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Politico
a day ago
- Business
- Politico
A perfect budget storm
Presented by Resorts World New York City With help from Amira McKee Wall Street could be the state budget's savior next year — or a major headache. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-led state Legislature are already contending with a $3 billion hit to the Essential Plan taking effect next fiscal year, which provides health coverage to about 1.6 million low-income New Yorkers. The cut is being heaped on top of a pre-existing $7.5 billion budget gap. And if the financial industry — the engine that fuels New York's economy and tax revenue — goes south, the consequences for Albany could be massive. 'If we get hit not just with the federal restructuring, but with an economy that starts to slow down or tank — that's where we could get that perfect storm,' Comptroller Tom DiNapoli told Playbook in an interview on Monday. That kind of financial turbulence would come at a bad time for the governor, who's running for a second full term next year. She stands to be hit with political crosscurrents from lefty Democrats who'll push for tax hikes and from wealthy New Yorkers who contribute an outsize share of taxes to the state's coffers. State officials are still assessing the fallout from President Donald Trump's megabill, a sweeping federal tax-and-spend package that includes significant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps. Hochul told reporters Monday she plans to roll out a 'swat team' to find ways of saving money as the state also works to address the $750 million being slashed from the Essential Plan — cuts which will take effect Jan. 1. She also defended her $2 billion rebate program, which was approved in the May state budget and will send New Yorkers cash this fall. Hochul insisted the money, which was pared down from the original $3 billion proposal, will help people make ends meet. 'Now more than ever families across New York will appreciate what I did for them and putting money back in their pockets,' the governor said. DiNapoli, a Hochul ally, was not as enthusiastic about the check plan, which Hochul has framed as a way to bust inflation. 'I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but that creates spending that has to be balanced against these other cuts,' he said. 'Rebates are going to happen, hopefully that will help people.' DiNapoli expects finding ways to offset the loss of $750 million in the current fiscal year will be relatively easy. The harder part comes next year when lawmakers and Hochul negotiate the state budget. 'My guess is everything will have to be on the table — cuts, tax increases,' DiNapoli said. New York Democrats have already trained their ire on Republicans over the federal cuts, pre-emptively blaming them even before the mega-bill became a mega-law. There are limits, though, to the blame game. Hochul will still need to get a balanced budget on the books months before voters render their verdict on her tenure. 'It could be a tough budget,' DiNapoli said. 'It's an election year and there are more pressures in an election year.' — Nick Reisman IT'S TUESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In New York City with no public schedule. WHERE'S ERIC? No public schedule available as of 10 p.m. Monday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'You know, the Dos Equis commercials, the most interesting man in the world? That is him. This guy is having this moment, and he's capitalizing on it.' — Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz on FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in POLITICO's look at how the sports executive learned to navigate American politics ahead of next year's World Cup. BONUS QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Columbus is worse than pineapple on pizza.' — One of the signs at the Italian-Americans for Zohran Mamdani counter protest Monday, opposite a rally organized by The Italian-American Civil Rights League after discovering Mamdani had posted a photo flipping off a statue of Christopher Columbus. ABOVE THE FOLD WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: A member of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' campaign team attended the same Las Vegas Bitcoin conference where the mayor spoke on the taxpayer's dime — the latest twist in a trip that has alarmed ethics experts several times over. In May, Adams traveled to Sin City to deliver two speeches at the crypto gathering in his official capacity as mayor. During an on-camera interview Adams gave at the summit, his campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, briefly pops into the frame just feet away. Adams has already taken heat for hosting a fundraiser during his Las Vegas trip, as the Daily News and New York Post have reported. Government reform groups were also concerned about a POLITICO report that found a pro-Adams super PAC executive attended the event and discussed soliciting cash from the crypto community. City statutes prevent the mayor from using official resources for campaigns, and election laws prohibit coordination between super PACs and candidates. Shapiro said he was briefly at the Las Vegas confab at the behest of billionaire crypto investor Brock Pierce and that he did not perform any campaign-related activities — not even coordinating fundraising — while in town. 