Good Morning, New York! Eric Adams looks toward executive action on sanctuary city laws, continued climate protests in Albany, and Biden grants clemency to a corrupt former Assemblyman. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Friday, December 13th, 2024.

WHERE’S ERIC: No public schedule yet.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Erie County with no events publicly scheduled.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Following a meeting with “Border Czar” Tom Homan, Eric Adams is looking to issue an executive order to amend NYC’s sanctuary city laws. He does not know what form that action will take, however he has confirmed he wants to loosen them in order to deport criminals from NYC. (Gothamist)

— New York City's Administration for Children's Services is facing allegations from a whistleblower that its policies endanger children. The whistleblower claims that untrained child protective specialists feel powerless to act, leading to tragic outcomes like the recent death of 4-year-old Jahmeik Modlin. Commissioner Jess Dannhauser denied these claims and defended the agency's approach, which emphasizes family-led solutions over formal investigations. (NY Post)

— Under a new City Council program, dozens of low-income New York City families will begin receiving cash payments from the Bridge Project. It specifically targets young mothers and aims to keep them out of shelters, which will in turn decrease shelter costs for the city. (Gothamist)

Capitol Gains

— Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to veto a bill aimed at enhancing transparency in state spending for the second time, despite state lawmakers' readiness to continue passing the measure until it becomes law. The proposed legislation seeks to require summaries of state contracts exempt from comptroller review to be publicly posted online, addressing concerns over diminished oversight during emergencies, but Hochul cites resource limitations for not supporting the bill. (Spectrum News 1)

— New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a law requiring health insurers to cover EpiPens and limiting out-of-pocket costs to $100, addressing the significant price increases of these life-saving devices, which have surged by 600% since 2007. The legislation aims to ensure that individuals at risk of anaphylaxis have equitable access to necessary emergency treatment, alleviating financial burdens associated with purchasing EpiPens, which can now cost over $600 for a pack of two. (State of Politics)

— Activists rallied on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the New York State Capitol to advocate for the passage of the NY HEAT Act and the Renewable Capitol Act. This event was part of a broader statewide action, with rallies held in multiple locations across New York, specifically targeting the challenges posed by President-elect Donald Trump. (Times Union)

Trail Mix

— President Biden has granted clemency to former Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr, who was convicted on 21 bribery and corruption charges in 2014. His family has been dubbed the “Kennedys of Brownsville,” and were hugely influential. Boyland Jr. has stated that he does not expect a return to politics. (Daily News)

— Lawmakers from New York and New Jersey, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, are pressing federal agencies for clarity regarding a series of mysterious drone sightings over the mid-Atlantic region, which have raised safety and security concerns among residents and officials alike. The Pentagon has stated there is no evidence linking these drones to foreign entities or posing a national security threat, while investigations continue to determine their origin and purpose. (Lohud)

— Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is pushing back against the potential appointment of AOC to the top Democratic post on the House Oversight Committee, instead pushing for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to take the job. AOC still appears to be in the lead, with sources say she has almost the entire Oversight Committee backing her. (Axios)