Good Morning, New York! The UHC CEO killer is found, Daniel Penny is acquitted, Hochul announces a cost of living fix, and the Nassau County Democratic Party is embroiled in controversy. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Tuesday, December 10th, 2024.

WHERE’S ERIC: Traveling to Puerto Rico to meet with crypto billionaire Brock Pierce and deliver remarks at the Blockchain Digital Sovereignty Summit.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany with no publicly planned events.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Luigi Mangione has been ID'd as the man who shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A self described anti-capitalist, Mangione is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He was taken into custody this morning at a McDonalds in Altoona, PA. Mangione hails from a wealthy Maryland family, where his cousin is a state delegate. (NY Post)

— Daniel Penny has been acquitted in the Jordan Neely subway case. Penny’s lawyers successfully argued that his actions were justified. DA Alvin Bragg responded to the verdict by saying “The jury has now spoken. At the Manhattan D.A.’s Office we deeply respect the jury process and we respect their verdict.” Republicans used the chance to call for DA Bragg to resign. (Manhattan DA, NY Post)

— The New York City Council is filing a lawsuit to force Mayor Adams to implement their law, passed in 2023, to end solitary confinement in the city. Adrienne Adams said "Mayor Adams’s emergency orders are an unlawful and unprecedented abuse of power." (New York Times)

Capitol Gains

— The latest Siena poll shows Hochul’s favorability rating climbing again, rising to -10% from -15%, however voters still said they would want someone else by 24 points. Cost of living polled as the biggest issue, followed by housing, migration, and crime. Congestion pricing polling is also notable, opposed by a 51-29% margin, including 56% of NYC voters. (Siena)

— Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a new “inflation refund” of $3 billion, rolling out in checks of up to $500 per household. The money would come from higher than expected sales tax revenue this year. Critics pointed to better uses of the money, and called it electoral pandering ahead of an important election cycle for New York Democrats. (NY Times)

— Gov. Kathy Hochul has until Friday to decide whether to sign a bill requiring public input before hospitals or health centers in New York can close. The bill aims to improve transparency and give communities notice at least nine months before closures, addressing concerns about sudden decisions that disrupt care for thousands. Advocates and lawmakers, citing the closure of over 40 hospitals in the last decade, are urging the governor to act to protect access to health care, especially for vulnerable populations. (State of Politics)

Trail Mix

— State Sen. Kevin Thomas alleged that Nassau County Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs promised him another job if he dropped out of the congressional primary, a claim Jacobs denies. Thomas suggested that his decision to exit the race was contingent on Jacobs fulfilling this alleged promise, but he has not disclosed specific details. Election law experts note that such a quid pro quo arrangement would be "questionable" and potentially illegal, but proving it without concrete evidence would be challenging. (City & State)

— Potential challengers for the Governorship were polled for the first time publicly in a Siena poll. Rep. Ritchie Torres has a 19-13-68% favorability rating and Rep. Mike Lawler has a 17-20-64% favorability rating, meaning they are both still relatively unknown in the majority of the state. (Siena)

— Cuomo accuser Charlotte Bennett has dropped her federal lawsuit against the former Governor, which was originally filed in 2022. Bennett's attorneys say that "Mr. Cuomo has used these legal proceedings to punish Ms. Bennett," and that he has smeared her in the press. Bennett's team has cited Mr. Cuomo's attacks on her sexual history, as well as court orders for her gynecological records as examples of continued harassment over the course of the lawsuit. (Law.com)

— Buffalo Council Member Rasheed Wyatt has entered the race for mayor. “It's time for someone to have real leadership and think about the people.” Wyatt is the third candidate to officially enter the race, which will take place in 2025. (The Buffalo News)