'I want to clarify that I was not attending any Bitcoin conference on behalf of the campaign, nor was I aware of any formal event taking place,' Shapiro said. 'I was simply a guest of my former client, Brock Pierce, and have a personal interest in blockchain technology.' Pierce sung the praises of Adams while at the conference. 'He's not about to be the crypto-mayor. He is the crypto mayor of the United States of America,' he said in an on-camera interview at the event. 'And it is mission critical to me — I believe New York City, the state and the nation, and therefore the world — that it stays that way and he stays the mayor of New York City.' City Hall referred POLITICO to its statements from last week noting that the fundraiser was a small portion of the trip. 'The overwhelming majority of the trip was dedicated to discussing crypto policy for the city,' spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said at the time. — Joe Anuta CITY HALL: THE LATEST MEMBER DEFERENCE IN DANGER: A majority of City Council members — from socialists to Republicans — oppose the Charter Revision Commission's approved ballot measures, saying they'll reduce elected officials' and organized labor's input on building housing. 'Mayor Adams' Charter Revision Commission is giving away the store to luxury housing developers while cutting our communities out of the process,' reads a statement organized by City Council Member Sandy Nurse and signed by 31 of her colleagues. The commission voted Monday to place four questions on the November ballot that are meant to make it easier for the city to build apartments. A fifth question would start the process of holding city elections in the same years as presidential races. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and her leadership team blasted the 'misguided proposals' in a separate statement, saying they'd 'undermine the ability to deliver more affordable housing, homeownership opportunities, good-paying union jobs, and neighborhood investments.' The council has a tense relationship with the mayor. The speaker and other members staunchly opposed ballot proposals from Eric Adams' charter revision commission last year too, but voters approved four out of the five. — Jeff Coltin SCHOOL BUS WOES: Two prominent citywide Democratic electeds are demanding short-term extensions on school bus contracts and are pointing to persistent, adverse impacts on the 145,000 students who depend on taking buses. The Panel for Educational Policy, the Department of Education's governing body, is expected to vote Wednesday to approve a 30-day emergency extension of the contracts. In a Monday letter to Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged him to limit any contract extensions to between one and three years after learning the administration is exploring a five-year timeframe. Shorter term extensions would give state lawmakers in Albany time to enact legislation ensuring bus driver protections are included in new contracts, the pair said. The DOE could then rebid the contracts with improvements. 'The bus companies may be content collecting taxpayer dollars while delivering unacceptable service, but our students and families deserve far better — and they should not have to wait until 2030 for relief from a system that's failing them now,' Lander and Williams wrote. State lawmakers didn't pass legislation this year that would protect bus drivers' wages and benefits. The contracts expired at the end of June. Jenna Lyle, a DOE spokesperson, only said longer extensions are under negotiation when asked to confirm whether the city is eyeing a five-year extension. 'New York City Public Schools has been clear: our outdated busing contracts must be rebid to allow for flexibility and accountability and to ensure the best possible transportation system is available to our students,' Lyle said in a statement. — Madina Touré THE DISTASTE IS MUTUAL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed some of Mamdani's campaign proposals as 'nonsense' and suggested he'd lose reelection if he wins. (CNN) More from the city: — The New York Young Republican Club argues Mamdani should be disqualified from the election for providing 'aid and comfort' to enemies of the US. (New York Post) — Former Trump adviser Jason Meister formed an anti-Mamdani super PAC called Defend NYC. (City & State) — A brand new $241 million jail unit in Bellevue Hospital is empty due to staffing issues. (THE CITY) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY PLAY ON: A key legislative Democrat is pushing back against Trump's reported plan to limit college athletes' compensation. Trump's plan, tentatively called 'Saving College Sports,' would set rules for how athletes can be paid for their name, image and likeness. The draft reportedly would classify college athletes as students and not employees — potentially limiting how much they could receive in promotional compensation. Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, the chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, blasted the idea. 'This only further limits the legal rights of these young individuals by making them more vulnerable in these workplaces,' Solages said. 'This order has been delivered to the American people under the guise of protecting our young and vulnerable population, but will certainly prove detrimental to the future of the athletes that these sport institutions depend on.' There have been efforts at the state level in recent years to set regulations for college athletes and their compensation. Hochul in 2022 signed into law a measure that bolstered compensation rules in college sports and allows athletes to retain representation to help negotiate deals. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha wants to build a progressive movement in the Hudson Valley. (City & State) — Like her predecessors, Hochul wishes she had more control over the State Education Department. (Capitol Confidential) — The state pension fund is bulking up its private equity investments. (Chief Investment Officer) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION 'GOOGLE IS FREE': Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her pro-Palestinian record after her Bronx campaign office was vandalized with red paint accusing her of funding genocide in Gaza. 'Google is free. If you're saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached,' AOC posted on X Monday afternoon. 'My record on Palestine speaks for itself. I'm proud of it. One of the strongest in Congress. I throw down for pro-Palestine candidates. Largely unrecognized work. That's fine,' she said in another post on Bluesky. Ocasio-Cortez voted against far right Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene's amendment to cut defense aid to Israel, a vote that failed 422-6. The amendment 'does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it,' Ocasio-Cortez posted on X about the Friday night vote. 'What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue.' — Jeff Coltin More from Congress: — Trump's megabill would increase the federal deficit by $3.4 trillion and cause 10 million people to lose health insurance over the next decade, per a Congressional Budget Office forecast. (POLITICO) — Rep. Elise Stefanik's ethics complaint against a D.C. judge was tossed by an appeals court. (Bloomberg) — Jeffries reiterated he hadn't endorsed Mamdani for mayor and said they'd meet again when he gets back from Uganda (Fox News) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Buffalo community groups want New York to strike a better deal with Tesla. (Buffalo News) — New York is among the states suing the Trump administration over barring undocumented immigrants from accessing federally funded services. (Gothamist) — A job ad for a Nassau County district attorney candidate encourages people with criminal records to apply. (New York Post) SOCIAL DATA MAKING MOVES: Brendan Griffith was elected president of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL‑CIO on Thursday. He was previously chief of staff, and was serving as interim president after Vincent Alvarez stepped down. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) … state Sen. Dean Murray … Patrick Jenkins … Red Horse's Doug Forand … Ariana Collado of the Bronx Dems … BerlinRosen's Louis Gonzales … Michael Jon Fieni of the Brooklyn Public Library … Annie Lowrey … CNN's Terence Burlij … Sam Brodey … Warren Bass … Peter Prengaman … Natacha Hildebrand … Maor Cohen … Don Van Natta Jr. … (WAS MONDAY): Shonni Silverberg ... Jane Ginsburg ... Jon Lovitz ... Eric Simonoff Missed Monday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
New York lost many construction jobs during the pandemic — and still hasn't recovered: report
New York State hasn't recovered all of the construction lobs it lost during the pandemic shutdown – partly because of less demand for office space, a new report released Thursday said. There is 16,300 fewer construction jobs in the Empire State, 4% lower than before the COVID-19 shutdown — the second lowest recovery among all states, according to the the study by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office. 'Spending on residential construction has rebounded since the pandemic, but nonresidential construction spending, especially in New York City, remains below 2019 levels and could continue to lag in the near future,' DiNapoli said. Advertisement 3 New York has failed to recover all the construction jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, in large part because of less demand for office space amid hybrid work policies, according to an industry report released Thursday. Christopher Sadowski The sector would have fully recovered if not for New York City, where hard hat employment last year was still down 11.3%, or 18,200 jobs compared 2019. Meanwhile, the number of construction firms declined by 3% in 2024, the first drop since 2011, the report said. Advertisement Nonresidential construction plummeted 43% during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, according to the New York Building Congress, a construction trade group. Demand still remains below 2019 pre-pandemic levels. 