NEW YORK MINUTE: Federal investigators served New York City’s Department of Education with a subpoena as part of their probe into outgoing schools Chancellor David Banks and his family, POLITICO reported today. Authorities are seeking contracts between the Department of Education and companies with ties to the Banks family. SHOW ME THE MONEY: Mayoral hopefuls Brad Lander and Scott Stringer expect to get millions of dollars each in public funds in December, based on their latest campaign finance reports released on Friday. It is unclear whether recently indicted Mayor Eric Adams will get the same. Lander, the city comptroller, has raised nearly $1 million so far, including $330,315 since July, when he announced his run for mayor. He expects to qualify for as much as $3.49 million in public matching funds when the first payment is released in mid-December, his team said. Adams’ campaign has not filed its 2025 report, and his rep declined to share any information about his report, which is due to the New York City Campaign Finance Board by day’s end. Through July, Adams’ campaign said it had qualified for as much as $4 million in matching funds, on top of the $3 million in private funds he had in the bank. But given the open criminal case alleging a straw donor conspiracy with Turkish officials, and the Campaign Finance Board’s ongoing audit of his 2021 campaign, it’s far from guaranteed that Adams would be granted the taxpayer money. Lander’s team is highlighting his grassroots support. More than 2,300 people gave in the past three months, with an average contribution of $136. Adams’ average contribution through July, for comparison, was $1,044. Lander was the only serious mayoral contender to have his filing uploaded by mid-afternoon today. But the campaigns of Stringer, the former city comptroller, and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, all shared some numbers with Playbook in advance of posting. Stringer has raised $616,000 since January, including $180,540 in the latest period. That puts him in line for a potential $2.5 million payment of matching funds in December. One of his donors, Stringer’s campaign noted, was actress Scarlett Johansson. She’s a longtime supporter of the Manhattan Democrat owing to a family friendship. Candidates need to report at least $250,000 in match-eligible donations from at least 1,000 donors to qualify. New York City residents’ contributions up to $250 are matched 8-to-1. Myrie hasn’t hit that yet, but his campaign said he has brought in more than $470,000 since May, including about $147,000 this period. Ramos only launched her mayoral campaign four weeks ago, but her campaign says she’s brought in $52,512 so far, with an average donation of just $83. Candidates are raising with an eye toward the June 2025 Democratic primary. But the money could also be used in a special election, if Adams were to resign. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor in that scenario, and political insiders say he might be persuaded to run in that scenario. But for now, he’s not fundraising like a mayoral candidate. He only brought in $41,000 this period, and has just $78,444 on hand. — Jeff Coltin | 
