of their own but say that they've faced hostility from union leadership. @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social reports for @cityandstateny.bsky.social: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

City & State covered last night's Riders Alliance mayoral forum. Hmmm... someone's noticeably absent from this lineup! @anniemcdonough.bsky.social @cityandstateny.bsky.social

"The mayor has made some very wise personnel moves the last month, amidst all the chaos," writes City & State Publisher Tom Allon. @cityandstateny.bsky.social @tomallon.bsky.social

Which New York City mayoral candidate will earn the ‘bus mayor’ jacket? Half a dozen candidates weighed in on public transit issues Monday at a forum hosted by Riders Alliance.

A timeline on the closure of Rikers Island

“Someone breaks the law, I'll be the first one to call up ICE and say, ‘Get them out of here’” The governor said she supports immigrants with “legal papers” but will cooperate with the Trump administration to remove immigrants who break the law.

The NYC officials and agencies on Bluesky, so far

At the @cityandstateny.bsky.social Clean Energy Summit, we heard from our Prez/CEO Carlo Scissura as he introduced an important discussion on energy, econ development & workforce innovation for a more inclusive future. He also outlined our latest report: "Powering the Empire State": bit.ly/4fR71xi

Here’s what’s in and what’s out of the ‘City of Yes’ plan

Which ones will Hochul take action on? Which ones will automatically become law??? The clock has started... @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social @cityandstateny.bsky.social

Check out our City Hall team's analysis: @anniemcdonough.bsky.social @cityandstateny.bsky.social

Here are the New York politicos in line for Trump admin jobs

She’s stepping in as the fourth NYPD commissioner in three years – possibly in the sunset of a scandal-scarred mayoral administration. Here’s what's in it for Jessica Tisch:

We got the news on Jessica Tisch's NYPD Commissioner appointment www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

“I knew that I wouldn't beat (REBNY) with traditional methods, but as a Gen Z digital native, I had a new weapon" Chi Ossé bet big on the councilman-as-influencer strategy, and it's paid off

Despite the governor’s assertion that the new $9 toll will save New York drivers money, she failed to convert most opponents.

Yet another public safety initiative from Adams using — yes, you guessed it — drones

Council Member Chi Ossé's broker fee bill – legislation barring renters from being charged the often costly fees if they didn't hire the broker – has passed the City Council by a vote of 42-8 More here on the bill www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2024/...

Important @cityandstateny.bsky.social OpEd from Althea Stevens and Justin Brannan on the harm that procuerement challenges inflict on the CIty's nonprofit sector. www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2024...

In an op-ed for @cityandstateny.bsky.social, Council Members Justin Brannan and Althea Stevens explain the importance of ending the bureaucratic bottlenecks that are causing nonprofits serving New Yorkers to struggle: bit.ly/3ClBcyf

city and state on bluesky when tho

Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to announce the official relaunch of congestion pricing with a $9 price tag tomorrow: cityandstateny.com/policy/2024/...

Former Rep. Anthony Weiner is thinking about mounting another political comeback attempt – this time in the New York City Council. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

It’s happening!! Check it out. @cityandstateny.bsky.social