HOPE FOR HOCHUL: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s weak poll numbers have modestly improved, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released this morning. Hochul was viewed favorably by 39 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 49 percent, up from 36-51 in October and 34-54 in September. Siena also polled on two of Hochul’s potential challengers, both largely unknown. Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres was viewed favorably by a margin of 19-13, while Republican Rep. Mike Lawler came in at 17-20. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado polled at 17-15. Torres and Lawler have been aggressively going after Hochul in recent weeks over her handling of congestion pricing, which pollsters found was backed by 29 percent of registered voters and opposed by 51 percent. Voters also said by a 54-35 margin that they’d like the state to support the Trump administration’s promised efforts to deport migrants living in New York illegally. “A majority of voters from the City, 51 percent; upstate, 54 percent; and the downstate suburbs, 58 percent; want the State to support the Feds efforts,” Siena spokesman Steve Greenberg said in a statement. “Supporting the Feds also has majority support from white and Black voters, and a plurality of Latino voters, 47-36 percent.” Siena surveyed 834 registered voters last week, and the numbers have a margin of error of 4.1 points. View the crosstabs here. — Bill Mahoney GEAR UP FOR AVR: New York is poised to launch a system of automatic voter registration, adding about 2 million people to the rolls. Lawmakers approved a bill in 2020 that would register anybody doing business with certain agencies such as including the DMV and the city’s public housing authority — that doesn’t actively opt out. That was due to be phased in starting Jan. 2023, but distractions such as the pandemic-era election legislation put it on the backburner. The state Board of Elections approved a resolution Monday that’ll get the registrations started as soon as it goes through the rule-making process. That will mark the latest in a long string of major changes to the state’s election law in recent years. “Between early voting, vote-by-mail, automatic registration, and many other policies, we have made great strides in making it easier for New Yorkers to vote since taking the Senate majority,” said Senate sponsor Mike Gianaris, a Queens Democrat. — Bill Mahoney BENNETT SUIT DROPPED: Charlotte Bennett has dropped her federal sexual harassment lawsuit against ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his former top advisers. The move comes at a crucial time for Cuomo, who is considering a political comeback as either a candidate for mayor or governor. Bennett’s attorney Debra Katz on Monday afternoon announced a separate lawsuit against the state of New York would continue. That suit was filed in state court. The decision came as Bennett was due to be deposed in the case. Cuomo’s attorneys late last week requested in a filing that Bennett’s lawyers be blocked from publicly discussing the former governor using a state law that allows taxpayers to foot his legal expenses. So far, New York taxpayers have shelled out $28 million to defend Cuomo in various cases following his 2021 resignation after a state attorney general report concluded he sexually harassed 11 women, which Cuomo has denied. The former governor has leveraged the case to issue subpoenas and seek depositions from women who have accused him of wrongdoing. One judge has called the effort a “scorched-earth” tactic to gain information; Cuomo’s attorneys have insisted he is defending himself. In a statement, Bennett said she was withdrawing the suit after Cuomo used her lawsuit “to harass me and my family.” “Throughout this extraordinarily painful two year case, I’ve many times believed that I’d be better off dead than endure more of his litigation abuse, which has caused extraordinary pain and expense to my family and friends. I desperately need to live my life. That’s the choice I am making today,” Bennett said. Bennett has said Cuomo sexually harassed her while she was working in his office; Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing after initially issuing a public apology. Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin in a statement called the decision to drop the suit “a complete capitulation” by Bennett. "After falsely smearing Governor Cuomo for years, Ms. Bennett suddenly withdrew her federal lawsuit on the eve of her deposition to avoid having to admit under oath that her allegations were false and her claims had no merit,” Glavin said. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — The Legislature released its 2025 calendar. (New York State Assembly) — Outgoing state Sen. Kevin Thomas said he was offered a job if he dropped out of the congressional race — which could violate the law. (City & State) — NYSUT is turning up the pressure to limit student cellphone use during school hours. (Rochester First) — Advocates and state lawmakers are urging Hochul to prevent migrant evictions in Albany. (CBS 6)
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