Good Morning, New York! Councilwoman Vickie Paladino implies constituents can break congestion pricing cameras with laser pointers, the Border Czar hits out at a NY law protecting illegal immigrants, and we get a preview of Mike Lawler’s campaign rhetoric for 2026. This is your Tammany Times AM Briefing for Tuesday, January 7th, 2025.

WHERE’S KATHY: In Brooklyn unveiling the third proposal of her affordability agenda.

TIPS? Email me: [email protected]

Front Pages

Hall Monitors

— Mayor Eric Adams and new Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that crime is down in a joint press conference yesterday. Despite a 2.9% overall decrease, Adams said that “perception is reality,” and that the perception is that crime has increased. Subway crime is down 5.4%, but the NYPD will still move 200 more officers onto trains to continue the fight. (ABC7)

— Could Rikers Island stay open? Eric Adams told the press that he doesn’t think that closing Rikers is a ‘real policy,’ and it will not happen on his watch. (Politico) Meanwhile the Katal Center, an opponent of Rikers Island, said in a press release that closing Rikers was the only option, and reiterated that Rikers is dangerous and terrible for those jailed there. (Katal Center)

— Councilwoman Vickie Paladino is under fire after implying constituents could damage congestion pricing cameras with laser pointers. She wrote on X, “So if you buy one of these lasers, be sure to NOT point them at any cameras…” and responded with “🤔🤔🤔🤔” when someone asked if they could take down congestion pricing cameras. (X/VickieforNYC)

Capitol Gains

— Kathy Hochul stands up for congestion pricing ahead of the 2026 election, despite its unpopularity. She pointed to the investment needed in NY’s transit system, with no other way to fund it than congestion pricing. The MTA wants almost $70 billion through 2029 for their next round of capital improvements. (State of Politics)

— Kathy Hochul wants to triple the child tax credit to a maximum of $1000 per child, specifically targeted at children under the age of 4. Children between 4 and 16 would see an increase to $500. (Times Union)

— Tom Homan, the incoming border czar, hit out at New York’s Green Light law. He said that if New York continues to allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses, he could not rule out banning New York license plates from entering the US through Canada. He said that the DMV sharing information with the federal government would make things safer for federal agents, investigators, and the public. (Buffalo News)

Trail Mix

— Independent mayoral candidate Jim Walden is suing the state to allow him to use the Independence Party ballot line in the upcoming election. A 2022 state law banned the use of the word “independence” on ballot lines, Walden is arguing that this is unconstitutional. (NY Times)

— Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will serve as the chair of the DSCC, the campaign arm for the Senate Democrats in the 2026 cycle. They are targeting races in Georgia, Michigan, Maine, Texas, and North Carolina. This move makes the New York Senate delegation incredibly powerful, as Schumer will stay on as minority leader. (Politico)

— We got a preview of Mike Lawler’s potential 2026 campaign: take the middle lane. In an interview with MSNBC, he attacked congestion pricing, but also attacked Trump for his decision to pardon the Jan. 6th rioters. (MSNBC)