City Hall reporter / New York Playbook co-author @politico.com. From 🇸🇪. Have a tip? DMs are open or reach me at csommerfeldt@politico.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlwaefanbk2cBernie Sanders endorsed all 9 democratic socialists running for New York State legislative seats today. His protégé, Zohran Mamdani, stopped short of immediately doing the same, but a source told me he plans to roll out new endorsements in coming weeks. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/05/15/trump-mamdani-new-york-economics-00924340e15 May 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlwaefanbk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlvmj5drs226While Mamdani's executive budget reversed cuts to NYC public libraries, it doesn't make good on his pledge to allocate 0.5% of city spending for library spending. He tells @katiehonan.bsky.social that he will make good on that promise at some point in his first mayoral term, though.15 May 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvmj5drs226https://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlvaxkvtbs2dNew: NYC's Department of Investigation has questioned at least 2 people as part of a probe into Mamdani’s probation commissioner, who's accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with a top aide and then firing a subordinate for blowing the whistle.  https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/15/investigation-into-top-mamdani-appointee-heats-up-0092249815 May 2026 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvaxkvtbs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlsrylezbs2kCitizens Union, the century-old good government group, backed Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 mayoral election. But this year, the group's endorsing three democratic socialist allies of Mamdani who are running against more moderate incumbent state lawmakers. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/14/progressives-for-espaillat-0092015514 May 2026 12:10 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlsrylezbs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlsqmouvek2kNew: The NYPD is on track to spend nearly $1B on police overtime this fiscal year — a clear sign the department has made little headway on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s goal of driving down the entrenched form of spending. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/14/nypd-little-progress-reducing-overtime-mamdani-pledge-00919750?nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b74f0000&nname=new-york-playbook&nrid=0000015f-31c2-df37-a95f-b3eab266000014 May 2026 11:46 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlsqmouvek2khttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlopjgxar224With the release of his balanced executive budget today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears to have thrown in the towel on his push for income and corporate tax hikes...at least for this year. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/05/12/hochul-mamdani-tax-the-rich-fight-budget-00917585?nname=new-york-playbook-pm&nid=00000177-6f21-d412-abff-6ff79d730000&nrid=732f79c8-26c1-49e6-83e2-49713e79718e12 May 2026 21:16 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlopjgxar224https://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mloemcek722bAt his budget rollout, Mamdani says it wasn't "easy" to balance NYC's books, but credits hard work on savings + cooperation from Albany. "We taxed the rich," he says (he got a pied-à-terre tax, but it's a far cry from the corporate & income tax hikes he pushed as a candidate).12 May 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mloemcek722bhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlo6xdj4ck2fMamdani's $124B budget is balanced in part because it stretches out NYC's public pension contribution schedule, saving the city $1.6B for FY27, per source. Fiscal watchdogs are concerned about that, saying it saddles NYC with an untenable future burden. https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/05/with-latest-lifeline-from-hochul-mamdani-set-to-balance-nyc-budget-0091625712 May 2026 16:19 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlo6xdj4ck2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlnvg626g224The executive budget Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to roll out later today clocks in at $124 billion, per sources. That's $3 billion less than the $127 billion preliminary plan he rolled out in February. Waiting to learn more details.12 May 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnvg626g224https://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlnok36b2c2bAs part of his executive budget rollout today, Mamdani will officially back off his proposal to raise local property taxes because his team has found other ways to balance NYC's books, per a source. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/12/you-have-a-budget-now-what-00915618?nname=new-york-playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b74f0000&nrid=732f79c8-26c1-49e6-83e2-49713e79718e12 May 2026 11:25 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnok36b2c2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlm2vxjoas24New: Councilmember Chi Ossé, a key ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has filed a misconduct complaint against an NYPD officer who arrested him at a protest last month, alleging excessive force. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/11/nyc-councilmember-chi-osse-files-misconduct-complaint-against-officer-who-arrested-him-0091453011 May 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm2vxjoas24https://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mll7wqpphk26With the state budget still in flux, there's growing expectation Mamdani will need to put placeholders for key revenue and funding items in his executive spending plan tomorrow — the type of scenario he hoped to avoid by delaying its initial May 1 release. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/11/groundhog-day-for-mamdani-00913665?nname=new-york-playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b74f0000&nrid=c9896679-25fb-4187-9d2f-6a6e5ff5208d11 May 2026 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mll7wqpphk26https://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mldy4ar2a22uLindsey Boylan announces she will not run in June's Democratic primary for the 3rd City Council District after losing last month's special election to Carl Wilson. Boylan's defeat was seen as a blow to Mamdani, who endorsed her ahead of the special: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/new-york-city-council-race-casts-doubt-on-power-of-mamdanis-endorsement-0089793808 May 2026 14:50 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldy4ar2a22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mldofhpti22uNY-12 candidate Alex Bores recently received a campaign donation from Michael Bloomberg — no, not that Michael Bloomberg. In this morning's Playbook: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/08/mamdani-hopeful-amid-so-many-fiscal-feelings-in-albany-0091110408 May 2026 11:56 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldofhpti22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlc4tmgd2k2uNew: Mamdani is facing mounting pressure from progressive elected leaders, including DSA allies like Julia Salazar, to enact stricter rules on how the NYPD can interact with ICE — the latest sign of a broadening rift between the mayor and his base. