CityAndStateNY.com
April 11, 2022
“First round for the LCA.” – Gov. Kathy Hochul, after the state budget deal
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin said he did not tell the governor about subpoenas related to his New York City comptroller campaign before being appointed to his current post.
BENJAMIN ADDRESSES SUBPOENAS
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has expertly avoided the press since news first broke of subpoenas he faces relating to his 2021 campaign for New York City comptroller and his awarding of state grants while he served in the state
Senate. But after a week of radio silence and no public schedules, Benjamin offered his first on-therecord comments about the reporting after getting caught in a hallway in the Capitol. Reading from a prewritten statement he was carrying, Benjamin admitted that he did not inform Gov. Kathy Hochul
of the investigation into his comptroller campaign, despite knowing about it when she recruited him to serve with her. However, he denied any wrongdoing and said he has been cooperating with investigators.
PRIMARY PETITIONING ENDS
RESCUE ROVER Every executive needs a pet; Bill Clinton had Socks, Andrew Cuomo had Captain and now Eric Adams has … Digidog? Adams took the New York City Fire Department’s new robotic dog on a test walk last week – the same make of robot that provoked privacy concerns when the NYPD used it in a hostage situation. Adams has expressed an interest in exploring the police use of emerging technologies, but the FDNY’s robotic dogs will be limited to certain search and rescue missions.
“Getting political advice from Andrew Cuomo is like getting fire prevention tips from an arsonist.” – Assembly Member Ron Kim, speaking about New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent dinner with Cuomo, via the New York Post
As a court case to determine the legality of New York’s newly drawn district lines continues to play out, the deadline for candidates running for statewide and legislative positions to file petitions has come and gone. On the Democratic side in the race for governor, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said he and his running mate Ana Maria Archila delivered 40,000 signatures to get onto the ballot in June. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who is running with former New York City Council Member Diana Reyna, reported filing over 40,000 signatures as well. Notably, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not file petitions, so he officially won’t appear in the Democratic primary. Hochul and Benjamin already had the Democratic designations and did not need to petition their way onto the ballot. On the Republican side of the gubernatorial race, former New York City Mayor Andrew Giuliani, Rob Astorino and Harry Wilson each filed enough signatures to get on the ballot and challenge Rep. Lee Zeldin, who received the GOP designation, in June.
DEMOCRATS GET THEIR GERRYMANDERS FOR NOW
New maps for the U.S. House and state Legislature will remain in place despite ongoing litigation concerning their
DARREN MCGEE/OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR; MIKE GROLL/OFFICE OF GOV. KATHY HOCHUL; MENGWEN CAO; ED REED/MAYORAL PHOTOGRAPHY OFFICE
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