| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Cris Seda Chabrier
| 
Mayor Eric Adams was remarkably upbeat at his annual Interfaith Breakfast after people speculated that he might resign. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | Things had never been so over for Mayor Eric Adams. He was feeling ill, hunkering down in Gracie Mansion this week while rumors ricocheted around the political class that he was going to resign. He’s under indictment, his poll numbers are in the dumps and the threat of the former governor looms. Then Adams came roaring back Thursday morning. He delivered a rousing speech, reminding observers just how he became mayor in the first place, beating out the crowded field in 2021. “Who started the stupid rumor that I was stepping down on Friday? Are you out of your mind?” he said to a friendly crowd at an annual City Hall breakfast for faith leaders. “Get online if you’ve got a sign,” he said to anyone wanting to protest him. The media’s focus on the negative is “why you’re seeing people that are booing, instead of wooing.” Adams is poorly positioned for reelection, and one speech doesn’t change that. But it did give some hope to his backers. “Today, he fortified the faith-based community, and the rest of the city will get the message as well,” Brooklyn-based Baptist minister Conrad Tillard told Playbook. “He looks determined, and he looks full of energy, and I think he’s ready to go. Fired up and ready to go!” It wasn’t just the speech — New Yorkers opened their newspapers Thursday morning (and clicked open their New York Playbook) to see that the feds are discussing dropping Adams’ bribery case. The same morning, Adams grabbed a New York Post headline for a dip in major crimes at the end of last year. Before his speech, Adams stood by at Cipriani as new Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch released plans to reduce recidivism and improve the quality of life on subways — addressing concerns of voters who will decide the mayor’s political fate, POLITICO’s Joe Anuta reported. It was a good day for a mayor who hasn’t had many lately. But it wasn’t enough for Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, an Adams critic who would take over as acting mayor if Adams left office. “I’m glad he’s in good health. That’s sincere,” Williams told reporters at City Hall. “I don’t believe we have the mayor we need for this city right now. So my hope is coming in 2026, we’ll have some different leadership.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | A message from Homeowners for Financial Empowerment: Short-term rentals are a lifeline for NYC homeowners, allowing them to afford their homes, stay in their communities, and contribute to local businesses. Big hotel investors and special interests want to make it harder for homeowners to rent out space in their homes—all to pad hotels' bottom lines. Strong homeowners make for strong NYC neighborhoods. Support Bill 1107. LEARN MORE. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? In New York City, making an announcement on public safety, then participating as a guest in NewsChannel 9’s Newsmakers and Univision 41. WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We care about your health, not your immigration status … All New Yorkers should seek care without fear.” — A Facebook post from NYC Health + Hospitals, via Gothamist, debunking misinformation spreading on social media about reporting patients and visitors to ICE.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | 
New York Democrats and Republicans are battling to convince President Donald Trump to maintain or axe congestion pricing. | Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images | IN TRUMP’S EAR: Congestion pricing supporters and opponents are waging dueling campaigns to persuade President Donald Trump. On one side are New York House Republicans who want Trump to end federal approval for the tolls, a move that would squelch the program and give GOP lawmakers a political victory. Proponents in the New York City business community, meanwhile, are mounting a counter-effort to highlight the perceived benefits: Reduced traffic and more money for crucial infrastructure projects. Conversations at the U.S. Department of Transportation are underway that could short-circuit the $9 tolls, which were put in place on Jan. 5. Gov. Kathy Hochul has spoken to Trump about the program and highlighted early indications that it's working, according to a person familiar with the discussion. (Hochul also discussed the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions with the president, said the person, who was granted anonymity to relay the private conversation.) The Democratic governor’s handling of the delicate talks with the mercurial Republican president has been “giving him the right message,” Partnership for New York City President and CEO Kathryn Wylde told Playbook. “The governor has exactly the right strategy for managing the Trump relationship,” she said. Business leaders are trying to get the message to Trump’s orbit as well with a three-pronged argument: The tolls will generate money and jobs for improvement projects, save commuters time and prevent tax increases. Wylde said she has not spoken with Trump directly, but with “fellow travelers” to get her points across. “He’s been hearing a political argument from seats that the GOP want to hold or win back,” Wylde said. “He has not been — and his people have not been — hearing the economic arguments.” Detractors, who have argued the tolls hurt working people and make New York more unaffordable, are pushing back. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, a potential Hochul opponent in 2026, believes Trump wants to act with speed to kill the program. The issue has come up in New York House Republicans’ meetings with Trump, who railed against congestion pricing when he ran for president last year. “The longer this goes on the harder it is to undo,” Lawler told Playbook. “My belief and view is it should be stopped as quickly as possible. If Kathy Hochul feels strongly about it then she can sue.” Still, supporters are optimistic that Trump's mind can be changed, as long as it’s in his interest. “Trump is about transactions and if there is a reason this should stand then it will stand,” New York Building Congress President Carlo Scissura said. “If there isn’t a reason in his mind, he will tell DOT to kill it.” — Nick Reisman
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | | | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | 
Health care workers union 1199 SEIU is endorsing Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images | 4-1-1 on 1199: Powerhouse health care workers union 1199 SEIU is endorsing Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg, Playbook first reports. That’s an easy decision since the incumbent is running without serious opposition. The union’s coveted endorsement in the mayoral race, however, remains up in the air. But the endorsement process — and the power of 1199’s political operation — are in question amid an internal succession battle, first reported by POLITICO. “They are in serious turmoil,” one mayoral race operative told Playbook. The union’s own leadership election is scheduled for April, while 1199 plans to start its endorsement process at the end of February. Even in its somewhat diminished state, 1199 is considered a major get with its 200,000 members in the city. Unlike 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and DC 37, which have major business before the city and are thus far expected to stick with Adams, 1199 mostly deals with the state government. The organization elevated Bill de Blasio with a well-timed endorsement in 2013 and backed Maya Wiley in 2021. — Jeff Coltin SPOTTED: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, at Assemblymember Jordan Wright’s inauguration ceremony Thursday night at St. Philip's Church Harlem, per a tipster. Wright is the son of Manhattan Democratic leader Keith Wright, and Cuomo was joined by longtime Wright ally Charlie King, who’s helping the gov set up his likely mayoral campaign. More from the city: — The City Council is probing revelations that a private real estate firm scored a city deal just months after an executive joined the Adams administration. (Daily News) — Rodents have apparently gnawed clear through the supposedly “rat-proof” new trash bins, but the city said the results show the containers are largely keeping the pests away. (New York Post) — A small-scale program tackling street homelessness has proven effective, but the Adams administration doesn’t plan to expand it due to bureaucratic barriers. (Daily News)
| | | | A message from Homeowners for Financial Empowerment:  
| | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | | 
A four-judge panel appellate court found a key state voting rights law to be constitutional after a lawsuit by residents of Newburgh in the Hudson Valley. | Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images | VOTING LAW UPHELD: An appellate court found a key state voting rights law to be constitutional. Residents in the Hudson Valley town of Newburgh had filed a lawsuit under the sweeping New York Voting Rights Act of 2022, which set parameters for the administration of local elections. The residents argued the town’s at-large voting system diluted racial minorities’ votes. The town government, however, argued the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. But a four-judge panel at the Appellate Division found the law and the Constitution aren’t in conflict. “Our democracy thrives when all voters, regardless of their background, can make their voices heard at the ballot box,” Attorney General Letitia James said. The town of Newburgh did not release a statement in response and a town attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — New York’s solar industry is struggling as companies consider layoffs. (POLITICO Pro) — State lawmakers are making a renewed push for a food quality bill after Hochul’s veto. (Spectrum News) — State Attorney General Letitia James warned price gougers to not take advantage of the bird flu outbreak. (New York Post)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Rep. Nydia Velázquez and other New York Democrats condemned President Donald Trump's possible slashing of Medicaid. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | FOCUS ON MEDICAID: House Democrats in New York warned that Trump’s federal funding freeze — halted for the time being — would curtail health care resources for people who need them most. And they warned Republicans will slash Medicaid, an attack line gaining steam even as the GOP insists it’s a lie. “They are stealing money from taxpayers to be able to have the kind of resources to pass a massive tax cut for the wealthiest in this country. It is a ripoff,” Rep. Nydia Velázquez said Thursday outside a Brooklyn health care center, surrounded by patients. “He promised to the American people that he will not touch Medicaid, access to health care, and here we are.” The White House on Wednesday rescinded a memo publicizing its sweeping freeze on financial assistance, though it maintains such authority belongs with the executive branch. The pause of funding had been met with legal challenges and condemnation arguing that Congress has the power of the purse. Standing alongside Velázquez, Bob Hayes, president of Community Health Care Network, described the chaos and uncertainty created by Trump’s directives, both on federal funding and on fast-tracking deportations. His health care group does not ask about patients’ legal status and some have not been showing up for essential care because they fear deportation, he said. Meanwhile, Reps. Jerry Nadler and Adriano Espaillat appeared virtually with the nonprofit Protect Our Care to similarly condemn Trump’s attack on Medicaid. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and the Office of Management and Budget memo have noted that Medicaid and related benefits were excluded from the freeze order. But Democrats maintain it’s only a matter of time that the aid is targeted by one means or another. “Trump wants to take our Medicaid. We’ve got to fight back,” Espaillat said. “We must do everything we can to protect it.” — Emily Ngo SALT ISLAND: Rep. Nick LaLota gathered several local Long Island officials Thursday in Suffolk County to call for an increase of the cap on the state and local tax deduction, or SALT, a priority for suburban New York homeowners. The House Republican and his colleagues in the suburbs railed against “double taxation,” high taxes in the state and outmigration spurred by increased cost of living. SALT restoration promises to be the sticking point for New York Republicans as their party negotiates a renewal of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. The bill is expected to come in the next few months. “It is on my colleagues and me to make this wrong right,” LaLota said at the news conference of the congressional delegation. “Here’s the political reality: My party has a three-vote margin in the House. … And fortunately, there are five very salty Republicans who have committed, like me, to block our own party’s bill unless it has a reasonable increase in that SALT cap.” Democrats, including Hochul, want a full repeal of the cap. But Republicans managing expectations have indicated that may be a non-starter. — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Rep. Elise Stefanik is expected to bring the same kind of fierce advocacy she displayed in Congress to the U.N. if she’s confirmed as Trump’s ambassador. (NY1) — Republican Anthony Constantino is going on the offensive in his bid for Stefanik’s seat. (Times Union) — Democratic Rep. Grace Meng has reintroduced measures to make the Lunar New Year a federal holiday. (qns.com)
| | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | | | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — The Trump administration’s effort to pare back the federal workforce could hit Long Island hard. (Newsday) — New York officials are worried about the impact of Trump’s orders on DEI and school choice. (LoHud) — Inside the New York City immigration crackdown that yielded nearly 40 arrests. (New York Times)
| | A message from Homeowners for Financial Empowerment: Owning a home in NYC has always been a dream. But with skyrocketing costs and high mortgage rates, that dream is slipping away for too many. Short-term rentals were a lifeline for NYC homeowners who now find themselves more vulnerable than ever. Under Local Law 18, one- and two-family homeowners who relied on home sharing to maintain and stay in their homes experienced devastating financial losses, facing foreclosure, bankruptcy, being forced to come out of retirement, and even to leave NYC. Small, neighborhood homeowners who live in their homes full-time deserve a say over how and when to rent out space in their homes. Big hotel investors and special interests want to make it harder for homeowners—all to pad hotels' bottom lines. Help homeowners save their homes and communities. LEARN MORE. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: Matthew McMorrow, a de Blasio and Cuomo alum who was most recently a deputy director in Hochul’s Constituency Affairs Department has joined Actum as a senior vice president based in New York City. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: DCAS’s Jesse Hamilton … PEF’s Wayne Spence … Cozen’s Ashley Thompson DiNardo … Orchestra’s Michael Rabinowitz-Gold … Dylan Byers … Ali Zaidi … CNN’s Clarissa Ward … Fox News’ Martha MacCallum … David Plotz … NBC’s Christine Romans and Sarah Blackwill … Tricia McLaughlin … Michael Kempner of MWW … Heather Riley … NYT’s Katherine Miller … Tim Naftali … Brooke Buchanan … Kate Hansen … (WAS THURSDAY): David S. Cordish ... Lizzie Grubman ... Jared Isenstein Missed Thursday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here. | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