3 The study was conducted by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office, where the Big Apple has 16,300 fewer construction jobs available. State Deputy Comptroller Office NYC 3 The report also mentions that New York is one of the five states that have failed to recover from job losses in the construction sector resulting from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. REUTERS Advertisement 'Non residential construction has improved but continues to be impacted by remote work policies,' the comptroller's report said. New York is one of five states that have not recovered from pandemic job losses in the construction sector, report said. Aside from remote work softening the office construction market, DiNapoli's report said President Trump's immigration enforcement could impact the hard hat labor force and ongoing projects. Immigrants held 61% of the jobs in the construction sector in the city in 2023, a much higher share than in the rest of the state and the nation.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- USA Today
Body of missing California teen found, man charged with her murder
Editor's note: If you know or suspect someone is experiencing domestic violence, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Police in Northern California have found the body of a teenage girl whose family reported her missing last month, and arrested a man on a murder charge in connection with her killing. Marissa DiNapoli, 18, of Morgan Hill was reported missing June 30 after she did not return to her Santa Clara County home in the southern San Francisco Bay Area, the Morgan Hill Police Department, the lead agency on the case, said. The teen's body was found on July 2, police said, and the Santa Clara County Coroner confirmed her identity on July 3. "This is not the outcome any of us wanted and we are heartbroken by this news. Marissa was a vibrant member of our Morgan Hill community with a bright future ahead of her," police wrote in a statement on Facebook. Martin Mendoza was arrested trying to reenter the United States through the Mexican border, police announced in a statement on July 7. He has been charged with one count of murder in connection with DiNapoli's death. It was not immediately known where Mendoza is from, but online jail records show he is 20 years old. USA TODAY contacted police on Wednesday, July 9, but has not received a response. When did Marissa DiNapoli disappear? DiNapoli's family reported her missing on June 30 after she did not respond to calls or texts from family, investigators said. The teen, police said, last communicated with family via text message just after 9:15 a.m. on June 28. "In that message, she indicated that she planned to stay with a friend for the evening and would return home the following day," police said. Investigators said DiNapoli was last seen with Mendoza on surveillance video on Trail Drive around 9:45 a.m. on June 28, leaving a home just outside Morgan Hill city limits. DiNapoli's car was later located in the same area, according to police. Investigators previously named Mendoza a person of interest in her disappearance. According to The Morgan Hill Times and KGO-TV, the suspect was DiNapoli's boyfriend at the time she vanished. Accused child killer at large: US Marshals' tips: Fugitive Travis Decker may have hitchhiked to Idaho forest How did Marissa DiNapoli die? When her body was found, DiNapoli had been stabbed multiple times in the back, the Morgan Hill Times and KGO-TV reported, citing court documents. Mendoza has been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a knife to commit murder, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, per KSBW. He was arraigned in court on July 8, online Santa Clara County court records show. Mendoza was booked into jail on July 7, and as of July 9, he was being held without bond, jail records show. An attorney of record for Mendoza was not listed online, and it is unclear whether he has obtained legal counsel. Pennsylvania man's parents tried to get him help. Then he beheaded his father: Prosecutors 'Prayers, kind words': How to help Marissa DiNapoli's family The victim's family released the following statement after DiNapoli's death: "The loss of our beloved Marissa deeply saddens us, and at this time, our family kindly asks for privacy as we grieve and navigate this difficult journey. We appreciate the love and support from those who have reached out to us. In honor of Marissa's memory, we kindly ask that no GoFundMe accounts or donation pages be created. If you wish to show support, please do so through your prayers, kind words, and cherished memories. Thank you for understanding and respecting our wishes during this deeply personal time." DiNapoli attended Central High School in the Morgan Hill Unified School District, officials said. According to police, mental health professionals will be present through July 11 at Central High School for any student or staff member "who needs a safe space to process their emotions, reflect, or speak with a counselor." "Our deepest condolences remain with Marissa's family," Morgan Hill police wrote after her body was located. "We will continue to stand with you, not just as law enforcement, but as neighbors, friends, and fellow members of our grieving community." Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 669-253-4962 or email USA TODAY contacted the Morgan Hill Unified School District on July 9 but has not received a response. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Politico
