Gov. Kathy Hochul supports a bill to delay the expected special election in NY-21. | Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Gov. Kathy Hochul is lording a special election calendar over President Donald Trump as they negotiate congestion pricing.
The Democratic governor is pausing a bill that would delay a special election for a Republican House seat — legislation intended to kneecap the GOP’s fragile hold on power in the House.
This all stems from Trump tapping Rep. Elise Stefanik, a MAGA loyalist, to be his U.N. ambassador, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson down a seat in his razor-thin majority once Stefanik resigns.
A person familiar with the matter told Playbook Hochul wants to use the bill — which would enable her to extend the period Stefanik’s upstate, largely rural congressional seat sits vacant — as a negotiating tactic against Trump. The two are looking to make a deal on the congestion toll Hochul has gingerly championed that Trump has admonished.
“The governor would delay any kind of action on the election bill as a way to generate a little bit more leverage to prevent Trump from unilaterally eliminating congestion pricing,” the person said.
It’s a curious turn for Hochul, who supports the now-paused special elections bill in the Legislature, as does House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Democrats’ in the Assembly and Senate put the bill on ice today in Albany.
Had it passed, it would have been a massive thorn in the side of House Republicans in Washington.
Once Stefanik is confirmed, as is expected, her seat will be left empty. The recently paused bill would have kept that likely Republican seat vacant for longer by consolidating the special election with the general election — prolonging the period that Republicans are down by one seat in Congress.
The few Albany Democrats who represent parts of Stefanik’s district say the frozen bill is evidence their own party is playing dirty — and told Playbook they’ll be voting no if it ever comes to the floor.
“It is going to disenfranchise the constituents in my district who are also in the 21st congressional district, and I don't support that,” Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, a Democrat who represents Saratoga Springs, said of the recently paused bill. “The vast majority of people in both parties have said this is not what we want.”
“I find it concerning any time my constituents are without representation,” said Democratic Assemblymember Billy Jones, who represents Plattsburgh.
Jones was under consideration to be the Democrats’ long-shot candidate in the rural district. He recently withdrew from consideration. Democrat Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer, will run for the seat.
“I'm always for saving money, but when we're intertwining it with a political undertone, it's not going to work for me so I could not support it,” said Utica Democratic Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon, whose district also overlaps with Stefanik’s. “My district deserves to be represented.” — Jason Beeferman
A message from Solving Hunger:
Governor Hochul, thank you for your courageous leadership in proposing Universal School Meals in New York's FY2026 Budget! This plan will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student in New York, regardless of income. It will give students the nourishment they need to learn and grow, while also saving their families an estimated $165 per child per month on food costs. Paid for by Solving Hunger, a project of Tusk Philanthropies.
FROM CITY HALL
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a mayoral candidate, holds a press conference addressing Mayor Eric Adams directing city government leaders not to criticize Trump, on Feb. 10, 2025. | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO
GO WITH THE FLOW: Mayor Eric Adams spent the day trying to clean up fallout from his administration’s controversial legal guidance that city employees could let federal immigration agents into city buildings if they “reasonably feel threatened.”
City Hall is working on a new flow chart that’s meant to provide clearer guidance to city employees. It does not mention any exceptions for fear or threats, but does say employees should “not interfere with a law enforcement officer’s actions.”
Comptroller Brad Lander, who’s running for mayor against Adams, shared the chart with reporters but said it was still too deferential to federal agents.
The instruction is “let ICE walk into the building, you call the general counsel and the lawyers will figure it out later,” he said. “That is an invitation to ICE to come into city facilities.”
Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said the flow chart wasn’t finalized yet.
Adams also held a meeting with top aides and city commissioners Monday morning where he discouraged public criticism of Trump so as not to hurt the city, THE CITY reported.
Lander argued that the mayor was just trying to be kind to the man who could get rid of his criminal case.
“The mayor is instructing, is dragooning, is coercing New York City government into his own pardon-seeking,” he said, “rather than stand up and fight for New Yorkers against a federal government that clearly is out for New York City and our neighbors.” —Jeff Coltin
HOUSING GROUP PITCHES CHARTER CHANGES: An advocacy group aimed at increasing residential development in New York City is calling for City Charter reforms limiting the power of City Council members to veto housing projects.
A new report from Open New York lays out recommendations for the rival charter revision commissions launched by Mayor Eric Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
The group’s proposals include a streamlined public review process for certain projects in neighborhoods that have done little to address the city’s housing shortage. These developments should be eligible for a revised approval process that would culminate with a vote of the City Planning Commission, rather than the council, which has final say in land use matters.
