Good Morning, New York! Pro-Palestine protests take place in Times Square, State reps call for an end to the subminimum wage, and Eric Adams gets a ‘half-endorsement.’ This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

WHERE’S ERIC: In New York City with no public schedule.

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

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— A mass shooting took place outside of a nightclub in Queens last night, leaving at least 10 people injured. The shooting was reportedly in honor of a known gang member who was killed last October, according to sources familiar with the event. Police say all 10 are expected to recover. (amNY)

— Hundreds of demonstrators called for an ‘intifada’ and an end to US aid with Israel in a protest in Times Square on New Year's Day. Speakers called for renewed efforts against Israel in 2025. The police were forced to separate a group of counterprotestors after it got particularly heated. (Times of Israel)

— Subway crime increased substantially between 2019-2024, with felony assault up 60%, murders increased 266%, and 25% more people were pushed on the tracks. Citizens are scared, and current solutions are not working. (NY Times)

Capitol Gains

— State Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and State Senator Robert Jackson called for the end to restaurants being allowed to pay under minimum wage. They point at wage theft, discrimination, inconsistency, and sexual harassment. They also want to act before Donald Trump does, and before he gets lauded as the “working class hero” for ending the tax on tips. (Daily News)

— The State of New Jersey made a last ditch attempt Tuesday night to fight congestion pricing in the courts before it goes into effect on Sunday. Lawyers for NJ are arguing that Judge Leo Gordon’s previous ruling actually rescinded key approvals congestion pricing. A hearing is set for Friday to review NJ’s request. (Gothamist)

— Kathy Hochul directed state police to be on high alert following the news that the murders in New Orleans were a terrorist attack. (X/GovKathyHochul)

Trail Mix

— Former New York rep. Carolyn McCarthy will receive the Presidential Citizens Medal, along with 19 other Americans including several other elected officials. (Newsday)

— Andrew Cuomo’s lawyers wrote an op-ed in the Times Union saying that he will be “vindicated” over the harassment claims levied at him by Charlotte Bennett. They also criticized the Times Union editorial board, who released a critical piece about Cuomo on December 26th. (Times Union)

— Eric Adams receives a ‘half-endorsement’ from the New York Post, with an editorial calling him the “grown-up Democrat” in the room, and admitting that while they don’t like much of what he has done other Democrats could be much worse. (New York Post)