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Compiled by Sahalie Donaldson

Thursday, April 09, 2026

Weather

Mostly sunny in New York City, sunny in Albany and partly sunny then chance of showers in Buffalo. New York City, high 52; Albany, high 60; Buffalo, high 59.

Insurers and ridehailing corporations are trying to take away your rights and make New York less affordable. Albany must hold the line and stand up for consumers and communities. Don’t bring Florida policies and politics here. Reject the sweetheart deal for car insurers. Demand accountability and affordability. Learn more at www.nystla.org

From City & State

* City & State sat down with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at City Hall on Day 98 of his administration to discuss this highly scrutinized period, including how he dealt with a record-breaking winter, how he wields his political clout, how he uses artificial intelligence (not at all) and the feedback New Yorkers have given him as he reaches 100 days.

* You are scrolling TikTok or X, brainrotting in peace, and suddenly a stiff municipal politician or congressional candidate is staring back at you, clasping a mini mic and trying desperately to relate to you using shoehorned, outdated slang like “brainrot.” This is Zohran Mamdani’s New York.

* The New York City Democratic Socialists of America formally endorsed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for reelection, strengthening its relationship with its most famous member as she lays the groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential campaign.

* Companies consistently fail to give investors clear information on how their AI strategies are affecting employees and long-term business growth, and they need to be more transparent about AI’s impact on jobs, writes state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Heard around town

By Jeff Coltin

Rep. Mike Lawler raised nearly $1.5 million from more than 4,300 individual donors in the first three months of the year, his campaign first shared with City & State ahead of yesterday’s filing deadline.

The Hudson Valley Republican said he has $4.2 million on hand heading into a tough reelection battle. Democrats consider the 17th Congressional District the top target to flip in what they hope will be a good midterm cycle. But Lawler has won the swing seat twice, and is one of the House Republicans least likely to vote with President Donald Trump. Though in a highly partisan environment, he still sided with Trump 94% of the time, per CQ Roll Call.

Democratic candidates vying to take on Lawler include Cait Conley, Beth Davidson, Effie Phillips-Staley and Peter Chatzky. All are facing off in a debate tonight organized by the Westchester County Democratic Committee and co-moderated by your author, City & State Editor-in-Chief Jeff Coltin. 

Got tips? Email editor@cityandstateny.com.

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New this morning

* In a wide-ranging interview tied to his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sought to affirm his control over the Police Department, saying he would overrule Commissioner Jessica Tisch to institute policy changes if necessary, The New York Times reports. 

* In the same interview, Mamdani acknowledged that New York City is facing a difficult labor market, even as he insisted that he is optimistic about certain economic trends, the Times reports.

* Labor leaders said that a looming Long Island Rail Road union strike would be “disastrous” for Long Island, despite Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials’ attempts to downplay the impact of the railroad’s first work stoppage in more than three decades, Newsday reports.

* As tight budgets and disagreement among Democrats block Mamdani’s plan to make buses free, even the mayor is acknowledging that it’s not going to happen this year, Politico New York reports.

* When Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced that she will not seek reelection, it signaled the pending conclusion of her influence in Western New York with Buffalo no longer having the second-most powerful member of the Assembly, The Buffalo News reports.

* More news below …

Hotels are key to NYC’s economy and keeping us a top destination. Our hotels support nearly 400,000 tourism jobs and create billions in revenue each year, while providing the best pay and benefits for its workers in the country.

But NYC hotels are in trouble. Since COVID, hotels have lost 20,000 rooms and 6,500 jobs.

It is critical that hotels get relief to stay open. Learn more at www.SaveNYCHotels.com

* New York City is denying event permits for the six weeks around the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Daily News reports.

* New York City officials warned drivers to avoid the northern section of Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue later this month through the fall as the transportation department overhauls the notoriously congested roadway, Gothamist reports.

* A landlord is fighting to keep the MTA from accessing his apartment building as part of a project to complete the transit agency’s Second Avenue subway extension for fear that an inspection would expose deficiencies that will be costly to repair, amNewYork reports.

* The latest New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission numbers paint an increasingly bleak picture for the green cabs that arrived in Northern Manhattan and the boroughs in 2013 as an alternative for neighborhoods not typically served by yellow taxis, with daily trips plummeting 98% from their peak, The City reports.

* A group of tenant organizations joined the push to pass a bill that would create new criminal penalties for rent-regulated tenant systemic harassment in a letter urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature to include it as part of the state budget negotiations, amNewYork reports.

* A pilot program with the University at Albany may help Schenectady leaders address the vexing issue of preventing property owners from dumping large amounts of trash and bulk items at the curb on garbage day, the Times Union reports.

Editorial pages

* As the federal government cuts aid, the Legislature must act to protect residents’ benefits from fraud, invest in existing food programs and expand access, Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson and Wayne Ho, president and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council, write for the Times Union.

* New Yorkers should be allowed to sue federal officials who have violated our constitutional rights, bringing them in line with the ability we already have to file civil suits against state and local officials, in a proposal known as the New York Civil Rights Act, the New York Daily News Editorial Board writes.

National politics

* President Donald Trump appeared to hold back from taking dramatic action to reshape the U.S. relationship with NATO after a high-stakes meeting with its top leader, postponing for now the reckoning he has promised over Europe’s cautious approach to his war on Iran, The Washington Post reports.

* The Department of Justice has indicated that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a scheduled deposition next week before a House committee investigating how the government handled its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, The Associated Press reports.

* At least 182 people were killed and 900 others wounded in the wave of Israeli strikes across the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, the Times reports.