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Cuomo FOIL'd
Presented by With help from Amira McKee Andrew Cuomo lost more than just the Democratic mayoral primary last month. A state judge shot down the former governor's push for taxpayers to foot his legal bills in a fight with state Attorney General Letitia James' office over a Freedom of Information Law request. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli — a longtime Cuomo foe — rejected the request in 2024 for the state to pay for the open records lawsuit against James — launching yet another courtroom showdown. Last month, in a six-page decision, a state Supreme Court justice sided with DiNapoli. 'We're reviewing the decision and considering our option to appeal,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. DiNapoli's office did not comment. The open records case is an offshoot from the thicket of lawsuits that blossomed following Cuomo's 2021 resignation after James' office determined the ex-governor sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing. Building his defense in a federal lawsuit filed by a former State Police trooper, Cuomo's legal team subpoenaed the state attorney general's office for records related to the investigation. A federal judge blocked the subpoena for many of the documents. The attorney general's office suggested Cuomo's attorneys file an open records request to gain access to the material. Cuomo's team sought internal memos that contain statements from nearly 200 witnesses and unredacted interview transcripts, as lawyers seek to undermine the conclusions of James' bombshell report. More barriers, familiar to anyone who has filed a FOIL request, arose: James' office insisted it needed half a year to fulfill the request. So Cuomo's lawyers sued and requested the state pay his legal fees in the FOIL case — as it has in a trio of sexual harassment cases filed against him. Though Cuomo lost his case against DiNapoli, the setback is likely not a major one when considering the broader legal dramas facing the ex-governor. Cuomo and his former advisers have leveraged a state law that enables their legal expenses to be paid for by taxpayers. The state has spent $20.3 million to defend Cuomo and former aides, according to a tally by the comptroller's office. (The former governor's campaign has noted, with some irony, that the state budget included a $10 million pot for James' own legal defense against a reported Trump Department of Justice probe.) DiNapoli has come under pressure from anti-sexual harassment advocates to turn off the flow of taxpayer funds to Cuomo's attorneys. The comptroller's office has said it's following its legal obligations. — Nick Reisman IT'S TUESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In Nassau County and New York City with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S ERIC? Schedule not available as of 10 p.m. Monday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I would encourage AOC and other Democrats to actually meet with the United States Border Patrol.' — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ABOVE THE FOLD DCCC HITS LAWLER, WHO HITS BACK: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first national digital ad buy of the 2026 election cycle seeks to tie battleground House Republicans with their party's 'one big, beautiful bill.' The only New Yorker on the DCCC's current list of its 35 top targets? Rep. Mike Lawler, who's deciding between running for reelection or running for governor. The Democrats' four-figure campaign, which begins this week on Meta, is focusing on the Trump megabill's blow to rural hospitals. The Lawler-specific spot includes a photo of him and reads, 'Because of his vote, rural hospitals across America are now at risk of closing.' The Hudson Valley Republican, who did vote for the bill, boasted in a campaign newsletter Monday that it includes a quadrupling of the state and local tax, or SALT, deduction cap. But he represents a suburban not a rural district. 'It's puzzling that the DCCC included us in this spend, given that NY-17 has zero rural hospitals and a $50 billion rural hospital fund was established by the One Big Beautiful Bill,' Lawler campaign spokesperson Chris Russell told Playbook. 'Republicans are cutting taxes for working people and retirees, and protecting and strengthening the social safety net for truly vulnerable people, while the Democrats supported raising taxes on working Americans so they could fund a welfare state for illegal immigrants and scam artists.' Democrats are slamming the 'big, ugly bill' as the slashing of Medicaid and SNAP to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. 