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Annie McDonough

@anniemcdonough.bsky.social
1.2K followers 176 following 183 posts

Reporter @cityandstateny.bsky.social • Write me/send tips at amcdonough (at) cityandstateny (dot com) • DM for Signal • She/her

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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
NEW: A report by the state comptroller finds New York City has room for improvement in its AI governance. Among the issues identified: risk assessments of AI tools aren't required, and tools are still only self-reported by agencies. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
cityandstateny.com
State audit finds room for improvement in NYC’s AI governance
A new report from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found New York City has only partially implemented 2023 recommendations on how government should use AI.
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Fariha Rahman @fariharahman.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
My latest for City & State!
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
SCOOP from @fariharahman.bsky.social Pre-K and 3-K providers haven't been paid their regular advance payments ahead of the school year, forcing some to dig into their own pockets and apply for loans. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
cityandstateny.com
Weeks away from the start of school, 3-K and pre-K programs are without funding
Several providers said they’ve had to dig into their own pockets or apply for loans to be able to open their doors on Sept. 10.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is AI avoidant, telling us earlier this year he doesn't use tools like ChatGPT if he can help it. But the city government he inherited was increasingly embracing AI, and the new admin has yet to set a plan for how it should be used. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
cityandstateny.com
Mamdani’s government has started to embrace AI. Will he?
The personally AI-avoidant mayor faces calls to both expand use of cutting-edge technologies and put in guardrails to curb their usage.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Driverless cars may not be coming to New York this year, but Waymo’s brief false start has opened an existential debate that labor and their allies aren’t going to give up easily. Wrote about the (possible) future for this week’s cover. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
cityandstateny.com
Across NY, debate about the inevitability of driverless cars begins
Waymo is crouched at the gates, and labor and worker advocates are hell bent on keeping them out.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
New: City Hall has hired an AI and privacy expert in a senior tech role. Rashida Richardson will support DM for Operations Julia Kerson and CTO Lisa Gelobter on AI – which, like it or not, was never going to begin and end with that one failed chatbot. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
City Hall hires expert on AI and privacy
Rashida Richardson, an alum of the White House and Federal Trade Commission, will work with the Mamdani administration on AI, among other tech issues.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes is drafting legislation that would ban the sale of AI chabot-enabled toys for kids – a real thing that currently exists, but which he likened to an episode of "The Twilight Zone" www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...
cityandstateny.com
Gounardes wants moratorium on sale of AI chatbot-enabled kids’ toys
After passing the RAISE Act, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes is drafting regulation aimed at keeping ChatGPT out of teddy bears.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Hearing @mayor.nyc.gov will be announcing Lisa Gelobter, a technologist with a national profile (including serving in the Obama admin), as the city's next Chief Technology Officer this afternoon. Last CTO, Matt Fraser, resigned at end of last year. Ruby Choi has been acting CTO since.
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Jacob Kornbluh @jacobkornbluh.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
🚨 SCOOP🚨: NYC Mayor Mamdani appoints Phylisa Wisdom, progressive Jewish leader, to run the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. forward.com/fast-forward...
forward.com
Mamdani appoints Phylisa Wisdom, progressive Jewish leader, to run Office to Combat Antisemitism
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Phylisa Wisdom, a progressive Jewish leader, to lead the Office to Combat Antisemitism.
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Rebecca C. Lewis @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
NEW: Gov. Hochul announces former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate to form a historic all-female majority party ticket in NY. Rare city and state joint byline with @anniemcdonough.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Hochul taps former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate
Gov. Kathy Hochul picked Adrienne Adams to be her lieutenant governor for an all-female ticket.
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Jeff Coltin @jccoltin.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Kamar Samuels is Mamdani's pick to lead the DOE, three sources with knowledge of the plan tell City & State. Big city team scoop by @hollypret.bsky.social, @anniemcdonough.bsky.social and @sahalied.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/personality/...
cityandstateny.com
Mamdani to name Kamar Samuels as schools chancellor
The Manhattan superintendent will lead the nation’s largest public school system.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
New: Last summer, the New York City Council accidentally paid former staffers who didn't work for the body at the time. The council now says the former staffers have to pay them back. The former staffers are pissed. More here: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
The New York City Council accidentally paid former staffers. Now the council is demanding repayment.