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/07/disaffected-mamdani-allies-press-him-for-stricter-rules-on-nypd-interactions-with-ice-0091045407 May 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlc4tmgd2k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlbmjesooc2uEven though there apparently isn't a state budget deal in Albany yet, Mayor Mamdani tells reporters in Brooklyn that his administration "will be putting forward our executive budget on Tuesday."07 May 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbmjesooc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlbdqwboqs2rGov. Hochul announces she has reached a "general agreement" with lawmakers on a $268 billion state budget (which is 37 days overdue). She says budget negotiations "were not easy," citing both "substantive disagreements" on policy as well as "dysfunction" in Washington.07 May 2026 13:40 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbdqwboqs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mlb5awkcy22iNew: A member of Mamdani’s inaugural committee is a private equity bigwig whose wealth management firm invests in AI technology allegedly used by police departments, including the NYPD, to surveil pro-Palestine and BLM protesters. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/07/mamdani-allys-awkward-ai-connection-0090958907 May 2026 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlb5awkcy22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3ml7abn53622eNew: Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration is scrutinizing NYPD contracts with a surveillance technology company that’s faced criticism for doing business with federal immigration authorities, documents we obtained show. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/06/mamdani-administration-scrutinizing-nypd-contracts-with-ice-vendor-0090797906 May 2026 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7abn53622ehttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3ml6qai5o7c2eEven CBC, a fiscally hawkish group that typically advocates for trimming spending, says NYC should boost funding for the Fair Fares program discounting subway and bus rides, per testimony shared with us ahead of today's Council hearing. w/ @ryrivard.bsky.social: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/06/whos-who-in-redistricting-0090758706 May 2026 12:46 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6qai5o7c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3ml4n7wpwqs2eRanked-choice tabulations from last week's special election in City Council District 3 are out: As expected, Carl Wilson is the winner. He defeated his closest competitor, Lindsey Boylan, by a 59.4%-40.6% vote margin in the third ranked choice round. https://enr.boenyc.gov/rcv/027431_4.html05 May 2026 16:47 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4n7wpwqs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3ml44a6fuus2cNew: As part of an ongoing effort to purge the city government's ranks of Eric Adams allies, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration recently fired the niece of Winnie Greco, a longtime Adams adviser and fundraiser raided by the feds in 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/05/05/another-adams-ally-axed-in-mamdani-purge-0090609705 May 2026 11:42 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml44a6fuus2chttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkzvpgf6t22dEchoing comments provided by his NYPD, Mamdani says there was "no coordination" between the police department and ICE as part of the ICE enforcement action at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center over the weekend. Some Mamdani allies have begged to differ: https://x.com/SandyforCouncil/status/205096144325676692804 May 2026 14:40 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkzvpgf6t22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkqhniz52s2eA majority of City Council members, including his left-wing allies, are pushing Mamdani to automatically enroll low-income residents in NYC's transit discount program. Mamdani won't immediately make that commitment, which could come with a big price-tag. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/04/30/hochuls-dear-tom-letter-0090154430 Apr 2026 20:35 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqhniz52s2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkqd6nyv5k2eLarge crowd of Department of Sanitation workers rallying at City Hall for better pension benefits. They've been joined by Council members from both sides of the aisle, including Sanitation Committee Chair Justin Sanchez.30 Apr 2026 19:15 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqd6nyv5k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkpqtxjqm22aIn Playbook today: @zararahim.bsky.social, a City Hall aide to Mayor Zohran Mamdani who played a key role on his campaign, is leaving his admin, but plans to continue advising him from the outside while also working with other progressive candidates across the U.S. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/04/30/to-override-or-not-to-override-thats-the-question-for-julie-menin-0089944330 Apr 2026 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpqtxjqm22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkpkh7zhic2iNew: With Carl Wilson's all but certain election, Council Speaker Julie Menin's team is bullish on her chances at undoing Mayor Mamdani's first veto, with one member who voted no on the bill in question now not ruling out supporting an override. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2026/04/30/to-override-or-not-to-override-thats-the-question-for-julie-menin-0089944330 Apr 2026 11:52 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpkh7zhic2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mknerwazek2p“My focus is on the special," Mayor Mamdani says when asked if he thinks @lindseyboylan.bsky.social should still run in June's Democratic primary for the 3rd Council District despite losing last night's special election.29 Apr 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknerwazek2phttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mkm53wpqp22rMayor Mamdani's political brand took a drubbing tonight as the democratic socialist he endorsed in the special election for Manhattan's 3rd Council District conceded to a candidate backed by Speaker Julie Menin and other more moderate Dems. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/new-york-city-council-race-casts-doubt-on-power-of-mamdanis-endorsement-00897938?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it29 Apr 2026 03:15 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkm53wpqp22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social/post/3mklb3ki4k22oMayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin formed an unusual alliance today to call on Albany to reduce a tax credit mostly benefitting millionaires. Gov. Kathy Hochul immediately threw cold water on the proposal. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/in-unusual-alliance-mamdani-and-menin-press-hochul-to-reduce-a-tax-credit-benefitting-millionaires-0089614828 Apr 2026 18:54 +0000at://did:plc:eof64py7gulrj4drvmp52scd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mklb3ki4k22o