'Vulnerable House Republicans' incredibly cruel vote to jeopardize hospitals in their districts and across America is going to cost them their jobs and the majority,' DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement. 'The DCCC is making sure that every battleground voter knows that instead of lowering costs for American families, Republicans are ripping away health care for millions and cutting funding for hospitals, all to pay for massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors.' DCCC leaders say House Dems are starting this cycle with more pickup opportunities than in 2024 and are poised to reclaim the speaker's gavel. — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST CHARTER CHATTER: Democratic City Comptroller Brad Lander and Republican City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola were in rare agreement Monday night, with both asking Mayor Eric Adams' Charter Revision Commission to kill a proposal that would shift New York City to non-partisan primary elections where the top two candidates proceed to the general, regardless of party. 'Political parties are not perfect … but they are how we do politics here,' Lander said. 'I don't see why we would change it now, other than some sour losers want to change the outcome of an election we just ran.' Ariola said the process would bring in 'the tyranny of the majority' and 'effectively usher in one-party rule.' The commission heard testimony for more than four hours, with most speakers focusing on the open primary proposal — which the commission hasn't decided whether or not to put before voters in November, as Playbook reported Monday. Government reform groups were split — Citizens Union loves it, while Common Cause asked the commission to slow it down and allow would-be supporters to build consensus, rather than push a 'very divisive' proposal. Adams-appointed Commission Chair Richard Buery emphasized that the board was independent, but City Hall showed up to support open primaries. Adams adviser Diane Savino advocated for the proposal in her role as a commissioner, and Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy made a surprise appearance to testify as well. 'I want to be clear that my testimony here tonight has nothing to do with the results of the Democratic primary that took place two weeks ago,' he said. 'I simply believe, like I would hope many of you, that every vote should count… Some say 'country over party.' I say 'city over party.'' The commission plans to finalize ballot proposals on July 21. — Jeff Coltin ENDORSEMENT WATCH: City Council Member James Gennaro reluctantly endorsed Adams on Monday — making him the first elected official to publicly back the mayor's reelection run. 'Serving as a City Council Member in City Hall with Mayor Adams has NOT been easy — he and I disagree about many issues, and I believe he's made a lot of mistakes, but he's infinitely better than Mamdani, in my opinion,' Gennaro said in a Facebook post, also slamming Mamdani as 'unabashedly antisemitic' and 'a hater, a liar, a Socialist.' Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said the mayor has 'dozens' of endorsements, but they haven't been announced yet, promising to share names 'soon.' — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — New York City street vendors would no longer face misdemeanor charges and jail for violating the city's vending laws, under a bill passed by the City Council. (Gothamist) — Mark Nunez's lawsuit after getting beaten on Rikers Island led to reform in city jails, but he only got a small settlement. (Daily News) — Mamdani got a 2140 out of 2400 on the SAT. (New York Post) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY BE PREPARED: Republican state Sen. Bill Weber is mulling a House run and is signaling to people he's interested if Rep. Mike Lawler decides to run for governor. 'I'm a moderate in a very moderate district,' Weber, who flipped his Senate seat in 2022, said in an interview with Playbook. 'It leads me to be a formidable candidate.' It's a tricky balance for Hudson Valley Republicans — a purplish area that's home to a trio of battleground House districts. Lawler's seat is expected to be highly competitive next year, and a slew of Democrats have already lined up to take him on. Weber wouldn't run if Lawler stays put. There will be significant national attention on Lawler's seat, however, given the stakes for both parties vying to control the narrowly divided House. 'Once he makes his decision, I'd be comfortable that I can get an operation up and running as soon as possible,' Weber said. 'I know the national party will understand the importance and severity for any candidate who ends up running for that seat.' — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton says Gov. Kathy Hochul has a responsibility to endorse Zohran Mamdani. (City & State) — New York's powerful teachers union has some questions about the Regents exams. (WTEN) — A public hearing to assess the consumer directed care program transition has been postponed. (Spectrum News) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION BIG, BEAUTIFUL LISTS: House members now face the task of selling the good — if they're Republicans — and the bad — if they're Democrats — of the GOP megalaw. One approach is to list the components of the complex domestic policy legislation. Rep. Josh Riley, an upstate Democrat, sent a fundraising appeal Monday that used red X marks as bullet points to knock the 'GOP tax scam.' 