If Elected, How Might Mamdani Use Mayoral Power in Ways That Affect Israel?

"His campaign aides say Mr. Mamdani should not be held as a mayor to the positions he espoused as a legislator." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/n...

Mamdani Is More Foe Than Friend in the Suburbs, Even Among Democrats

“My mailbox is practically tilting over with the volume of anti-Mamdani mail,” former Long Island Rep. Steve Israel tells @mayaaking.bsky.social. “And I don’t get to vote against Mamdani. The Republicans believe they’ve latched on to something.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/n...

After nearly 10 years, today is my last day at the @latimes.com. I'm so grateful to have worked with so many talented people. Please be on the lookout for one more big story soon!

Can't share yet where I'm headed next, but I'll still be writing about California housing issues.

Gaza War Turns New Yorkers Against Israel, With Mayor’s Race as Backdrop

"The poll’s findings underscore just how much Mr. Adams and Mr. Cuomo may have misread the electorate by expending energy to attack Mr. Mamdani’s views on Israel." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/n...

More Adams Associates and Supporters Are Said to Face Corruption Charges

McGuinness Boulevard rears its head again: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/n...

Cuomo and Trump, Two ‘Queens Boys,’ Go Way Back

After emigrating from Sicily, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s grandfather, Andrea Cuomo, opened a grocery store in Jamaica, Queens.

The store soon drew a regular patron: Mr. Trump’s father, Fred Trump, a politically connected developer building homes nearby. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/n...

Cuomo Tries to Reinvent Himself Online, and Critics Say, ‘OK, Boomer’

A fellow user suggested Mr. Emerson change his vanilla X handle to something more provocative: 'Andrew Cuomo Is A Sex Pest.' Mr. Cuomo soon found his X stream populated by an unwanted reference to the 11 sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/n...

The president has been briefed by Mark Penn, a pollster who has worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Andrew Stein, a former New York City Council president and decades-long friend of Mr. Trump, on a range of polling that showed Mr. Cuomo could still be competitive as an independent candidate. Both men have pushed Mr. Cuomo as the best candidate despite his loss in the Democratic primary, including in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed. One of Mr. Penn’s firms did extensive work for a pro-Cuomo super PAC in the primary. And in a previously undisclosed call in recent weeks, Mr. Trump spoke about the race directly with Mr. Cuomo, an old associate and foil, according to three people briefed on the call, who were not authorized to discuss it.

Bombshell report from The New York Times reveals that President Donald Trump spoke directly to Andrew Cuomo about how to stop Zohran Mamdani from becoming NYC mayor. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/n...

Mamdani Victory Could Represent Expansion of the Left’s Influence

NEW: While business leaders are anxious over the prospect of Zohran Mamdani in City Hall, the Democratic Socialists of America are contemplating how they would wield power and influence policy. w/ @jeffcmays.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/n...

Andrew Cuomo Test Drives a Warmer, Friendlier Version of Himself

“There was this ‘play it safe, make no mistakes’ attitude. That was not who I am.”

FEMA Is Holding Up $2.4 Billion in Grants to Fight Terrorism, States Say

FEMA Is Holding Up $2.4 Billion in Grants to Fight Terrorism, States Say

FEMA officials are two months behind in posting grant application guidelines, which are expected to reflect Trump’s demand for cooperation on his priorities (i.e., immigration enforcement.)

Here is @governor.ny.gov's letter to DHS Sec. Kristi Noem.

The delays to this FEMA funding put NY “communities at a greater risk than perhaps anywhere else in the nation,” she wrote, noting the vulnerability of “the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.”

FEMA Is Holding Up $2.4 Billion in Grants to Fight Terrorism, States Say

The delay and uncertainty are leading smaller localities to contemplate layoffs and consider a future in which the federal government plays an even smaller role in responding to emergencies. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/n...

FEMA Is Holding Up $2.4 Billion in Grants to Fight Terrorism, States Say

SCOOP: Billions of dollars in federal grants to help states protect against terrorism and disasters are being held up.

The delay appears to be about President Trump's immigration agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/n...

