Now we are all friends: Gov. Kathy Hochul has pledged to work with a future Andrew Cuomo administration if her former boss’ mayoral bid is successful.
Asked if he supported Cuomo’s mayoral bid, the governor said, “It’s my nature to work with whoever is in office, whether it’s the president of the United States, another governor or a mayor.”
He added, “I will continue on that path.”
Hochul, who was on Long Island to unveil a proposal to provide free lunches to all K-12 students in the state, commented on a new POLITICO report showing that Cuomo continues to jump in line. Pieces to run for mayor.
Thursday’s report details how Cuomo is expected to hire Charlie King, a partner at Mercury Public Affairs, a Manhattan-based consulting and lobbying firm.
Hochul has maintained a good relationship with Mayor Eric Adams even as he battles federal corruption charges that could turn into worse charges. She decided not to oust him after he was indicted in September, in exchange for pushing out his scandal-plagued top aides.
“My job as governor of this great state is to work with whoever the voters choose to be mayor of New York,” Hochul said, still responding to questions from Cuomo. “I proved it. I’ve probably had a better relationship with the mayor of New York than any of my predecessors. I have been cooperative because I recognize one thing: That we both represent the same people.”
Cuomo, whose petty feud with former Mayor Bill DeBlasio has become legendary, declined to comment for this story. His team continues to fail to confirm the dripping news about his seemingly nascent mayoral campaign, which means he’s actually running.
(Jewish Insider also reported that Cuomo’s team is preparing to run in November and is forming an independent spending group.)
Azzopardi told colleague Nick Reisman in response to Mercury Public Affairs. “All of this is still premature. “But Andrew Cuomo will always be a Queens boy who loves New York, cares deeply about its direction, and will always help in any way he can.” tidings. He also claimed that “nothing has changed and there doesn’t seem to be any glory in the rumors.”
When asked where he would rank Adams at the ballot box in June, Hochul dodged the hypothetical, baffling: “I’m not a New York City voter.”
The governor’s comments about President-elect Donald Trump, Adams and Cuomo (whom Cuomo has claimed) come as she quickly abandoned her anti-Trump stance and continued to forge non-aggression agreements with all of them.
If you remember, the day after Election Day, Hochul hosted a press conference with Attorney General Letitia James denouncing Trump, with James saying the two were “ready to fight again.”
But her stance softened shortly thereafter, and that privilege appears to have been cemented in a “long,” “friendly” and “very productive” phone call with Trump the following day.
After the two men’s cordial conversation, the governor promised to cooperate with the Trump administration’s efforts rather than hinder them, and even promised to be “the first to call ICE” to deport immigrants who have broken the law when asked about Trump’s plans for mass deportations. .
She fits in well with the three men under criminal investigation, but still must fend off challenges from Democratic Rep. Rich Torres and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who are doing their best to fuel speculation that they will campaign against her in the 2026 gubernatorial election. . .
“The change of heart about Cuomo is the latest in a long line of flip-flops in New York politics,” Torres texted to Playbook. “Just as Kathy Hochul opposed congestion pricing before she opposed it, Hochul supported Cuomo before she opposed him.”
Lawler also said: “Governor Hochul’s new ‘Kumbaya Kathy’ act is ridiculous,” he said. “Common sense people in both parties know she will not work with or listen to anyone who disagrees with her and her bad ideas. “If she had, we wouldn’t be dealing with congestion pricing, sanctuary cities, and cashless bail.” — Jason Bipperman
you After lunch, you Have lunch…: New York will become the ninth state in the nation to provide free lunch and breakfast to all K-12 school students, regardless of income.
“I propose free school meals for every student in New York,” the Governor said today. This means providing children with the livelihood they need and putting more money back into parents’ pockets,” he said.
The announcement is the last of three affordability proposals Hochul has released ahead of his State of the City address.
Hochul has long focused on Albany’s affordability, but recently “put money back in our pockets” after Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris revealed the loss of Democratic support among working-class voters across most demographic groups. There was an emphasis on “putting it in.”
“This is just an expression of our values,” Hochul said. “It helps put more money in the pockets of parents and families in countless ways. “This is just one of the other plans we will announce in our State of the State on Tuesday.”
The governor’s new plan, known as Universal Free School Meals, would eliminate income requirements and expand eligibility to nearly 300,000 additional students.
The investment in the state’s free student lunch program, which Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas and State Senator Michelle Hinchey have been working to expand over the past two years, means about 2.7 million students will be eligible for free meals.
“Reducing stigma is very important,” Rojas said. “We hear about so many kids who get teased because they want to learn and not focus on the challenges they are facing, and about families who are embarrassed to do all this and get attention,” Rojas said. said: .
“Just because you don’t qualify, our arbitrary cutoff, doesn’t mean your family is in crisis and struggling,” Hinchey said.
The plan is expected to cost $340 million and would take effect in the 2025-26 school year, according to the governor’s office. — Jason Bipperman and Madina Toure
(there) exists or does not exist: Adams intends to attend Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, but his Albany allies are staying put.
Hochul campaign spokeswoman Jen Goodman confirmed today that the governor will not attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony in Washington.
Adams and Hochul are moderate Democrats who have worked well together. But Adams, who is fighting five federal felony charges, has tread lightly in Trump world.
Unlike the governor, Adams was not a citation surrogate when President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris replaced him. Adams also met with incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan and was critical of the way Biden is handling immigration policy. (Hocheol has effectively aligned himself with the Biden administration on this issue and criticized Republicans for the border security bill that was repealed last year.)
The inauguration coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and prominent New York officials typically unite for a celebration of the civil rights leader by the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network in Harlem.
Hochul did not disclose his plans Jan. 20, but is expected to make a state budget presentation in Albany the next day. — Nick Reisman
Fierce Tax Battle: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is drawing a line in the fierce race to lift the cap on the state and local tax deduction (SALT), with House Republicans meeting with President Trump on Saturday to argue for an increase.
Schumer wants a complete repeal, a complete moratorium.
Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino and their fellow lawmakers from New Jersey and California see a significant increase in the current $10,000 limit per household as a realistic opening bid. Extensive tax relief package.
But other Democrats, including Schumer and Hochul, have made full restoration their position. The senior senator previewed the Democratic strategy Friday in a speech to the pro-business Long Island Association.
“President-elect Trump and many of the Southern and Midwestern members of Congress who pushed for unfair SALT limits in the 2017 tax bill are now having second thoughts and we need to take advantage,” he told the business community in the suburbs where SALT is located. It’s a very big deal. “There has been a lot of talk this week about Trump’s potential increase in SALT limits. But remember: If you don’t renew it, your Trump SALT limit will expire. And this assault on New York taxpayers will end once and for all. ”
As House Republicans in high-tax states filed the SALT lawsuit, they also criticized Democratic leaders in those states, including Hochul, for the huge taxes that make the deduction so important. — Emily Ngo
— Guilty Plea: Erden Arkan, a Turkish-American construction executive, pleaded guilty Friday to making straw donations to Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign. (Politico)
— Two less terrible things: City parents are starting a campaign asking City Hall to fund free universal childcare for two-year-olds. (Daily News)
— Do not give shelter: The city is closing 10 migrant shelters as arrival rates of asylum seekers continue to hit record lows. (New York Post)
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