NYC Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch to Keynote NYC Power 100 on 4/28

City & State’s must-read list of the most powerful people in NYC — The New York City Power 100 — has long been a prestigious institution, shining a spotlight on the individuals who shape the fabric of this vibrant metropolis. Help us recognize exceptional citizens from every borough at our exclusive evening reception on April 28. Join the festivities by placing a congratulatory ad in City & State Magazine and contacting us about event sponsorship.

Sponsored by: Community Care Rx; NYBC; Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, Inc.

Announcements

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Queens Borough President Donovan Richards … to Katie Loeb, chief of staff to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez … to Paul Larrabee, executive vice president and managing director, Corning Place Communications … to Georgia Asciutto, former committee director, Senate Education Committee … to Jon Silvan, founding partner and CEO, Global Strategy Group … to MarySol Rodriguez, president, Distinctive Public Affairs … to Ross Wallenstein, founder and CEO of Wall to Wall Communications … and to Na’ilah Amaru, advocacy and policy strategist and former executive director of the New York City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus.

MOVING ON: Anton Konev, former legislative director for state Sen. Robert Jackson’s office, is now chief of staff to city of Albany Chief Auditor Sam Fein … David Galin is now chief of staff for state Sen. Erik Bottcher … New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made three appointments including Erich Bilal as executive director of the Public Design Commission, Asim Rehman as commissioner and chair of the Business Integrity Commission and Ahmer Qadeer as director and chief pension administrator of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments.

Have a birthday, career change, birth, death or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstateny.com.

City & State NY Jobs

To advertise your 2026 employment opportunities here with City & State, email jobs@cityandstateny.com or call (212) 894-5417 ext. 520. To view more jobs, please visit jobs.cityandstateny.com.

Policy & Public Affairs Associate - Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) – New York City
The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) is hiring a Policy & Public Affairs Associate to support its mission representing the needs of riders on the MTA system. This position will primarily be responsible for conducting research on issues impacting MTA riders, identifying and drafting legislation that advances rider Councils’ goals, advocating for legislation’s passage, and managing relationships with elected officials.

Deputy Political Director - Hotel and Gaming Trades Council AFL-CIO – New York City
The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC) is seeking an experienced political professional to serve as Deputy Political Director. The ideal candidate for this position will have substantial experience in local political campaigns as well as a strong policy background. HTC is seeking to hire for this position immediately, and the candidate will be expected to quickly begin advancing the union’s goals for the 2026 elections.

General Counsel - Office of the New York City Comptroller - NYC

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for all legal matters relating to the work of or affecting the operations of the Comptroller’s Office. This includes issues relating to procurement rules and City contracts, accounting practices, and disclosures. The Office of the General Counsel interacts with numerous city agencies, including the New York City Law Department, and works closely with all the Bureaus within the Comptroller’s Office.

Affordability is more than just a buzzword; it’s an imperative for New Yorkers. 

Let’s talk about how to make it easier to call New York home — at every income level. Join leading policymakers, developers, advocates, and community leaders to address the housing crisis in NY at the Affordable Housing Summit on 5/7. RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner & CEO of NYS Homes and Community Renewal, is our keynote speaker!

Register NOW and contact us about sponsorship opportunities.

Sponsored by: HANAC; New York Apartment Association; Belkin Burden Goldman, LLP; Community Housing Innovations, Inc; Housing Solutions of New York, Inc; KPMG; RiseBoro Community Partnership; T-Mobile; VHB; Volunteers of America (Greater New York); NYSTEC

Today's sked

8:30 a.m. – New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán and Chair of Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection Harvey Epstein hold a rally for the Delivery Protection Act, City Hall Park, Manhattan.

9:30 a.m. – The New York City Rent Guidelines Board meets, Spector Hall, 22 Reade St., Manhattan.

10 a.m. – The New York City Council's Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection holds a hearing on proposed legislation that would require the licensing of last-mile facilities, Council chambers, City Hall, Manhattan.

10 a.m. – U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries leads remarks at the National Action Network Convention, Metropolitan East Ballroom, second floor, Sheraton New York Times Square, 811 7th Ave., Manhattan.

10:30 a.m. – Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is joined by Frank Bisignano, CEO of the Internal Revenue Service and commissioner of the Social Security Administration, to discuss new tax relief for working families and seniors, Bensonhurst Social Security Office, 7714 17th Ave., Brooklyn.

10:40 a.m. – Gov. Kathy Hochul meets with New Yorkers to highlight her budget proposals and affordability agenda, New York City.

11 a.m. – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a press conference to make a child care announcement, 220 Livonia Ave., Brooklyn.

11 a.m. – U.S. Reps. Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman and others join the Escobar Camprubí family to mark the one‑year anniversary of the tragic sightseeing helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Agustín Escobar Cañadas, Mercè Camprubí Montal and their three children, Christopher Street Pier Fountain / Pier 45, Hudson River Park, Manhattan.

12 p.m. – Citizen Action of New York holds a press conference calling on Kathy Hochul to Invest In Our New York and reject billionaires like the Pegulas, Empire State Development, 95 Perry St., Buffalo.

3:30 p.m. – The Rev. Al Sharpton sits down for a fireside chat with U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego at the 2026 NAN Annual Convention, Metropolitan East Ballroom, second floor, Sheraton New York Times Square, 811 Seventh Ave., Manhattan.

4:30 p.m. – Mamdani greets workers at Citi Field, Queens.

5:30 p.m. – New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin hosts the City Council’s Garifuna History Month Celebration with council colleagues, Council chamber, City Hall, Manhattan.

7 p.m. – Mamdani appears on “Inside City Hall” with Errol Louis, NY1.

Kicker

“Ultimately I hold the final decision no matter which department or agency we’re speaking about.” – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on whether he would be willing to override Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if he felt doing so was necessary, via The New York Times

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