'It will kick 1.5 million New Yorkers off their healthcare,' 'It cuts critical funding for rural hospitals that are already on the brink of closing' and 'It makes massive cuts to SNAP, which will take food off the tables of families in Upstate New York,' he listed. GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island used green check marks as bullet points in an X post to sell the merits of the massive legislation. 'Middle-Class Tax Cuts,' 'Secure Borders,' 'Strong Military,' 'Made in USA,' 'Eliminate Waste & Fraud' and 'Protect Our Vulnerable,' she listed. The dueling approaches preview how Democrats and Republicans are fighting to shape the narrative on Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill' as the midterms heat up. — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is considering a political comeback and a challenge to Lawler in the Hudson Valley. (Axios) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is seeking a probe into National Weather Service staffing and the response to deadly flooding in Texas. (Reuters) — Elon Musk and Andrew Yang have connected on the billionaire former Trump adviser's third-party threat. (POLITICO) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Dozens of UFOs zipped across New York City's skies during the first six months of the year. (New York Post) — City of Albany officials are calling for action after 10 people were shot and a house burned down on a chaotic July 4. (CBS 6) — Toll evasion at bridges and tunnels remains high despite a crackdown on 'ghost' plates. (Newsday) SOCIAL DATA WELCOME TO THE WORLD: Megan Hannigan, deputy chief of staff to Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and Coulter Minix, deputy chief of staff to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, welcomed Scotty Sullivan Minix late Friday night. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander …Rep. John Mannion (D-N.Y.) … State Sen. Andrew Gounardes … Assemblymember Phil Steck … City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack … Maureen McCormack McNeil … NYCHA's Sarah Figuereo-Rey … Yeshiva University's Jon Greenfield … Addie Jenne … NYAA's Michael Gareth Johnson … Reuters' Steve Holland … NYT's Lara Jakes … Jim Miklaszewski … Bill Hinkle … Arlie Ziskend … Anna Quindlen … Christian Sherrill Missed Monday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
04-07-2025
Body identified as California teen reported missing days ago
An 18-year-old has been found dead just days after she was reported missing in Morgan Hill, California, according to police. A body was found amid the search for Marissa DiNapoli on Wednesday and it was positively identified as her on Thursday, according to police. DiNapoli last communicated with her family on Saturday, sending them a text after 9 p.m. saying that she planned to stay the night with a friend and would return the next day, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. She was reported missing on Monday after she did not return home or respond to calls from family, police said. Investigators determined DiNapoli was last seen with Martin Mendoza on June 28 just before 10 a.m. when the two were seen leaving a residence just outside the city limits of Morgan Hill, police said. DiNapoli's car was later found in the same area, police said. "This is not the outcome any of us wanted and we are heartbroken by this news. Marissa was a vibrant member of our Morgan Hill community with a bright future ahead of her," police said in a statement. Mendoza was identified as a person of interest during the search for DiNapoli and remains so, according to police. Mendoza was not cooperative in the initial investigation, police said. "Detectives are actively seeking information on his whereabouts and urge anyone with knowledge to contact their local law enforcement agency immediately. Mendoza is believed to be driving a white Toyota Camry bearing either license plate CW87W00 or 9PTM351," police said in a statement Wednesday. But, police said they are actively seeking out other leads as well, asking anyone with any information to contact Detective Kyle Tolentino at (669)-253-4962. DiNapoli's family asked for privacy as they grieve. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Marissa, and at this time, our family kindly asks for privacy as we grieve and navigate this difficult journey," the family said in a statement released by police. "We appreciate the love and support from those who have reached out. In honoring Marissa's memory, we kindly ask that no GoFundMe accounts or donation pages be created. If you wish to show support, please do so through your prayers, kind words, and cherished memories," the family said.
