New York Minute: George Santos wants back in Congress — or perhaps just back in the spotlight. The Republican indicted on 23 federal fraud charges and expelled by his colleagues announced late Thursday that he plans to primary Long Island Rep. Nick LaLota, posting the news on X in the middle of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. “New York hasn’t had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota,” wrote Santos, who attended the speech. LaLota responded, “To raise the standard in Congress, and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable, I led the charge to expel George Santos. If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in.” — Emily Ngo ILLEGAL WEED CRACKDOWN NEARS: Shuttering businesses accused of selling cannabis without a license could be one of the first agreements reached in the state budget. Democratic lawmakers are confident they’ll be able to come to an accord with Gov. Kathy Hochul to crack down on the retailers as part of a broader effort to aid the struggling legal cannabis marketplace in the state. At issue is how to grant local governments the power to shut down businesses that are believed to be selling weed products illegally. The Democratic-led state Senate is expected to include the provision in its budget resolution when it's released next week, a person familiar with the details said. Cracking down on illegal cannabis shops has been a top priority for Mayor Eric Adams. And his allies in Albany pressed for it to get done. Talks have intensified at the Capitol over how to address the problem with closed-door discussions in the last week between lawmakers and Hochul’s team. “The governor has been very open and collaborative, and I spoke to her people yesterday and I'm very optimistic that we will give municipalities the authority in the budget,” Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, a Democratic ally of the mayor, told Playbook. “I’m positive we’ll reach the finish line.” Hochul included the proposal in her State of the State agenda at the start of the year, alongside dropping a cannabis potency tax beefing up the state’s regulatory authority. Rajkumar, along with Queens state Sen. Leroy Comrie, proposed a measure similar to what Hochul wants to accomplish by padlocking businesses suspected of selling illegal weed. Concerns from lawmakers are multifold: The illegal cannabis shops are costing New York tax money. Selling cannabis without a license is also putting a strain on the legal businesses that have had trouble establishing themselves. And officials are concerned the cannabis sold illegally presents a public health hazard. But the state has made little progress in addressing the issue. Regulators at the Office of Cannabis Management don’t have the resources to tackle the problem, especially in the city where the troubles are the most glaring. At the same time, lawmakers are impatient. They point to illegal weed stores near schools, a violation of the state’s cannabis laws. “We need to shut these places down and send a message to them that they can’t flourish in our communities,” Comrie said in an interview. Comrie expects the final version of the measure will have elements of both Hochul’s and the Legislature’s proposal. “Some of her ideas are good; some of ours are good,” he said. “We can blend them to get it done.” Hochul last week at a news conference decried how long it takes to shut down illicit cannabis businesses, while describing the legal sector of the cannabis economy as one filled with “growing pains and a long journey.” But fines of tens of thousands of dollars for the illicit market haven’t done the trick. “Let’s give the state and localities ways that they can padlock the doors and shut down these flagrant violators,” she said. “Let’s start having some teeth.” — Nick Reisman HAPPY FRIDAY: Have a great weekend! Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? In Washington, D.C. and Albany, making a guest appearance on PIX11. WHERE’S ERIC? In Florida, delivering remarks at the Building & Construction Trades Council’s annual conference and meeting with labor leaders. Then he’s headed to Albany for the SOMOS conference. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There are ways to address this issue — other ways to address it — other than more policing into the subway system.” – City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, on Hochul’s plan to have National Guard and state police patrol the subways.
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