“I was shocked and horrified,” said one former staffer who is being asked to repay more than $800.
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Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 03/11/2025
Scoop from @anniemcdonough.bsky.social: City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa is dropping her own bid to be City Council Speaker and instead backing her colleague Crystal Hudson for the position. It's a sign that progressives are consolidating behind Hudson: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Carmen De La Rosa to drop speaker bid and back Crystal Hudson
The move could help consolidate support for a more progressive candidate for City Council speaker.
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Rebecca C. Lewis @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Cuomo just clarified that he meant ONLY the last four years because of Hochul, a person he only minutes ago said he could work well with because he had picked her as his LG (though tried to ditch her at least twice)
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
More video of the tank on Lafayette a short while ago outside 26 Federal Plaza, and federal agents making arrests of counter protesters.
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Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 02/10/2025
SCOOP: DSA-backed City Council Member @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social is exploring a primary challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10. Avilés is meeting with @socialists.nyc's Electoral Working Group next week to discuss her potential congressional run. Read more at @cityandstateny.bsky.social:
cityandstateny.com
Alexa Avilés exploring challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10
The DSA-backed City Council member has been talking to allies about potentially challenging the incumbent representative.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Curtis Sliwa wants all four major mayoral candidates to stand on the City Hall steps to jointly call for a ban on horse-drawn carriages. On the very off chance that that doesn't come to fruition, we rounded up where the candidates stand on the issue. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
cityandstateny.com
Where do NYC mayoral candidates stand on banning horse-drawn carriages?
One guess where Curtis “Protect Animals party” Sliwa stands.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Albany’s ‘3 people in a room’ are all with Zohran Mamdani. The Democratic mayoral nominee is set to drive that point home with an appearance alongside state Senate Majority Leader (and early endorser) Andrea Stewart-Cousins tomorrow. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Albany’s ‘3 people in a room’ are all with Zohran Mamdani
They want him to be mayor. Will they support his agenda?
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Just now, 11 state and city lawmakers were arrested by DHS police on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza after a hour of demanding access to the ICE lock up on the same floor. @thecity.nyc
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
TB control, building bus lanes, cleaning parks - the MMR shows how staffing shortages hindered city services. It also showed how new hires can improve them. DVS reached more veterans and some ACS specialists' case loads declined thanks to increased hiring www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
cityandstateny.com
Tuberculosis control, bus lane construction, bathroom cleaning: Where staffing problems continued to hurt city services
An updated review of city agency performance in fiscal year 2025 highlights how staffing shortages contributed to delayed or diminished city services – and where the city saw some improvements.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Andrew Cuomo's "Zohran's Law" would 1) require new rent-stabilized tenants to be rent burdened to live in those units and 2) not apply to Zohran Mamdani. More w/ @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social here www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
‘Zohran’s Law,’ Cuomo’s very political housing proposal, would not apply to Zohran
The rule pitched by Cuomo’s campaign would means test incoming tenants in rent-stabilized units.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Eric Adams is trying to thread an independent mayoral bid through the eye of a needle. Zohran Mamdani has the wind at his back But if there's a time for Adams to shine, it’s on the campaign trail More on the 2 candidates' retail chops w/@sahalied.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
For Zohran Mamdani, Eric Adams is a different kind of rival
If Andrew Cuomo was more of a rarified cardboard box, Adams is a true street campaigner.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Zohran Mamdani aimed to assemble a new coalition of South Asian and Muslim voters to pull off a longshot victory in the Democratic primary. He accomplished much more than that. Took a look at his strong performance with Asian American voters here ⬇️ www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Zohran Mamdani’s Asian American coalition
The Assembly member who is well positioned to become New York City’s first Asian American mayor won with the support of the rapidly growing AAPI electorate.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
He’s taking in donations again. His campaign website is live. His scandal-scarred advisers are back in public view. And most importantly, he’s got an opponent he thinks he can beat. More on Mayor Eric Adams' reelection kickoff w/ @sahalied.bsky.social here. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Eric Adams, surrounded by faith leaders, officially launches his reelection campaign
It would take an act of God for this man to be reelected, and if he is to be believed, there just might be one.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Zohran Mamdani stuns New York City. Andrew Cuomo calls to congratulate him on his victory. More here with @sahalied.bsky.social, in a story that will be updated. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
And ultimately – Zohran Mamdani stuns New York
The 33-year-old democratic socialist Assembly member outperformed everyone’s expectations – emerging on election night with a decisive lead.