The proposal, which would be limited to projects that meet certain affordable housing requirements, aims to address the council’s long-standing ‘member deference’ practice. Critics of this unofficial policy say it has hindered much-needed housing growth.
“The city really has to take things into their own hands, and do something to address council member deference in neighborhoods that have blocked housing for decades,” Andrew Fine, the group’s chief of staff and policy director, said in an interview.
Land use decisions are among the council’s most significant powers. Open New York is not seeking to eliminate the legislative body’s role entirely. For projects undergoing the revised review process, the group suggested the planning commission be modified to include council representatives. — Janaki Chadha
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From The Campaign Trail
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie with Rep. Dan Goldman after Goldman announced his endorsement of Myrie's mayoral campaign today. | Jeff Coltin/POLITICO
ENDORSEMENT WATCH: Rep. Dan Goldman boosted state Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s mayoral campaign with an endorsement on national TV this morning — and he could help his fellow Democrat raise money too.
“Zellnor is a true visionary,” Goldman said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe with Myrie sitting beside him. “He's someone who is really poised to lead the next generation of Democrats, both in New York City as well as the country.”
Goldman is a Levi’s heir who comes out of Big Law and represents a wealthy district, so he’s a strong political fundraiser even before he pitches in his own money. The frequent cable TV guest sent a fundraising appeal for Myrie to his own email list Monday, and Myrie’s campaign didn’t deny that Goldman would host in-person events too.
“It was important, if I was going to jump in, to do it early when it can make the most difference,” Goldman said about endorsing Myrie more than four months before the June primary.
Myrie hasn’t gotten public matching funds yet and has been fundraising at a slower pace than most of his mayoral race rivals.
Goldman’s pick is also a notable non-endorsement of the incumbent Adams — though the congressmember has been telegraphing such a move, saying in recent months that Adams was too focused on his criminal case and not his job.
Myrie’s campaigning with Goldman marked the second session day in a row he skipped his duties in Albany to boost his bid for mayor. Today’s meeting of the codes committee — which Myrie chairs— was postponed. —Jeff Coltin
TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON WESTCHESTER RACE: In other special election news, Trump is urging Westchester residents to vote red in the Tuesday election for Westchester County Executive.
“Democrats have made Westchester County a ‘Sanctuary County’ protecting criminal illegals!” the president wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. “Republicans, Conservatives, and Common Sense Voters must GET OUT THE VOTE, and send a message to the Corrupt Democrats. No more protecting criminal aliens. VOTE REPUBLICAN!”
The special election was triggered when former Westchester County Executive George Latimer was elected to congress in November after winning a contentious primary against former Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
Democrat Kenneth W. Jenkins has since taken over as Westchester County Executive and is running to keep the seat. He’s favored to win against Republican Christine A. Sculti, the county’s deputy elections commissioner. —Jason Beeferman
A message from Solving Hunger:
From the Capitol
A new bill from Democratic Sen. Joe Addabbo codifies timelines for the downstate casino bidding process. | AP
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Sen. Joe Addabbo introduced a bill today to codify the timeline for the downstate casino licensing process, a second effort to make the much-delayed process bound to strict deadlines.
The bill codifies the timeline set forth by Hochul’s gaming commission earlier this year for the high-stakes contest to win one of three downstate casino licenses. The winning bidders are expected to build some of the most lucrative casinos in the world.
A previous effort from Addabbo to codify a slightly different timeline than the gaming commission’s was vetoed by Hochul last year.
Addabbo’s bill also proposes new rules around when applicants would propose a tax rate at their casinos. — Jason Beeferman
A message from Solving Hunger:
In a state with this much wealth, no kid should ever go hungry.
Two years ago, Albany lawmakers made substantial progress in providing free school meals for NY kids, but did not close the gap completely. Today, more than 320,000 students in New York still lack access to free school meals.
That's why Governor Hochul has proposed an additional $160 million in school meals funding. With just 0.06% of the total FY2026, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature can ensure that no child in New York goes hungry.
Now, we need to make sure Universal School Meals remain part of the state's final budget. Let's keep the pressure up. State legislators, please support your constituents and pass this crucial funding.
— SPOTTED: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was spotted meeting with legislators in Albany today, discussing discovery law changes and a bill to ensure those charged with misdemeanors cannot be released if they’re found unfit to stand trial.
— ZELDIN’S DOHA TIES: Former New York Rep. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin received payments from a member of the Qatari royal family for consultancy services. (Jewish Insider)
— HOCHUL <3 VERIZON AND COMCAST: A bill to make it easier to cancel subscriptions conveniently leaves out phone, internet and some streaming plans. (NY Focus)
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