Good Morning, New York! Congestion pricing will begin on Sunday, Citi Bike is hiking fares, and Hochul replaces the leader of the prison where Robert Brooks was killed. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Tuesday, December 31st, 2024.

WHERE’S ERIC: Attending the ball drop in Times Square.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Albany with no public schedule.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

AMNY Metro did not release a new edition as of 7:00AM EST, so they were not included in today’s covers.

Hall Monitors

— The MTA has said that congestion pricing will begin on Sunday, following a decision in a lawsuit filed by the State of New Jersey. However the same judge also ordered federal officials to review some aspects of the program, which New Jersey hopes is a pathway to another block on the program. (NY Times)

— Lyft is increasing Citi Bike fares again, the third increase since the start of 2024. While the increases are just a few cents, there is still lots of opposition from people who have been frustrated with the constant rate increases. Lyft has still not raised it to the caps allowed under their contract with the city, and they say that the price hike was caused by inflation and the ever-increasing costs of providing ebike service in NYC. (Streetsblog)

— Two MTA workers admitted to having a relationship on the clock, and abusing managerial duties as well as overtime rules. The Inspector General also said they violated numerous ethics and work rules. (NY Post)

Capitol Gains

— New York State has rejected claims that they colluded with the CDPAP contract winner, a $9 billion Medicaid program. The state has also filed evidence that they believe disproves the claims. However Alliance to Protect Home Care and other organizations are still confident that it was a backroom deal, and say they are still hoping for validation from the trial. (Times Union)

— Gov. Kathy Hochul has replaced the leader of the Marcy Correctional Facility, where Robert Brooks was killed earlier this month. Bennie Thorpe of Shawangunk Correctional Facility will take over the role. (NY Times)

— The FBI is now reviewing the death of Robert Brooks, which is already under investigation by several agencies in the state government. The current theory by other agencies is that Brooks passed away following a fatal assault by correctional officers in the facility. (Times Union)

Trail Mix

— New York Communities for Change has released an end of the year quiz to promote their “Anti Eric Adams Social Club” t-shirts. (x/JCColtin)

— Mike Lawler and the other NY House Republicans have thrown their support behind Speaker Mike Johnson to remain in his role ahead of the election this Friday. (x/lawler4ny)

— Zohran Kawme Mamdani is running an unusual campaign in terms of his social media messaging, but it may be working. He posted “Blah blah blah please donate to the campaign blah blah blah filing deadline in 12 days,” in a self-deprecating joke, and also announced a fundraiser concert targeting younger voters. He has an outside shot in the primary for NYC Mayor. (x/nycDSA and x/ZohranKMamdani)