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Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 24/06/2025
Read the story that had my editors saying "you wrote 3,000 words about this? that's way too much" www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Many expect Zohran Mamdani to take the WFP line if he loses to Cuomo. That’s far from a sure thing
Mamdani could run in the general election as the candidate of the Working Families Party, but he and the Democratic Socialists of America don’t bother with unwinnable races.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Had a great time talking with Frank Festa @ballotpedia.org this morning about the non-stop thrill ride that is the 2025 mayoral race! Catch the episode here before the next unexpected twist in the race makes it out of date. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCi...
youtube.com
NYC Mayoral Primary 2025: Cuomo, Mamdani, RCV, and the Democrats’ Next Chapter
YouTube video by Ballotpedia
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
NY Governor Kathy Hochul inside 26 Federal Plaza now, seeking answers from DHS/ICE about the arrest of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who is still being detained. @thecity.nyc "How long is this going to take, I don't think he has a long rap sheet," Hochul says to agents.
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Dana Rubinstein @danarubinsteinbsky.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
The mayor refused to answer questions on this as he walked out of the briefing room
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Lander just got detained by federal agents as he tried to escort a man out of the courtroom. Lander was taken in an elevator with masked agents, along with one member of his NYPD security detail.
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Holly Pretsky @hollypret.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
We're back! 7 candidates onstage for the second and final NYC mayoral Democratic primary debate
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Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 06/06/2025
"At least four of Ramos’ endorsers had rescinded their endorsements by the time she finished speaking on stage at a Cuomo campaign event on Friday morning" www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Progressives pull Ramos endorsements after she backs Andrew Cuomo
Several of the organizations and elected officials backing Ramos have quickly rescinded their endorsement or said they’re reconsidering it.
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Jeffery C. Mays @jeffcmays.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
He's leading Democratic Primary contenders in all the polls, but former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is also petitioning to run on an independent ballot line in November called the "Fight and Deliver" line. Their symbol? A pair of boxing gloves. Read more in our upcoming newsletter, The Sprint for City Hall
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Endorsements in the New York City mayoral race are getting increasingly convoluted, but we're still tracking them here! www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Endorsements in the 2025 New York City mayoral race
Labor unions, political clubs and power brokers. Stay up to date on which mayoral candidates are getting the coveted endorsements for 2025.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Both at make-or-break moments in their political careers, Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul aren’t at each other’s throats yet. But few believe that Cuomo, if elected mayor, will sink comfortably into the role of second fiddle. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Mayor Cuomo and Gov. Hochul? It would be weird.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty in the New York City mayor race, but one thing is for sure: the mayor will have less power than his or her counterpart in Albany.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
An assistant commissioner in the NYPD with "substantial policy discretion" was fined $5,000 for soliciting and collecting $4,100 in donations for Mayor Eric Adams' reelection campaign last summer, per @nyccoib.bsky.social
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Per @nyccoib.bsky.social, city Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez was fined $1,750 for promoting presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an official city event last August.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
In his first bid for public matching funds, Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign is denied. The campaign blames the denial on a technical/software issue, and says they expect to receive the payment next month. More here w/ @sahalied.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Andrew Cuomo denied millions in public matching funds for mayoral campaign
The former governor’s campaign won’t receive the funds until next month at the earliest.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Does anyone want to be New York City’s tech mayor? In 2021, Eric Adams ran on government modernization, but few candidates running to replace him are talking about picking up that work. (Note: Using ChatGPT in your policy proposals doesn't count) www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
cityandstateny.com
Does anyone want to be New York City’s tech mayor?