Gov. Hochul Suspends Top Aide Accused of Sexual Harassment

UPDATE: Avi Small, Gov. Kathy Hochul's press secretary, resigned today.

He had been placed on leave last week and was being investigated after another aide accused him of inappropriate touching. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/n...

Gov. Hochul Suspends Top Aide Accused of Sexual Harassment

This is a big deal in New York political circles. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/n...

Gov. Hochul Suspends Top Aide Accused of Sexual Harassment

Gov. Hochul Suspends Top Aide Accused of Sexual Harassment, written w/ Ben Oreskes www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/n...

An Actor, a Bookseller and a Chef Walk Into a Voting Booth

“Ms. Glazer, 38, said former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the front-runner, reminded her of a ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles villain.’”

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/n...

Mamdani Has a Thin Legislative Record but Is a Forceful Voice in Albany

During Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's whirlwind rise in the New York City mayoral race, he has put forth a wish list of big ideas, including freezing rents for stabilized apartments. The proposals have energized his base, but their ambition could exceed the ability of any mayor to see them through.

Taking on Musk, New York Considers Move to Close Tesla Dealerships Elon Musk’s alliance with President Trump has prompted Democratic lawmakers to propose stripping Tesla of its ability to sell its cars directly to consumers.

Mr. Musk is “part of an administration that is killing all the grant funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, killing wind energy, killing anything that might address climate change," said @patriciafahy46.bsky.social. "Why should we give them a monopoly?” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/n...

Taking on Musk, New York Considers Move to Close Tesla Dealerships Elon Musk’s alliance with President Trump has prompted Democratic lawmakers to propose stripping Tesla of its ability to sell its cars directly to consumers.

NEW: Elon Musk’s work w/Trump has prompted NY Dem lawmakers to propose stripping Tesla's ability to sell its cars directly to consumers.

The liberal anger here has trickled down into opposition against a planned Tesla dealership in an Albany suburb. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/n...

New York Leaders Agree to Ease Evidence Requirements for Prosecutors The contentious issue has delayed an already late state budget, with Gov. Kathy Hochul insisting that it be resolved before budget talks could advance.

“The governor always said to me she wanted the D.A.s to be in a good place,” Mr. Heastie said. “The D.A.s seem to be in a very good place. Her team was briefed on the language last night and they seemed to be fine. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/n...

New York Leaders Agree to Ease Evidence Requirements for Prosecutors The contentious issue has delayed an already late state budget, with Gov. Kathy Hochul insisting that it be resolved before budget talks could advance.

New York Leaders Agree to Ease Evidence Requirements for Prosecutors www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/n...

New York Lawmakers Want to Get Paid, Even if the Budget Is Late The State Assembly leader says legislators should not be punished if a late budget is caused by policy disagreements unrelated to New York’s finances.

“It’s just insulting for any governor to believe that not paying people is going to make them walk away from their principles,” Mr. Heastie said in an interview.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/n...

FEMA Cuts More Than $300 Million in Disaster Aid to New York Much of the money was to go toward flood mitigation in vulnerable areas of New York City that were struck hard by Hurricane Sandy and the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Much of the money was to go toward flood mitigation in vulnerable areas of New York City that were struck hard by Hurricane Sandy and the remnants of Hurricane Ida. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/n...

FEMA Cuts More Than $300 Million in Disaster Aid to New York Much of the money was to go toward flood mitigation in vulnerable areas of New York City that were struck hard by Hurricane Sandy and the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

NEW: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is cutting $325 million in grants that was to go to New York State, much of it destined for essential flood mitigation efforts in New York City. W/ @danarubinsteinbsky.bsky.social + Grace Ashford.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/n...

When It Comes to D.E.I. and ICE, Trump Is Using Federal Grants as Leverage The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing billions of dollars in grants to make sure cities and states are complying with President Trump’s priorities on immigration and diversity.

Trump's “funding threats against states, for nothing but political purposes, will directly harm millions of red voters in those purple and blue states,” said Jason Elliott, who previously served as Mr. Newsom’s deputy chief of staff. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/u...