LightNews
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough
@anniemcdonough.bsky.social
1.1K followers 170 following 170 posts
Reporter @cityandstateny.bsky.social • Write me/send tips at amcdonough (at) cityandstateny (dot com) • DM for Signal • She/her
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Annie McDonough
petersterne.com
Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 9d
SCOOP: DSA-backed City Council Member @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social is exploring a primary challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10.

Avilés is meeting with @socialists.nyc's Electoral Working Group next week to discuss her potential congressional run.

Read more at @cityandstateny.bsky.social:
Alexa Avilés exploring challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10
The DSA-backed City Council member has been talking to allies about potentially challenging the incumbent representative.
www.cityandstateny.com
5 45 230
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 23d
Curtis Sliwa wants all four major mayoral candidates to stand on the City Hall steps to jointly call for a ban on horse-drawn carriages.

On the very off chance that that doesn't come to fruition, we rounded up where the candidates stand on the issue.

www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
Where do NYC mayoral candidates stand on banning horse-drawn carriages?
One guess where Curtis “Protect Animals party” Sliwa stands.
www.cityandstateny.com
2
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 23d
Albany’s ‘3 people in a room’ are all with Zohran Mamdani.

The Democratic mayoral nominee is set to drive that point home with an appearance alongside state Senate Majority Leader (and early endorser) Andrea Stewart-Cousins tomorrow.

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Albany’s ‘3 people in a room’ are all with Zohran Mamdani
They want him to be mayor. Will they support his agenda?
www.cityandstateny.com
1 4
Reposted by Annie McDonough
gwynnefitz.bsky.social
Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 23d
Just now, 11 state and city lawmakers were arrested by DHS police on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza after a hour of demanding access to the ICE lock up on the same floor. @thecity.nyc
1.1K 11K 21K
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · 24d
TB control, building bus lanes, cleaning parks - the MMR shows how staffing shortages hindered city services.

It also showed how new hires can improve them. DVS reached more veterans and some ACS specialists' case loads declined thanks to increased hiring
www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
Tuberculosis control, bus lane construction, bathroom cleaning: Where staffing problems continued to hurt city services
An updated review of city agency performance in fiscal year 2025 highlights how staffing shortages contributed to delayed or diminished city services – and where the city saw some improvements.
www.cityandstateny.com
2
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Aug 11
Andrew Cuomo's "Zohran's Law" would 1) require new rent-stabilized tenants to be rent burdened to live in those units and 2) not apply to Zohran Mamdani.

More w/ @rebeccaclewis.bsky.social here

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
‘Zohran’s Law,’ Cuomo’s very political housing proposal, would not apply to Zohran
The rule pitched by Cuomo’s campaign would means test incoming tenants in rent-stabilized units.
www.cityandstateny.com
8 48 160
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Jul 10
Eric Adams is trying to thread an independent mayoral bid through the eye of a needle. Zohran Mamdani has the wind at his back

But if there's a time for Adams to shine, it’s on the campaign trail

More on the 2 candidates' retail chops w/@sahalied.bsky.social
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
For Zohran Mamdani, Eric Adams is a different kind of rival
If Andrew Cuomo was more of a rarified cardboard box, Adams is a true street campaigner.
www.cityandstateny.com
2
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Jul 1
Zohran Mamdani aimed to assemble a new coalition of South Asian and Muslim voters to pull off a longshot victory in the Democratic primary.

He accomplished much more than that.

Took a look at his strong performance with Asian American voters here ⬇️
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Zohran Mamdani’s Asian American coalition
The Assembly member who is well positioned to become New York City’s first Asian American mayor won with the support of the rapidly growing AAPI electorate.
www.cityandstateny.com
3 27
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Jun 26
He’s taking in donations again. His campaign website is live. His scandal-scarred advisers are back in public view. And most importantly, he’s got an opponent he thinks he can beat.

More on Mayor Eric Adams' reelection kickoff w/ @sahalied.bsky.social here.

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Eric Adams, surrounded by faith leaders, officially launches his reelection campaign
It would take an act of God for this man to be reelected, and if he is to be believed, there just might be one.
www.cityandstateny.com
1
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Jun 25
Zohran Mamdani stuns New York City. Andrew Cuomo calls to congratulate him on his victory.

More here with @sahalied.bsky.social, in a story that will be updated.

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
And ultimately – Zohran Mamdani stuns New York
The 33-year-old democratic socialist Assembly member outperformed everyone’s expectations – emerging on election night with a decisive lead.
www.cityandstateny.com
2 4
Reposted by Annie McDonough
petersterne.com
Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · Jun 24
Read the story that had my editors saying "you wrote 3,000 words about this? that's way too much" www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Many expect Zohran Mamdani to take the WFP line if he loses to Cuomo. That’s far from a sure thing
Mamdani could run in the general election as the candidate of the Working Families Party, but he and the Democratic Socialists of America don’t bother with unwinnable races.
www.cityandstateny.com
2 3 13
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Jun 20
Had a great time talking with Frank Festa @ballotpedia.org this morning about the non-stop thrill ride that is the 2025 mayoral race!

