Trump Orders Dismissal of Adams Charges in Exchange for Cooperating with ICE
No. 414 | Monday, February 17, 2025
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Local News
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the Southern District of New York to drop charges against Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for the Mayor’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After meeting with President Donald Trump’s border czar Thomas Homan, Adams opened Rikers Island to ICE, and appeared alongside Homan on Fox News, where Homan vowed to hold Adams to their “agreement.” The interim US Attorney and five other officials resigned rather than comply with the DOJ’s order, explicitly calling the order evidence of a quid pro quo.
In light of Mayor Adams’s reprieve from Trump, a wave of elected officials are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to remove Mayor Adams from office. The governor says she needs more time to think it over.
The Trump Administration took $80 million from city bank accounts that had been previously allocated to housing for migrants.
Public defenders are sounding the alarm about Governor Hochul’s proposed changes to discovery reform.
Attempts to loosen restrictions on Airbnbs in New York City apartments are facing obstacles.
New York State is considering investigating donations to a campaign opposing Governor Hochul’s proposed overhaul of the state’s home care program.
In his annual State of the Judiciary address, Chief Judge Rowan Wilson of the New York Court of Appeals, called on the legislature to pass the Second Look Act. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Julia Salazar (District 18, Bushwick) and Assembly Member Latrice Walker (District 55, Brownsville), would allow people serving very long sentences in state prison an opportunity to go before a judge and ask for a sentence reduction.
Former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is working with advocates for prison reform.
Conviction Integrity Programs, intended to identify wrongful convictions, have a troubling track record.
Election News
Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (District 36, Astoria) is pushing to raise the minimum wage to $30 by 2030 as part of his campaign for mayor of New York City.
Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10, Manhattan, Brooklyn) endorsed State Senator Zellnor Myrie (District 20, central Brooklyn) for mayor.
Socialists and Zionists pushed to register voters up until the recent February 14 deadline to participate in New York State’s 2025 Democratic primary.
Council Member Shahana Hanif (District 39, Park Slope, Kensington) brokered a deal to bring additional affordable housing to a controversial rezoning application in her district. Some activists opposed to the new housing are vowing to support a primary challenge, with some donating to Maya Kornberg, who is running to Hanif’s right.
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