Zohran’s Big Fundraising Numbers + Another Adams Austerity Budget
No. 410 | Monday, January 20, 2025
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Local News
In her State of the State speech last week, Governor Kathy Hochul included calls for more police on the subway and a statewide baby bond program, among other policies.
Mayor Eric Adams proposed his preliminary budget of $114 billion for Fiscal Year 2026. The plan proposes deep cuts to essential services, including a $3,000 reduction per student seat in NYC schools, threatening vital education programs.
The mayor met with incoming President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, ostensibly to discuss issues related to the City, but more likely to discuss a potential pardon, which Trump has previously said he would consider. Adams has also not ruled out switching parties to run for reelection as a Republican, which he still has time to do (Adams was previously a Republican in the 1990s.).
Mayor Adams' legal defense fund is nearly $1 million in debt.
Prosecutors dropped charges against former Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin after the death of a key witness.
New NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch instituted a new policy restricting car chases.
The MTA is installing spikes on turnstyles to discourage fare avoidance rather than addressing the underlying inequalities.
New York City's "Code Blue" initiative, designed to protect homeless residents during extreme cold, falls short in terms of outreach and adequate shelter options.
Seven people were injured in a harrowing Bronx apartment fire that was made worse by heavy winds, underscoring the vulnerability of older buildings in extreme weather. The negligent landlord unsuccessfully fought the city’s housing agency last year to end temperature monitoring due to chronic heat complaints.
Tenants trapped in Daniel Ohebshalom’s mold-ridden, pigeon-infested buildings continue to endure appalling living conditions despite years of complaints and neglect.
A new exhibit reflects on the once-envied open spaces of NYCHA projects, highlighting the way these public spaces have been defunded over the years.
Take a moment to enjoy the story of David Lynch’s NYC rat PSA.
Election News
Scott Stringer officially launched his mayoral campaign, the same week as candidates released their fundraising numbers, with Comptroller Brad Lander leading.
DSA endorsed Zohran Mamdani set a new record for fundraising in his mayoral campaign, raising $642,339 with 6,502 unique donors in just a few months, signaling strong grassroots support.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio is facing $500,000 in fines for using city resources for his personal security detail during his failed presidential run.
The NYC Local
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