Good Morning, New York! Eric Adams flew to Mar-a-Lago for a meeting with Trump, Hochul wants to reduce prison sentences further despite anti-crime rhetoric, and Adams’ legal defense fund has run dry. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Friday, January 17th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In New York City, doing interviews on 97 Rock’s Shredd and Ragan in the Morning, One Bills Live on WGR 550, The Fan Rochester, and MSG.

WHERE’s ERIC: Meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.

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Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Eric Adams flew to Mar-a-Lago yesterday night to meet with President-elect Trump, a trip he described as for a “city purpose” and to discuss “New Yorkers’ priorities.” However many believe that Adams will also likely discuss a personal pardon for his own criminal cases, which his opponents in the mayoral primary were quick to point out. (NY Times)

— The MTA’s new spiked turnstile barriers do not seem to be deterring fare evaders, as a reporter for amNY visited the first station where they are in use and still observed many people jumping the turnstiles. (amNY)

— Eric Adams has unveiled his election-year budget, with no new big ticket items or cuts. Instead, it is a surprisingly balanced and reasonable document, with $2.7 billion in savings from last year, almost entirely from lower spending on migrant shelters. That does not mean the financial picture is fully solved: the projected budget faps for 2027 and 2028 are $4.2 billion and $5.4 billion respectively. (NY Times)

Capitol Gains

— Gov. Hochul is looking to shorten NY prison sentences with changes to time credits, which allow incarcerated people to reduce the time on their sentences through good behavior and job training. She did not mention it in her largely anti-crime State of the State, but it was mentioned deep in her State of the State policy book. (Spectrum News 1)

— Advocates have come out against Kathy Hochul’s new involuntary commitment plan, with FingerLakes1 reporting that the groups argue that the law will target low-income people. They would instead prefer a targeted approach to solve systemic issues like housing shortages and outpatient mental health resources. (FingerLakes1)

— New York State has dispatched a team of New York Forest Rangers to assist with the wildfires in California. Gov. Hochul announced that the team of 10 rangers has been deployed on a two week assignment. All costs will be covered by either California or the federal government, and it will provide a valuable training experience, according to the NY Department of Environmental Conservation. (FingerLakes1)

Trail Mix

— Rudy Giuliani has reached a settlement in a defamation suit brought by Georgia election workers following the 2020 election. He will not have to give up all of his assets, and instead pay a financial penalty. He was previously expected to pay $150 million, which he did not have. (CNN)

— Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin has reportedly applied for the presidency of Hudson Valley Community College, a move that would likely see him withdraw from politics. He reportedly still plans to run for re-election, and is not guaranteed to get the job. McLaughlin is also one of the many candidates interested in running for Stefanik’s congressional seat once she is appointed UN Ambassador. (Times Union)

— Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget director Tim Rudd will step down after this budgeting cycle, change parties to become a Republican, and run to take over Walsh’s job. Rudd has run for many positions as a Democrat before, however the Democratic field for mayor is crowded. No other Republican candidates have announced as of yet. (Syracuse.com)

— Eric Adams’ legal defense fund has run dry, and is now $1 million in debt. It is unclear what his plan is for continued payments to his lawyers, as he has not been actively raising money for the fund. (The City)

— NY State Senator James Skoufis has dropped out of the race for DNC chair, and is now backing Minnesota-DFL Chair Ken Martin. (X/JamesSkoufis)

— President-elect Trump is planning to appoint former NY Congressman Brandon Williams as Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy. (X/NYSYR)