Catch the episode here before the next unexpected twist in the race makes it out of date.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCi...
NYC Mayoral Primary 2025: Cuomo, Mamdani, RCV, and the Democrats’ Next Chapter
YouTube video by Ballotpedia
www.youtube.com
2 2
Reposted by Annie McDonough
gwynnefitz.bsky.social
Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · Jun 17
NY Governor Kathy Hochul inside 26 Federal Plaza now, seeking answers from DHS/ICE about the arrest of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who is still being detained. @thecity.nyc "How long is this going to take, I don't think he has a long rap sheet," Hochul says to agents.
100 1K 4K
Reposted by Annie McDonough
danarubinsteinbsky.bsky.social
Dana Rubinstein @danarubinsteinbsky.bsky.social · Jun 17
The mayor refused to answer questions on this as he walked out of the briefing room
gwynnefitz.bsky.social
Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · Jun 17
Here's a longer video of Brad Lander's detention just now inside 26 Federal Plaza as he tried to walk a man out of immigration court, by masked federal agents.
15 46 170
Reposted by Annie McDonough
gwynnefitz.bsky.social
Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · Jun 17
Lander just got detained by federal agents as he tried to escort a man out of the courtroom. Lander was taken in an elevator with masked agents, along with one member of his NYPD security detail.
120 1.1K 3.6K
Reposted by Annie McDonough
hollypret.bsky.social
Holly Pretsky @hollypret.bsky.social · Jun 12
We're back! 7 candidates onstage for the second and final NYC mayoral Democratic primary debate
2 1 6
Reposted by Annie McDonough
petersterne.com
Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · Jun 6
"At least four of Ramos’ endorsers had rescinded their endorsements by the time she finished speaking on stage at a Cuomo campaign event on Friday morning" www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Progressives pull Ramos endorsements after she backs Andrew Cuomo
Several of the organizations and elected officials backing Ramos have quickly rescinded their endorsement or said they’re reconsidering it.
www.cityandstateny.com
5 30 140
Reposted by Annie McDonough
jeffcmays.bsky.social
Jeffery C. Mays @jeffcmays.bsky.social · May 6
He's leading Democratic Primary contenders in all the polls, but former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is also petitioning to run on an independent ballot line in November called the "Fight and Deliver" line. Their symbol? A pair of boxing gloves. Read more in our upcoming newsletter, The Sprint for City Hall
12 15 49
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · May 2
Endorsements in the New York City mayoral race are getting increasingly convoluted, but we're still tracking them here!

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Endorsements in the 2025 New York City mayoral race
Labor unions, political clubs and power brokers. Stay up to date on which mayoral candidates are getting the coveted endorsements for 2025.
www.cityandstateny.com
1
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Apr 17
Both at make-or-break moments in their political careers, Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul aren’t at each other’s throats yet. But few believe that Cuomo, if elected mayor, will sink comfortably into the role of second fiddle.

www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Mayor Cuomo and Gov. Hochul? It would be weird.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty in the New York City mayor race, but one thing is for sure: the mayor will have less power than his or her counterpart in Albany.
www.cityandstateny.com
2 5
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Apr 17
An assistant commissioner in the NYPD with "substantial policy discretion" was fined $5,000 for soliciting and collecting $4,100 in donations for Mayor Eric Adams' reelection campaign last summer, per @nyccoib.bsky.social
2 2
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Apr 17
Per @nyccoib.bsky.social, city Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez was fined $1,750 for promoting presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an official city event last August.
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Apr 15
In his first bid for public matching funds, Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign is denied.

The campaign blames the denial on a technical/software issue, and says they expect to receive the payment next month.

More here w/
@sahalied.bsky.social
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Andrew Cuomo denied millions in public matching funds for mayoral campaign
The former governor’s campaign won’t receive the funds until next month at the earliest.
www.cityandstateny.com
2 5 20
anniemcdonough.bsky.social
Annie McDonough @anniemcdonough.bsky.social · Apr 14
Does anyone want to be New York City’s tech mayor?

In 2021, Eric Adams ran on government modernization, but few candidates running to replace him are talking about picking up that work.

(Note: Using ChatGPT in your policy proposals doesn't count)

www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/...
Does anyone want to be New York City’s tech mayor?
In 2021, Eric Adams ran on government modernization, but few candidates running to replace him are talking about picking up that work.
www.cityandstateny.com
1
Reposted by Annie McDonough
hollypret.bsky.social
Holly Pretsky @hollypret.bsky.social · Apr 14
The “deal,” as some participants call the City Council speaker selection process, is a yearslong conversation that involves political influencers across the city, and it plucks all the strings that connect them to one another. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Inside the quiet race for New York City's second-most powerful position
The New York City Council speakership goes to whomever can convince around 125 political power brokers, all with opposing interests, that they'll have an ally in City Hall.
www.cityandstateny.com
1 2