WE’RE ALL FRIENDS NOW: Gov. Kathy Hochul is pledging to work with a future Andrew Cuomo administration — if her former boss’ speculated run for mayor proves successful. “My nature is to work with whoever is sitting in office, whether it's the president of the United States, other governors or mayors,” the governor said when she was asked whether she supports Cuomo’s speculated run for mayor. “I’ll continue on that path,” she added. Hochul, who was on Long Island to unveil a proposal to provide free lunches for all K-12 students in the state (more on that below), made the comments on the heels of a new POLITICO report that signals Cuomo is continuing to line up the pieces for his run for mayor. The Thursday report details how Cuomo is expected to hire Charlie King, a partner at the Manhattan-based consulting and lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs. Hochul has enjoyed a sunny relationship with Mayor Eric Adams, even as he battles federal corruption charges that could turn into even worse charges. She opted not to oust him — a power she holds — after his September indictment, in exchange for him pushing out scandal-scarred top aides. “My job as governor of this great state is to work with whomever the voters choose to be the Mayor of the City of New York,” Hochul said, still in response to the Cuomo question. “I've demonstrated that. I've had a better relationship with the mayor of New York than probably any of my predecessors. It has been collaborative, because I recognize one thing — we both represent the same people.” Cuomo — whose own petty feuds with former Mayor Bill DeBlasio have become the stuff of legend — declined to comment for this story. His team continues to avoid confirming the drips of news about his seemingly embryonic campaign for mayor mean he is actually running. (Jewish Insider also reported in November that Cuomo’s team is preparing to run, and is setting up an independent expenditure group.) “This all remains premature, but Andrew Cuomo will always be a Queens boy who loves New York, is deeply concerned about its direction, and will always help any way he can,” Azzopardi told our colleague Nick Reisman in response to the Mercury Public Affairs news. He also insisted that “nothing has changed and neither apparently has the rumor mill in all its glory.” When asked if she would rank Adams at the ballot box in June, Hochul balked — “I’m not a voter in New York City,” she said, sidestepping the hypothetical. The governor’s comments, about President-elect Donald Trump, Adams and Cuomo (who Cuomo has insisted are all the same) come as she continues to signal a non-aggression pact with, well, everyone after quickly abandoning a Trump-resistance posture. If you remember, the day after Election Day, Hochul hosted a Trump-bashing press conference with Attorney General Letitia James, where James said the two are “ready to fight back again.” But immediately afterward, her stance softened, a prerogative that seems to have been solidified by her “lengthy,” “cordial” and “very productive” phone call with Trump the next day. Since the pair’s cuddly chat, the governor has pledged to work with — not obstruct — the Trump administration’s efforts, even pledging to be “the first to call up ICE” to deport immigrants who break the law when asked about Trump’s mass deportation plan. While she plays nice with the three criminally probed men, she still must ward off a challenge from Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who are both doing their best to ramp up speculation they will campaign against her for governor in 2026. “The change of heart about Cuomo is the latest flip-flop from the foremost flip-flopper in New York politics,” Torres texted Playbook. “Just like Kathy Hochul was for congestion pricing before she was against it before she was for it, Hochul was for Cuomo before she was against him before she was for him.” Lawler also chimed in: “Governor Hochul’s new ‘Kumbaya Kathy’ act is laughable,” he said. “Commonsense people in both parties know that she doesn’t work with, or listen to, anyone who disagrees with her and her bad ideas. If she did, we wouldn’t be dealing with congestion pricing, sanctuary cities, or cashless bail.” — Jason Beeferman
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