In 2021, Eric Adams ran on government modernization, but few candidates running to replace him are talking about picking up that work.
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Holly Pretsky @hollypret.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
The “deal,” as some participants call the City Council speaker selection process, is a yearslong conversation that involves political influencers across the city, and it plucks all the strings that connect them to one another. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Inside the quiet race for New York City's second-most powerful position
The New York City Council speakership goes to whomever can convince around 125 political power brokers, all with opposing interests, that they'll have an ally in City Hall.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
All eyes are on the mayor's race, but another race is starting to take shape behind the scenes for leadership of the New York City Council in 2026. @hollypret.bsky.social has all the details on how the powerful speaker of the New York City Council is chosen www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Inside the quiet race for New York City's second-most powerful position
The New York City Council speakership goes to whomever can convince around 125 political power brokers, all with opposing interests, that they'll have an ally in City Hall.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
In a perfectly tidy and ethical world, elected officials running for office would do their campaigning in a remote, vacuum-sealed bubble, far out of reach of the levers of power of their government offices. In reality, shit’s a lot messier than that. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro says Council Speaker Adrienne Adams ‘misused her city position’
The speaker removed two members who endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor from her budget negotiating team.
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Sophie Krichevsky @sophiekrichevsky.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Scoop from @anniemcdonough.bsky.social and @hollypret.bsky.social 👀👀 www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
A couple of Cuomo endorsers in the City Council lose budget negotiation roles
Selvena Brooks-Powers and Lynn Schulman were removed from the budget negotiating team after they endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
New: Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Lynn Schulman were booted from the City Council's powerful budget negotiating team after endorsing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor over City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. (With @hollypret.bsky.social) www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
A couple of Cuomo endorsers in the City Council lose budget negotiation roles
Selvena Brooks-Powers and Lynn Schulman were removed from the budget negotiating team after they endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Open New York's PAC will spend at least half a million on candidates in 6 competitive City Council races this year – and on 6 incumbents in safer seats. More on the races the pro-development group is wading into here www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Pro-housing PAC will spend at least $500k on City Council races
Twelve candidates, including half a dozen in competitive districts, have won the support of the Abundant New York PAC.
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Mayor Eric Adams bounded into the 2025 mayoral race this week, with a renewed swagger. More on his survival strategy w/ @sahalied.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Eric Adams’ survival strategy
The mayor throws a Hail Mary pass, and he does it with renewed swagger.
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Sophie Krichevsky @sophiekrichevsky.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
BREAKING: The WFP said the likelihood it would endorse Andrew Cuomo in the general election (even if he wins the Democratic primary) is "close to none." In fact, the party doesn't need to have anyone on the ballot in November at all. w/ @hollypret.bsky.social www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
WFP on Andrew Cuomo in general elex: ‘Likelihood he earns the Party’s support is close to none.’
Campaign energy is shifting to the general election after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams said he’s running as an independent. The WFP could become a major player in November if they choose not to back the...
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Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
The D.R.E.A.M. PAC has a new motto now that (not) ranking Eric Adams in the Democratic primary isn’t an option anymore: “Don’t Rank Evil Andrew For Mayor.”
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Rebecca C. Lewis @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
We have our second state budget extender which will pass today, keeping the government funded until April 7
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Sahalie Donaldson @sahalied.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
New: A federal judge dropped Mayor Adams federal corruption case with prejudice today. Now it’s time to see whether Adams backs up his claims that he's indeed still running for reelection. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
cityandstateny.com
Eric Adams’ federal corruption charges dismissed
Federal Judge Dale E. Ho dropped the case with prejudice, meaning charges can’t be brought again in the future.
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